Sitges Bear Week is beloved for what it isn't as much as what it is. Unlike the mega-circuit events in Ibiza or the leather fairs of Berlin, Sitges Bear Week is intimate, coastal, and unhurried. The event takes over a charming Catalan coastal town — narrow streets, baroque churches, seafront promenades — and fills it with bears, cubs, chasers, and their admirers from across Europe and beyond. The atmosphere is relaxed, friendly, and genuinely community-minded.
Most official events centre on the seafront and around the Platja de la Ribera beach, with pool parties at Hotel Calípolis and bar takeovers across the town's small but lively strip. The closing party is the unmissable highlight — a full night of music, crowds, and the particular warmth of a week that's been building.
Sitges is an easy day trip or overnight from Barcelona — and for Bear Week, it's also a perfectly viable base if you prefer the town to the city. The RENFE Rodalies R2 Sud train runs directly from Barcelona Sants or Passeig de Gràcia stations to Sitges in around 35–40 minutes. Trains run frequently throughout the day and into the night. The Barcelonacard covers the journey.
Many visitors base themselves in Barcelona and day-trip (or evening-trip) into Sitges throughout the week. This gives you access to Barcelona's wider accommodation range, restaurants, and nightlife when the Sitges scene winds down. If you want to be at the heart of the action and prefer not to think about train times, staying in Sitges itself is worth it — the town is entirely walkable.
October is an excellent time to be in Sitges. The summer heat has eased (average 18–22°C), the crowds of August have gone, and the sea is still warm enough to swim. The combination of good weather, manageable tourist numbers, and a town full of friendly bears makes the timing feel close to perfect. Pack layers for evenings — it cools down after dark.
Official event passes and individual event tickets are sold through the Bear Week website. Buy early for the pool parties and closing night, which tend to sell out. Some events are free or donation-based. Sitges has a good range of accommodation but it fills up quickly for Bear Week — book 4–6 months ahead if possible. The tourist office in town and the seafront area are useful orientation points when you arrive.
The 2025 edition is based in Sitges, a short train ride from Barcelona. Most official events take place along the Sitges waterfront and in the town's bars and clubs. Barcelona makes an excellent base for the week.
