Hi everyone, planning a trip to Spain without much time (due to some uncertainty around work. Anyway!). We're planning to go during the last two weeks of March, driven by kids' spring break schedule. I'm a little concerned about the weather, but we will take what comes!

My husband and I have both been to Spain separately and on our own over the years (Madrid in 2001, Barcelona in 2006, and Andalusia region in 2019), but this will be our first time the kids, who are 7 and 9 years old. We will fly from NYC, red eye flight one evening to get there the next day. My questions for you:

1. Flight prices being equal, better to see Madrid or Barcelona first? I'm leaning Barcelona first and saving the bigger city when we're more acclimated at the end but am going back and forth What do you think?
2. For the split, I'm thinking 4 nights in Barcelona and 5 nights in Madrid because it seems like there are more day trips from Madrid. Thoughts?
3. And on day trips, I'm leaning towards doing 1-2 from Madrid and just 1 from Barcelona. Would love to hear your picks, specifically what would be interesting for the kids.
   • Barcelona: Monsterrat or Sitges? Other options that I have come across: Tibidabo, Girona
   • Madrid: Toledo and Segovia. Other options: El Escorial, Avila, Salamanca

Thanks so much for any thoughts you can share!

I have visited both cities numerous times times but without children ( not much help in that respect )

For the time you planed in Barcelona, I would not go very far.
Tibidabo ( I liked it ..an adult )the beach areas, park Guell etc
Sitges is a beach town, nice on a sunny day
Girona is lovely but I don’t know what would be interesting for children .
We liked Tarragona, never visited Montserrat.
In Madrid ., the kids may enjoy park Retiro, perhaps part of the Palace, visit to the bullring ( not the actual show).
I found El Escorial big and rather glum.
Salamanca is beautiful but not an easy day trip.
Toledo is very popular and crowded with number of famous sights, Segovia and its
Alcazar may be more fun for the children.
The weather in March could be rainy / or not in either city
If Madrid museums are not on your itinerary, perhaps there is more for kids in Barcelona .
You know their interests.

IMO, danon has given some great advice! Just a few observations from another traveler who has not visited these locations with children:

• I love both these cities, but tend to think of Barcelona as having a greater range of interesting sites than Madrid -- but maybe that just reflects my interests. If your goal is to end in the city with more "to do" at the end, I'd encourage you to think through your plans before committing.

• I could easily take many day trips from either city. Again, I think it depends on your interests. Re: you options from Madrid --
  • Like danon, I found El Escorial a bit oppressive. I'm glad I saw it, but am not sure that it would appeal to children.
  • I loved Salamanca, but like danon, I don't think it makes for an easy day trip from Madrid.
  • And again like danon, my guess is that children might enjoy Segovia.
  • To be repetitive -- I enjoyed Avila; I'm not sure whether it would appeal to children.

• Re: you options from Barcelona --
  • I'm not sure if children would enjoy the abbey in Montserrat, but the trip there? I think they'd love it! And maybe some walks in the area? I could be wrong, but think it worth exploring.
  • I haven't been to Tarragona or Sitges yet, but can imagine children enjoying the Roman ruins in Tarragona far more easily than I can imagine them enjoying Sitges.
  • Have you considered Figueres? The Dali museum(s) in FIgueras might be of interest to children.

Hope that helps!

Catalonia is filled with many wonders. For some of them you will need a car. I like Sant Miquel del Fai, which has a monastery, grottoes, a waterfall, and many unusual geological and historic features.

Thank you all for the wonderfully helpful comments! I'm looking through now and will let you know how we book.

Starting your journey in Barcelona and concluding in Madrid is a practical choice. Barcelona's coastal location offers a slightly milder climate in March, which can be a gentle introduction for your family.
Spain's efficient train system, particularly the high-speed AVE trains, can make intercity travel comfortable and swift, enhancing your family's travel experience.

I forgot to mention one area of Madrid ,not well known to tourists, that local families enjoy ...the river Manzanares, ( yes, Madrid has a river. 🙂
If you google Madrid Rio and Parque Madrid Rio ……you will find more information.

I would think that Monserrat would be memorable experience for your kids. It's been many years since I was there but the cable car ride was awesome and the concept of how this was built many centuries ago.

As much as I have enjoyed Salamanca and the incredible architecture, not sure kids would enjoy. With Avila, it is an impressive site to see an intact walled city and to see the aqueduct in Segovia.

In Barcelona, Parque Guell comes to mind and in Madrid, El Retiro is a lovely park to spend time in.

Hi everyone, I wanted to share where we are with our planning after booking flights, train, and hotels this week. Thanks again for all of your advice.
I will either do a trip report or update this thread once we're back from our trip to share what went well, the day trips we ended up taking, and any helpful tips for families in particular.

We will fly into Barcelona from NYC - red eye flight
Barcelona for 4 nights
Train to Madrid on the 5th day
Madrid for 5 nights

I think going to Barcelona first will be a good way for us to ease into the trip. There's more to see in the city itself and by the time we get to Madrid, a bigger city with more day trips potential, we will be well acclimated. Open to other suggestions/tips as we further plan - thank you all again!

This is what I was thinking as well, and that's what we landed on - thank you!

Avila is nice and you can have really good meat there but I would skip it . Toledo and Segovia are closer and reachable by train. If you rather renting a car, if you visit Segovia, you can also go to La Granja, that is worth a visit.

Salamanca is far and you should decide because it will be too much, if you are also staying in Madrid.