Barcelona And Madrid

Pick one if time is short.
Don't waste time on travel.
My preference is for Barcelona, but you may have a different view.

How many days is short? If the question is whether to tack on a trip to Madrid on a trip to Barcelona the answer is probably no. Barcelona has enough to see for 4-5 days.

Not sure how much time you have, but both cities are great places. Madrid has great options for day trips, especially Toledo and Segovia.

If you have a week, split the time with 4 nights for Madrid and 3 for Barcelona.

Yes, I "recommend" both. They are connected by a 3 hour train ride, so it's easy to see them both.

But a lot depends on how much time you have all together for the two of them, and whether you've already purchased flights, and your interests. What is your total trip, meaning where are you starting and ending, how many nights do you have, what else are you seeing, etc.? Tell us that, and we can then provide more guidance.

Do note that the two cities are VERY different, and that they are major rivals. As with other rival cities (Berlin vs. Munich? Tel Aviv vs. Jerusalem? Sydney vs. Melbourne? San Francisco vs. Los Angeles?) you will find that some people like both, some like one and hate the other, and some don't enjoy either one. You will not know how you feel until you see them. But do realize this will color the advice you get. In other words, no matter how long or short your trip is, some will say "you MUST see Madrid," while others will say "don't waste ANY time in Madrid."

Thank you everyone. Much appreciate your input. I’m planning a 10 days family trip from Spain to Amsterdam with a lot of stops in between. My issue is the luggages we have to carry and the transportation to and from the trains in each country is quite a hasle. We tried to pack light but with all the souvenir we collected along the way always ending up to such a heavy load.

Can you please recommend a nice hotel or airbnb in good location for under $200 or cheaper if possible please?