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.
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
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 (plugs and voltage: Wikipedia, «Mains electricity by country» (after the IEC World Plugs list), read 15 October 2026); check anything visa-related with the relevant official source before you book.