Barcelona and Madrid in 5 days??
 

Will be going to Barcelona for five days and nights. Is it worth taking a train for a day to Madrid to see Prado? Into art, architecture, and food. First time in Spain. Thank you for any suggestions.

I absolutely prefer Madrid to Barcelona as it simply has better architecture, food and art scene.

To me Barcelona is more or less a tourist trap, while Madrid a truly grand European capital.

Barcelona is fantastic : food, architecture ( Gaudi), the sea...
One of the most interesting cities in Europe.
If you wish to see Prado and a bit of Madrid, stay overnight.
The train tickets are expensive ( try to get the internet fair)
Madrid is very different city than Barcelona.
I like them both.
I have been to Madrid 3 times, to Barcelona five .

Thank you for your input. I do think I will have to stay in Barcelona as I do already have ticket there and seems a lot to do. Next trip I will go to Madrid, as 5 days is perhaps too rushed to see both cities. Thanks again!

I agree that 5 days is not enough to see both cities. You are wise to stay in Barcelona for the 5 days. We spent 5 days there last October & didn't see everything.