Going in a couple weeks and looking for any restaurant or other suggestions.

Have:
- Montserrat day trip
- Toledo day trip
- Flamenco show one night

I did a "Fat Tire" tour in Barcelona that included a local taking us around to different pub/restaurants to try their specialties, and then they dropped us at a Flamenco Show. Honestly that tour I think was my favorite part of the trip. Our tour guide was informative and fun. The show was just "okay", but when in Rome .

I didn't keep track of any of the places we ate. I tried to find the hole in the walls. We mostly just did tapas and drinks most nights.

Madrid I honestly just walked around most of the day, I went through the church and around the outside of the Royal Palace. I didn't have any tours or pre-planned itinerary as I was just there for the day and 1 night, then flew home.

Very jealous. Did this trip a year ago. Assume you are doing all the things: La Sagrada Familia, Palacio Royal, Prado, Parc Guell, Barrio Gotico, etc., etc. already. You don't need tours for any of the sights in either city. Just make sure to book reservations in advance. Metros are great in both (research what pass to buy), but walking is always best.

Montserrat is a fantastic day trip. If you have the option to go on a clear day, it is spectacular. Take the cable car and do some hiking. Toledo is also great especially if you want to buy a sword! I'd rank Montserrat as my favorite though.

I second the smaller, "local" spots. We did tapas most nights, but this place in Barcelona was our favorite meal of the trip. Restaurant Candela en Rama was delicious. Would go back 100%.

Have fun.

Armory at the royal palace was legit ! I would recommend a tour of palace and a visit there. Go get some snacks on a patio somewhere and get a kalimotxo (pronounced kallia-mojo)

Find some pickpocket proof clothing for Barcelona. Was on a cruise and a fellow cruiser got cleaned out.

My personal favorite is ClothingArts

We really enjoyed Bodega Biarritz in Barcelona. Cash only, no reservations. Tapas and beer.

Depending on how much time you have, consider adding a second day trip from Madrid to either Segovia or El Escorial. Both are short train trips, Segovia is around 30 minutes. El Escorial is around an hour. It was a monastery/palace built in the early 1500s by Charles I and was the traditional royal residence.

In Barcelona, two cool things we did:
1) The Paella Club: Cooking class for Paella - tons of Cava pouring and met some really nice people from Vienna and Sao Paulo
2) Bar Marsella - bar that Hemingway and Picasso would drink absinthe at

Any big preference for Barcelona or Madrid over the other if you only have time for one? I'm headed to a wedding in Mallorca this fall and plan to fly into Barcelona or Madrid and spent a few days there first. Wasn't sure if I should just do best flight or if one city was superior to the other.

I felt Madrid was way more walkable than Barcelona. It may have helped that I stayed in the heart of the city, whereas Barcelona we were further away from the Gothic Quarter. I only spent 1 night/1 day in Madrid and liked it.

I wasn't blown away with Madrid. It felt like your typical big city with some Spanish character. I'd choose Barcelona if I could pick one.

I love Madrid (more than Barthelona honestly) but agree that outside of the core it's like most other big capital cities. You can hit the highlights in a couple of days. Toledo is great for a day trip, El Escorial (basically the Westminster Abbey of Spain) is pretty cool and doesn't take an entire day.

bthotugigem05 said:

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I love Madrid (more than Barthelona honestly) but agree that outside of the core it's like most other big capital cities. You can hit the highlights in a couple of days. Toledo is great for a day trip, El Escorial (basically the Westminster Abbey of Spain) is pretty cool and doesn't take an entire day.

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How pretentious do you have to be to intentionally mispell Barcelona when typing that out?

What would you consider the highlights? My wife and I are looking at 3 full days in Madrid this fall. Good neighborhoods to stay?

Quinn said:

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What would you consider the highlights? My wife and I are looking at 3 full days in Madrid this fall. Good neighborhoods to stay?

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IMO the Hyatt Centric Gran Via Madrid is the perfect hotel to stay in, or somewhere in that area. Its close to everything, lots of stuff to do around there.

Watching this thread, heading to Madrid for my besties wedding in September. We'll be there for a week and planning to go on a day trip to Segovia (groom's home town).

I liked both but overall Barcelona has a "dirty" feel to it, especially the touristy areas. Can't put my finger on why though.

Quinn said:

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What would you consider the highlights? My wife and I are looking at 3 full days in Madrid this fall. Good neighborhoods to stay?

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We stayed near the Puerta del Sol, and that was a great location between the park and all of the main attractions.

We loved Mercado de San Miguel, and ate there several times.

Also really liked C. de la Cava Baja for a tapas stroll - the whole neighborhood is neat.

Go walk around Retiro Park a bunch and grab some beers next to the Great Pond.

This is a cool spot to go up, have a drink and get a great 360 view of Madrid: https://maps.app.goo.gl/3V4L8NXSRE6PV7r96