What are some MUST sees in barcelona and madrid?

Question

any suggestions? =)

thanks guys

Answer 1

50 kilometres north of Barcelona is the Monastery at Montserratt. It is perched halfway up a mountainside. It can be reached by road, cable car, or by the most exciting way in my opinion by rail funicular. It is an awesome place and one of the "must see" places in Spain let alone Barcelona. Make sure you have plenty of space in your digital camera, you will need it for Montserratt.

Answer 2

Barcelona:

The Barrí Gotic, the Eixample (esp. the Gaudí buildings), Sagrada Familia, The Chocolate Museum, Las Ramblas, Mont Juic, there are two or three superb art museums there: Fundació Miró on Mont Juic and the Picasso Museum, which I think is in the middle of the older part of town somewhere, and the Mercat St. Josep (Boqueria).

Side trips well worth while, are, as Conoco said, Mont Serrat, a religious and historical gem, not to mention the natural surroundings, Figueres (for the Dalí house) and Girona, just a wonderful little medieval city - great old Jewish quarter there.  Also Cadaqués, which is where a number of the impressionists had homes, including Dalí (ok, so HE wasn't an impressionist, but Monet, and several others spent lots of time there, the light is supposed to be wonderful!)  Lloret is not too far away, either, and has a wonderful castle.  Also, many wineries and cavas (Champagne caves).

Madrid:

Plaza Mayor, El Prado, Reina Sofía, and Thyssen Bournemazsa, muesums.  Palacio Real, and the Cathedral.  Retiro Park, the Rastro flea market if you can make it, Sunday mornings, also a coin and stamp market at the Plaza Mayor, same times, until about 2:00.  You should definitely walk up the Gran Vía, and take in the 18th century architecture.  Puerta del Sol is the geographical center of all Spain, there's a little marker on the ground in front of the Guardia Civil offices.  

Side trips from Madrid, if you have time:

Ávila, for all things Santa Teresa, and the best example of a curtain-walled city in Spain, the most complete such wall in Europe.

Segovia, for its fairy tale castle the Alcázar, where Ísabel the Catholic grew up, and the first century Aqueduct which is still able to bring water into the city (though I have heard it doesn't actually get used anymore),

Toledo for all things El Greco and the two Synagogues, there.  also some very nice medieval walls and gates.  really pretty.  

Wine country.  some of the best wines out of Spain come from the Rioja region, which is a nice drive to the northeast from Madrid, and I'm sure there are bus tours, as well.

Answer 3

A lot of good suggestions already - here's a new one.

valle de los caidos is about 50 minutes outside of Madrid. This is the burial place for Franco - it's about a 152 meter high stone cross. Franco is buried beneath. The place was to honor those who died in the civil war.

This is also very close to El Escorial - a huge royal monestary that is very impressive.

Answer 4

here's some link about the two cities, hope this would help you. enjoy your trip

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/s...

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/s...