Switzerland 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 345 408
UNESCO listings among them 18 43
Cost level Very high Mid-range
Busiest month in our write-ups June June
Currency Swiss franc (CHF) Euro (EUR)
Plugs and voltage C, J - 230 V C, F, L - 230 V
Everyday languages German, French, Italian, Romansh Italian
Driving side right hand side right hand side
Region Western Europe Southern Europe
Capital Bern Rome
Switzerland
Punctual to the minute, quiet by agreement, and outdoors at every opportunity.
What we have written up
- Aarau Old Town old town
- Absinthe in the Val-de-Travers food district
- Adelboden village
- Agerisee lake
- Aigle Castle castle
- Albula Pass pass
All 345 places in Switzerland →
Worth knowing before you go
- Tipping is not expected - service is included and wages are real
- Tap water is superb; every village fountain with no sign is drinkable
- The Half Fare Card halves most trains, boats and cable cars - it usually pays for itself in a week
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.