Barcelona, Seville or Madrid for short break in April

[neverbeenskiing]

DH and I want to go away for 4 nights (we are tied to Easter holidays as I work in a school) and have narrowed our destination choices down to Barcelona, Seville or Madrid.

Can anyone give me any pros and cons to help us make up our mind between them? Any hotel, restaurant or attraction tips would also be welcome.

Thanks!

All fab cities but it's hard to beat Barcelona. Seville would be my second choice.

Barce is my favourite city in the world! I would have gone there in April too but they've asked for boosters etc

Barcelona. My favourite

My favourite out of those was Seville. It was just smaller/more compact, cheaper than Barcelona, really authentic/less touristy. Loved all the tiny bars down the side streets with huge hams hanging from the ceiling, and had the best tapas we've ever eaten.

Incidentally we went to Seville and Madrid in the same trip, got the train between the two.

Madrid is lovely, not been to Seville but that would be my first choice for the weather.

Barcelona, if you haven't been before, has lots to see, but I find it too touristy.

Barcelona. Its amazing. DH and I had an incredible 3 nights there drinking negronis and aperol spritz and beers on the beach and walking. Heaven

I also love Madrid but felt that's more a business city.

Haven't done seville so can't say.

Been to all 3 ; Barcelona wins hands down. So much more to see & do.

Good hoho bus routes.

Stayed there twice, but can't recommend hotels as it was more than 4 years ago.
I liked Seville, but found Madrid rather dull.
Don't even think about hiring a car in any of them !

Barcelona is lovely.

To throw another idea in the pot, Malaga. I much preferred Malaga to either Barcelona (too touristy and crowded) or Madrid (which felt like a working city rather than a holiday ) destination. Malaga is lovely.

I've not been to Seville.

Seville would be my choice. Not yet been, but especially at Easter it should be lovely.

Madrid is my favourite city in Spain. Cheaper and safer than Barcelona with less tourists.

All amazing

All are amazing. Depending on when you travel, in Seville they will have the Semana Santa processions at Easter. Which are fab, but will make stuff busier and more expensive probably. If you've never done any before, Barcelona is a great place to start. Can recommend some appts.

Are you going before or after the Easter weekend? The week before is Semana Santa. A lot of things will be closed especially over the Easter weekend and perhaps in the days around it. I would love to go to Seville at Easter to see the parades and things but displays of very traditional Spanish catholic may not be what you’re looking for from your break.

I’ve not been to Seville but have spent a lot of time in Madrid and Barcelona. They are very different but both have a lot to offer.

Barcelona has a beach and harbour area, you can walk around a see a lot - the architecture is spectacular (gothic quarter, the Gaudí stuff etc).

Madrid is where to go if you want the capital city, big art museums, the palace etc. it’s probably not as pretty a City to just stroll around.

Catholicism*

Seville is wonderful but very testing to visit in the summer months (because of the heat, the weather difference between north and south Spain is quite remarkable) so I would go to Seville for a spring holiday. I've been to Barcelona 4 or 5 times and I do love it, highly recommend, but would choose Seville for spring.

raobcn.com/ Can highly recommend.

www.basapartments.com/catedral-bas-aparments-barcelona-t-3-en Also here. 3 mins from cathedral, Ramblas and Placa Catalunya.

If you pick Barcelona, the Gaudi stuff is spectacular. I don't see how you can be wrong with any of those, though.

I’ve been to them all and they’re all great, but for me you can’t beat Madrid. The Prado, the restaurants, the bars…. Barcelona is stunning but there’s so much street crime that you’re constantly on edge.

Everyone does love Barcelona.. I would say that it's probably a good time to go because there are no where near the same numbers of tourists as usual. I suppose there will be more and more this year but I think it still won't reach the usual very crowded levels.

Been to Madrid and Barcelona. Loved both, but I think Barcelona was wonderful. I loved that there were so many different aspects to it. It was very easy place to be.

All the Gaudi buildings. El Nacional www.elnacionalbcn.com/en/
Cable car over the harbour. The view and roof top cafe at the Museum of Catalunya. Boat trip in the harbour. Tapas walking tour.

Seville in spring, gorgeous. We did a bit of a tour when we went. Flew into Seville, picked up a car and visited Cadiz and Granada too, then flew home from Malaga. We saw some wonderful sights and ate great tapas.

I am a bit Barcelona,d out....been too many times...but I will go back one day...the nicest Hotel we stayed in was hotel Sant Agusti.... 2 mins walk from las ramblas....in a lovely quiet square... ...last time we visited hospital de sant pau ( Google it) lovely architecture..... we like to eat in A restaurant called Pasta Market ...just off las ramblas.... very reasonable....you queue up ...choose what type of pasta...what sauce ....and what ingredients....its lovely food.... we have never had any trouble but I've seen loads of people having bags snatched....simply because they are not careful .... mainly on the tube and around the harbour....we got books of bus tickets ....found the buses very easy to navigate and cheap .... typing this makes me want to go back 😁