Comparison · Barcelona vs Madrid · Spain
Barcelona vs Madrid
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Choose Barcelona for Sagrada Família, Gaudí architecture and beaches; choose Madrid for Prado Museum and Tapas. Madrid is generally less expensive, and the two are about 505 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 505 km
- Less expensive
- Madrid
- Best time for Barcelona
- May–June and September–October
- Best time for Madrid
- April–June and September–October
Side by side
| Barcelona | Madrid | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Spain | Spain |
| Known for | Sagrada Família, Gaudí architecture and Gothic Quarter | Prado Museum, Tapas and Royal Palace |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September–October | April–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $180–$300 | $150–$260 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 29°C (84°F) | July, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 15°C (59°F) | January, 10°C (50°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 7 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 7 |
| Beaches | Barceloneta | — |
| Airports | BCN, GRO, REU | MAD |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Barcelona for…
Sagrada Família, Gaudí architecture and beaches. Barcelona combines a medieval core — the Gothic Quarter and El Born — with the grid of the 19th-century Eixample, where Antoni Gaudí and his contemporaries built the Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló and La Pedrera. The Mediterranean runs along the city's eastern…
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Choose Madrid for…
Prado Museum and Tapas. Spain's capital sits on a high plateau in the centre of the country, and its great draw is the Paseo del Arte: the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza museums within a 15-minute walk of each other, beside the Retiro park. The old centre around…
Top sights compared
| # | Barcelona | Madrid |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sagrada Família | Prado Museum |
| 2 | Park Güell | Reina Sofía Museum |
| 3 | Casa Batlló | Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum |
| 4 | Casa Milà (La Pedrera) | Royal Palace of Madrid |
| 5 | Gothic Quarter walk | Retiro Park |
Food compared
| Barcelona | Madrid |
|---|---|
| Bread with tomato | Churros con chocolate |
| Patatas bravas | Calamari sandwich |
| Bomba | Cocido madrileño |
| Black rice | Huevos rotos |
Which is cheaper?
Madrid is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $150–$260 per person there, against $180–$300 in Barcelona (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Madrid on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Barcelona and Madrid are about 505 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Barcelona and 4 in Madrid.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Barcelona or Madrid cheaper?
Madrid is usually less expensive: about $150–$260 a day mid-range against $180–$300 (estimates).
+Is Barcelona or Madrid better for a first trip?
Pick Barcelona for Sagrada Família, Gaudí architecture and beaches, or Madrid for Prado Museum and Tapas.
+How far is Barcelona from Madrid?
About 505 km in a straight line.