Places in Spain

How to spend 3 days in Spain divided between Barcelona and Madrid?

I have three days and one night in Spain. I am traveling via night trains so I can either spend 2 days and 1 night in Barcelona and 1day and no nights in Madrid or spend 1 day and no nights in Barcelona and 2 days and 1 night in Madrid. Any suggestions?

Public Comments

1. I heard Barcelona is betterr =/
2. Barcelona is THE BEST! I love that city, much better tan Madrid ( which is also nice). I'd spend 2 days in Barcelona and 1 night in Madrid.
3. Hey I'm going to Spain, too. I hear Barcelona is better for 2 days, and Madrid you can see in 1. I have a question actually: You said night trains. How does that work? I am planning on taking a few night trains throughout France and Spain, but I have no information on it. ong4490@yahoo.com Thanks! And Have fun!
4. If you want to come Barcelona, I live in Ametlla de Mar. In Barcelona, to look SAGRADA DE FAMILIA, LA RAMBLA , PARK GUEL, los PUB's. The beaches, come here where I live:)) MADRID: Gran Via, Plaza España, Retire Park, Cibeles, all near to centre.
5. In my opinion, both cities merit at least three days. I think you are better off picking one and spending your whole time there. If your travel arrangements force you to see both, then it depends on what you are looking for. Barcelona is better for modern art and architecture (especially the Gaudi buildings), food, beaches, nightlife (in my opinion, but I lived there). Barcelona is more cosmopolitan, and the first language is Catalan, though everyone speaks Spanish. Madrid has better medieval and Renaissance architecture, a nice park near the center. A more historical feel, and more Spanish. The art museums are are some of the best I've seen, after Paris and maybe Florence. Things to do: Museums: Museu Picasso, Fundacio Miro, Museu de la Ciutat (City Museum). The 2nd is a little out of the in the Parc Montjuic, but is the best collection of Miro's work anywhere. Architecture: Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, Casa Mila (aka La Pedrera), Casa Batllo, in that order. All these are Gaudi buildings, the first two are must-see, and the 3rd almost is. You can walk down the street Passeig de Gracia from Casa Mila to at least see the outside of Casa Batllo as well as other Art Noveau Buildings. A short hike up to the Tres Creus in Parc Guell gives you nice views of the city and helps orient you. Music: Palau de Musica. Another Art Noveau gem. Try to catch a concert there (make sure its in the main hall) over the tour. It's gorgeous and the music is great. Buy tickets online. restaurants: Les Quinze Nits (15 Nights) in Placa Real - get there about 20-30 minutes before opening as they don't take reservations. If you can't get in there, try La Fonda (I hear it's owned by the same people). Both excellent Catalan food at very reasonable prices. Also try Origen 99.9, a local chain, but good authentic Catalan food. Get there a little before opening because they don't take reservations and often only do one sitting. http://www.origen99.com/web/ Tapas Gaudi of La Rambla de Gaudi (not Las Ramblas, but near Sagrada Familia) is a good tapas place. nightlife: Clubs everywhere, for a slightly more relaxed and less touristy experience try Placa del Sol or La Cervesera Artesana (http://www.lacervesera.net/eng/indexeng.... best beer in Barcelona, not that that says a lot. Drink wine everywhere else - reds from La Rioja, whites and Cavas from Penedes). Other: La Boqueria market, Las Ramblas, Barri Gotic, including Cathedral and Santa Maria del Mar. Just wander that area. Sitges for nearby beaches, though the ones in the city are decent if you don't have the time to get down there. Day trips: Montserrat for the mountain monastery and hiking (and the caves that inspired the Sagrada Familia if you're lucky), Sitges for beaches (Cadaques is better but farther), Tarragona for Roman ruins (and more beaches). Figueras for the Dali museum. Madrid (I know less): See the big 3 art museums: The Prado, Reina Sofia, and Thyssen-Bornemisza. The Parque de Buen Retiro is a huge park in the middle of the city. Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida: A small church with frescoes by Goya. Palacio Real. The plazas, especially Plaza Mayor Day trips: Toledo, Segovia Any way you choose, have fun!
6. Pick one. Neither one can be done in less than three days, and then you would need a day to travel between them. You wouldn't remember a THING if you split your time.