Sitges surf offers some rideable waves just outside of Barcelona. It’s hardly Hermosa Beach but it’s got the ankle slappers that novices crave and a bona fide Catalan surf school to boot.
An introduction to Sitges surf
The town of Sitges, some 23 miles west out of downtown Barcelona, turned heads when it was announced that it would become home to its very own surf club – the Sitges Surf Club – some years back. People who wern’t up to scratch on the coast here were like, on what waves? But the surf club contents itself with mainly SUP craft, switching to foamy lessons whenever a decent winter or shoulder season swell moves up through the Med.
Either way, it’s put Sitges on the map enough to earn it a Surfline profile (and, more importantly, a page right here!). The urban beaches around the marina host the best waves. As fickle as that mate who always escapes the pub after one pint, the waves rarely work well enough to make this a real surf stop. But the town does host one of the best longboarder spots in the Catalan region on its day (the Cemetery) and a few other decent locations.
The way we’d play it is rent a car, drive the whole Costa Garraf, seek out hidden spots and hike the Sierras. It’s a good chance to mix a little surfing on the Catalan Med with real Spanish culture and adventure.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in Spain
Sitges surf at a glance
The good:
The bad:
What’s in this guide to Sitges surf?
Where is Sitges?
Sitges is a town located in the province of Barcelona in Catalonia, up on the far northeastern side of Spain. It’s situated on the Costa del Garraf, on the Mediterranean coast, about 35 kilometers southwest of Barcelona. That’s where you’ll be doing all your surfing, along a stretch of coast that’s got some nice exposure to the W swell channel that really helps send the waves this way.
How to get to Sitges?
Getting to Sitges is relatively straightforward, especially if you’re traveling from within Europe. Here’s how you can do it:
- Fly – The closest major airport to Sitges is Barcelona-El Prat Airport. From there, you can take a taxi, rental car, or public transportation to Sitges.
- Train – There is a direct train connection from Barcelona to Sitges. You can catch a train from Barcelona’s Sants or Passeig de Gràcia stations. The journey usually takes around 30-40 minutes. Use Omio to seek out train tickets across Europe and Spain.
- Bus – Several bus lines run between Barcelona and Sitges. The bus journey might take a bit longer compared to the train but can be a cost-effective option. Again, Omio is the best option for booking bus tickets in Spain.
- Car – Our fav option because it’s the one that offers the most freedom for surfers. Rent a car and take the C-32 highway (toll road) or the C-31 (free) from Barcelona to Sitges. The drive is scenic and takes around 40-50 minutes, depending on traffic. We use RentalCars.com (always been reliable and have nice cancellation policies). Search for your hires here below…
Do I need to hire a car to surf in Sitges?
We would. That’s just because we’ve had a wonderful time exploring this corner of the Spanish coast by car before and it’s something we’d love to do again. You can drive the Garraf Costa and find secret coves and hidden beaches aplenty, all far away from the buzz of the main resort towns. There are also plenty of secret surf spots if there’s swell around, plus the mountains beckon to the north if you have your own wheels. There’s lots of reasons to hire, but you don’t HAVE to.
Sitges surf spots
The main break in Sitges is right by the harbor wall on Aiguadolç Beach, or just along from that at the Cemetery. The former is the home of the main surf school in the town. From there, you can head east to Barcelona to get the urban breaks there, or cruise west to discover the more secluded waves that lie along the Costa Garraf.
Platja De Segur
Platja De Segur is actually located near Sitges, not in the town itself. It strings down the Garraf Coast about 10 miles to the east. Again, it’s fickle but any E and SE windswell here can work its way nicely around the pier to create wedgy lefts that funnel into the sand. On the biggest winter day they will section from steep to shelving in a matter of seconds to give some fun rides for shortboarders.
The Cemetery
The Cemetery is the prime spot in Sitges. It draws loads of longboarders out of nearby Barca and the rest of Catalonia when decent SW swells push in becuase, with the right offshore, it will shape into peeling shoulders that reward good trimmers with some of the longest rides on the Spanish Med. It’s not bad on its day, but it suffers from the same fickle problem as the rest of Sitges town.
Aiguadolç Beach
Aiguadolç Beach is the main break in Sitges. Most of the time, it’s one for the sunbathers and swimmers. The beach is more sheltered than many to the south and west, but winter W and S pushes or E wind swells can send some nice peelers into the bay. Most of the time it’s a question of very easy-going rollers that are no higher than waist. That’s perfect for learners and families, which is why Aiguadolç is the chosen stomping ground of the local surf schools.
Port Ginesta
Port Ginesta just up the road from Sitges, is a known surf spot in the area. The prime conditions for surfing occur with a swell from the east-northeast direction, while the ideal wind direction comes from the west-northwest. The area provides a good option for all levels of surfers, especially during mid-tide when the waves form a clean break.
Barcelona
Barcelona is better known for its vibrant nightlife and its moody Gothic Quarter than its consistent surf. That’s because the surf here is anything but consistent. But there is surf. Usually pushing through on strong S-SW swell pulses off the Atlantic, or with big S windswells in the midsummer, it can hit the urban beaches here and give a nice range of ankle-to-head-high wedges at key locations from Barceloneta Beach along. You’ve got a series of breakwaters and artificial reefs to thank for the surf.
Check our complete guide to surfing in Barcelona
Where to stay when surfing in Sitges?
The best you can do in Sitges as a surfer is to get somewhere close to Aiguadolç Beach. That means being near the marina, where, thankfully, there are quite a few decent hotel options…
- Apto 1ª LÍNEA DE MAR con VISTAS a Sitges – This self-catering pad sits on the cliffs right above the main surf beach in Sitges. It’s a modern home away from home with a great view. Sleeps up to four people at once.
- Estela Barcelona – A four-star hotel with a swimming pool, all just meters off the main harbor wall break in the town. Rooms are very spacious and channel a little local Spanish style.
- Melia Sitges – The closest thing to a proper resort near the surf spots in Sitges, this one has plush modern rooms and a big pool in the garden. It’s also about 10 minutes’ walking from that main harbor beach break.
Step-by-step guide to planning your [yoast_kw] trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the [yoast_kw]…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Get insuranceThis is kinda’ important. Not just for surf trips but for any trips. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. They offer rolling contracts that cover amateur surfing.
Step four (optional): Rent a car If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step four: Enjoy!
The best times to surf in Sitges is the winter (between October and April).
Sitges, and the rest of Spain’s Costa Dorada, experiences its best surf conditions primarily during the winter months, from October to April. This period witnesses consistent swells from the northeast, generating waves most suitable for surfing. Storm-generated swells create the most substantial wave heights and can produce powerful and challenging breaks. Offshore winds from the northwest to west typically create cleaner and well-formed wave faces, offering optimal rideability.
The Mediterranean’s relatively small fetch area doesn’t allow for massive, sustained swells, so timing with weather systems is crucial. Tides play a less significant role, but paying attention to local sandbars and underwater topography can help identify the best breaks and conditions.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
