While we would say ‘do both!’, you may not have the time to visit two of Spain’s iconic cities. Whether it’s the capital of the Catalonia region, Barcelona, or the capital of Spain, Madrid, here are some tips on how to pick between Barcelona and Madrid.
City size
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Madrid takes the cake here as the larger city. With a population of approximately 6.79 million people (3.2 million of which are in the city limits), Madrid is the second-largest city in the European Union, and the largest in Spain. Barcelona is not far behind with 5.8 million inhabitants (1.6 million of which are within the city limits). Despite these figures, you will find Madrid less crowded since Barcelona is the prime tourist destination in Spain.
Weather
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You can’t go wrong with Barcelona’s weather. Located between the Mediterranean Sea and the Pyrenees, Barcelona has a more temperate climate. Summers are dry and hot, with mild winters and springs. Madrid is more inland so is subject to more extremes, making it swelteringly hot in summer and cold and snowy in winter.
Ambience
Each city’s ambience and how you enjoy it will come down to personal preference.
Barcelona seems to have a more relaxed feel to it, with locals that are very proud of their Catalonian culture and language and more modern architecture (thanks to Antoni Gaudí). There are also more open public spaces like the Barceloneta beach and several green spaces.
Madrid has a very real grandiose atmosphere with its traditional monuments, buildings and food that reflect Spain as a whole. As the capital city, it’s only fair that this is the case in Madrid!
Food
Let’s be honest – you can’t go wrong with typical Spanish cuisine! It’s affordable, fun and incredibly moreish. Both cities have their own style of tapas and their fair share of Michelin-starred restaurants (24 in Barcelona, 22 in Madrid), but there are also some key differences.
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Barcelona’s dining scene tends to be more spread out, just like its main sights. Seafood is plentiful thanks to its seaside location, so you can indulge in seafood paella and tapas. La Boqueria is its most famous market, full of food that is all the colours of the rainbow. However, since Barcelona is such a tourist-centric city, it can be more difficult to find authentic restaurants that don’t charge through the roof. You will have to walk several blocks away from main attractions to do so.
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Compared to Barcelona, Madrid is a lot easier to find affordable meals close together. Its food scene encompasses a wider range of Spanish specialties, like the perfect calamari sandwich (bocadillo de calamaras). Head to the Old Quarter where you can easily find a cosy place for a drink; before embarking on a DIY tapas crawl along Calle de las Huertas, Madrid’s famous tapas street.
Architecture
The architecture is almost polar opposites between Barcelona and Madrid. As mentioned earlier, you’ll find that Barcelona has more modern, avant-garde architecture with the likes of Gaudí and his quirky style. This has meant that Barcelona’s art scene skews towards innovation and contemporary art. Madrid is a fantastic example of the more classical and regal architecture that Europe is so well known for. Its Royal Palace and Gran Via boulevard are examples of just that.
Activities
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There is so much to see and do in Barcelona and Madrid! It boils down to if you prefer architecture – then choose Barcelona – or if you prefer art museums and history – then Madrid is for you.
Both cities have:
- A main street to stroll down: La Ramblas in Barcelona; Gran Via in Madrid
- Museums a-plenty: although Madrid has many more arty ones
- Beautiful parks: Parc Guell in Barcelona; Retiro Park in Madrid
- Soccer stadiums to tour: Camp Nou in Barcelona; Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid
- Incredible attractions: the Gaudí ensemble (La Sagrada Familia, Casa Milà and Casa Batlló and Parc Guell) in Barcelona; the Royal Palace and Plaza Mayor in Madrid
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We will point out that Madrid is easier to see its main sights as they are all found close by. Barcelona’s sights tend to be more spread out.
Day trips
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Madrid is more centrally located than Barcelona, therefore allows greater access to the rest of Spain. Including some excellent day trips to Toledo, Segovia and Salamanca. Seville is also only 2.5 hours away by direct train.
If you’re looking for a day trip from Barcelona, Costa Brava, Montserrat and Girona are nearby for some neat options to explore outside of the city.
Public transport
Both cities have good public transport and are easy to walk around. There is no clear winner here for us!
Travel budgets
Since Barcelona attracts more tourists, it is more expensive for dining out, accommodation, attractions etc. Madrid is more affordable and better bang for your buck. For example: two of its best museums (Reina Sofia and the Prado Museum) have free entry multiple times a week, whereas Barcelona’s museums only have this once a week (if that).
If you can’t choose between the two, why not look at a Globus or Cosmos tour through Spain that includes both?
