I have been to Spain twice, but the last time was over 20 years ago. I am planning on taking my 3 teenage boys there for Spring Break next April. We will be using Madrid as our home base, and I am contemplating a train ride to EITHER:
Barcelona (really want them to see the Sagrada Familia and other Gaudi architecture, among other things.)
OR
Seville (really want them to see the cathedral, and a side trip to the Alhambra.)
Not having been there in so long, I’d love to hear from locals or recent travelers if there are any reasons NOT to see either spot, or just opinions on which is more bang for the buck (considering both will be excursions rather than the primary location.)
I know there are a LOT of other great spots too, but we have limited time and I’m trying to really show them some show-stoppers…
We were in Barcelona last month. I highly recommend it! The locals were friendly, the food is superb. We only had two days there, which is not anywhere close to enough. It’s on my list of cities that I’d love to stay there for a week-plus, just to soak in the culture.
A lot of English speakers, but there were several times my Spanish was better than their English.
Both options are fantastic, but in april Barcelona is mostly hot-ish and humid and Seville is usually hot and dry. Barcelona has beaches, Seville has a river. Food is great in both cities. In april Seville celebrates the Feria de Abril (it’s actually after Easter), which may be a plus if you like crowds and noise. To be fair, Barcelona has a Feria de Abril too, derived from the one in Seville. It’s just that the original is better IMO.
Barcelona has better museums, I would say. Though both cities must defer to Madrid museum-wise: just the Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina Sofía are unbeatable.
Just flew home from Barcelona last night. We spent 5 days in Barcelona, and then 5 days along the Costa Brava (Girona, Begur, and Roses). I’ve never been to Seville so I can’t compare. But I can tell you that we loved Barcelona. Our highlights were a guided Gaudi tour (Casa Balito, Casa Milo, and Sagrada Familia) then a self-guided tour of Parc Guell, a cooking class where we shopped in the market followed by making paella and Catalan cream, and a flamenco show. One day we got out to Montserrat for a hot sweaty hike but it was well worth the train ride.
The main thing I would recommend is never eat along La Ramblas, overpriced and poor quality food. The beach in the city is crowded and not great, there are better beaches a short train ride away. The tram to Montjuïc is interesting, but in the end not particularly worth it.
As I said, I can’t compare, but I highly recommend Barcelona.
Yeah, you have to get away from the tourist areas for the best stuff. Find the places tucked away where the locals eat. Easier said than done, especially on a short trip.
My anecdote: we found a tapas place not on a major street. I’m not a big fan of molluscs, but others in the group were, so we ordered a big plate of mussels. Not something I usually even try based on previous experiences (not a fan of the flavor or mouthfeel), but hey you never know. Well, it paid off–those mussels were like a completely different food. They tasted fine and the texture was great! Even the picky kids loved them.
We went on a guided tapas tour that took us to small, locals tapas places where we learned a bunch about the dishes and figured out what we liked. Also, we were introduced to vermut. It was great to do on the day we arrived so we knew what to order for the rest of the trip.
Plaza de España in Seville was used as the back drop for Planet Naboo. It’s very distinct. They’d recognize it right away. I loved Seville, and Alhambra is a must visit, IMO. If it’s their first trip, I highly recommend going that route. I’d add Segovia to the list as well.