Madrid or Barcelona?
Which is the perfect city for your next Spanish trip?
Among the most popular Spanish tourist destinations, Madrid and Barcelona are often given pride of place. If you are short on time and you can’t decide which one to visit, you can consider their main differences making each one special in its own way.
Let’s see how you can choose between Madrid and Barcelona!
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Table of Contents
Madrid vs. Barcelona. Which one to visit?
Choose Madrid if…..
- You’d love to experience some authentic Spanish Movida.
Madrid is surnamed “La Ciudad que nunca duerme,” which means “The city that never sleeps,” just like New York! No wonder it’s full of bars and clubs of any kind! Every neighborhood has something different to offer in terms of nightlife, and you’ll be literally spoilt for choice, whatever your age or budget.
The most popular nightlife districts are Chueca, a formerly rundown area now famous for being tolerant, cosmopolitan, and open-minded; Malasaña, with its underground bars reminding of the 80s; the Gran Via, also named “the Broadway of Madrid” for its many theaters, and La Latina with its typical tapas bars and its traditional Spanish vibe.
- You feel like spending entire days visiting the best Spanish art museums.
Madrid is home to a couple of the most important European museums, and it’s the perfect destination for art lovers who would be delighted to spend several hours admiring the works painted by artists like Goya, Dalí, or Velazquez.
The so-called Paseo del Arte is an itinerary leading you to the main museums of Madrid: Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza, and Reina Sofia.
Book a Reina Sofía Museum Tour
Book your Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza Tickets
Book a skip the Line Prado Museum Entrance Ticket
- You want to spend a few days like a local
Of course, there are many international tourists around, but Madrid is still a very traditional city. In comparison to Barcelona and other Southern destinations, Madrid has kept an authentic atmosphere letting its visitors really experience the typical Spanish lifestyle. Here you’ll be able to enjoy a slower pace of life, which is decidedly uncommon nowadays, especially in a large and modern city!
- If you want to visit a couple of other famous destinations nearby
A few beautiful towns are easily reachable from Madrid in about one h by car or bus: Toledo, with its many churches, synagogues, and mosques, Segovia with its ancient Roman aqueduct, and Guadalajara, with the famous Palace of the Infantado.
Toledo and Segovia day trip. Explore the main attractions of Toledo and Segovia in this full-day tour that includes tickets to the Alcazar of Segovia.
Toledo day trip. If you are only interested in exploring Toledo, this day trip from Madrid is perfect for you.
- You love elegant cities.
Madrid is full of elegant mansions and refined buildings like the Royal Palace itself, home to the Spanish royal family. Nobility and charm are everywhere in Madrid: its streets and squares are extremely well-maintained and stylish, and also the El Retiro park is a glamorous oasis of peace at the heart of the city, offering 125 hectares of sculptures, flowerbeds, plants, and fountains.
Click here to book your Royal Palace Skip-the-Line Guided Tour.
- You are on a budget
Capital cities are usually expensive, but that’s not the case in Madrid! It’s one of the cheapest European capitals, and it’s the perfect destination for backpackers and young travelers on a budget.
Buy a City Pass to get several discounts and skip-the-line tickets, allowing you to save both money and time. Choose a B&B or a hostel in the city center, and eat plenty of tapas to cut the cost of accommodation and food while living your vacation to the fullest.
Click here for more information and to buy your Madrid City Pass.
- You prefer to walk around.
If you choose accommodation in the city center, you can avoid all public transport and simply walk while looking around and experiencing the local lifestyle. Even if it’s a modern capital, Madrid is still a city on a human scale!
- You love the Baroque style.
Madrid has an allure of nobility that cannot be ignored! That comes exactly from its main Baroque landmarks: the Royal Palace, the Santa Cruz Palace, Casa de la Villa, Plaza Mayor, and the Palace of Buen Retiro… to name a few!
- You only have a weekend.
The city center is relatively small, and all the main attractions are within walking distance, so a weekend is enough to get a glimpse of the local atmosphere. Of course, if you want to visit all the famous museums, churches, and palaces of Madrid, you’ll need to plan some extra time!
- You would like to spend a couple of hours by a peaceful lake.
Just go to the El Retiro park, rent a rowboat for a romantic afternoon with your loved one, or relax in nature, enjoying the view! In Madrid, nature is just around the corner!
