Our verdict
Pick Italy for a first Europe trip built on landmarks — Rome, Florence, Venice — with easier vegetarian food and some non-stop flights, from about ₹1 lakh on land for 7 nights. Pick Spain for later nights, livelier cities, more beaches and slightly better value: Barcelona, Madrid, Seville and Granada in 7–8 nights from about ₹90,000 on land, accepting a one-stop flight.
Side by side
| Factor | Italy | Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Visa for Indians | Schengen visa, EUR 90 (about ₹9,200) plus service charges | Same Schengen visa, via Spain's outsourced visa centres |
| Flights from Delhi/Mumbai | Some non-stops to Rome or Milan, about 8.5–9 h | One-stop to Madrid or Barcelona, about 12–15 h |
| Starting trip cost (per person) | 7N land from ₹1 lakh | 7N land from ₹90,000 |
| Best months | April to June, September and October | April to June, September and October; Andalusia very hot in July–August |
| Vegetarian food | Easy everywhere | Ham and seafood in many dishes; Indian restaurants in Barcelona and Madrid |
| Nightlife | Aperitivo hour and long dinners | Dinner at 9 pm, tapas bars past midnight |
| Beaches | Amalfi's pebbly coves, Sardinia, Sicily | Barcelona's city beach, Costa Brava, Balearic Islands |
| Art and history | Colosseum, Vatican, Florence, Venice | Sagrada Família, Alhambra, Prado, Seville's Alcázar |
| Family-friendliness | Lots of walking; steep coastal towns | Beaches and PortAventura theme park |
| Eating-out costs | Moderate; tourist-area cafés expensive | Fixed-price lunch menus around EUR 13–18 (₹1,300–1,850) |
Which one is for you?
Choose Italy if…
- It is your first trip to Europe and landmarks matter most
- Vegetarian food is a daily requirement
- You want the shortest possible flight from India
- Renaissance art and Roman history are top of your list
Choose Spain if…
- You enjoy late dinners, tapas and nightlife
- Beaches matter as much as cities
- You are travelling with children who want a theme park and the sea
- You want slightly lower daily costs
The short version
Italy is the stronger first trip to Europe for most Indian travellers: more famous landmarks, easier vegetarian food and some non-stop flights. Spain suits travellers who want later nights, more beach time, livelier cities and slightly better value, and who are fine with a one-stop flight.
Cost and flights
A 7-night Italy trip (Rome, Florence, Venice) starts around ₹1 lakh per person on land, twin sharing, in 3★–4★ hotels. A 7-night Spain trip (Barcelona, Madrid, and Seville or Granada) starts around ₹90,000. Food is the biggest everyday difference: tapas and the fixed-price lunch menu, the menú del día, at EUR 13–18 (₹1,300–1,850) make Spain cheaper for eating out. See Italy trip cost.
Italy has non-stop flights from Delhi to Rome or Milan on a few carriers, about 8.5–9 hours. Spain has no regular non-stop from India; expect 12–15 hours via the Gulf or a European hub, with return fares often ₹55,000–80,000.
Visas
Both are Schengen countries, so one visa (EUR 90, about ₹9,200, plus service charges) covers both. Spain's applications in India go through its outsourced visa centres, Italy's through the Italian visa centre network. Apply to the country of your longest stay. See the Italy visa guide and Spain visa guide.
Food
Italy is the easier country for vegetarians, with pasta, pizza and risotto everywhere. Spanish cooking leans on ham, seafood and chorizo, and dishes described as vegetarian sometimes arrive with tuna or ham. Reliable vegetarian picks are patatas bravas, tortilla de patatas, pimientos de Padrón, gazpacho and vegetable paella. Barcelona and Madrid have plenty of Indian restaurants.
Nightlife and pace
Spain wins easily. Dinner starts around 9 pm, tapas bars stay full past midnight, and Barcelona and Madrid have some of Europe's liveliest nightlife. Italy's evenings centre on aperitivo hour and long dinners.
Sightseeing
Both are rich. Italy has the Colosseum, the Vatican, Florence and Venice on a compact route. Spain has the Sagrada Família and Park Güell in Barcelona, the Prado in Madrid, the Alhambra in Granada and the Alcázar in Seville; book Sagrada Família and Alhambra tickets weeks ahead, as both sell out. See things to do in Spain.
Beaches and families
Spain has the edge: Barcelona's city beach, the Costa Brava, the Balearic Islands and the PortAventura theme park near Salou. Italy's Amalfi Coast is beautiful but steep and pebbly, which is harder with small children.
When to go
Both are best from April to June and in September–October. Southern Spain is very hot in July and August, with Seville often above 38°C. See best time to visit Spain.
Can you combine Italy and Spain?
Yes, with 11–12 nights. Barcelona to Rome or Milan is about 2 hours by air, with many low-cost flights. Fly into one country and home from the other on a single Schengen visa: for example, 5 nights in Italy, then 6 nights across Barcelona, Madrid and Seville.
Frequently asked questions
Is Spain cheaper than Italy for Indians?
Is Spain good for vegetarian Indian travellers?
Are there direct flights from India to Spain?
Can I combine Italy and Spain on one Schengen visa?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
