How does the barcelona metro and the valencia metro compare to NYC's and Madrid's?

Question

that is, can you get pretty much anywhere you want to go and does it run often and 24/7?

Answer 1

I can only compare Barcelona's Metro to the NYC Subway, since those are the only places I've lived (and thus been able to experience the metros enough to have a solid opinion). I currently live in Barcelona.

The Barcelona Metro is much cleaner than the NYC Subway. Trains run every 2 to 10 minutes, depending on the line and the time of day (Sunday afternoons on the L4 you'll wait 10 minutes easily, but at mid-day on the L3 the wait is usually less than 2 minutes!). The Metro  is just as crowded as the Subway, at all times of the day (so, you have to push your way in at rush hour, but will get a seat at mid-afternoon).

Barcelona's Metro closes from midnight to 5am from Sunday to Thursday, is closed from 2am to 5am Friday night and is open all night on Saturdays.

The stops in Barcelona will generally get you closer to your destination than in New York, so less walking.

In my opinion, using Barcelona's Metro is a nicer experience than using NYC's Subway, though it is extremely frustrating that it closes at night. (There are "night buses" throughout the city, but they're not as convenient as the Metro.)

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

I find both the Madrid and the Barcelona system easier to use than the New York trains.  Honestly, and I`m American, and New York was the FIRST subway I ever used on my own.  Still think the European ones tend to be easier.

Yes, they'll get you within walking distance of pretty much anything you need unless you are staying with a family who lives WAY off the lines.

The trains run about every five to fifteen minutes, depending on the time and line, and I think they stop in both cities around 1 AM, but I can't swear to that at all.

I was in both cities last Spring and I don't think I ever waited more than 10 minutes for a train.