Before I came to Spain, whenever I told people I was studying abroad in Madrid, they’d say, Oh, you’ll love Barcelona. This was mildly annoying, because I wanted people to tell me that about Madrid, but the fact is that less people visit Madrid since it’s isolated in the middle of the country and is located in what is effectively a desert.
While most of the people on my program visited Barcelona pretty early on in the semester, probably because they too had been told they would love it, I wanted to save it for when my mom visited at the end.
Well, it’s almost to the end of my mom’s and my trip, and I can officially say I’ve seen the two main Spanish cities. I just wanted to do a quick comparison between the two. Even though I studied abroad in Madrid, I’m going to try to remain as impartial as possible.
Madrid
Madrid:
Cons:
• Kind of isolated in the middle of the country
• Can be insanely hot in the summer (I experienced 99 degrees in May—that’s 37 for you Celsius folks)
• More modern, not as many really historically picturesque streets
• Not as many main attractions to hit up
• No nearby body of water
Pros:
• Cheaper than Barcelona
• Better & cheaper public transportation
• Has a large public park that is gorgeous (Retiro)
• Many quirky, hipster neighborhoods to check out (Malasaña, Chueca, Lavapiés)
• Huge variety of ethnic foods
• Not as touristy—less crowded streets
• More museums like Reina Sofía and the Prado (most of which are free for students)
Barcelona
Barcelona:
Cons:
• More expensive than Madrid
• VERY touristy and crowded—Ramblas is a clusterfuck at times
• Catalan is the main language not Spanish (which was frustrating for me as a Spanish speaker because I wanted to use my Spanish)
Pros:
• Older, more picturesque neighborhoods
• Sagrada Familia and Picasso Museum
• The beach and waterfront are beautiful
• Not as hot (you get a nice breeze off the water)
I’m sure these bullet points may seem superficial, and I’m sure that someone who has spent significant time in both cities could do a better analysis. I only spent 4 days in Barcelona, so I don’t know everything there is to know about the city most definitely.
However, if I had to recommend a city I would say those who want a less touristy experience should hit up Madrid and those who don’t mind braving the crowds for the beach and must see sights should hit up Barcelona.
I think Madrid would be an easier place for me to live in permanently, because it was hard at times to deal with the crowds of Barcelona. Think the difference between Berlin and Munich, Madrid being Berlin and Munich being Barcelona in this situation.
I’ll always have a soft spot for Madrid. It’s got a cool modern vibe and tons of cute, chill cafes on every corner. I also will miss lounging in the shade of Retiro on the weekends. It’s a city that I have really grown to love. I like Barcelona to visit but Madrid to live.
As I returned to Madrid for my last day today before flying tomorrow, I realized again just how much I had fallen in love with the city. It just feels comfortable for me, and above all, I have found it to be an incredibly welcoming city.
Next post will be my last in this study abroad series, because I fly home tomorrow. It will likely be a sappy post full of reflections. I’ll definitely be waxing nostalgic so I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to skip it, but it’s an essential part for me in gaining insight into the experience. It’ll be more for me than my audience, but I think anyone looking to understand the ups and downs of living in a foreign country should read it. But then again, I’m partial.