If the airports were as centrally located as the train stations, flying would hands-down be the best method for travel from Madrid to Barcelona.

Flights are generally pretty cheap with several options per day, and you're barely in the air long enough to finish an episode of your favorite show before you've touched down at Barcelona El Prat Airport.

However, it takes about an hour to reach Madrid's airport via public transportation and then another hour to reach Barcelona's city center.

Factor in all of that time plus airport check-in, security, and waiting at your gate, and the total travel time is now significantly longer than taking the train.

Even though the train is more comfortable and convenient than flying, it can also be more expensive, especially if your travel dates are near.

Last-minute plane tickets can still be relatively cheap, especially when traveling in low tourist season. Always compare your flights with train tickets; the difference in price may shock you.

When it's the middle of summer vacation, everyone is traveling, and trains and flights are completely booked or priced very high, then the bus is your next best option for getting to Barcelona.

It's a long ride, almost eight hours and possibly more with traffic, but there are several nighttime routes so you don't have to lose out on an entire day of your trip sitting on the bus.

If you value being able to travel on your own time and want to make your own itinerary, renting a car in Spain isn't difficult and could be the best option.

If you're traveling with a group and can split the costs of the rental, gas, and tolls, it may be even cheaper than each of you buying your own individual transportation tickets.

However, most cars in Spain use manual transmissions, so expect to pay more for an automatic if that's all you can drive.

Popular trains: Avant. Trains from Madrid to Toledo. Trains from Madrid to Valencia. Trains from Barcelona to Bilbao. Trains per day: 9. Popular trains: InterCity , Euromed , Renfe.

Trains from Barcelona to Valencia. Trains from Barcelona to San Sebastian. Popular trains: AVE , Alvia. Trains from Madrid to Seville.

Trains from Madrid to Zaragoza. Trains from Madrid to Alicante. Trains per day: 8. Popular trains: AVE , Talgo. Trains from Barcelona to Cordoba Spain.

Trains per day: 1. Trains from Barcelona to Marseille. Popular trains: Talgo , Euromed. Trains from Barcelona to Alicante.

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Facilities Pool. Sea views. Air conditioning. Washing machine. Pets considered. Cable or Satellite TV. Wheelchair accessible. Distance to the beach All Up to meters Up to meters Up to meters Up to meters Up to meters Up to meters Up to meters Up to meters Up to meters.

Clear filter. The bustling capital of Madrid or the alluring beach metropolis Barcelona? Both are some of the nicest cities in Spain to visit.

They attract in different ways. Find out which of these two cities suits your holiday best, with the answers to the ten questions below! Barcelona offers both the renowned Catalan cuisine and delicious international food, often at very reasonable prices if you find the right places.

Madrid as a capital city, on the other hand, offers plenty of culinary adventures. The city is full of all kinds of bars and restaurants, from famed names in international cuisine to the most traditional Spanish tapas bars.

And did you know that Madrid was the place in Spain where the first real restaurants opened their doors? You can see this best in the central area around the Puerta del Sol square, where there are always people around midnight and beyond.

Literally every night in Madrid you can go to the theatre, a musical, a concert, a party or another nightly event. They often start late, around or even midnight.

Stepping into a restaurant to have dinner at is also perfectly possible in the Spanish capital!