Barcelona and Valencia are two of the largest cities in Spain. Both cities are known for having a historic center and long sandy beaches. Although both cities are in Northeastern Spain, they offer quite different experiences. If you are debating on whether you should visit Barcelona or Valencia, this is the ultimate guide to help you decide which city you should visit.
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Barcelona or Valencia Overview
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second-largest city in Spain and the capital of Catalonia. It is one of the most visited cities in all of Europe (for good reason). The city is known for its setting between the mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. Barcelona has a beautiful Gothic quarter, beautiful beaches, and a unique building grid system towards the mountains.
Some of the most famous landmarks in Spain, like Sagrada Familia and Park Güell, are located here. Barcelona is also unique from the rest of Spain because the people here speak Catalan as their first language and Castilian Spanish as their second language.
Valencia
Valencia is the 3rd largest city in Spain, with 800,000 people and a much larger metro area. It has one of the busiest ports in all of Europe and the biggest in the Mediterranean. It is home to long, sandy beaches which makes it a destination for history buffs and beach lovers alike.
Today, Valencia is known for being the birthplace of the famous Spanish dish, paella. It is also home to The City of Arts and Sciences which is an area with impressive modern buildings. Valencia has hosted some of the largest festivals in Europe for centuries. It has one of the best parks in the country and has a nightlife to compete with other Spanish cities.
Things to See
Barcelona
Sagrada Familia is a cathedral designed by Antoni Gaudi that began construction in 1882 and is still under construction to this day.
Park Güell is one of the most iconic places in the city and was designed by Barcelona’s favorite architect, Antoni Gaudi.
The Cathedral of Barcelona is a Gothic cathedral completed in 1448.
Tibidabo is a large hill with the Sagrat Cor Church and an amusement park overlooking the city.
The MNAC is the National Museum of Art of Catalonia and sits at the base of the mountain Montjuic which has a historic fortress overlooking the city.
Valencia
The City of Arts and Sciences is an incredible part of Valencia, featuring some of the most iconic buildings in Spain.
Valencia Cathedral was opened in 1238 and is said to be home to the Holy Grail.
Torres de Quart are the remaining towers of the old city walls in Valencia.
Terraza L’Umbracle is a part of The City of Arts and Sciences.
America’s Cup Experience is an area in Valencia’s harbor where one of the biggest sailing races begins.
Food
Barcelona
Many of the traditional dishes found in Barcelona are found throughout Spain. Paella is a popular dish that originated just to the south in Valencia so you can expect to find many restaurants serving excellent paella. Tapas is another staple among the locals and are just part of the culture in Barcelona. For those of you who don’t know, tapas are basically the Spanish version of appetizers but oftentimes are used as the entrée if someone were to order enough.
Sangria is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks in Barcelona so you should definitely consider ordering a pitcher when eating out. Calçots are green onions that are deliciously prepared and served with a special sauce.
Valencia
Easily the most famous food to come out of Valencia is paella. Because paella originated in Valencia, you can get arguably the best paella in the world here. Fideuà is a dish similar to paella but in noodle form and it originated in a town not far from Valencia. For dessert, one of the most popular foods to indulge in is bunyols which are similar to donut holes. Fartons are very popular snacks in Valencia and can be found in basically any of the city’s bakeries.
Getting Around
Barcelona
For a city the size of Barcelona, it is actually quite walkable. You will want to use public transportation in order to explore different parts of the city on foot. Just looking at a map of the metro system can be a little intimidating but it is actually quite easy and efficient to use so don’t be scared! The buses and the metro use the same tickets which makes getting around even easier. I would recommend investing in a T-10 pass which gives you 10 rides at your leisure. Renting a scooter or a bike is excellent for riding along the beach but probably not in the rest of the city.
Valencia
The center of Valencia is quite compact and is great for walking but it is pretty far from the beach and The City of Arts and Sciences. One of the best ways to maneuver your way through the city is to rent a bike to ride through the Turia Riverbed Park, which runs the length of the city and to explore the coast of Valencia. Buses, Trams, and the metro make up public transportation here. You may want to invest in the Valencia Card which gives you unlimited access to public transportation and gives you discounts throughout the city.
Nightlife
Barcelona
Barcelona is known around the globe for being one of the best places to party in the world. The city is full of bars, pubs, and nightclubs. There are nightclubs for people of all ages and some of the most famous clubs in the world are located here. Be sure to dress up a little because most places won’t let you in wearing regular street clothes. Some great bars to experience are Dow Jones Bar and The George Payne Irish Pub. Some of the best clubs in the city are Sutton, Opium, Razzmatazz, Input, Pacha, and so many others.
Valencia
Valencia upholds the Spanish stereotype of having great nightlife. Many of the nightclubs don’t even open until 1:00 AM! The historic center, especially Barrio del Carmen, is packed with bars, cafes, restaurants, and nightclubs. One of the most interesting nightclubs in the city is Mya Club which is in the Arts District and is quite a unique place to party. High Cube is a nightclub on a big boat in the harbor and is extremely popular with university students. Overall, you won’t have a problem finding fun places to go for nightlife in Valencia.
Both Barcelona and Valencia are full of universities and college students so be prepared to party.
Day Trips
Barcelona
Girona is a city along the coast just to the north of Barcelona. It is known for its Old Quarter and for being a filming location for Game of Thrones.
Montserrat is a small mountain range with a picturesque monastery not far from Barcelona.
Tarragona is a coastal city to the south of Barcelona, known for its Roman ruins.
Valencia
Sagunto is just 30km from Valencia. It is known for its Roman and Moorish influences and because Hannibal and his army fought for the city.
Peniscola is a beach town with an impressive fortress just to the north of Valencia.
Xativa is a small city known for its impressive Xativa Castle.
If you are willing to travel further throughout the Iberian Peninsula, you might want to make the time to visit cities like Madrid, Lisbon, or Malaga.
Overall
Barcelona and Valencia are two of the largest cities in Spain and both cities have many things to see and do. Barcelona is known for its picturesque setting, world-renown structures, and one of the best nightlife scenes in the world. Valencia is a slightly smaller city with an incredible blend of modern and historic architecture as well as long sandy beaches.
Let it be clear that both cities are fantastic destinations to visit but if you can only visit one city, you will want to see Barcelona. If you are totally against larger tourist-popular cities then you might enjoy Valencia more. Barcelona is a truly incredible and unique city to explore.
