My family is taking a trip to Spain...what are some of the "must-see" places to go in Barcelona & Madrid?

Question

My family is taking a trip to Spain...what are some of the "must-see" places to go in Barcelona & Madrid?

Answer 1

barca- parc quelle... the salvador dali museum... port aventura...take a cable car ride. ive never been to madrid though so sorry...

Answer 2

ok, it's Parc Güell, and you also must see the Ramblas, the Boqueria Market, and the whole Eixample area, with all the great modernista architecture, bunch of Gaudí buildings, and the absolute must see is the Templo de la Sagrada Familia.  Also, the Barrí Gotic.

The Salvador Dalí museum, while definitely worth it, is an hour away in the town of Figueres.  Cute little town, but all we did was go to the museum and back, with another stop at Girona, for the medieval Jewish Quarter...only a must if you're into medieval architecture.  You should also, if you can squeeze it in, go to the Chocolate (Xocolate) museum and the Palau Musica.  If you want to do the Palau, you should check the schedule right after arriving, make sure there are no conflicts, and see if there's a concert you might want to go to.

Madird:  Plaza Mayor, shopping and dining around the perimeter.  Prado Museum is an absolute must, with the Reina Sofía (modern art) and the Thyssen Bournemaszo (mixed periods - a private collection, made public) as also rans...The Bull ring is gorgeous, even if you don't get to a corrida, you should try to go see the building...there's (I believe) a museum of bullfighting there, as well.  You should definitely walk up the Gran Vía, just to check out the 18th century buildings.  Parque del Retiro is a great royal park, and the Palacio Real is a definite don't miss!  Tons of smaller museums, as well.  

If you are there for a Sunday, get up reasonably early, get some churros and chocolate, then head to the Rastro flea market, just south of the Plaza Mayor, and go back through the Plaza for the coin and stamp market, if you are into that.  Both fold up around two o'clock.  Many of the museums are free on Sundays, but the Reina Sofía is closed in the afternoon, and also on Tuesdays (I found out the hard way...one of the only places that closes on Tu, not Mon.)

Below the Plaza Mayor is a little street of tapas bars, that's pretty famous, and keeps showing up on all the travel shows.  

If you want to see a flamenco show, all the best artists live in Madrid, so see it there.

Everything else, while there are many attractions for every taste, would qualify as a less than "must see".

If you really want to research, and be super tempted to just pack up and move, pick up a copy of DK Eyewitness, Spain.  Terrific information.  Everything you could want to know (except prices, which always change after any book is published) and fabulous photos.  You will want to see everything in it!

Answer 3

Depending on how long your there for, then as well as seeing Gaudi, if you've got a car take your kids to Port Adventure. Its a Warner Brothers theme park with a separate water theme too. It's brilliant and about 1 1/2 hours drive from Barcelona. There are rides, shows and themed food places from America, China etc. They have a 8 loop the loop roller-coaster called Dragon Khan which is a must. It's awesome!!

At night they have a closing show which is voted the best in the world, and it really is.

Have fun and be safe. Barcelona is great. i was there with my husband and two sons [ages 10 & 14] but pick pockets are about. Where you back pack on your front, nothing in pockets, and spread out credit cards ect. We were ok, but i do know that they slash pockets, bags with stanley knives and you dont know its happened.  Stall holders in Las Ramblos told us to be careful and i think as we had kids we were. Las Ramblos at night is brilliant with a fantastic atmophere.

Answer 4

Consider going to these places by car if you don't have a hectic schedule. We did this a couple of years back. The land trip from Madrid to Barcelona takes you to so many different places worth seeing in Spain. Pass by Alhambra, Granada, Valencia, etc. You won't regret it.

Answer 5

Barcelona:

Parc Guel

Casa Mila

Palau de la Musica Catalana

Ramblas

Sagrada Familia

Museo Nacional de Arte de la Catalunha

Barrio Gotico

Well, Barcelona has so many places to visit...

Madrid:

Museo del Prado

Toledo ( city aprox. 1 hour far from Madrid)

Instead of Madrid, I'd rather go to Andaluzia and see Granada (the Alhambra and Albaycin), visit Sevilla, Cordoba...Andaluzia is worth visiting.

Answer 6

Barcelona- the Park Guell, Sagrada Familia, Camp Nou, the Rambla...

Madrid- Plaza Mayor, Prado Museum, Retiro Park...