Affordable Madrid and Barcelona

About the destination: Madrid moves to its own beat: The arid air of the Castilian plain vibrates with its international crowds. If the brightly lit shop displays along the Gran Vía, and the relentless sophistication of Paseo de la Castellana become too much, retreat to Old Madrid. Its maze of side streets south of Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol are what truly define Madrid. Dedicate half a day to the Prado Museum, then take a break on the steps leading down to the lake in the verdant Retiro Park. The city starts to come alive as soon as the sun sets. Madrid boasts the highest number of bars per person of any European city. Madrid is bustling with cultural events throughout the year. After a concert, play or movie, you can choose from hundreds of tapas bars and a limitless selection of nightlife spots. Madrid successfully blends its cosmopolitan sophistication with its most treasured local traditions, making it a fascinating city to explore.

About the destination: Barcelona is a coastal city in northeastern Spain. It's the capital and biggest city of the autonomous region of Catalonia, and the second most populated municipality in Spain. The city has a population of 1.6 million within its limits, but its urban area, which extends to many neighboring municipalities within the Province of Barcelona, is home to approximately 4.8 million people. This makes it the fifth most populated urban area in the European Union, following Paris, the Ruhr area, Madrid, and Milan. Barcelona is one of the largest metropolises on the Mediterranean Sea, situated on the coast between the mouths of the Llobregat and Besòs rivers. It's bordered to the west by the Serra de Collserola mountain range, the highest peak of which is 512 meters (1,680 feet) tall.