In all the variety of tourist routes in Europe, the most popular are still countries where beach and sightseeing holidays complement each other. Spanish and Italian resorts perfectly meet the requirements of tourists who dream during their vacation to soak up the cleanest beaches and see famous sights. To make the dream come true, travelers only have to choose where it is better to relax – in Italy or Spain.

Flight and distance

Italian cities popular with travelers are almost 3,000 kilometers away from Moscow, which means that the flight will take at least 3.5 hours. In this direction, flights are carried out by Lufthansa, S7, Air France, Finnair, Air Moldova, LOT, KLM, Alitalia and Pobeda.

A ticket to Rimini, Florence or Rome from Moscow and back costs from 7 thousand rubles in January-February to 12-13 thousand rubles in July. Air travel to Venice will cost from 5.5 to 14 thousand rubles. Direct flights Moscow-Naples and back in different seasons of the year cost from 10 to 18 thousand rubles.

A direct flight from Moscow to Barcelona takes a little longer and is about 4.5 hours. Aeroflot and Iberia fly on this route, as well as to Madrid. You can get to Tenerife using the services of the air carrier VIM Air. You can fly from St. Petersburg to Barcelona on board the Vueling.

The minimum cost of direct and return tickets to Spain is from 6 thousand rubles (January-February). The most expensive tickets are in the summer (up to 16 thousand rubles) and in October, when the price reaches 46 thousand rubles.

Visa

Italy and Spain are part of the Schengen area, which imposes a number of serious requirements for entering their territory. The Schengen visa is a mandatory entry document for both Italy and Spain.

When applying for a tourist visa, a consular fee of 35 euros per person is required. Express visa costs twice as much. Additionally, each applicant is charged a visa fee of just over 1,000 rubles (the exact amount depends on the euro exchange rate). The term for obtaining a visa from the date of submission of the entire package of documents does not exceed 10 days.

By applying for a visa permit, the applicant can expect to stay in a Schengen member country for a period of not more than 90 days in each six months. The application is accompanied by documents confirming residence on the territory of the host country for the period of stay (hotel reservation, tourist voucher, round-trip tickets, etc.), copies of the foreign passport and Russian passport, receipt of payment of the consular fee, consent to the processing of personal data.

It is also necessary to submit a certificate of confirmation of employment, guarantees of financial solvency, medical insurance, a photo of the established sample, a completed questionnaire and undergo a fingerprint biometrics procedure (for persons over 12 years old).

The best time to relax

The Italians assure that their country is beautiful at any time. And it's hard to disagree with this statement, especially when it comes to the resort coast or alpine landscapes. However, tour operators recommend that travelers plan their trip taking into account the type of holiday they are interested in.

The beach season in Italy starts in the second half of May and lasts until October. The best time for skiing and recreation in high-altitude resorts in Italy is the period from mid-December to early April. Excursion tourism – the most loyal to weather conditions – is possible all year round, but April-May and September-October are considered the most comfortable time for excursions.

Holidays in Spain are a real holiday, the atmosphere of which is felt not only in beach bars and old pedestrian streets, but literally everywhere. But still, the most vivid impressions remain from a summer trip, when the Italian resorts are hot during the day from the sun, and at night – from incendiary dances and passionate kisses.

The so-called “high” season in Spain begins in May and lasts until the second half of September. At this time, the beaches and local attractions are a real full house. It is more expedient to plan a sightseeing tour of Spain for spring or autumn, and it is better to go for Christmas shopping in November-December. The sales season in Spanish stores is in July and January.

Popular beach resorts

The Apennine Peninsula, on which Italy is located, is washed by the waters of four seas at once, so the choice of beach resorts here is more than impressive. The most massive of them are Amalfi, Lido di Jesolo, Apulia, and Rimini, which is considered the most budgetary holiday destination on the Italian coast. San Vito lo Capo in Sicily is a great option for families with children, while Porto Cervo, Viareggio and Sanremo await tourists for premium holidays.

Spanish beach resorts are no less numerous and varied. The coastline is washed by the Alboran and Balearic Seas, as well as the waters of the Bay of Biscay. Most often, foreign travelers choose such beach destinations as Sitges, Santander, Costa Brava and Costa del Sol. No less popular are Nerja, Benidorm, Corralejo and Marbella.

Year-round recreation is possible on the Spanish island of Tenerife, somewhat remote from the mainland towards Africa. In order to combine two types of recreation in one trip – beach and entertainment – active tourists prefer a trip to Ibiza – the most youthful resort in Spain. One of the most prestigious places for beach tourism is the island of Mallorca – the largest in the Balearic archipelago.

Entertainment

Italy is a record-breaking country in terms of the number of cultural and historical values of various eras. A countless number of attractions contributed to the fact that Italy has firmly entrenched the image of the most interesting and large-scale excursion destination in Europe. Italian guidebooks list hundreds of names of places that tourists must visit. And this list is far from exhaustive. The routes that allow you to see medieval castles, ancient temples and amphitheatres, galleries and museum complexes are the most popular.

