Chapter Three : Sitges

Sunlit Pages & Mediterranean Nights

One Month to Go

"Every retreat begins long before the plane lands — it begins the moment you decide to go."

One month from today, you'll be trading your to-do list for a paperback and a glass of wine. We can practically feel it.

You don't need to do anything yet except get yourself to Barcelona — we've handled the rest. But we know a little peace of mind goes a long way before a trip, so here's everything in one place: how to get to the villa, what to pack, what the week looks like, and two small traditions worth knowing about before you arrive.

Save this page. You'll probably want it again in the taxi line.

Two Ways to Reach the Villa

Since some of you are flying in directly and others are already spending a few days in Barcelona first, here are both routes.

Arriving Directly by Air (Barcelona Airport / BCN)

  • By bus: The MonBus runs directly from Terminal 1 (with a stop at Terminal 2) straight to Sitges — no train transfer needed. The ride takes about 35–45 minutes, buses run frequently, and tickets run roughly €7–10.

  • By taxi or Bolt: The most direct option if you'd rather skip a transfer entirely, especially with luggage.

  • From the MonBus stop: You'll be dropped at Parc Can Robert. From there it's an 8–10 minute walk to the Sitges train station, where a taxi rank waits just outside the main entrance. The ride to the villa is only 5–7 minutes, around €8–12 depending on luggage.

Directions from BCN Airport

Coming From Barcelona

If you're spending a few days in the city first, you have two easy options into Sitges — whichever suits where you're staying and how much luggage you're carrying.

  • By train: The R2 Sud commuter line runs from Barcelona Sants or Passeig de Gràcia straight to Sitges, about 35–40 minutes, for just a few euros. Trains run frequently throughout the day.

  • By taxi or rideshare: The simplest door-to-door option, roughly 35–45 minutes depending on traffic and where you're departing from.

Directions from Barcelona Sants

However you arrive into Sitges, the walk or short taxi ride from the station to the villa is the same either way — see the villa details below.

Where We're Staying

Avinguda de la Trinitat, 11, Sitges, Catalonia 08870, Spain

Check-In

We currently have access to the villa starting at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, September 23rd. If that changes, we'll let you know as soon as we do — we know a shower and a soft place to land matters after a long travel day.

Your Packing List

Everything from flowy dresses to your European plug adapter — we've laid it all out for you.

View List

What the Days Might Look Like

Here's a general shape of the week — some of it will shift with weather or the group's own wishes, but this will give you a feel for the rhythm.

  • Wednesday, Sept 23 — Arrival, settling in, welcome tapas dinn

  • Thursday, Sept 24 — Beach morning, Old Town walking tour, chef-prepared dinner

  • Friday, Sept 25 — Malvasia tasting at Celler Hospital de Sitges, relaxed evening

  • Saturday, Sept 26 — Open day (pool, beach, or optional coastal walk), hands-on paella class

  • Sunday, Sept 27 — Book discussion, blind book exchange, optional massages, farewell dinner

  • Monday, Sept 28 — Leisurely breakfast, departure

View Itinerary

While You’re Away

For anyone at home who might need to reach you through us:

Good to Know Before You Go

Weather

Late September in Sitges is warm and easy — expect daytime highs in the mid-70s to low-80s°F (24–28°C), cooling into the low-to-mid 60s°F (17–19°C) in the evening. Pack for sunshine, but bring the light sweater from your packing list for dinners by the pool.

Currency

Spain uses the euro. Cards are widely accepted around Sitges, but it's worth carrying some cash for taxis, small cafés, and market stalls.

Massages

If you're planning to indulge in the optional on-site massage, please bring cash to pay the therapist directly.

Meals & Drinks

Nearly everything is covered — but please plan for one meal on your own during the week, most likely lunch, and for any alcohol beyond the wine served at dinner.

Quiet Hours

Quiet hours at the villa run from 10:30 PM to 8:00 AM, and that includes outdoor spaces — patios and balconies are part of the house going quiet too, not just indoors. The villa uses automated noise monitoring, so if things get a little loud, expect a gentle nudge to bring it back down. Easy enough for a group of readers who'd rather be up early for coffee and pages anyway.

Two Small Traditions

The Yearbook Signing

Bring your own copy of The Shadow of the Wind with you. Toward the end of the week, we pass our copies around and sign each other's — yearbook energy, for grown women who read. It's become one of our favorite keepsakes from every retreat, and we love seeing what everyone writes.

Blind Date with a Book Exchange

Optional, and always a favorite. Bring a book — hardcover or soft, new or gently loved. This year's theme: a book that made you feel something. That's intentionally wide open — it made you cry, laugh out loud on a plane, angry, hopeful, changed how you saw something entirely. The feeling is the point, not the genre.

Wrap it (brown paper and string is very on-brand) and tuck a sealed envelope inside with:

  • Why you picked this book

  • When you first read it

  • Your favorite quote (no spoilers, please)

We'll do the exchange one evening during the retreat. Open your gift right away if you'd like — just save the envelope until you've finished the book.