The Ultimate Decision on the Barcelona vs. Madrid Debate

Friday, October 8th, 2010, 8:22 am

Cannot decide whether you should visit Barcelona or Madrid? Well, you are not alone. Many people have asked this question before. Let us make your decision easier with this post. See which city you should pick…

We must say that both Madrid and Barcelona are great cities. You have a couple options there:

#1: Some say that the best way to decide between the two is it to toss a coin. Both cities have a lot to offer. You will enjoy both places.
#2: If you are like your boss (a person who cannot make decisions ) a good strategy is to go to both places.
#3: If you are not like your boss and also a person who likes to make better informed decision than tossing a coin here are some pros and cons about each city:

Common things:

Comparing Barcelona to Madrid is like comparing a Playstation to an X-Box. Both are good in different ways. However there are a few similarities. Both cities have:

Great soccer/football clubs
Lively night life
Mouth watering gastronomy
Beautiful architecture and art
Great museums

Madrid

Photo: roel

Pros

More Spanish. It is easier to get a sense of Spain
Better tapas culture, best place for tapas hopping
Better nightlife
Less touristy than Barcelona, more Spanish authenticity
World famous soccer/football club (Real Madrid)
Flamenco shows and bull fights (apologies if that’s a con for you… )
Madrid gastronomy represents the very best of Spain from every region

Cons

Capital city feel
Larger city, it takes longer to get around
Incredibly hot during summer

Barcelona

Photo: Carlos Lorenzo

Pros

More beautiful architecturally
More modern and progressive
More accessible and accommodating to tourists
More versatile – More variety in the things to do in Barcelona
Beach town – More on Barcelona beaches
More exciting and lively city
More creative and complex cuisine (Catalan)
More European, more cosmopolitan city
Smaller city. It is easier to get around – More on Barcelona’s public transportation
Barcelona attractions are closer to each other
Great Football club (FC Barcelona)
Better climate, more bearable during summer (still hot) – More on Barcelona weather

Cons

More touristy
More tourist crime
Gastronomy more limited to Catalan cuisine

First Travel to Barcelona

As you could see both cities are good in different ways. It is easier however to get a hang of Barcelona for the first time. Madrid is harder to crack. You need more time to really have a great time in Madrid. People tend to go back to Barcelona. That is less true for Madrid.

If you are a first time visitor and you really cannot do both cities, we recommend that you choose Barcelona.

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