Traveling From Barcelona to Sitges Then BCN

It's about 40mins to Girona on a fast AVE train service, and a bit less to the AVE station on the outskirts of Tarragona. Sitges is on an inter urban service (Rodalies Line R2 Sud) and takes 40-45mins from Passeig de Gracia.

All 3 make for a good break. It really depends on your desired experience.

ps. Over the years a ritual has developed with my Barcelona friends where each visit we always lunch in Sitges, usually in the same seafront restaurant, and usually eating the same thing.
-fried chiperones
-fideua con alioli
-extremely chilled Penedes white wine

One key difference among the three places David offered is that Girona (which is lovely) is not on the coast and the other two are. Tarragona has Roman ruins. Sitges is much smaller. I think there's enough in Stiges to keep slow travelers occupied for a couple of days if they want a chill experience, but it seemed to me to have less to offer than Girona (beach aside). I haven't been to Tarragona.

acraven, thanks for expanding on my offering ... I got distracted by thoughts of food.

Shyla,
We've stayed an afternoon and overnight in Sitges primarily since it was so close to BCN and our made returning our rental car quite easy. Lot's of beach, beach clubs and mobs of beach-goers (early July); however, I was not charmed by the city at all. For two days after Barcelona, you may want to consider Girona for it's history, charm, etc.; add perhaps, a day trip over to Figueres or Pubol for a bit of Dali). Sorry, but I've not been to Tarragona.
You didn't mention whether you were using public trans or renting a car - it's no small consideration when planning the day/days prior to departure.
Buen viaje.

SITGES: Being so close to Barcelona, this is a visit that can be day escapade as there are plenty of trains every hour and the journey barely takes 40'. I'm saying this because changing hotels is always a pain in the neck, with all the packing/unpacking.... isn't it? As per the town, is a cosy small town (pop 28000) which from Jun to Sep almost treble its population with visitors from all over Europe. It has a very charming centre. Since the 60s, it's a very popular destination in Europe, and it's been often named the Catalan answer to St Tropez.

GIRONA: considered the second capital of Catalonia, after Barcelona. It's a small city (pop 96000) which makes it "cosier" and more manageable than say Barcelona or Tarragona. Its historical centre is very well preserved -some scenes of last season's Game of Thrones were recorded there- and it has a romantic small river which at night offers some amazing views. Easily reachable in under 40' from Sants station in Barcelona -which is the one you'd be using as well to go to the airport!- on a high-speed train.

TARRAGONA: the former capital of the most western province of the Roman Empire (current pop 135000). If you're into history, this is like a mini version of Rome, with a city wall, a circus, an aqueduct, an amphitheatre, several temples, a proper archaeological museum, a provincial forum, a paleochristian necropolis... Also easily reachable from Sants station in Barcelona in under 40' on a high-speed train, or if you feel like a slower ride seeing the small towns along the way, a bit over an hour in a regional train -two each hour most hours.

So all can reached by train in about an hour? That's sounds great. Maybe we will choose two and do day trips! Packing up sure is a pain.. I think the hotel were staying at (Fairmont Rey Carlos I) is near the train station.

Yes, there's something relaxing about waking up in the morning and knowing that on that particular day you do not have to move to a new hotel! I spent several nights in Girona and used it as a base to get to Cadaques and Besalu, but you could see a lot of Girona on a day-trip from Barcelona. Especially if you get an early start. (That is my failing as a traveler...)

You and me both, acraven! But we made day trips to both Tarragona and Girona without "early" starts and were still very happy with our visits to both places. We actually started from Sitges on both of these day trips as a relative had a "free" villa to stay in there (where we enjoyed two weeks). If I had to chose two, it would be Sitges and Girona over Tarragona, but I'm probably a little prejudiced in favor of Sitges.

I'm with Janet on Girona and Sitges.

Not really Shyla, the location of that hotel is not particularly convenient, nor is central at all. Fortunately though, you have several bus lines and a metro stop (Zona Universitària). You might want to take that metro straight to Sants station and take the train to Sitges, Girona or Tarragona there. That metro journey is merely 20' or so. To go to the centre, the same line will take you to Drassanes (by the Old Port marina) or to Pl. Catalunya... in all it's say 45' to Pl. Catalunya.

Map of the metro

For those not accustomed to taking the metro -or any other public form of transportation- this is the most convenient manner to move about in Barcelona. The public transport system (metro, bus, tramway and train) is inexpensive, clean, efficient, totally safe and very convenient. Most Barcelonians use it.

One good news about the location of that hotel is that if you're flying in, you can take the metro from the airport straight to the hotel... line L9Sud

On another matter... if you're visiting in May, don't forget to drop by the Roserar de Cervantes, a public park just a stone throw away from the hotel you're staying in that has over 10,000 rosebushes of some 2,000 species and different varieties that, at the peak flowering period – between May and July – may produce 150,000 roses blooming at a time. Equally, not far from there you have the Jardins del Palau de Pedralbes, another public garden worth strolling to disconnect from the busy city. If anyone likes music and is visiting in June/July, there's a famous music festival held in these gardens. And lastly, a bit further, yet on a pleasant stroll, the monastery of Pedralbes is one of the great visits in the area which, for now, is quite "tourist-free", LOL! Lovely retreat, really worth a visit.

Enjoy!