Ginger1983

I'm traveling to Spain with my boyfriend for 6 days. It is his first trip and he would like to visit Barcelona. I have been to Spain once before and only visited Barcelona. Therefore, we would like to spend 2-3 days in Barclona and then one other city...please advise!
We are considering Seville, Madrid, San Sebastian or Minorca/Majorca. We are 26/28 yrs old, love food, culture, and wouldn't mind a bit of R&R as it will be the last stop on a long trip.

Pegontheroad

Sevilla is a wonderful city. That's the one I'd choose, but then I haven't been to San Sebastian, and I visited Majorca way back in the 60's, so I don't know what it's like now. Undoubtedly more touristy, I'd guess.

P_M

This is a very short trip. You could fill your 6 days in Barcelona and do a few day trips to places like Monsterrat. But if you must see 2 cities then be sure to fly into one city and fly home from the other.

I also love Seville but Madrid has a lot to offer too. If it's R&R you want then Seville might be better.

CathyM

I agree with P_M. With only 6 days I'd stick with visiting Barcelona and doing various daytrips. Or perhaps 4 nights Barcelona and 2 nights in Girona or Tarragona or even Mallorca.

Madrid & Barcelona are a good combination and the transport easy by train but 6 nights is very short for both.

If you choose Sevilla or San Sebastian you'd need to fly from Barcelona to these places (train/bus would eat up too much time). Then you'd also have to consider there are less fights back to the states from these cities so you may end up having to return to BCN the last night - which eats up more time. These are 2 of my favorite cities in Spain but you just are too short on time to combine with also visiting Barcelona (IMHO).

nytraveler

When will you be there. If June though Sept I would do San Sebastian - as the only place in Spain with decent weather. I love Andalusia - but it will be 100 degrees that time of year.

330east

I'm voting for Madrid. It's the capital, hey.

traveller1959

The train ride to Madrid takes just 2:30 - which is short enough even for a daytrip. And it's the capital and has lots to offer for everybody's taste.

Otherwise, you can rent a car for two days and drive up to Figueres (Dali museum), Cadaques (charming white town with more Dali) and Cap Creus (bizarre scenery). Along the drive, you will find zillions of beaches (Tossa de Mar is the most beautiful one).

lincasanova

There is so much to see around the Costa Brava, as mentioned. That should quench your thirst for nice beaches and relaxation ( unless we are talking August, in which case I would NOT go there) plus plenty of history.

suec1

Well if you MUST travel on, it would depend on when this takes place - if in the summer, then San Sebastain, if other time of year, Seville. But really both of those change of venues take time - Madrid is the quickest but IMO least attractive option - tho you could spend several days there with the museums and tapa hopping.

But mostly I agree, just stay in Barcelona - there is a decent beach scene there or day trip to Stiges. Add a day trip to Girona / Figures and Montserrat - you will not run out of things to do in Barcelona and you can certainly R&R there without the hassel of packing up and moving on.

kimhe

Madrid is easy to fall in love with and would be a very good idea after 2-3 days in Barcelona. Totally different but also a fabulous city. 2 h 30 mins with the high speed AVE train from city center to city center (renfe.com).

Great food and culture in abundance (to begin with, Prado, Reina Sofia and Thyssen Bornemiza are all world class museums). Even if Madrid is known for great night-life, it's also perfectly possible to wind down here. Some suggestions:

Have lunch in Café del Círculo de Bellas Artes in down town Calle Alcalá, 42. One of the city's most emblematic cafés. Grab a window table and watch Madrid life on bustling Calle Alcalá. Take the lift up to the roof topp terrace (the azotea) for the most spectacular views of the city. http://www.esmadrid.com/en/cargarApl...ntificador=179
Photos/videos: http://11870.com/pro/circulo-bellas-artes/media

Watch the sunset over the Guadarrama mountains from the terrace at El Ventorrillo in the Vistillas park next to the Royal palace and the Almudena Cathedral. Great Garlic chicken, some say the best in town. Totally peace and quiet in one of the most beautiful spots in the city. Map, video and some pictures: http://11870.com/pro/restaurante-ventorrillo/media

Have lunch or some tapas at Casa Granada, on the 6th floor of an apartment building just off Plaza Tirso de Molina. Hard to find and a great terrace. http://www.tripfilms.com/Travel_Vide...ada-Video.html

A stroll in the beautiful Retiro Park. http://www.aviewoncities.com/madrid/parquedelretiro.htm

Txirimiri in Calle del Humilladero, 6 gives you an idea of why the Basque kitchen is considered among the best in the world. In the midst of one of the best tapas/restaurant districts in town, in and around Calle Cava Baja in La Latina.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...ri-Madrid.html

I never leave Madrid without having had the squid in its own ink and the famous cod at Casa Revuelta, also in the same "food district".
http://11870.com/pro/casa-revuelta

Always updated info about Madrid: http://www.esmadrid.com/en/portal.do

I use to stay in either Hotel Plaza Mayor or Persal, both are basic hotel standard, great value and in the very heart of the city.
http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/plaza-mayor.en.html
http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/persalmadrid.en.html

Ginger1983

Thank you for all the responses so far. I know we can spend 6 days in Barcelona but we have made up our minds to visit one more place!
We will be traveling the last two weeks of May if that helps weather-wise.