A tale of two cities: MADRID vs BARCELONA

The rivalry between Spain’s two top cities goes beyond the football pitch

WORDS BY TOM PATTINSON

ABOVE: View of Barcelona from Park Guell

The glamorous beachside town of Barcelona versus the cultural capital of Madrid. Excellent architecture, culture and cuisine – not to mention weather – have made visiting these Spanish cities high on many people’s bucket lists but which one would win when it comes to a head-to-head?

A bookstore in Malasaña district, Madrid

ARCHITECTURE

The Baroque royal palaces, the neoclassical museums, strolling through the tree-lined boulevards or the quaint narrow backstreets of Madrid is a marvel for the eyes. Barcelona, however, is an architectural dream. Baroque, Gothic, and early 20th-century modernist architecture all seamlessly merge together to create a unique architectural experience hard to beat. Antoni Gaudi was responsible for many of Barcelona’s most famous landmarks including the Gothic-inspired Sagrada Familia, Casa Milà and Park Güell. His name is still synonymous with the city.

Winner: As home to one of the world’s most eccentric and well-loved architects, the prize has to go to Barcelona.

Sagrada Familia, Barcelona

ART AND MUSEUMS

Madrid is jam packed with art museums where the old masters such as Goya and Titian are hung alongside more modern art icons such as Picasso and Dali. But pop into one of the city's excellent galleries such as Travesía Cuatro to discover some emerging talent, or Juana de Aizpuru for some contemporary photography. The Picasso Museum, the Joan Miro Foundation and Gaudi’s Casa Mila Museum in Barcelona combined with the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art will certainly keep an art lover busy for a few days, too.

Winner: The sheer volume, quality and bold experimentation of Madrid just nudge it to the top spot.

Prado Gallery, Madrid

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AFFORDABILITY

With an astounding 8.69 million visitors a year, Barcelona is one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations, and with that, sadly come high prices. Expect to pay more for everything from rooms, meals and taxis compared to its inland neighbour. Madrid on the other hand offers great value for money. Stroll down Cava Baja – or Tapas street as it is known – for €2 (AU$3) glasses of wine and €1 (AU$2) tapas bites. Boutique hotels abound in Madrid and many museums are open for free on certain nights of the week.

Winner: Hands down, Madrid offers better value for money every time.

Traditional tapas at the San Miguel market

FOOD

Barcelona has some fantastic fine dining restaurants. Get a seat at the bar at Cañete and sample fresh octopus and fried fish tapas while enjoying a fine Rioja. Or pop down to restaurant 7 Portes for some fantastic paella. Barcelona does fine dining well, but expect to pay for the experience. Madrid’s food scene is far more local and certainly more authentic. You can graze on tapas at one of the many markets, pop into one of literally thousands of street side tapas restaurants, or for something a little fancier, get a table at one of the romantic establishments that serve a variety of home-style or classical dishes. One of our favourites is Café Comercial, where you should make sure to share the whole monkfish.

Winner: When it comes to two such foodie cities it’s hard to pick a winner but Madrid’s cuisine is a touch more authentic and it’s easier to avoid the tourist traps and meal deal offers.

Restaurant in Madrid

Credit: Alvaro German Vilela

FUN IN THE SUN

The nearby town of Sitges has over a dozen great beaches and all have some fantastic local restaurants, serving often better quality food at a fraction of the price compared to Barcelona. Madrid has some excellent day trips for those looking to venture outside of the city. Consuegra has been famous for its windmills since the 16th century. Cervantes fans will note that this is where the knight from Don Quixote battles with the windmills he mistook for giants.

Winner: Barcelona – you can’t beat a downtown beach.

Barcelona Beach

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SHOPPING

Barcelona’s Las Ramblas is one of Europe’s most famous shopping streets. At one end, street hawkers mix with small stall holders to sell tourists hats and tat and gradually it becomes more upmarket, ending with luxury retail outlets and fashion stores. Much of Madrid’s charm are its distinct neighbourhoods, often situated around a market square. Whether it’s vintage clothing, boutique stores, antique hunting or simply stocking up on essentials there really is something for everyone.

Winner: The touts that flood the streets of Barcelona are no competition for the unique markets of Madrid.

El Rastro Flea Market

NIGHTLIFE AND ACTIVITIES

Although not large, Madrid is divided up into different areas, often around a square. Wandering at night through different areas is like bouncing between eras, places and cultures. Poetry reading hipsters can be found in hidden drinking dens in Lavapiés; trendy bars and nightclubs dominate the Centro district and the alternative scene is blossoming in Malasaña. There’s something for everyone whether it’s flamenco, jazz, dance or just people-watching. Calling Barcelona’s nightlife scene vibrant is an understatement. Like most places in Spain, it doesn’t normally get going before midnight and rarely dies down before dawn. Bars off Las Ramblas are often packed with stag and hen parties and can get rowdy, El Born and the Gothic Quarter are the areas to find stylish cocktail bars like Milk Bar & Bistro, while hipsters hang out in the Raval district. Barcelona also has some of the country’s best music festivals including Primavera Sound and Sónar Festival.

Winner: It's a really tough one but Madrid just pips Barcelona due to its lack of stag parties and more varied and authentic options.

Plaza Santa Ana, Madrid

Credit: Alex Segre