Spain vs Italy – which should you visit first?

Updated by: Aimee White - Copywriter at Explore Worldwide
Updated: 22 August 2025

From the warm Mediterranean climate to culture, cuisine, history and landscapes, there are multiple reasons why Italy and Spain are two of Europe's most popular countries. And each is well worth visiting at some point, with enough accolades to keep both at the top of your travel wishlist. But which should you plan a trip to first?

Let's dive in and find out which of these great nations is right for your European adventure:

Italian cuisine

Italy is home to famous dishes like pasta and pizza, as well as cheese, gelato, coffee, liqueurs and wine. In Southern Italy, seafood factors heavily in the cuisine and dishes use fresh, tomato-based sauces, while rich, meat-based recipes, hard cheeses like parmesan, and creamy sauces all originate in Northern Italy.

How to eat your way around Italy:

1. Tuscany Walking and Wine: Spend eight days in southern Tuscany to see that iconic landscape of rolling hills for yourself. Meet local families, ramble through the vineyards of Chianti, visit Siena on market day and join a cheese tasting.
2. A Taste of Sicily - Palermo to Syracusa: Explore sun-kissed Sicily on this delicious food tour, where you'll visit a traditional farmhouse estate for farm-to-table dining, go chocolate tasting in Modica and try traditional coffee on Ortygia Island.
3. A Taste of Italy - Walking in Emilia Romagna: Learn the secrets of how Parma ham, parmesan cheese, balsamic vinegar and Lambrusco wines are made on this eight-day gastronomic journey.
4. A Taste of Tuscany - Hilltop Towns and Vineyards: From pasticerria and pasta shop visits to olive oil tastings, there's a good pace to this Tuscany small group trip – a cooking class here, an agriturismo lunch there, a stop off at hilltop Montalcino for Brunello wine tasting. 
5. A Taste of Italy - Walking in Puglia: Cook like a true Italian and make local orecchiette, or 'little ear' pasta. Next, it's lunch at an organic farm and wine tasting, while more foodie feasts await.

Spanish cuisine

With classics like paella, gazpacho, tortillas and group-friendly tapas plates, Spanish cuisine relies heavily on seafood, rice, beans and meats to create its flavourful dishes. Meaty stews and hearty dishes are the domain of Northern Spain, while lighter, seafood-rich dishes come from Southern Spain with its extensive Mediterranean coastline.

How to eat your way around Spain:
 

1. Walks and Wine Tasting in Spain and Portugal: Combine wine, culture and countryside on this Spain food tour from Madrid to Fermoselle, before crossing into Portugal to the Douro Valley and Porto. 

2. A Taste of Northern Spain: Catalonia and the Basque Country: Savor the rich flavours of northern Spain, from the pintxos bars of San Sebasatian to the vineyards of Rioja and the bustling markets of Barcelona.
3. Cycle Southern Spain - Murcia: This biking adventure sees you pedal past whitewashed villages, Moorish towers, endless orchards and quiet backroads. Phew! After all that biking, refuel on a variety of nourishing Spanish tapas.

Italian Coast vs Costa del Sol

With its towering cliffs, the Italian Coast is best suited for hiking, walking and exploring its colourful towns. Swimming beaches exist, but they are small. In contrast, Spanish beaches, like those on the sunny Costa del Sol or near San Sebastian, are usually wider, sandier and better for swimming and sunbathing. Spain also has more blue flag beaches, meaning the beaches are in excellent environmental condition and offer good facilities for visitors.

We recommend: You can't go far wrong with the Amalfi Coast, and this trip goes one step further as you stay at an authentic agriturismo. You'll leave feeling like you're part of the family – and with full bellies.
 

Italian cities vs Spanish cities

If you're seeking art, culture, architecture and mouthwatering cuisine, you'll want to spend time in Italian and Spanish cities. Rome is home to iconic landmarks like the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain, while the floating city of Venice has ornate Gothic and Renaissance cathedrals and palaces. Madrid is home to world-renowned art museums, Barcelona has the dreamy buildings and cathedral designed by Antoni Gaudi, while the past and future clash in Valencia, a hub for modern architecture.

We recommend: Join our Upgraded small group tour of Rome and Umbria. In between ancient Roman structures and beautiful artwork, there are streetside cafes, delicious gelato and open-air markets to take in. Plus, you'll stay at a premium hotel, ensuring you can truly switch off after a day exploring Italy's capital city.

Italian countryside vs Spanish countryside

You’ll also want to get out into the countryside. In Spain, you can walk and hike along the Camino de Santiago, one of the most famous walking routes in the world. In Italy, explore vineyards, meadows and hills throughout Tuscany or Piedmont. For more mountainous terrain, Italy's Lakes District, home to Lake Como, has beautiful alpine landscapes. Spain has the rugged, off-the-beaten-path Alicante mountains. For a taste of island life, Spain's Canary Islands and Italy's Sicily and Sardinia are volcanic islands ripe for exploration on foot or by bike.

We recommend: It's got to be the Camino de Santiago, hasn't it? Follow the legendary Camino Frances (French Way) from Leon to Santiago de Compostela, passing through rural landscapes and historic towns as you go. Seeing the Catedral de Santiago rising from the distance is a definitive highlight.