A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cambridge vs. Madrid for Food, Attractions, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Cambridge or Madrid?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Cambridge and Madrid. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Cambridge

Cambridge is a collegiate, scholarly, and charming university town. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Madrid

Madrid is a diverse, compact, and friendly city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. Other reasons to visit include live music, food, and shopping.

Cambridge and Madrid: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cambridge or Madrid?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Madrid than Cambridge, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Madrid is more popular for its food, nightlife, music, shopping, and big city activities, while Cambridge is known for its museums, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Cambridge is popular for its iconic university and the many colleges associated with it. Madrid is popular for its art and architecture, its tapas and culinary scene, and its lively flamenco dancing. It is also home to The Prado Museum.

How is Cambridge different from Madrid?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Madrid and Cambridge. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Cambridge or Madrid?

Cambridge is a great university town for its historical sights. Also, Madrid is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Cambridge. The history is rich and impressive in this university town. There are countless museums and architectural sights that you should check out. High on the list are the Cambridge University buildings, The Fitzwilliam Museum, the Bridge of Sighs, The Round Church, and many more.

Madrid offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are a number of cultural sights in the city including Museo Nacional del Prado, the Royal Palace and Gardens, and Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía.

Is the Food Better in Cambridge or Madrid? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Madrid is a must-visit destination for its restaurants. Also, Cambridge is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Eat your way through Madrid, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. The city has a mix of flavors that come from all of Spain. There are amazing markets where you can grab a meal or snack. There are also many high quality restaurants around town where you're guaranteed a good meal. Local favorites include roast suckling pig, Spanish omelette, and meat and chickpea stew.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Cambridge. You'll find college pubs, local eateries, and fine dining, all in one charming town. Enjoy afternoon tea or fish chips at one of the many local restaurants around town.

Is Cambridge or Madrid Better for Nightlife?

Madrid is an excellent place to visit for nightlife. Also, Cambridge is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Madrid has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. Many tourists and international students hang out in the Huertas area, while Malasaña has a bohemian, hipster vibe with small clubs that play indie music. Chueca is a fun area that's known for being gay-friendly with many good bars. Finally, you'll find that the area around Avenida de Brasil is where famous DJs often perform.

Cambridge has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The nightlife scene is centered around the student culture and you'll find many university pubs, some lively clubs, theaters, and wine bars around town. Whether you're looking for a chill night with friends or a more wild experience, there are options in Cambridge.

Is Cambridge or Madrid Better for Music?

Madrid is a must-visit destination for live music. However, Cambridge is not a live music destination.

Madrid is known as a music capital around the world. Rock, jazz, and flamenco are all popular in the city. Some of the most well known music venues include Sala Caracol, Sala Clamores, and Costello Club.

Cambridge is not a live music destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Cambridge or Madrid?

Madrid is a must-visit destination for shopping. Also, Cambridge is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping opportunities.

People travel from around the world to go shopping in Madrid. Gran Vía is a main thoroughfare in Madrid that is also popular for shopping. Calle Fuencarral is where you'll find the fashion shops and Calle Preciados is a fun pedestrian area to explore.

Cambridge is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. The town offers independent boutique shops, local brands, and a 7 day a week market. The three main shopping areas in town are The Grafton, Lion Yard and Grand Arcade.

Is Cambridge or Madrid Better for Families?

Madrid is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Cambridge is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Madrid is a very family-friendly destination. Kids love splashing around at Madrid Río, taking a ride on the cable car (Teleférico), and exploring the city's many parks and playgrounds. There's even a maze at Sabatini Gardens. Restaurants around the city are also very kid-friendly.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Cambridge. Kids will enjoy following the Treasure Trail, or climbing to the top of the Great St Mary’s Tower. Punting is another iconic experience. On a rainy day, head to the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, the Museum of Zoology, or the Cambridge Science Centre.

Is Cambridge or Madrid Better for Couples?

Cambridge and Madrid both very good destinations for a couple.

Cambridge makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The quaint town is fun to explore as a couple. Try your hand at punting or take a tour of one of the colleges. You can also enjoy a picnic in the botanical gardens or have tea at the Orchard Tea Garden.

Couples visit Madrid frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Fun and romantic activities around town include taking a boat ride at Casa de Campo, riding a bike in one of the many parks, and enjoy dinner and show in the evening.

Is Cambridge or Madrid Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Madrid is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Cambridge is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Madrid is very popular with the backpacker crowd. The many hostels around town make it easy for backpackers to find affordable accommodation while also meeting other travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Cambridge. With a handful of hostels and a vibrant student population, the town makes for a fun stop on your backpacking trip.

Is Cambridge or Madrid Better for Students?

Both Cambridge and Madrid are fantastic destinations for students.

Cambridge is a very popular place to visit for students. The town is home to more than 25,000 students who come from 140 different countries. This is one of the most iconic university towns in the world, and there's really no better place for students to visit or reside.

Many students frequent Madrid. With several great universities, this city is popular with international and study abroad students. The city also has a diverse population and an active nightlife that appeals to students.

Is Cambridge or Madrid Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Madrid is a must-visit destination for times when you don't have a car. Also, Cambridge is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Madrid has a world-class public transit network to take passengers everywhere in the city. The system includes the Madrid Metro, buses, and a light rail system.

You'll find some public transit in Cambridge, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There is a regional bus service that operates through town.

Is Cambridge or Madrid a more walkable city?

Cambridge and Madrid are fantastic when it comes to walkability.

It's very easy to get around on foot in Cambridge. Walking is the best way to explore the town.

Getting around Madrid on foot is easy. Most tourists stay in the central part of Madrid where it's compact and relatively easy to walk to most tourist sights.

For even more information, also check out Is Cambridge Worth Visiting? and Is Madrid Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Madrid or Cambridge?

How long in Cambridge or Madrid?

In either Cambridge or Madrid, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Madrid than Cambridge because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Cambridge, and 2-5 days is enough time in Madrid.

Families should spend more time in Madrid than Cambridge. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Madrid, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Madrid than Cambridge. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Madrid that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Madrid than Cambridge if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Madrid.

One day in Cambridge or Madrid?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Cambridge. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

People visit Madrid because there is so much to do. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Cambridge or Madrid?

Cambridge is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

People visit Madrid because there is so much to do. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Cambridge or Madrid?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Cambridge. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

People visit Madrid because there is so much to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer.

A week in Cambridge or Madrid?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the collegiate destination of Cambridge. This university town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Madrid is a popular choice for travelers. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from London, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from London, The Best Contiki Tours to Spain, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain.

When comparing the travel costs between Cambridge and Madrid, we can see that Cambridge is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cambridge Expensive? and Is Madrid Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Cambridge or Madrid?

Madrid has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Cambridge. When comparing the sizes of Cambridge and Madrid, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.