AboutVíctor Díaz Expertise I live in Madrid,and travel frequently to Valencia. I have also travelled to many places all over spain, if haven't been there i'd try to help anyway providing my knowledge and links.
I enjoy trekking in the mountains, and know pyrinees, Picos de Europa and mountains in the center.
Question 1) We are first time visitors to Spain from Canada - would you recommend Barcelona or Madrid? We will be flying out of London UK.
2) Can I get the cheap airfares from London to Barcelona - from Canada or do I have to buy it in UK?
3) How difficult it is drive in Spain for a North American?
Answer Hello Atin
1)this question is very difficult and hard to choose, there are dozens of threads like this in many traveller forums and all of them finish with opinions off all kind.
If this can help you a bit, Barcelona may be more interesting for monuments, and for city sightseen
Madrid is more interesting for museums and daytrips.
I'm resident in Madrid and have visited Barcelona several times, i have found that Barna museums are not of my interest, mostly focused in modern art, and the city is more or less complementary with Madrid.
Whatever you choose youl'll enjoy your choice.
If this may help, you can choose the city with the cheapest connection from London. (beware ryanair offering barcelona-girona airport which is in fact more than 100km away from barna, in Girona, despite there is a direct link by bus).
2) i don't know, probably buying online there is no difference.
3) Not hard to move from one place to other, roadas and highways are in general in good conditions. Probably driving in big cities is not advisable. Bear in mind that the layout of many places was made when cars had not been invented yet.
Parking is not possible in the center of big cities (only residents or for limited time) hotel with parking is a must in that case.
If you are thinking about renting a car, do it if you plan explore the countryside. Most important places to visit near Madrid or Barcelona have good public transport.