The list of Italian entertainment is complemented by ski holidays on the alpine slopes, water sports at beach resorts, hiking, fishing, horseback riding and hiking, shopping, as well as gastronomic and wine tourism. In addition, people in Italy love holidays and festivals and know how to organize them perfectly. The greatest interest among tourists is the celebration of Christmas, New Year and Easter in Italy. Spectacular events are also organized during the Venice Carnival and during the Ferragosto period.

The Spaniards are just as proud of their natural and man-made sights as the Italians. There are so many picturesque landscapes, amusement parks and architectural monuments in this country that not a single tourist has been able to see at least half of them in one trip. The top list of the most popular types of recreation in Spain is headed by the beach and sightseeing destinations, which, however, are not inferior to gastronomic and ecological types of tourism, shopping and extreme tours.

The center of winter recreation is the Pradollano ski resort, located at the foot of one of the peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. A special charm will come to Spain and the widespread love of local residents for the holidays. In a country where the fiesta is so reverent, it cannot be otherwise.

In addition to national holidays, thematic festivals are often held in the country, including the Festival of the Three Cultures, the Night of Wine, the kite festival, Jazz on the Coast, the Madrid fire festival Luminarius, the Gaudí Nights festival, as well as all kinds of gastronomic events.

Excursions

Of the variety of sightseeing destinations in Italy, the most frequently visited cities are Rome, Venice and Florence. In addition to sightseeing tours of Italian cities, during which guides focus on the most venerable sights, tourists have the opportunity to go on thematic tours that allow them to broaden their horizons and diversify the recreation program. Once in Rome, do not miss the opportunity to visit the Vatican, stroll through the streets of Trastevere, see the panoramas of Gianicolo and wander through the authentic labyrinths of the Old City.

In Venice, in addition to traditional gondola rides, it is worth taking a walking tour along non-tourist trails, exploring the mysterious Doge's Palace, climbing panoramic platforms and viewing the city from above, having a gastronomic date with Venice, as well as looking into its antique and craft shops.

The best excursions in Florence are visits to the numerous museums and galleries of this ancient city, as well as field trips to Tuscany, including tasting (wine and gastronomic) tours. Other popular excursions in Italy are reviews of the sights of Pisa, Milan, Naples, as well as a trip to the island of Ischia and ancient Genoa.

The excursion potential of Spain is based on such well-known destinations as Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Malaga and Seville. The island of Tenerife deserves special attention.

When planning an excursion in Barcelona, you can stop at a sightseeing program, or you can take a chance and choose unusual routes, such as Diagonal Avenue, the Barcelona beer route, the ominous and at the same time attractive Raval district, or even go on an excursion under the intriguing name “Ghosts Barcelona”.

Madrid offers to visit many museums, architectural and historical monuments, Spanish restaurants and bourgeois districts of the city. Among non-standard destinations, it is worth considering the Retiro Park, the atmospheric areas of Lavapies and Malasaña.

The most enthusiastic reviews of tourists in Valencia can boast of excursions to the mystical castle of the Templars, a visit to the Roman aqueduct in the suburbs, a trip to the underground river in the cave of St. Joseph, as well as a visit to the fortress of Guadalest and medieval Segorbe.

Hotels

The hotel base in Italy is represented by both good budget “troikas” like Hotel Nautilus 3 in Sardinia, and more expensive hotels with a 4-star category, for example, Grand Hotel & Riviera 4 in Lido di Camaiore or Mare Hotel 4 in Savona. Five-star Italian hotels meet the highest demands of their guests, offering first-class service and exquisite interiors. The resort “fives” include Parco dei Principi 5 in Sorrento, Grand Hotel Del Mare Resort & Spa 5 in Bordighera and others.

When checking into an Italian hotel with a category higher than 4 stars, tourists should be prepared to make a deposit, and smoking in such hotels is allowed only in specially designated areas. We should not forget that even in expensive hotels the cost of renting beach umbrellas and sun loungers is not always included in the price of accommodation. The size of the tip left to the staff depends on the financial capabilities of the tourist, but most often ranges from 10 to 15% of the cost of the stay.

The Spanish hotel industry is developing in a slightly different pattern. Unlike other European countries, in Spain there is no clear gradation of hotels by category, and the concept of a “beach hotel” has not taken root here. Most hotels are of the so-called urban type, that is, they do not have their own beach area, but they can offer high-quality service and well-groomed territory with a pool, chill-out area and other tourist delights.

Some worthy hotels located directly on the coastline include Hotel El Puerto by Pierre Vacances 3 in Fuengirola, Ohtels Campo De Gibraltar 4 in La Linea de la Concepción and Lasala Plaza Hotel 4 in San Sebastian. Of the five, the Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza 5 in Playa den Bossa on the island of Ibiza and Royal Hideaway Corales Beach – Adults Only, by Barcelo Hotel Group 5 in Tenerife have proven themselves to be excellent.

Service

The Italian tourism industry is based on a professional and friendly service that does not accept servility and familiarity. Polite staff, cleanliness and strict adherence to internal instructions – this is what distinguishes hotel service in Italy. Here visitors are expected to be cordial and friendly, but no one will put up with arrogance.

