Barcelona Vs Paris

Which is better, apples or pears?

It's your vacation. Each is different. I've been to Paris and Amsterdam (although not recently). But 2 stops in 7 days is a lot. Are you doing an "open-jaw" trip (fly in one place, out another)? Such plans are a little more expensive, but save time in that you do not return to the starting point.

Look at guidebooks for each. Why do you want to go to any of these? List the things you wish to do. If you are going with a companion, what is that person's opinion?

In your other post you say that you are going to Amsterdam this Fall. If that is the case, I would go to Paris and save Barcelona for another trip.

Neither is a "better experience" - they're both great.

I always factor weather into such decisions. The later in the fall you plan to travel, the more I would lean toward Barcelona. All three cities are great. There's tons to do in Barcelona itself, plus there are many good side trips.

They are all good.

However, having been to nearly all the major cities in Europe, I would rate Paris ahead of Barcelona and/or Amsterdam.

I love the cities that are filled with history, art and culture. Also it helps if the city is scenic.

My favorite cities in Spain are Toledo and Seville. Madrid has the amazing Prado museum, but it is not the Lourve in Paris, which tops the Prado.

It takes almost a week to see Paris well, while you can do Amsterdam in 3 days and Barcelona in 3 days.

Hi Traylaparks. you mentioned side trips in Barcelona.. Do you have any suggestions Thanks

When in Barcelona, By all means take the train to Montserrat! Easy day trip on the local train to the cable car station. Even on a cloudy day, it was neat taking the cable car through the clouds.

Another day trip from Barcelona, is a cava tour! 3 wineries that are a short drive from Barcelona.

Other side-trips from Barcelona: Girona, Figueres (if you're a Dali fan), Cadaques, Sitges, maybe Besalu for the fortified bridge.

I totally disagree that Barcelona can be done in 3 days by someone interested in the modernista architecture. Many of its top sights require pre-purchased, timed tickets, which makes sightseeing less efficient than it might be. There are also many good museums, the Barri Gotic and other interesting neighborhoods. I think four days would be the minimum I'd recommend, plus extra days for side-trips. For folks not interested in the modernista stuff beyond, say, La Sagrada Familia, three days would allow for a good introduction to the city and perhaps a visit to Montserrat.

When we were in Barcelona in October 2017, we used Spanish Trails for "small group" tours to the Priorat Wine Country (awesome!) and Girona/Costa Brava (also awesome!). We also used them for a private tour to Tarragona and Sitges. Finding good day trips from Barcelona is like shooting fish from a barrel.

http://spanish-trails.com/home-bcn

It was actually acraven who mentioned side trips, but I have great memories of our side trips from Barcelona.

We enjoyed the Bari Gothic museum as well as the Gaudi experience in Barcelona. Monserrat is a must see as well.

The list of things to do in Paris are long:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g187147-Activities-Paris_Ile_de_France.html

All 3 cities are to be explored and not just for 1-2 nights each.

BOTH are incredible in the food, art and church departments.

Art - IF you like modern art, the Picasso Museum and the Fundacio Joan Miro in Barcelona will both amaze you. In Paris, you will "just" have Louvre, the d'Orsay, Musee de l'Orangerie, Rodin and, yes, a Picasso Museum (which was closed when we were in Paris, so we cannot compare ... but the one in Barcelona really was quite amazing). And, for modern art, the Centre Pompidou. Outside of each .... Figueres and Dali Barcelona. Giverney and Monet, from Paris

Food - Lots of fabulous food in both ... so which do you prefer? French or Spanish?

Churches. The Sagrada Familia is unlike any ... consecrated (after we were there) so there are services in it, though it is still a construction site. Notre Dame's architectural fantasies are more formal ... it is about 500-600 years older, after all.

Paris probably wins out on parks .... unless you are in Barcelona in the summer and choose to spend some time on the beach.

Architecture. Incredible Gaudi buildngs from the late 19th and early 20th century ... and Park Guell in Barcelona. Paris, of course, has the Eiffel Tower.

Do you speak any French? Spanish?

In terms of transport, Paris is probably not that far to Amsterdam for travel by train to Amsterdam. I don't know how air compares, but with trains being in the city centers, portal to portal may be close. Barcelona to Amsterdam sounds like an airplane trip.

I "feel your pain." I am having a similar problems choosing between Vienna and Budapest, for a trip that starts in Prague and ends up on the Dalmatian Coast.

Fred, from Seattle

I like both Barcelona and Paris a lot. If I had to choose one, it's Paris. Paris has more to offer. Museums, food, parks, cathedrals, etc. Depending on the month, weather might be preferable in Barcelona.

If you might be offended by an honest opinion, stop reading here.

I didn't like A'dam, others love it. The architecture and canals are great. The Dutch are Europe's best at languages. If you speak to them in English, they speak to you in English. The museums are very good but a notch below the world's greatest. The turn-off for me is the drug and red-light scene - and the type of tourist they attract. For that reason it's the dirtiest northern European city I've visited, you have to go to Italy to find similar. Evidence of drug use seemed to be everywhere, from the center train station to Vondelpark and the Olympic Stadium. I like everywhere else in Netherlands better than A'dam. I'd go one day to see the architecture then leave before you think this represents the whole country.