I’ve been in love with Carnival, or Carnaval, since I was a kid, when the movie Rio came out. If you’ve seen it, you know what I’m talking about: the bright colors, feather bikinis, massive parades, and samba!

At 13 I would imagine my trip to Brazil where I got to put on my costume and dance on top of a float, just like in the movies.

Well, 11 years later, I found myself taking the first steps to make my dream come true: attending Barcelona’s Carnival. Read on to learn more about the best festival of the year!

If you grew up in the US, you might know Carnival as Mardi Gras: the pre-Lent celebrations full of drinking, crowds, and celebrations in New Orleans. They’re days of joy and laughter before our 40-day fast and Easter, so you can never go wrong with doing the absolute most.

The Carnival celebration is similar all over the world, but in Europe they do something that Americans don’t: go full out in costumes.

It made plenty of sense to me when I first learned about it; Carnival happens at the end of winter when it’s always a good idea to wear layers and bring a jacket. I’m used to feathers, glitter, and the most bejeweling you’ve ever seen in your life. But the more conservative European tradition is just as fun and perfect if you need a slow introduction to the wild outfits!

Locals say costumes there are supposed to be funny or witty, like Halloween in the States.

I didn’t have anything witty in mind, but I was considering a 70’s themed look. In my search I came across the perfect outfit: a bright green and orange!

The moment I saw it, I knew the Holy Spirit had led me to it. I wanted the biggest afro, as much jewelry as I could carry, and I wanted to be covered head to toe in glitter.

It came together perfectly, the best of both experiences: European Carnival costumes with the America’s vibrant glamour!

Editor’s Pick

Amour Abroad Tumbler

From the train ride to the parade, our tumbler is made for every adventure.

Getting to Sitges is a relatively simple trip on a regular day. It’s a small family beach town located Southwest of Barcelona.

The train ride from Barcelona is about an hour long and costs 9 Euros for a round trip ticket – traveling by bus or car takes 35 minutes since Barcelona upgraded to some of the super fast trains.

But if you’re traveling with a group, you’ll want to consider buying tickets with an excursion company that provides transportation. Everyone in the city will be there, so it’s a lot easier to book with a tourist agency.

Sitges Carnival begins when the King of Carnival rides into town. For a week there are massive parades, 24-hour parties, and outdoor family activities.

I attended on the third day. The bus dropped us off on the main road just as the parade was about to begin. As I stepped off the bus, I was met with the sight of thousands of people in bright colored costumes dancing in the streets. It was cold, but I could see immediately that the weather wouldn’t stop a thing.

As we made our way downtown, we could see how much fun everyone was having. It had everything, from kids running around with face paint and bubble guns to adults holding costume competitions in the street.

The Parade!

By the time we found a spot the parade had begun. I watched in amazement as I saw my first Carnival float. It was a pink flamingo the size of a two-story building covered in vibrant pink feathers and jewels. Dancers stood on each part of the body in glittering flamingo outfits and silver heels.

Behind them came a column of men wearing what I could only compare to Hawaiian hula outfits: bejeweled bottoms and flowing capes bluer than the ocean, accented with peacock feathers around their shoulders and gold bangles on the ankles and wrists.  

Every float was magnificent, followed by trains of people dancing to salsa, samba, and all the reggaeton you know and love.

Partying Tips

Sitges is well known for its self-proclaimed status as the Gay Capital of Europe. If you can imagine what that would look like during a regular festival, multiply it by 10 and that might capture the vibe of Carnival. While there were plenty of bars and clubs to attend, the ones with a rainbow flag in front had the most energy.

We checked out different bars until we found one complete with reggaeton, low-priced drinks, and conga lines. For 3 hours we drank, danced, and limboed. I even found myself in a dance competition—which I won!

After a spectacularly failed round of group jump rope, it was time to go home. And by the magic of Carnival, we were right on schedule and found our way back to the bus.

Editor’s Pick

Amour Abroad Tumbler

From the train ride to the parade, our tumbler is made for every adventure.

Here’s how you’re going to have the best Carnival experience:

First, have your transportation ready BEFORE you leave for the parades! Pay for your transportation and set a pick up/drop off locations and times before you leave. Calling an Uber or taxi take forever because of how crowded it gets (not to mention the prices will draw tears from your eyes).

Second, bring your own alcohol! The prices are exuberant, so be sure to bring some along with you.

Third, find the bathrooms BEFORE you start partying! Find a good hidden potty spot and make sure you talk to the owner so they know your face. The whole town will be packed before the sun sets, so you’ll want to have a trusty spot in case lines get too long. And bring tissue!

Fourth, eat before you go and bring snacks!

Finally, bring a fanny pack & a portable charger!

Thanks for Reading

Carnival is by far my favorite holiday and one of my favorite memories to date. If you get the chance to go, go! You will never regret it—in fact, you might just kick start a new Easter tradition.

What other festivals have you heard about? Share it below!