Please help me decide, Madrid or Barcelona??
 

I have a week vacation before xmas or during springbreak and would like to spend it in j one of the above mentioned cities. I have never been to spain and was wondering which city will I get more of. Which city has more to offer in terms of musuems, sights, good food, daytrips etc. Your opinion will be greatly appreciated. By the way what is the weather like during march? Thanks again.

I can only tell you my own opinion based on my experience. I spent 3 months in Madrid years ago when I was in college. And I've been to Barcelona twice (once for 4 days and the other time for 9 days). Despite the fact that Barcelona has a sever problem with pickpockets (see the web page http://www.jones.tc/barna/scams.html) <BR>I would still pick Barcelona any day over Madrid. Wonderful architecture with the Gaudi buildings, etc., in Barcelona. Madrid seemed boring and stuffy in comparison (except for the Prado museum..that's far and away the highlight of Madrid).

vvvvv: <BR> <BR>This is so tough and of course it has been asked many times on this thread but,my final answer is Barcelona. I do love Madrid though! <BR> <BR>Happy Travels <BR>Oaktown <BR>

My partner and I have been to Spain several times. We would pick Barcelona over Madrid any day. One of two other-city trips I might take as day trips are to the Prado in Madrid and to the Guggenheim in Bilbao. You might be able to find a bus/coach tour from your Barcelona hotel to one of those sites. There is supposed to be a great Picasso museum north of Barcelona in a charming town, but I have not been to it.

Thanks for your feedback!!!

Both cities are well worth your time, but pickpocketry is at its best in Barcelona. We are "seasoned" travellers, but are just now getting all the credit cards, licenses, etc., straightened out after a May visit to Barcelona which was cut short by an afternoon spent in non-English speaking police station. Take all precautions!

Just to be contradictory...I will vote for Madrid. Since you have never been to Spain before, Madrid seems to me the place to start. The Prado is not to be missed, and although the Picasso and Miro museums in Barcelona are good, the sheer amount of masterpieces in Madrid crushes the Barcelona museums. And while Barcelona is a much more cosmopolitan city, nightlife in Madrid is incredible, and I would not call itstuffy in the least. But since Barcelona is so much more cosmopolitan, I found it to have much less "Spanish" atmosphere than Madrid. Additionally, Toledo and Segovia are easy daytrips from Madrid, and both are astounding architecturally and historically.

Having lived in Barcelona for two years as a student, and travelled frecuently to Madrid, I would take Barcelona any day of the week and twice on sundays. <BR> <BR>For: <BR> <BR>Architecture: Barcelona beats Madrid. By far. <BR> <BR>Museums: Madrid has the advantage. By far. <BR> <BR>Day trips: From Madrid, you can go to Toledo (quite impressive), Segovia (very nice), El Escorial (huge, monolithic, a bit boring), the Valley of the Fallen (if you like fascist architecture, there's nothing better), La Granja (also quite nice). From Barcelona, you can go to Girona (nice Medieval town, compared to Toledo is less impressive but more charming), Figueres (the Dali museum rocks!), Tarragona (nice Roman ruins) or any of three monasteries: Montserrat (impressive setting, overcommercialized place), Poblet (impressive setting, impressive place), and Santas Creus (impressive setting, interesting place). If you go in December, you can also go skiing to Andorra. <BR> <BR>Food: About equal. <BR> <BR>Nightlife: About equal. <BR> <BR>"Spanish" atmosphere: Madrid has lots, Barcelona has none. <BR> <BR>"Cosmopolitan" atmosphere: Madrid has little (some define Madrid as a huge little Castillian town). Barcelona has lots. <BR> <BR>Shopping: About equal. But Barcelona is easier. <BR> <BR>Safety: As much as people have demonized Barcelona, I'd say they are about equal. <BR> <BR>Hope this helps. <BR> <BR>BTW, weather in march is WAY better in Barcelona.

Seems like everyones missed the point here! Do BOTH cities! 2 or 3 days in Madrid and the rest in wonderful Barcelona. The train between the two cities is quite pleasant too.

Thought about that for a second, though the only reasonable way to do it would be flying. <BR> <BR>A train would consume a lot of hours.

Never been to Madrid, but I absolutely loved Barcelona! We were there at the end of March last year and the weather was, for the most part (it rained a couple days) very nice.