Comparison · Madrid vs Valencia · Spain
Madrid vs Valencia
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Choose Madrid for Prado Museum and Tapas; choose Valencia for Paella, City of Arts and Sciences, beaches and a milder winter. Valencia is generally less expensive, and the two are about 303 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 303 km
- Less expensive
- Valencia
- Best time for Madrid
- April–June and September–October
- Best time for Valencia
- April–June and September–October
Side by side
| Madrid | Valencia | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Spain | Spain |
| Known for | Prado Museum, Tapas and Royal Palace | Paella, City of Arts and Sciences and Fallas |
| Best time to visit | April–June and September–October | April–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $150–$260 | $130–$220 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Affordable |
| Warmest month | July, 32°C (90°F) | August, 31°C (88°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 10°C (50°F) | January, 17°C (63°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 9 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | Malvarrosa |
| Airports | MAD | VLC |
Which one is right for you?
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…
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Choose Valencia for…
Paella, City of Arts and Sciences, beaches and a milder winter. Spain's third-largest city combines a Gothic old town around the cathedral and the UNESCO-listed Lonja de la Seda with Santiago Calatrava's white City of Arts and Sciences. Linking them is the Turia Gardens, a 9-kilometre park laid out in the old riverbed…
Top sights compared
| # | Madrid | Valencia |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prado Museum | City of Arts and Sciences |
| 2 | Reina Sofía Museum | L'Oceanogràfic |
| 3 | Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum | Turia Gardens |
| 4 | Royal Palace of Madrid | Gulliver Park |
| 5 | Retiro Park | Lonja de la Seda |
Food compared
| Madrid | Valencia |
|---|---|
| Churros con chocolate | Paella valenciana |
| Calamari sandwich | Arroz a banda |
| Cocido madrileño | Black rice |
| Huevos rotos | Fideuà |
Which is cheaper?
Valencia is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $130–$220 per person there, against $150–$260 in Madrid (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Valencia on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Madrid and Valencia are about 303 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Madrid and 4 in Valencia.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Madrid or Valencia cheaper?
Valencia is usually less expensive: about $130–$220 a day mid-range against $150–$260 (estimates).
+Is Madrid or Valencia better for a first trip?
Pick Madrid for Prado Museum and Tapas, or Valencia for Paella, City of Arts and Sciences, beaches and a milder winter.
+How far is Madrid from Valencia?
About 303 km in a straight line.