Honeymoon Discussions

Madrid or Barcelona???

Ok, doing a 2 week honeymoon in Italy and Spain. Can't decide which city is better: MADRID or BARCELONA?? Madrid is straight thru flight, but Barcelona would require 1 stop. Is Barcelona better than Madrid and worth the extra 3 hours travel time, and hassle to change planes? Any imput would be GREATLY appreciated!!

Re: Madrid or Barcelona???

  • Barcelona.  It is more than worth it.  The atmosphere between the two cities is just so different.  Barcelona's much more lively and full of a party-like atmosphere (Las Ramblas!).  You can see Gaudi's architecture (Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, etc), which is so crazy and fun, and also plenty of Picasso's artwork.  There's also tons of shopping and random sites like where the Olympics were held.. and of course, the beach!  I adore Barcelona.  It's one of my favorite Spanish cities.  Where are you flying into Madrid from?  If it's a domestic or European flight, it's very likely you'll be in the same terminal to jump on your plane to Barcelona, so it won't be too much of a hassle.And if you do decide to go to Madrid, you'll be okay.  There's plenty to see, like the Royal Palace, Puerta del Sol (there's great shopping around here), the historic Plaza Mayor, etc.  As I said before, he atmosphere's just so different from Barcelona's.  Every time I visited Madrid, I just felt like it was so much more reserved.  I guess it is more historic, so if you'd rather have that, perhaps Madrid is the best way to go for you.  I personally think Barcelona is much more FUN, though!  Also, if you're not up to par on you Spanish, you'll find many more English speakers in Barcelona than Madrid; this is probably because it's more touristy, though, so once again, if you'd like a better taste of the culture, perhaps Madrid is the best bet, but I think you can experience the culture in Barcelona, too, if you like!
  • We are in Miami. Only direct flights from Miami and FLL to Madrid here.  But there are Delta flights to Atlanta the directly Barcelona, so we would probably take that.We have TONS of awesome beaches here, so beaches aren't a big thing for us.  Also my fiance speaks Spanish, so no issue there.  We are going to La Coruna for a few days to visit relatives also. Also we looked at Seville for a few day visit....Madrid would be closer for that...I don't know....I wish we could spend a month in each country!!
  • I have been to Madrid, but not Barcelona. I can tell you, Madrid was my favorite place out of any of the European countries that I have been to so far! It was absolutely amazing, also you can take a short bus drive to Toledo which is a must see! Its gorgeous!
  • ive only been to barcelon and LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVED it.. the best paellea! the best sangria! the best atmospheree... sooo beautiful! best shopping! and near water! HTH!
  • If you do go to Madrid, TAKE THE TRIP TO SEVILLE!  Talk about history and beauty... Seville's got it!  I think Seville's a fairly romantic place too.  It's perfect for long walks... :)  It's my second favorite Spanish city.
  • This is a toughie - I went to grad school in Madrid, and DH in Barcelona. So we are each loyal to "our" cities. Honestly, they are both amazing and you can't go wrong either way. Barcelona has more of a hybrid European vibe to it, and they speak Catalan as well as Spanish. Madrid is pure Spain. In terms of logistics, Madrid's metro system is MUCH, MUCH better; you can get anywhere on the metro, which is not the case in Barcelona. I lived in Spain for three years, so I'm pretty familiar with the country. Let us know which you decide on.
  • Madrid!!! I thought Barcelona was dirty!! Madrid is a beautiful and classy city, no beggars, etc.  If you do Madrid, do a side trip to Toledo! Awesome!
  • I'm also really partial to Madrid- I studied there in college and have been back four times since. I can't get enough of it. The entire city just oozes the perfect combo of modern and historic. It's a really clean city, the food and drink are phenomenal - I mean, honestly, you'll get that in either place. The nice thing about Madrid would be the ease with which you could do day trips, it's a direct flight. You definitely won't be disappointed with Madrid. I have heard people say Madrid is just a "big city" and doesn't have any unique charm. I completely disagree. I live in Chicago, but there is nothing like Madrid. It's gorgeous, accessible, the people are incredibly nice. You can't go wrong. When I went to visit my sister I stayed at the Westin Palace and liked it a lot. Great location, near the Prado and a short walk to tons of other landmarks/shopping/theaters, restaurants.
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  • I never made it to Madrid, but Barcelona was one of my favorite cities when I did my study abroad. And I went to quite a few. I disagree with whoever said it was dirty. We stayed there for probably 4 days and it still wasn't enough. So much to do and see. It has my vote!
  • I also traveled throughout Spain while studying in college. I would definitely choose Barcelona over Madrid. Although I agree with a previous post that said Barcelona has a hybrid feel to it, it has more to offer. Las Ramblas and the Gaudi museums are wonderful. Nevertheless, I must say that I would choose SEVILLA over the two ANY DAY. I stayed in Sevilla for a few months and I still think about it to this day. If you are looking for true Spanish charm, Sevilla is the way to go. The cathedral there is amazing along with many other wonderful sites. Also, the food in Sevilla is better than Madrid and Barcelona.
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