Every October, Sitges becomes the world capital of fantastic cinema. For ten days the town fills with filmmakers, press, distributors and fans. If you are coming for work, the question is not whether to come, but where to live while you are here.
The festival in one paragraph
The Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia runs its 59th edition from 8 to 18 October 2026. Screenings are spread across the Auditori Meliá, the Retiro and Prado cinemas and several pop-up venues, and the industry programme (markets, pitching sessions, networking events) runs in parallel. Most people who work the festival arrive a few days before it opens and leave a few days after it closes, which is why a month-long stay is often the most practical option.
Hotel or apartment? The honest comparison
| Criteria | Hotel in Sitges (October) | Furnished monthly apartment |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Sold out months ahead, prices double | One booking, whole period covered |
| Space to work | A desk in the corner of the room | A dedicated office, a living room, a terrace |
| Cooking, laundry | Restaurants and laundry service | Full kitchen, washing machine, real routine |
| Team of 3 to 5 | Three to five rooms, three to five bills | Three bedrooms, one invoice to the company |
| Quiet at night | Depends on the street | Residential area, ten minutes from the noise |
Where to base yourself
The old town and the seafront
Closest to the cinemas and the festival buzz. Wonderful for a weekend, tiring for ten working days: narrow streets, late nights and very little parking.
El Vinyet
The quiet residential neighbourhood just west of the centre, along the promenade. Low-rise buildings, gardens and pools, and the beach a minute away. From here you walk to the Auditori in about ten minutes along the sea, and you sleep in silence. This is where our apartment is.
Aiguadolç and Els Molins
Around the marina, east of the centre. Pleasant, but a longer walk to most venues and further from the train station.
Getting around during the festival
- From Barcelona airport: about 30 minutes by taxi or car. By train, Renfe R2 from El Prat via Barcelona Sants to Sitges, roughly one hour in total.
- From Barcelona city: R2 train from Sants or Passeig de Gràcia to Sitges, about 35 minutes, several trains per hour.
- Inside Sitges: everything is walkable. From El Vinyet to the Auditori Meliá is a flat ten-minute walk along the promenade.
What a month in Sitges costs versus ten hotel nights
Hotel prices in Sitges during the festival regularly exceed what the same room costs in July. A furnished apartment for a month, with WiFi and all utilities included, often ends up cheaper per person for a small team than ten nights in two or three hotel rooms, and you get a home, not a corridor. Ask us for an exact quote for your dates: our price depends on the season and the length of stay, and stays of two months or longer are discounted.
Beyond the festival
October in Sitges is also the harvest festival (Festa de la Verema, early October), warm sea temperatures that still allow swimming, and long light evenings. Many festival guests extend into November, when the town empties and the rates drop. If you are considering a longer working stay, our guide to winter in Sitges explains what to expect.
Stay a month or more, one minute from the beach.
A premium 3-bedroom apartment with a home office, terrace and pool in El Vinyet, Sitges. Direct from the owners, WiFi and utilities included.
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