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!

Exactly this. Love Spain, but Italy over Barcelona any day.

Other cities I prefer in Spain are Valencia and Malaga.

Both have their charms but I'd opt initially for Italy. Venice is spectacular and it's easy to get to Florence and other places by train. Verona is close to Venice too.

@Roundthemoon Doesn't literally mean Friday evening to Sunday morning. But yes these are typical Friday - Monday destinations, people often chose them for hen / stag / birthday weekends. Hell I went to Ibiza for 24hrs. The flights are frequent, cheap and quick

Definitely Italy all the way. I was very underwhelmed by Barcelona.

Another vote for Italy.

We've been to Barcelona earlier this year, lovely enough but didn't have a good experience with hospitality. Went in the hight of the tourists go home campaigns which could happen anywhere...

If your issue with Barcelona is about pickpockets well I have some news for you about Florence!!!!

Personally Florence was ok, but it wasn't my favourite. I would recommend if you do it fly into Pisa, stay overnight there, then do a half day there to see the sights before getting the train to Florence. Train isn't expensive and flights to Pisa are reasonable so you get at least a two for one. There's then options to get elsewhere if you wanted. Driving in Florence is a nightmare anyway.

I much prefer Barcelona but it does suffer from over tourism and as a result you do have to really plan ahead and book everything (though if you want to do the galleries in Florence it's wise to - though there are other things to do). Barcelona you have to book EVERYTHING. Which can be a little prohibitive.

Barcelona remains one of my absolute favourite cities in the city. Just be aware of your stuff. Pickpockets will target people who make themselves easy targets.

We went to Barcelona with DDs 9 & 12 back in April 2019. It was a great city break (their first) with lots of Gaudi and Roman foundations and great food. Plus there were things we didn't manage (Olympic Village). We also went out to the Freixenet winery for a tour of their fizz-making facilities.
The weather in early April was brilliant - a real tonic compared to UK.

We have also been to southern Italy in late July/early August to visit Pompeii, Herculaneum and climb Vesuvius. Our hotel in Seiano was outstanding.

Both fantastic places! Personally I adored Venice, I think if I was to pick I would choose Italy over Barcelona but have also been to Barca three times and always enjoyed it. There was something a bit more magical for me about Italy but Barcelona was fun and relaxing and obviously loads to see and a beach. Although didn't like Milan. I would do Venice, Florence, Pisa or similar.