Getting There -- There are commuter rail (cercanías) trains to Sitges every 15 to 30 minutes between 6am and midnight from Barcelona-Sants station. Travel time is about 30 minutes and the fare is 4.10€. In Barcelona, call tel. 90-232-03-20 or click the cercanias tab at www.renfe.com for details on schedules. Sitges is a 45-minute drive from Barcelona along the C-246, a coastal road. The express highway A-7 is less scenic but faster on weekends when the free coastal road is clogged with traffic.

Visitor Information -- The tourist office is at Plaza Eduard Maristany, 2 (tel. 93-894-42-51; www.sitgestur.cat). Year-round hours are Monday through Friday 10am to 2pm and 4 to 6:30pm, Saturday 10am to 2pm and 4 to 7pm, and Sunday 10am to 2pm.

Special Events -- The Carnaval at Sitges is one of the outstanding events on the Catalan calendar. For more than a century, the town has celebrated the days before the beginning of Lent. Fancy dress, floats, feathered outfits, and sequins all make this an exciting event. The party begins on the Thursday before Lent with the arrival of the king of the Carnestoltes and ends on Ash Wednesday with the "Burial of a Sardine." Activities reach their jubilant best on Sant Bonaventura, where gays and lesbians hold their own celebrations.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.