8 full days from Barcelona to Madrid. Should I spend 2 nights in Valencia?

"We like to be slower pace and really try to learn more about a city, relax and enjoy food instead of rushing from city to city......."

I think 3 cities in 8 days would be too much. I would focus on Barcelona and Madrid.

I agree. With only 8 days, two cities are just fine. If you want to do a day trip from Barcelona, I would suggest Tarragona - just an hour by train from Barcelona. Tarragona had been an important Roman outpost and has many fine ruins, museums, amphitheater, and cathedral all within walking distance of each other. I'd take a cab from the train station to the medieval section as it is all uphill. Tarragona is an undiscovered gem, in our opinion. http://www.tarragonablog.com

I really love Valencia, but agree with the others. On this trip, it might not make much sense. Both Madrid and Barcelona have some great daytrips that might be time better spent than going to Valencia. Toledo for sure, Segovia perhaps and Tarragona is excellent if you like Roman ruins.

You will be back. Save Valencia for another time.

Thank you all for your responses. I will stick with Barcelona and Madrid only then. It's always tempting to visit more cities but I think it makes more sense to stay with two cities.

Now I have to figure out which day trip(s) to explore. If you have to pick one day trip from Barcelona and we are foodies and enjoy beautiful scenery more than museum/cathedral church, which day trip would you recommend?

Thanks,
Sam

Montserrat!

Montserrat never grabbed me. Much preferred Girona and Figueres.
From Madrid I would choose Toledo and El Escorial over Segovia and Avila.

Montserrat has impressive scenery indeed. But the monastery is a church and relic to visit; not really in your stated wheelhouse. If you like hiking, then go for it. But otherwise, try Girona (the "Venice of Spain"), Tarragona (filled with ancient Roman ruins set dramatically along the coast) or Stiges (an easy coastal beach town to get to filled with shops and restaurants).

Thanks for all your suggestions!

Sam.

Since you mention you're foodies, why not combine both your hobby and an escapade outside the city and try some of the best restaurants in the world?... not my saying, we're talking Celler de Can Roca in Girona http://time.com/94414/best-restaurants-world or alternatively the Sant Pau restaurant in Sant Pol de Mar from chef Carme Ruscalleda --the chef with more Michelin stars ever (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carme_Ruscalleda). Both are not that far from Barcelona.

By the way, for those as "visual" as me, here you have more info about sites mentioned above by others:

SITGES : http://infocatalonia.eu/w/ibDWG
TARRAGONA : http://infocatalonia.eu/w/IltXs
MONTSERRAT : http://infocatalonia.eu/w/lOODr
GIRONA : http://infocatalonia.eu/w/aj5on

and I'd like to add:

BESALÚ: http://infocatalonia.eu/w/2MR8p
TOSSA DE MAR: http://infocatalonia.eu/w/AMRJo

and if you're more into text based info:

http://en.costabrava.org/ -Costa Brava Tourism Agency
http://www.girona.cat/turisme/eng/index.php -Girona City Council
http://www.tarragonaturisme.cat/ -Tarragona City Council
http://catalunya.com/ -Catalonia’s Tourism Agency

Thanks for your great advice!