Madrid or Barcelona?
 

If you had one week, which area would you spend it in?

Barcelona! Tons to do for all interests! Art, beauty, architecture, fabulous food. Easy to get around, ocean views.Night life, late nite dancing, great people. The Gaudi parks, buildings are amazing. <BR>

Definitely Barcelona! Gaudi's architecture, excellent food, art, ocean. There are also lots of options for day trips. Check out the tourist information center at Placa Catalunya--they can set you up with everything. Bus Turistic is a good way to see the sites; you get on and off as much as you want. You can buy a one-day or a two-day pass and there are two routes that the buses take.

I agree with the two previous posters, Barcelona is more exciting and has plenty to do. Besides the city itself, you can take day trips to Montserrat monestary and the cava sparkling wine country home of frexeneit and cordorniu wineries. You can also make a side trip to the Costa Brava with plenty of interesting things for Salvador Dali fans.

Barcelona definitelly!

Madrid the tourists have not ruined it yet!

Madrid has many charms -- the Prado alone is worth a transatlantic pilgramage -- but I found Barcelona magical. Reminds me of a Paris by the sea with its struggling artists and mad architecture and unique slant on the world. If it were my choice, I'd head for Catalonia and save Madrid for a later, longer trip to central and southern Spain (Madrid, La Mancha, Andalucia, etc.)

This is also my dilemna..is there not better "side trips" from Madrid - Salamanca, Segovia etc.? I'm interested in wine tastings/tourings as well as a few nice day trips. But I too have been told Barcelona proper is the best choice...

Barcelona definitely!

I cast another vote for Barcelona. You can also combine a day trip to the Costa Brava, just outside the city, if you want relaxing beach time.