Barcelona vs Madrid: Catalaans beach or Spaans hart?
Barcelona has beach, Gaudí and Mediterraneanse vibe. Madrid is dichter at authentic Spaanse culture, with the best tapas-bars outside Andalusië and wereldklasse-museums (Prado).
Barcelona
Barcelona combineert the mediterrane strandleven with the Catalaanse culture and the surrealistische werk or Gaudí.
Flight from NL: €450 per person return
View Barcelona →Madrid
Madrid has the best museums or Europe (Prado, Reina Sofía), the most beautiful tapas-bars outside Andalucía, and the nachtleven that to 6 hour 's ochtends doorgaat.
Flight from NL: €75 return
View Madrid →Best time to visit compared
Barcelona
May, June, September and October are ideal: sun, 22-28°C and kalme sea. July and August are busy and expensive, especially during festivals as Sónar. November to March is cheap and cultureel without the hitte.
Madrid
April to June and September to November: 18 to 25 degrees, perfecte terras-temperature. July and August are 35+ degrees, many Madrid locals depart to the coast. December to February is cold (5-10°C) but lively with Christmas markets.
Flights + transfer from the Netherlands
Barcelona
Direct from Schiphol to Barcelona-El Prat (BCN) in 2 hour. KLM, Vueling, easyJet and Transavia fly daily. Locally: metro for €2,40 per ride, T-Casual for 10 ritten costs €12.
Madrid
From Schiphol to Madrid-Barajas (MAD) in 2 hour 30 minutes. KLM, Iberia, easyJet. Metro lijn 8 to center €5 in 25 minutes.
Costs compared
Barcelona
Hostel beds from €25, mid-range hotels around €100-150, vacation rentals via Vrbo around €110 per night for two. Food: menu del día for €12-15 's middags, dinner €20-30.
Madrid
Hostels from €20, mid-range hotels €90 to 140, vacation rentals €100 per night. Food: menú del día €13, raciones €8 per stuk, dinner €20 to 30.
Who is it for?
Choose Barcelona if you are...
For who beach + city because combine, Gaudí-fans, jongeren for nachtleven.
Choose Madrid if you are...
Cultureel-bewuste travelers, museum-fans, who the reallye Spaanse culture searches without toeristische cliché's.
Our verdict
Barcelona wint for first-timers (lake iconen), Madrid for reallye Spain-fans. Both are 2.5 hour fly, comparable prices.