I’ve been in love with Carnival (or Carnaval) since 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.

As a 13-year-old girl 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 in Sitges, Spain. If you find yourself in Europe around the end of February, this event is an absolute must-attend! Read on to learn more about the best Spanish 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, party crowds, and collecting beaded necklaces on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. We celebrate it as days of joy and laughter before the fast that leads to 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, sheer bodysuits and the most bejeweled bras 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.

The way my roommate explained the it to me, costumes there were supposed to be funny or witty, like Halloween in the States.

As this year’s Carnival was my first experience, I wanted to completely commit to the tradition. 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 set with a green lace brassiere.

The moment I saw it, I knew I was going to be a disco queen. I wanted the biggest afro, as much gold jewelry as I could fit on my body, and I wanted to be covered head to toe in glitter.

My plan was perfect, the best of both experiences: the costumes of European Carnivals with the bright colored glamour from the Americas!

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. My friends and I bought our tickets with Studentfy, who had us meet at our favorite bar D9, dropped us off just a few streets away from the parade, and brought us back home. Plus we got free shots before heading out!

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

I attended the Rua de la Disbauxa, or Debauchery Parade, which takes place on the third day and absolutely lives up to its name. I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, but when I arrived I had the time of my life.

We parked 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, I saw every outfit imaginable, from superheroes to Drag Queens. Kids ran around with face paint and bubble guns while adults held makeshift costume competitions in the street.

The Debauchery 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 loincloths 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 famous Latin music you know and love.

In the crowds, spectators danced and sang while sharing beer with strangers. We hugged and laughed and sang, screaming non-stop Bad Bunny and Maluma at the top of our lungs.

Clubbing 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 a dance competition, which I won thanks to my famous Latin hips and a new friend who – LUCKY ME – did not know how to vogue or death-drop!

After a spectacularly failed round of group jump rope, we knew 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.

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 ever ever regret – in fact, you might just kick start a new Easter tradition.

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 and all the walking and dancing will sober you up quickly, so keep a handy stash in your bag.

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!