Madrid vs Barcelona travel

If you want to visit Spain, Barcelona and Madrid are 2 of the main cities that you need to check out. But if you only have time for one and not two, which is the better option? As expected, there are both pros and cons related to traveling here, and here’s what you need to know before going to Barcelona or Madrid.

Tourist attractions

There’s no denying that both cities are a beautiful destination, and they have a plethora of tourist attractions. If we talk about what to do in Madrid, here you can find the royal palace, the Prado Museum, Retiro Park, Reina Sofia Museum, Gran Via, the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, along with Plaza Major and Puerta del Sol, among others.

On the other hand, Barcelona has Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Casa Batllo, Montjuic Hill and the magic fountain, the Barceloneta Beach, La Rambla, Barri Gotic and many others. Clearly, both spots are great when it comes to stuff you can see and do. In the end, it comes down to personal preference and what you like the most.

Culture and art

When it comes to both art and culture, these cities thrive and truly stand out with their unique features. Madrid is a go-to destination if you love art and renaissance art in particular. Barcelona, on the other hand, is really exciting if you love architecture and art as well. Classic art is where Madrid shines, whereas Barcelona is more for those that enjoy modern art, aesthetics and visuals. Clearly, you can’t go wrong with any of them, and it’s totally worth something to consider. At the end of the day, they are wonderful places to explore, and well worth a shot.

Local food

Naturally, as you visit Spain, you will try to immerse yourself in the local food, too. Madrid has a lot of the stuff people love, such as bocadillos de calamares, tortilla or the jamon iberico. That being said, in Barcelona you have a lot of basque, mediterranean and Catalan influences. When in Barcelona, you can try out the pa amb tomaquet, escalivada or the botifarra. All of these are great dishes to check out, and they are certainly worth considering.

Nightlife

Some people want to visit Spain because they know the nightlife here is quite impressive. Both cities are great from this perspective. For example, you have a lot of discos, not to mention restaurants tend to be open late as well. If you want to go for the authentic nightlife in Spain, Madrid might be the better option. Barcelona is better for electronic clubs and beach parties, though, so keep that in mind.

Outdoors and beaches

Naturally, Madrid doesn’t have any coastline. However, it does have large parks and you can go to mountain towns like Segovia, if you want. But it’s the large city experience, which some people might like, others might not. That being said, Barcelona has scenic hills, a great set of beaches, and overall a better variety. If you want to visit one of the two cities and want a great outdoor experience, then Barcelona is usually the top option in this situation.

Transportation

When you visit a large city like Barcelona or Madrid, it’s important to have good transportation. Thankfully, both of them have a very good transportation system. However, each city has its strengths and challenges. Madrid is great for regional access and speed. Barcelona is walkable and more compact as a city. That’s why biking here could get you from point A to point B rather quickly.

Culture and language

Both cities are in Spain, so they should have the same language, right? Madrid has Spanish spoken pretty much universally in there. Some people speak English, too, but there are way less English speakers here rather than Barcelona.

Speaking of Barcelona, it has a major Catalan identity, and you will encounter Catalan and Spanish speakers here. That being said, as we mentioned earlier, a lot of people in Barcelona speak English, because it’s a major tourist spot. It offers a lot more diversity and a European focus, which is something to keep in mind.

Costs

It’s always important to budget everything accordingly and focus on ensuring that you avoid overspending. Madrid has cheaper hotels, especially if you go outside of the center, and the food itself also tends to be cheaper. Barcelona has higher prices especially during the summer, and food prices are all over the place, from very cheap to extremely expensive. There will be cheap and expensive spots in all regions, too.

Safety

When we talk about large cities, there can always be all kinds of dangers, such as thieves. Pickpockets tend to be a problem in both cities, especially in Barcelona. With that in mind, Madrid is slightly safer. However, you still need to take precautions, you must stay safe and avoid taking expensive items with you.

The best time to visit

The ideal time to visit Barcelona is usually either in the spring or early summer. However, the Mediterranean climate makes it suitable for a visit throughout the year. However, July and August have a higher humidity and larger crowds, so those months can be a challenge. If you want to go to Madrid, you may want to go either in the spring or autumn. The summer in Madrid is usually very hot. It’s common to encounter temperatures over 38 degrees Celsius, so it can be difficult to breathe unless you go in the shade.

Conclusion

Visiting Barcelona or Madrid is a great idea, but it comes down to what you are looking for. Both cities have a lot of attractions to offer and things to do. However, depending on what you like, one of them might be a better option when compared to the other. And on top of that, the time of the year will matter, because summers can be very crowded, so avoiding those is always a great idea. Take all these ideas into account and we guarantee you won’t have a problem picking your next Spanish destination in no time!