Hello!

So, I´ll be going to a trip to Spain for one month and I am given the choice to stay in Barcelona or Malaga. I know both cities have their own charm, though I do not know which one to choose.

I do know Malaga has astonishing beaches (and that´s a nice thing for me), though Barcelona seems to be a much more interesting city (art, nightlife, etc).

what would you recommend??

What month, because the beach may not matter. But Barcelona has a small beach in the city and many others nearby.

They are two very different cultures. Malaga has a strong Moorish influence while Barcelona is the soul of Catalunya.

From Malaga you can visit numerous other towns and cities. Not that there not other towns to visit in Catalunya, they are just as compelling as say Seviila and Granada.

But Barcelona has its own joie de vivre and its own culture that is older than the Moors.

Barcelona is one of my favorite cities but southern Spain is quite interesting.

I also assume you can not split your time between them.

When? What are your interests? How would either spot fit in with the rest of your plan?

They are two very different cultures. Malaga has a strong Moorish influence while Barcelona is the soul of Catalunya.

Hi we did a month in Spain and travelled around by train a couple of years ago. Would definately stay in the south, so many cool places to see. Malaga is not one of them, but great if you can get to Seville, Ronda and see the Mesquita in Cordoba and the Alhumbra in Granada. Barcelona was interesting, I loved Gaudi's architecture and amazing talent, but not my most favorite city. Can you visit Barcelona by train from the South?

Hi! Thanks for the answers!
I am actually going to work there. I was given the option to choose between these cites, that's why I do not have a clue.

They haven't told me the month yet unfortunatelly, since they are still arranging things I assume.

That's why I am not able to split my time between them both, if not I would have done that for sure

no question Barcelona. I am assuming you are a young professional as you don't say much about yourself. Malaga ...well if I had a month in Spain I could give Malaga a miss but BCN is interesting...I don't think the beaches are that great in either city...crowded and offensive in season but then I'm not a young professional. But really you probably would really enjoy BCN and lots of day trips to take on the weekends. Lucky you.

Three thousand year old Malaga is genuine Andalucian atmosphere, great museums, cafes, tapas bars, theaters, nightlife etc. etc. You shouldn't skip Malaga for lack of art and nightlife.

"City of museums: Málaga bets on culture to draw tourists and talent": http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...-culture-spain

"Málaga, Spain’s Self-Appointed New Arts Hub": http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/25/ar...-hub.html?_r=1

"Malaga: Spain's best kept Secret": http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...pt-secret.html

And you are 50 mins from Cordoba, once the most advanced city in the western world, 90 mins from Granada with the world famous Alhambra, 60 mins from the spectacular Nerja caves where people lived more than 30 000 years ago, 40 mins from wonderful Antequera, the first of the Granada emirate towns to fall to the Christians (1410), and less than two hours train ride from Sevilla, the undisputed queen of the cities in the south.

But Barcelona is of course something very special, and you'll have a greater variety of fabulous and very different central districts to explore.

Two very different cities, and a very tough choice...

Of course they are very different, Barcelona is much larger, much more to do, and more cosmopolitan. I'd choose it without question. Not to mention, can easily go to France without much trouble, and with AVE, can go to Madrid quickly, etc.

I care zero about beaches.

If I had a month in Spain I could give Barcelona a miss. To each his/her own, I guess.
I love the atmosphere of southern Spain, the culture. I even love the beaches of La Malagueta and Pedregalejo, and eating boquerones and espetos de sardinas on the beach.
And Málaga is close enough to the cultural triangle for weekend excursions.

Fabulous food markets in both cities, but had the best lunch in a long time in the Atarazanas food market in Malaga not long ago. Far less tourists than in the famous Boqueria in Barcelona. Saturday lunch here is something special, could easily make it a ritual. Delicious oysters, conchas finas, navajas, shrimp and meat skewers etc. etc, groups of friends and families, loud and crowded, lots of GTs around... http://eastofmalaga.net/2014/07/25/w...ry-perception/

And Malaga is of course also on the high speed AVE line, 2h 30 mins to Madrid city center to city center.