Barcelona or Italy?

[LordBridgerton]

Hi all,

thinking about Barcelona or Italy for 2025, May or September.

In Barcelona I’d like to see Montserrat Monastery, Costa Brava and Dali Museum (all probably day/half day trips) as well as the main sights - but slightly discouraged by the many pickpocket comments!

In Italy I’d like to visit a few places and travel between them by train - Milan, Venice, Florence. Not Rome as it’ll be Jubilee Year and very busy? - my concern with this is I’d have a couple of days in each before travelling to the next - is it trying to fit too much in?

Any opinions on either of these? I’d probably go for a week, and no children to consider.

thanks!

I mean , they're both nice.

When I struggle to decide. I think "just pick one place". You can always do the other place at a later date.

Italy by train sounds lovely - also Spain but Costa brava from Barcelona is more than a day trip - lovely coast to spend time at and then could go inland to Figueres for Dali museum or go to Cadeques ( not sure of spelling sorry !) .

We adore Barcelona and took our 6 & 5 this year and was fine!

can’t stand Milan, it wa grim!

If I had to choose - Barcelona

I have done both and enjoyed both but Italy is 100% better than Barcelona

I agree with this. I think to see the Costa Brava properly you probably need a car for at least some of the time or be prepared to spend a lot of time on buses, although there's the odd high speed train.

I think if I was going there, I'd fly to Girona, see that city, then maybe get a one way car hire to a drop off point in Barcelona and en route visit Empuries Roman Ruins, Roses, Escala, Medes Islands, Empuribrava, there's a museum somewhere that was Feran Adria's restaurant that I can't remember the name of, so maybe spend a week on the Costa Brava then drive to Barcelona, ditch the car (we did similar once but flew to Malaga and after driving round the mountains and doing El Caminito del Rey, dropped the car off at Granada railway station) and spend 2/3 days in Barcelona before flying home from there.

@Bjorkdidit that sounds like a good trip ! Forgot yes Empuries is lovely plus the beaches there are beautiful. That whole bay is my favourite I think .

We did Italian cities by train and I think Venice and Florence with 2/3 days in each is fine. You could consider Turin instead of Milan - I really liked it. I love traveling by train and it worked out well

Wise words that I need to remember! Sometimes I get so bogged down with various options that I forget this. Flip a coin instead of going in circles!

thanks everyone!

We based ourselves in Florence, next to the Duomo, within walking distance of the railway station, and had days out in Lucca, Pisa, Siena and Bologna. Brilliant holiday.

Italy 100%

Florence and Venice are two of my favourite cities. I've also been to Barcelona but wasn't too impressed.

I'd go for Italy. I was in Barcelona last week and didn't think it was great tbh. Much prefer Italy, for the food alone it will be better.

I was in Barcelona recently too.

I liked Barcelona I have to say.

I love Barcelona but Florence is amazing.

Or you could go on a Mediterranean cruise and go to both plus others.

Did you post about this before ? And visit the other towns via public transport? If so I recall your previous post as it's on my 'trip list'!

I love Spain - but Barcelona isn't my favourite place. That said, I don't think we did it justice and I would return - but without my DH.

In Italy, I wouldn't go back to Milan - but would do something like Venice-Verona-Bologna-Florence (or not all of them in one go - but I would visit all of them again).

Are you from uk? Just do both.. they're an hour or two away. Perfect weekend break

Yes I did 😀 We had a chat about it on my original thread, and I posted a pic of the view of the Duomo from our apartment.

Barcelona is great with much to see, just be careful about carrying money or wearing jewellery. DH wore shorts with concealed pockets, card in one, hotel key in another, and a small amount of cash in another. I didn’t carry a handbag, if I had taken a bag it would only have had water, guide book etc.and only wore costume jewellery.
If you do need to look at a map, stand with your back to a wall.
However, Florence is my favourite of the two cities. I felt very safe there.

Barcelona > Milan
Sorrento etc > Barcelona

Youd only get one day somewhere if you go for a weekend break though.

Fly out Friday night after work.

Fly back Sunday.I would have thought it's not worth it.

Have you gone for weekend breaks to places?

@Roundthemoon
Often when people say weekend break they mean a long weekend of Friday to Monday so getting at least two full days there.

We were in Barcelona in September and it was a really lovely city to visit. We did not experience or see any pickpockets, but I think it can happen anywhere.

Maybe three full days in Barcelona, then Costa Brava for another 3.

Italy in May and September is wonderful.

I'd go for Italy every time but I wasn't a fan of Milan. Trains in Europe are so much better than in the UK, it's very easy to do a couple of days in each place.