I will be visiting a friend in Spain/Barcelona. We have the option of going for the weekend to Amsterdam or Milan. Which on will you pick and why?

What season?

One nice aspect of this question - - both choices are served by low-cost airlines - - see http://www.whichbudget.com/en/cheapflights.php?from=BCN for details.

Best wishes,

Rex

What do you want to experience - neither of the cities are particularly beautiful. Milan has fabulous shopping, and that's about it. Amsterdam has some shops (nothing wonderful) worth visiting. Milan will be cheaper for Italian designers.

I'd go with Milan, food far superior to Amsterdam!

Amsterdam has architecture, art and ambience galore. Agree it isn't the place for gourmet dining, but the Indonesian restaurants are very good. A great place for strolling, biking, taking the canal boat, art museums, and relaxing. Plenty to do over a weekend, and a good contrast to Spain.

I like Amsterdam for the same reasons, but Milan has a grand cathedral as well as other sites (everything is grander than Amsterdam). If I have to choose between italian vs indonesian cuisine, the answer is MILAN ! Honestly I would look into another city before I choose between the two.

Curious as to why you are having to choose between those 2 particular cities? Coming all the way from Spain. My friends who live in the region always have discouraged me from choosing Milan for a few day destination (went to Venice or Paris by train instead). Amsterdam is interesting for what it is. Neither are (to my mind) to-die-for destination options.

I get to Barcelona on September 17th Thursday, then we wanted to go somewhere cheap for the weekend before heading to India and Nepal. The two choices are Amsterdam or Milan for the low price airfare. I want to party & site seeing.
Thanks again for the suggestions,

Juan

To party, I'd guess Amsterdam instead of Milan.

Amsterdam absolutely! An extremely dynamic, youthful exuberant place. In attitude quite like Barcelona!

Picture a moving ballet of bicycles, boats, trolleys, autos and pedestrians navigating roads and canals lined with exquisite Flemish architecture picturesque residences, shops and restaurants. The people are as lovely and warm as you'll find anywhere. Excellent local cuisine if you know where to look.

Wonderful museums (Van Gogh - a whole museum! and Rijksmuseum w/Vermeers, Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Jan Steen more...) To visit Anne Frank's house is an unforgettable experience for any human being. Plenty to take in just strolling around any neighborhood.

Trolleys are great! And it's Spow not Spooey (Spui).

If you like nightlife you will have to be dragged bodily from the city.

So what are you waiting for?

kakalena

I would not hesitate to choose Milano over Amsterdam. 'Last supper' is THE greatest piece of art in the western civilization. Il Duomo has an athmosphere that I did not experienced anywhere else. I simply love this city.