Choose Barcelona if…
- You are a foodie
Catalan cuisine is one of the highlights of Barcelona! Here you’ll be able to taste some of the best Spanish gastronomic specialties: paella, bacalao alla Catalana (salt cod stew), pa amb tomaquèt (bread with tomato), crema catalana (a sort of crème brulée) and the famous tapas, of course! Visit also La Boqueria, which is the largest and most popular Spanish market!
You might like this Barcelona Tapas and Wine Small-Group Walking Tour.
- You feel like having a swim in the Mediterranean Sea.
Barcelona is a great destination if you want to combine sightseeing and beach life! The local bathing season starts mid-May, and it only ends late in September. With its 5 Km of golden sand, this city has something for everyone: from the vibrant chiringuitos of Barceloneta and the nudist beach of Marbella to the family beach of Nova Iquaria and brand new and quiet Llevant Beach, further away from the chaotic city center.
- You prefer architecture to art.
Barcelona rhymes with Gaudì, the greatest master of Catalan Modernism. He left his mark everywhere in town, but his most popular works are the unfinished Sagrada Familia, the colorful Park Güell, and the fairy Casa Battlò.
But a few other famous architects have contributed to the unique look of Barcelona: Lluís Domènech I Montaner with his Palau de la Musica, Richard Meier with the futuristic Contemporary Art Museum, and Santiago Calatrava with his white bridge and the TV tower.
Click here to book your Casa Milà Skip-the-Line Ticket with Audio Guide.
Click here to book your Palau de la Música Guided Tour.
Click here to book your skip-the-line tickets to Casa Batllo.
Click here to book your skip-the-line tickets to the Sagrada Familia.
Click here to book your skip-the-line tickets to Parl Guell.
- You’re a football fan.
Any football fan would be delighted to visit the famous Nou Stadium. It’s where the local team plays and trains every day, and it’s also the largest European stadium with a capacity of about 100.000 people. You can take a tour of the premises, changing rooms and press office included, and visit a museum dedicated to the Barcelona Club.
– Click here to book your Camp Nou and FC Barcelona Museum
- You’ll be traveling with kids.
Thanks to Gaudì, Barcelona is a colorful city that will surely please young kids! Moreover, an afternoon at the beach or at the Tibidabo amusement park will provide a highly appreciated break from sightseeing. In case of rain (which is not so common in Barcelona!), you can bring your kids to the local Aquarium, to the interactive Natural History Museum, or to the funny Museum of Illusions.
- You like bike tours
Barcelona has about 200 Km of bike lanes and several restricted traffic zones scattered through the city center and making it a bike-friendly city. The most popular places to enjoy bike rides are the beachfront and Montjuic Hill. If you prefer, join a guided tour like this one, Barcelona: Private 5 Neighborhoods Tour by Electric Bike, in order to explore the most popular districts with a local guide.
- You’ll be traveling in winter.
Winter is particularly mild in Barcelona, and you can find bright sunny days and a temperature of about 15°C even in January. Moreover, flights and accommodations are cheaper in the low season, while they can get really expensive in summer. Winter is generally quieter, so you’ll be able to go sightseeing at your own pace.
- You like watching street artists.
A stroll along the Rambla is a perfect occasion to enjoy several free shows! Street artists love to perform there at any time of the day, adding a cheerful and vibrant touch to this famous promenade.
- You are a shopping addict.
The so-called “Barcelona Shopping Line” covers a central area of about 5 km full of shops and boutiques for all tastes and budgets. Among the most popular shopping streets belonging to this commercial district, you can mainly focus on Avenida Diagonal, Passeig de Gràcia, and the Rambla, of course!
- You like folk dance
The local dance is called Sardana. It is danced in a circle while holding hands, and the music is provided by the Catalonian flute. It’s a cultural symbol of Catalan pride, and locals love to dance in the streets, so you might bump into a show anytime!
What if you want to visit both Madrid and Barcelona?
If you have at least one week, you can easily visit both Madrid and Barcelona during the same trip to Spain. You can take an AVE high-speed train that covers the distance between these cities in about three hours. When planning your itinerary, consider about 2-3 days for Madrid and 4-5 days for Barcelona!