The best gay beach town on the Mediterranean?

The boys. The beaches. The tapas! Sitges, a small village on Spain’s Mediterranean coast is a must-visit stop for any Queer traveler who loves sunshine, a vibrant nightlife, and great food. Just a short 40 minute train ride from of Barcelona, Sitges has long been recognized as one of the world’s must-visit Queer destinations. The town’s population of about 30,000 quadruples during the summer months, and by one estimate, 30% of the population is gay! That makes it continental Spain’s most popular gay destination.

What’s there: During the day, the gays gather on the Platja de la Bassa Rodona gay beach right in the center of town, the nude (and gay) Playa de las Balmins beach on the other side of town, or trek out to Platja de l’Home Mort, one of the first gay beaches in the world. It’s worth the hike.

After the sun goes down, visit any of Sitges’s 23 (!!!) gay bars and clubs with one for almost every flavor of Queer. The cute boys gather at B*tch Bar (formerly SoHo Bar), the bears mingle at Bear Bar, while the more adventurous get lost in the dark rooms and mazes of Bunker and Bukkake. Just remember, the Spanish eat late and party late: dinner doesn't start until 8:30 or 9, and the clubs don’t get going until 3. Sadly, Sitges’ only Lesbian bar closed a few years ago, but true to the Queer spirit, women are welcome just about anywhere. 

But don’t think this is just the ultimate party town—it’s truly what you make of it. Whether you want the party, or a lazy time by the beach (or some combo of both), you can find it all in Sitges.

When to go: The beach season in Sitges is just about to begin: the weather warms up and the sun starts to shine in April and continues well into September. Sitges holds its own pride festival and parade in June (this year, June 5-9), and swells with spill-over muscle boys around Barcelona’s Circuit Festival (August 10-18). The village hosts not one but two Bear Weeks—a smaller gathering in the spring (April 26-May 1) and a larger one in the fall (in September, dates TBA).

Where to stay and how to get there: Sitges doesn’t have any gay-specific hotels or guest houses (the gays really take over the whole town), but the place is full of rooms to fit any budget—from luxury stays to lodgings for those on a budget to beautiful Airbnb’s. Sitges doesn’t have its own airport, but is about 30 minutes by car or train from BCN. 

In just a few days, a number of cities will erupt in bright pink with the blooming of Japanese cherry trees all across the U.S. The trees, called 桜 or sakura in Japanese, are the national flower of Japan and are widely grown for their ornamental flowers. But—the beautiful blooms only last one to two weeks, giving visitors only limited time to take in their magnificence. Many, including the trees which line the Tidal Basin on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., were given as gifts as tokens of friendship between the Japanese and American people. Here are a few places you can find the beautiful trees in the U.S., and when they’ll bloom:

That’s not all! Fagabond has a list of eight more U.S. cities that will soon be in bloom with Cherry Blossoms, and The Points Guy has a list of the best places around the world to stay for Cherry Blossom season. Spring has sprung!

We’re always on the hunt for top-tier experiences that welcome all and won’t break the bank—here are this week’s faves ✨