Madrid vs Barcelona - Similarities and Differences

Madrid and Barcelona are the Los Angeles and San Francisco of Spain. Both beautiful in their own ways, yet vastly different.

My first time visiting Madrid, and a weekend full of partying, sight seeing and everything in between. Although we only had 2 days to enjoy the city I feel like we saw everything that we needed to see. Even after I lost my license and we were forced to spend the entire first day in a police station. We saw the parliament building, tried churros con chocolate, and even had the chance to walk through the famous Parque del Buen Retiro. By the end of the visit, I noticed some various comparisons and differences between the two big Spanish cities.

Madrid is massive. Almost 3 times as large as Barcelona. Everything from the streets widths, to the sizes of various monuments and parks. It really proves itself as the capital of Spain. Even the clubs are 4-5 stories high and full of different genres of music and dj's, I've never seen anything like it. Benito (my German friend from Cologne) and I were in shock of the pure extravagance of the city. Besides the tourists, it had the essence of a true metropolis. There was very little dirt or trash, as is so common in major cities, and bright green parks and trees scattered along various city blocks and parkways. Barcelona, in comparison, is very compact, and while it runs alongside the mediterranean sea, smog gets trapped by the surrounding mountains and spreads throughout the city. Don't get me wrong, Barcelona is a top European city. What it lacks in size and air quality, it makes up for in culture and ambiance. Madrid is simply more elegant.

La gente

Sure, everyone in Barcelona speaks Spanish but the majority prefer Catalan and are not as used to being open to tourists as Madrid natives are. I've also noticed that Madrid natives have a much more pale complexion, compared to that of beach-tanned Barcelona natives. They have darker features and a recognizable aura about them, that is so common with seaside residents.

Side notes:

- Most restaurants in Spain take a down payment of 15 euros but the meal includes a big appetizer, main course, bread, a drink and a dessert. I still haven't decided if it's a good deal or not.

- Make no mistake, for most of the year Barcelona is just as cold as San Francisco. However, at the end of May as it starts to get into the summer months, the heat has turned the city into a paradise.

- I've been getting used to the European Metric System. The only thing about the Fahrenheit system that makes it worthwhile? It makes no literal sense but it's much more exact.

Nightlife

Barcelona has the best nightlife in the world. As a student, beach clubs like Shoko, Opium and Pacha all allow free entry (with a 25% chance of getting robbed). It also hosts world famous clubs like RazzMaTazz, Apollo and Downtown. Some of the best bars in the world are in Barcelona including #1 Paradiso, #3 Sips, and #7 Two Schmucks. Each bar is unique in different ways. Monk Barcelona, a typical supermarket on the outside, but a extravagant and vibey bar on the inside. You can't miss out on the Barcelona nightlife.

Madrid is not as well known for their nightlife. However, during my time there, it became clear that only the wealthiest come to Madrid to party. Kapital Klub, takes an entry payment of 35 Euros, and holds 5 levels of cool party areas overlooking a wide main dance floor. Let's just say Spaniards know how to party.