Italy vs Spain
Italy and Spain are 1,373 km apart.
Key differences
Spain is drier, with 419 mm of rain a year to Italy's 806 mm.
Both are at their most comfortable from May to October, so the timing decision is the same either way.
Italy has the bigger choice of stays: 244 hotels on trip1 to Spain's 205.
We have written more about Spain: 28 travel guides against 21 for Italy.
Italy and Spain at a glance
| Fact | Italy | Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | Rome | Madrid |
| Population | ~59 million | ~47 million |
| Area | ~301,340 km² | ~505,990 km² |
| Time Zone | CET (UTC+1) / CEST (UTC+2) in summer | CET (UTC+1) / CEST (UTC+2) in summer. Canary Islands: WET (UTC+0) |
| Currency | Euro (€) | Cards widely accepted in cities | Euro (EUR) | Cards widely accepted |
| Languages | Italian | Spanish (Castilian), Catalan, Basque, Galician |
| Main Airports | Rome Fiumicino (FCO), Milan Malpensa (MXP), Venice Marco Polo (VCE), Naples (NAP) | Madrid (MAD), Barcelona (BCN), Malaga (AGP), Palma (PMI), Tenerife South (TFS) |
| Visa | Schengen Area – 90-day visa-free for many nationalities | Schengen Area - 90-day visa-free for many nationalities |
| Best For | Art & architecture, food & wine, coastal scenery, fashion | Beaches, tapas, architecture, flamenco, wine, nightlife, islands |
| Typical Cost Level | Mid-range (€€). Budget: €60–90/day; Mid: €120–200/day | Mid-range. Budget: EUR 50-80/day; Mid: EUR 100-180/day |
| Hotels on trip1 | 244 | 205 |
| Travel guides | 21 | 28 |
| Warmest month | August, 26°C | July, 26°C |
| Coolest month | January, 8°C | January, 7°C |
| Rain per year | 806 mm | 419 mm |
| Best time to visit | May to October | May to October |
Weather side by side
Average temperature and rainfall by month, 1991–2020. Each month links to its weather page.
Italy
Spain
Where to stay
About Italy
Italy stretches from the Alps to the Mediterranean, packing Renaissance cities, volcanic coastlines, and some of the world's best food into a single boot-shaped peninsula. Whether you're navigating Milan's fashion district, wandering Rome's ancient ruins, or island-hopping off Sicily, Italy offers an extraordinary range of experiences across its 20 distinct regions.
About Spain
Spain is Western Europe's second-largest country, stretching from the Pyrenees to the Strait of Gibraltar and out into the Atlantic to the Canary Islands. The country's regions feel like different worlds - the Gaudi-studded streets of Barcelona, the flamenco bars of Seville, the Moorish palaces of Granada, the pintxos culture of the Basque Country, and the volcanic landscapes of Tenerife are all unmistakably Spanish yet entirely distinct. With over 300 days of sunshine a year across much of the country, a food and wine culture that ranks among the world's finest, and a nightlife that rarely starts before midnight, Spain consistently ranks as one of Europe's most visited and most loved destinations.
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Italy vs Spain FAQs
Answered from the numbers on this page.
Italy and Spain are about 1,373 km apart in a straight line.
They peak at about the same temperature: 26°C on average in August for Italy and July for Spain.
The most comfortable stretch for both is May to October, on average temperature and rainfall.
Italy lists more: 244 hotels on trip1 against 205.
