Hey Everyone,
My family of 4 will be traveling to Zaragoza in April for a weekend. We would like to extend the trip to either Valencia or Barcelona for 4-5 more days. We like slow travel so we only want to be in one place for the trip. We haven't been to either place. Does anyone have suggestions for which city to explore?
We've rented apartments in both cities. You can't go wrong with either choice ... both will give you a relaxed, slow-paced experience. But, if this is your first visit to either city, I'd suggest you have your first adventure in Barcelona. Although Barcelona is certainly larger than Valencia, it is very walkable, has a metro system that will get you close to everything, lots of Gaudi architecture, a wonderful Picasso Museum, beaches, great food ... the list goes on. Plus, assuming you're flying home after your visit, reaching BCN for your homeward flight will be far handier.
I really liked Valencia. It is slower paced, less crowded and less expensive than Barcelona (or Madrid). It is much safer to bike. The historical old city is compact and very easy to walk. The modern City of Arts and Sciences and the aquarium was a lot of fun to explore.
Having said that, I would factor in the travel time from Zaragoza. By train, it is almost 4 hours to Valencia versus 1.5 hours to Barcelona.
After three Spain visits Barcelona is my favorite. Not everyone likes Valencia.
For me Valencia is cleaner, safer, less crowded, less expensive, and generally more welcoming than Barcelona.
After three Spain visits Barcelona is my favorite. Not everyone likes Valencia.
The names of the two cities could easily be swapped without affecting the validity. Bottom line: they're quite different places. I don't enjoy Barcelona at all.
