France or Italy?
The practical differences, drawn from our own write-ups rather than from a brochure. We are not going to tell you which is better - they are different trips. What follows is what actually changes between them.
Places written up here 446 408
UNESCO listings among them 29 43
Cost level High Mid-range
Busiest month in our write-ups June June
Currency Euro (EUR) Euro (EUR)
Plugs and voltage C, E - 230 V C, F, L - 230 V
Everyday languages French Italian
Driving side right hand side right hand side
Region Western Europe Southern Europe
Capital Paris Rome
France
Formal politeness matters more than speed; meals are events, not refuelling.
What we have written up
- Aigues-Mortes walled town
- Ainhoa basque village
- Aix-en-Provence old town
- Ajaccio city
- Albi and Sainte-Cecile Cathedral church
- Alsace Wine Route winery region
Worth knowing before you go
- Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but many boulangeries have a small card minimum
- Most shops and many museums close on Sunday or Monday
- Service is included in restaurant prices by law - extra tips are coins, not percentages
Italy
Food rules are real, dress is noticed, and la bella figura - making a good impression - matters.
What we have written up
- Abbey of Sant'Antimo abbey
- Abruzzo Lazio and Molise National Park national park
- Aci Trezza sea stacks
- Agnone bell foundry town
- Alcantara Gorges gorge
- Alghero walled port
Worth knowing before you go
- The coperto cover charge on restaurant bills is normal and is not a tip
- Validate paper train tickets in the small machines before boarding regional trains
- Many restaurants close between lunch and dinner
Counts describe this site, not the countries: "places written up here" means how many pages we have finished, and it keeps growing. Currency, plugs and languages are practical facts and change rarely; check anything visa-related with the relevant official source before you book.