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Madrid vs Seville

Which destination is right for your next trip?

Madrid

Madrid

Spain

Seville

Seville

Spain

Madrid

Safety: 75/100Pop: 3.3MEurope/Madrid

Seville

Safety: 72/100Pop: 690K (city), 1.5M (metro)Europe/Madrid

💰 Budget

budget
Madrid: $50-75Seville: $45-70
mid-range
Madrid: $120-180Seville: $110-170
luxury
Madrid: $300-500+Seville: $280+

🛡️ Safety

Madrid78/100Safety Score78/100Seville

Madrid

Madrid is generally safe for tourists but pickpocketing is a significant issue in tourist areas, the metro, and at train stations. Violent crime against tourists is rare.

Seville

Seville is generally safe but has higher pickpocketing rates than many European cities. Tourist-heavy areas like the Cathedral, Plaza de Espana, and the Santa Cruz quarter are hotspots. Bag snatching from scooters also occurs.

Ratings

Madrid3/5English Friendly3/5Seville
Madrid5/5Walkability5/5Seville
Madrid5/5Public Transit3/5Seville
Madrid5/5Food Scene5/5Seville
Madrid5/5Nightlife4/5Seville
Madrid5/5Cultural Sites5/5Seville
Madrid3/5Nature Access3/5Seville
Madrid5/5WiFi Reliability4/5Seville

🌤️ Weather

Madrid

Madrid has a continental Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool winters. The high altitude means cold winter nights despite sunny days.

Spring (March - May)8-22°C
Summer (June - August)18-36°C
Autumn (September - November)8-25°C
Winter (December - February)2-12°C

Seville

Seville has a Mediterranean climate with scorching summers and mild winters. The city is famous for extreme summer heat, making spring and autumn the ideal seasons to visit. Winter is mild and pleasant with occasional rain.

Spring (March - May)12-28°C
Summer (June - August)20-40°C
Autumn (September - November)12-32°C
Winter (December - February)6-16°C

🚇 Getting Around

Madrid

Madrid has one of the best public transport systems in Europe. The metro is extensive, clean, and efficient. The historic center is very walkable.

Walkability: Excellent in the center — Sol, Gran Via, Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace, and Retiro Park are all within comfortable walking distance of each other.

Metro de Madrid€1.50-2.00 per trip, €12.20 for 10-trip pass
EMT City Buses€1.50 per trip
Cercanías (Commuter Rail)€1.70-5.50 depending on zones

Seville

Seville's old town is compact and best explored on foot. The city has a single metro line, an extensive bus network, a tram, and an excellent public bike-sharing system (Sevici). The historic center is largely pedestrianized.

Walkability: Seville's centro historico is very walkable and largely flat. The main sights are clustered within a 20-minute walk of each other. The pedestrianized streets around the Cathedral and Santa Cruz are delightful. Summer heat is the main obstacle to walking.

Metro de Sevilla€1.35 per ride; rechargeable card available
Tussam Buses€1.40 per ride; 1-day pass €5
MetroCentro Tram€1.40 per ride

The Verdict

Choose Madrid if...

you want Spain's capital — Prado + Reina Sofía + Thyssen (the Golden Triangle), Retiro Park, tapas of La Latina, rooftop terraces, and late-night everything

Choose Seville if...

you want flamenco in Triana, Real Alcázar Moorish courtyards, tapas crawls, Semana Santa processions, and Andalusian orange blossoms