Europe has some of the best travel destinations in the world. Without a doubt, this continent has so much to offer for every type of adventure seeker.
Two of our favourite European destinations are England and Italy. Despite knowing that each country has a beautiful side to showcase, we can’t help but pit these two countries against each other.
And we don’t mean it in a bad light if you are wondering.
We just want to help you out in choosing the next European country that you should visit according to what suits your taste. It’s a battle between the best of the best and everyone should be here for it.
Don’t worry, your international carry-on luggage would surely suit both countries no matter who emerges as the winner.
Tourist Destinations
Colosseum in Rome, Italy
These two countries are loaded with top tourist attractions that everyone is familiar with.
In England, we have the world-famous Stonehenge. It’s a prehistoric monument with more than 250 ancient objects located at the site.
Italy also has its own historical site in their backyard—the Colosseum in Rome. This is the largest amphitheatre ever built and has been an architectural inspiration for most modern-day coliseums.
If you’re the type to appreciate natural surroundings, then England and Italy also have something for you.
Lake District National Park in England is a picturesque mass of lakes, trees, and nearby mountains. It is home to 12 of the country’s largest lakes and the surrounding lovely little towns.
On the other hand, Italy has its renowned Lake Como where George Clooney’s vacation house is located (we just have to include that since his Lake Como property makes us green with envy). It is one of Italy’s most iconic sceneries and no one can argue about that.
Both have their own charm when it comes to tourist destinations, but the question of who stands out between the two has to be answered.
While England has good tourist attractions, it may look a bit too intimidating for visitors. Italy clearly has a lot more touristy options to offer with each city offering a different vibes and flavours.
Tourist attraction winner: ITALY
Food
If there’s anything that we should all consider important during every trip, we would say food should always be on top of the list.
For picky eaters, it’s important to be comfortable with what type of food to try in each country no matter how foreign they sound. It also pays to explore sometimes and try different dishes for you to really experience the culture.
As long as the ingredients are somehow recognisable, then you should be okay with it.
England is known for its fish and chips. But aside from that, they have a lot more in their pantry for tourists and travellers.
Have you ever tried a full English breakfast? It’s a platter of grilled bacon, sausages, baked beans, poached eggs, baked tomatoes, fried bread, hash browns, and black pudding.
England also has its delectable beef Wellington, scotch eggs, welsh rabbit, and tons of other meat dishes that you can try.
On the other side of the spectrum, Italy is known for its mouth-watering pasta dishes, gelatos, and pizzas. Our favourite truffle flavour was also discovered on this side of the world so we have a lot to thank this country for.
Judging by their dish offerings, Italy seems to be the friendlier option for most tourists. We just hope you’re not lactose intolerant since you’ll be consuming a lot of milk and cheese from this trip.
Food winner: ITALY
Infrastructure
When it comes to infrastructure, both England and Italy are not far ahead of each other.
England, despite looking old, has an excellent train system. Their underground and overground train systems are mostly used by commoners who circle around the city day in and day out. Buses are also available everywhere in the city.
Italy also has its own train system, although they sometimes fall short regarding their efficiency. They also have buses as an alternative to trains so you still have other options to get around the city,
Well, the obvious winner in this round is none other than, England.
Infrastructure winner: ENGLAND
Nightlife
Europe is a vibrant place to party! Whether in England or in Italy, there’s always a place for you to drink around and be merry.
In Italy, you have Milan, Rome, Florence, Versilia, Sicily, and Riviera Romagnola where you can get a dose of beats and booze. Each city varies depending on your taste in partying or clubbing. For example, in Rome, you have plenty of dance clubs and electronica in this city. The best beach parties can be found in Versilia.
England is notorious for its bar scenes. They have crazy drinking habits wherein they start hopping around pubs even during the day. But the thing is, their bars can get a bit too expensive.
The drinking joints in Westminster have over-the-top prices so a piece of advice, head over to Soho or Camden for a more affordable drinking session.
England also has a lot of speakeasy bars, those filled with so much character. Those are the types of bars that you should keep an eye on to fully experience an authentic local flavour.
And since they are more known for pubs, we’d say the winner for this round is England.
Nightlife winner: ENGLAND
Nature and hiking
Helvellyn in Cumbria, England
Both countries are blessed with beautiful landscapes and natural resources.
England will surprise you with a lot of amazing peaks and breathtaking fields of green and streams of water. Blencathra, Helvellyn, The Lizard Coastal Walk, Malham Cove, North Downs Way, Cuthbert’s Way, and Stanage Edge are just some of the most jaw-dropping sights in England that will make you want to hike there right away.
Italy has a different nature vibe, contrary to England’s picturesque scenery. Italy’s versions of nature and hiking look more rustic and enchanting in some way. It feels like you’re entering a different world and era with each destination. You have Mount Vesuvius, Sentiero Degli Dei, Corno Grande, Alta Via, and a lot more.
Just because their mountains and hiking trails look more refined and brimming with finesse, England is the winner when it comes to nature and hiking.
Nature and hiking winner: ENGLAND
Wildlife
When it comes to wildlife, Italy will emerge as the sure winner of this round since it is considered to have the highest level of faunal biodiversity in all of Europe. They have over 57,000 species recorded.
Meanwhile, England mostly has small animals with only a few large mammals on their territory. They also have impressive bird species.
Wildlife winner: ITALY
Safety
You probably have heard of pickpockets pretending to be tourists around Europe. Well, the ones we mostly heard of are found in the crowded tourist attractions in Italy. But then again, England is not an exception. They also have a high pickpocket risk.
Other factors to consider include natural disaster risk is low in England while Italy has a higher risk of experiencing such occurrences.
Overall, Italy and England are considered safe to visit considering they rank 34th and 33rd respectively on the ranking of the world’s safest countries.
Safety winner: ENGLAND
And the Travel Winner is…
ENGLAND!
Italy fell a bit short, but it doesn’t mean that it’s not worth visiting. You can always go to England and then to Italy after!
At the end of the day, it’s still up to you what country to visit. We’re just giving you an overview of what to expect in each country.
Europe is such a beautiful continent to visit only one country!
Featured Image | Benjamin Davies on Unsplash
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Poxa.
Minha opinião difere da sua! Embora você não tenha comparado França, prefiro a França e principalmente Paris.
¡Que disfrutes de una estupenda jornada!