Let's settle it: Barcelona vs Madrid
I’ve been living in Spain approximately 5 months, and I’ve finally made it to the two big Spanish cities everyone seems to squabble over: Barcelona vs Madrid.
They each have a different ambience, with Barcelona being known for its Gaudí architecture and winding-street flair, and Madrid for its modern sensibilities and sleek night-life.
For me, I was happily running around each (with my best friend and roommate, Danielle!) to fill my weekends with as much art as possible.
Barcelona
Barcelona doesn’t just have architectural masterpieces hiding in all its corners, but it is also home to a suite of interesting art museums. When Danielle had to leave the city, I purchased the city’s “art passport” to keep myself occupied as I further solo-traveled—they call it their ArticketBCN pass. I was on the hunt to get to as many museums as possible!
I already wrote a roundup of the weekend’s findings on European Traveler:
A few extra experiences Danielle and I enjoyed:
The Corgi Cafe - Yes, I know, it sounds silly, but just watch the video below. I swear you’ll be convinced to buy your morning coffee here to visit the very cute corgis, Mocha and Latte.
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
Crypt of La Sagrada Familia - Here’s hack for those who can’t get tickets into La Sagrada Familia: Attend mass, and you’ll get to see the otherwise roped off crypt, where Gaudí’s grave lies. (Shout out to Danielle for this tip!) I also did the same to get into the Cathedral of Barcelona. However, if you do this, a reminder to be respectful and tone down your urge to play tourist. No pictures are permitted in the cathedral while mass is in session.
Mercat de la Boquería - This is the most popular marketplace. Its entrance is on La Rambla, the main pedestrian street in the heart of the city. Fresh fruit, zumo (juice), seafood… but it’s only open until 8:30 pm on Monday through Saturday.
More pictures can be found on my Instagram:
Madrid
Time for the capital city! It feels more like a big city like Chicago or New York, with La Gran Vía filled with traffic, as well as advertisements for broadway shows and shops flashing around you. But within walking distance, you’ll find spectacular green spaces and historic sites like El Palacio Real, Plaza Mayor, and Catedral de Santa María la Real de la Almudena—all of which I recommend taking time to visit. Of course, I was insistent to see some of the most famous art museums, too.
I have not yet written an article for this city, so I’ll go straight to my highlights:
Museo Nacional del Prado, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, and Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza - They’re known as the “Golden Triangle of Art.” All have free-entry hours that you can find on their respective websites. But the lines are long, so I would suggest getting there early to grab a spot. Don’t be surprised if you’re waiting almost 30 minutes. My favorite was the Prado, where works from El Greco, Goya and Velázquez are on display. Although, seeing Picasso’s famous Guernica at the Reina Sofía was equally exciting…
El Retiro Park - There are 350 acres to walk, so you’re sure to get lost in its sprawling gardens, lakes, and walkways. For €8, you can take a boat ride in front of the Monument to Alfonso XII (see below). One of the famous sites, the Palacio De Cristal, is unfortunately under renovation, but it will open back up on 2027.
Churros - This gets a category all of its own, as it’s an important rite of passage as a newcomer to the city. We tried the well-known Chocolatería San Ginés, as well as the Chocolatería 1902. (Danielle and I settled on the chocolate being superior at San Ginés, but the crunch of the churro being just right at 1902.)
Mercado de San Miguel - It’s smaller than the Mercat de La Boquería, but it’s housed in a large glass building in the center of the city, which gives it a very modern atmosphere. The tapas are all delicious, and the drinks are constantly flowing. It gets crowded and hard to find a place to sit, but it’s a lot of fun inside.
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
El Rastro Flea Market - I was absolutely blown away by the size of this Sunday flea market, which extends across blocks and blocks in a labyrinth of books, clothes, jewelry, art, and more. It gets positively packed, too. (When you’re exhausted from all that thrifting, stop at El Novo Mundo for a croissant.)
La Tienda de los Deseos - On Valentine’s Day, we passed by a shop where people were handwriting notes, or “wishes” (deseos), of hope and love. I would be remiss if I didn’t give this beautiful little store a shout-out. (See photo above.)
I can’t make the final call on which city is better—everyone has a preference. They are both distinct in many ways. As a girl accustomed to big city life, I loved Madrid’s concrete-jungle feel. But a weekend in Barcelona is completely warranted, with sites like Park Güell being absolutely one-of-a-kind in Spain.
Been to either? Both? Which do you prefer? Write back, as I’d love to know 😉