Thirty-six members gathered for our October 2024 'Mid-week walking "weekend" in Sitges'.  21 of the 24 who responded to the feedback survey reported that they would be interested to attend again in 2025, and 24 out of 24 that they would recommend it to others. Several have even offered to help organise and lead events this year - thank you James, David L, David W, Derek, John & Martyn! For more on that trip, see the report “Camaraderie and a superbly planned schedule” in Sitges.

If you haven't yet visited Sitges, arguably Europe's premier LGBTQI+ destination, what are you waiting for?

Aside from the sunshine and beaches, the nightlife and culture, and all that Barcelona has to offer just 40 minutes up the coast, there is some great hiking to be done even right from the town. Derek & I have been visiting for more than 20 years, and now we have own place and are visiting more and more.  Join us there again in October 2025, and why not make a longer trip of it?

"GOC goes to Sitges 2025" aims to take into account your feedback from 2024 in order to improve and expand the trip for 2025 - to allow for more members to attend, and for longer, to provide new and different events to join as well as much of the same again, and to offer more opportunity to self-organise together as well.

Events are scheduled again for Monday to Friday, to allow you to make the most of your weekends and of your trip. Come early and/or leave late, and stay for as long as you choose.

October in Sitges is not as busy as the height of the summer season, culminating in Bears' Week in early September.  The weekends especially are still lively, however, while Mondays and Tuesdays in particular are quieter as some places close.  The weather in October is often lovely for hiking as well as for beach-going, and prices are at low season rates.

As last year, there is an opportunity to join Mallorca Autumn 2025 - walking and cycling the week before, a short flight or ferry ride from Barcelona.  Unlike last year, sadly, this year there will be no Creative Connexions Ireland festival the weekend after.

Bookings are now open for all individual events - please book as early as possible, and by Friday 17 October at the latest, for:

A choice of guided tours from 4.00pm on Monday and from 10.30am on Friday:

• on Monday afternoon and Friday morning, the Sitges Rainbow Tour of local LGBTQI+ history with Colors Sitges Link
• on Monday afternoon only, the tour A walk through the history of Sitges
• on Friday morning only, a guided tour of three Sitges museums.

A choice of 3 full day walks from 10.30 on Tuesday:

• the 7.5 mile moderate inland walk Olivella-Sitges - outward by minibus, new for this year
• the 10 mile easy inland walk Sitges-Sant Pere de Ribes circular (repeated on Thursday) - new for this year, with 5 mile options
• the 10 mile moderate coastal walk Sitges-Vilanova circular, repeated from last year in reverse, to allow for an optional afternoon swim - with 5 mile options (fully booked)

A choice of 3 full day walks on Thursday:

• from 9.30, the 10 mile more difficult but rewarding inland walk Bruguers-Garraf, new for this year - outward by minibus & return by train, new for this year
• from 10.30, the 10 mile easy inland walk Sitges-Sant Pere de Ribes circular (repeated from Tuesday) - new for this year, with 5 mile options (fully booked)
• from 10.30, the 8 mile more difficult but rewarding walk Sitges-Ermita de la Trinita circular, repeated from last year

Evening meals and social events on Monday, Tuesday & Friday:

• on Monday from 6pm, Welcome drinks - hosted by Colors Sitges Link at one of the most historic buildings in Sitges
• on Monday from 8pm, a whole group dinner with set menu - again at Le Patio Jardin Terrasse restaurant in the heart of the gay village
• on Tuesday from 8pm, Dine Around at several different restaurants in small groups, and meet at a bar later to swap notes - with additional new restaurant options this year
• on Thursday evening, likely from 7pm, we will be invited again to the Colors Sitges Link monthly members' social - this time at Moulin Rose.  This will not be booked via the GOC website, but will be announced via the WhatsApp group with no booking required.
• On Friday evening from 6pm, Farewell drinks and nibbles at Fracasso, a newly opened bar and restaurant in the heart of Sitges
• on Friday evening from 8pm, a last hurrah at the Queenz Dinner Show

Also, for you to self-organise:

• Wednesday will be free for you to self-organise other walks or outings together, eg. biking in the Garraf natural park, wine tours in the Penedes, sightseeing in Barcelona, Monserrat, Tarragona, Vilanova i Geltru or elsewhere, shopping at Viladecans Outlet Mall - or just sleep in and go to the beach!
• a community of Whatsapp groups is provided this year, for you to self-organise shared travel, accommodation or anything else before or during the trip (see member-only information below)
• discount codes are provided again, to book at hotels where other GOC members will be staying, and to book holiday apartments or villas for yourselves (see member-only information below).

Sitges is around 40 minutes by train from Barcelona and Barcelona Airport, and about 20 minutes from the airport by airport bus or taxi. Sitges can be reached comfortably in a day by high speed rail from London via Paris and Barcelona, or from further afield with a stop-over en route - see  Man in Seat 61 and member-only information below.

For more on what to expect and what's available, see Visit Sitges & Spain.info, Garraf Tourism & Garraf Routes and TravelGay & Patroc.

Please click to Join when you decide that you intend to join the trip, and please remember to click to Leave if you change your mind.

Please share any questions and suggestions in the comments below, or in the WhatsApp group.

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Do you have memories of visiting Sitges in the 1990s, 1980s or earlier? If you might be interested in contributing to an LGBTQ+ history project of Colors Sitges Link, please use the form below to contact me.