Foreign tourists are unanimous in observing that Italians, including those working in the service sector, talk too much, and on abstract topics. “What about talking?” – this phrase is definitely invented about the inhabitants of Italy. So if a traveler just wants to order a pizza or asks the reception to call a taxi, you can’t do without exchanging a couple of phrases with the staff. Otherwise, there is a risk of getting not a pizza, but a salad or a hamburger, and instead of a comfortable car, a touchy employee will call a budget taxi without air conditioning.

A distinctive feature of the Spanish hotel service is the convention of division into “stars”: two three-star hotels can embody radically different concepts of the hotel business. Tourists traveling to Spain, when choosing a place of accommodation, it is more expedient to focus not on the number of stars assigned to the hotel, but on the cost of living in it and the existing infrastructure.

A big advantage of Spanish hotels (with the exception of apartments) of all levels of service is the daily change of bed linen and towels. The same rule applies to housekeeping. Cheap hotels in Spain often provide guests with hygiene kits for bathrooms only on the day of arrival, and sometimes such a service is not provided at all.

In most beach hotels in Italy and Spain, outside the “high” season, children‘s mini-clubs do not work, and indeed any animation, so tourists take care of their leisure time on their own. Swimming in open, including heated, pools is most often limited in time – from 7 pm to 8 am it is forbidden to swim in them, and at any time of the year. Air conditioning is available at the hotel from June to September.

Tour prices

The cost of a tour to Italy and Spain depends on many factors, however, having a passport and an open Schengen visa on hand, you can purchase a ticket at a very affordable price, and without compromising the quality of service. This opportunity is provided by last-minute tours, as well as early booking, which is gaining popularity. Each of these options allows you to significantly save on vacation and flights.

All inclusive or breakfast

For Europe as a whole, it is common to organize meals in hotels of the “breakfast only” (BB) type, since the choice of cafes and restaurants here is quite large, and taking into account the tastes of all guests is not an easy task for hoteliers.

Family-run hotels in both Italy and Spain often offer half-board meals that include breakfast and dinner. This option will cost a little more. However, experienced tourists who monitor currency fluctuations when booking a hotel may well purchase an affordable tour with meals on the HB or even HB + system, and sometimes even choose a hotel that includes breakfast, lunch and dinner (FB or FB + ).

For many travelers, the choice of an all-inclusive hotel (AI or UAI) seems more reasonable, since the average check for dinner for two people in Italy and Spain is at least 50 euros. Having calculated the cost of self-organized meals, some tourists stop at buying a tour to a hotel with a full restaurant service.

Beaches

The coastline of Italy has a huge number of wild and resort beaches, each of which is interesting and beautiful in its own way. However, there are such beaches in this country, having visited which, tourists agree that they want to come back here again and again.

Beach	Location	A type	Peculiarities
Lighthouse Punta Carena	island of Capri	wild, rocky bay	the ability to dive from the cliffs, perfectly clear water
Budelli Island	tiny island near Sardinia	sandy	picturesque landscapes, rest in the style of “Robinson Crusoe”
Alghero beach	Sardinia	sand coral	clear sea, picturesque landscapes, high-quality tourist service
Cala Dragunara beach	Sardinia, Dragunara Bay	sandy	picturesque nature, developed infrastructure, diving, coral reefs
Cala Mariolu beach	Sardinia, the Gulf of Orosei	pebbly	the most beautiful coast of Italy, clear azure sea, holidays with children, diving
Capriccioli beach	Sardinia	sandy	pine and olive groves, smooth entrance to the sea, rocky landscapes, children's recreation
La Pelosa beach	Sardinia, Azinar Bay, Stintino	sandy	beautiful color of water, “paradise” landscapes, snow-white sand, calm sea, children's recreation, developed infrastructure, including entertainment
Mazzaro beach	Sicily	sand and pebble wild	Free, practically unequipped, scenic views, diving, surfing, windsurfing
Mondello beach	Palermo	sandy	crowded, equipped, well-developed infrastructure, scenic views
Nettuno beach	60 km from Rome	sandy	Soft sand, well-warmed sea, children's recreation, a place of rest for the inhabitants of Rome
Ostia beach	Lido di Ostia	sandy	gently sloping entrance to the sea, soft sand, good infrastructure, holidays with children, few foreigners
Pevero beach	Sardinia	sand and pebble corals	Picturesque landscapes, holidays with children, quality service
Portisco beach	Sardinia	sandy	A variety of landscapes, developed infrastructure, children's recreation, boat trips
Poetto beach	Sardinia, Cagliari	sandy	soft, white sand, first-class service, children's recreation, proximity to attractions
Sabaudia beach	Rome, Lago di Sabaudii	sandy	pine and eucalyptus groves, shallow and clear sea, holidays with children, developed infrastructure

Spanish beaches are just as numerous, but much more peaceful, with a personal atmosphere and a first-class level of tourist service.

Beach	Location	A type	Peculiarities
Barceloneta beach	Barcelona	sandy	the oldest, the most crowded, the most fun – the best in Barcelona, soft, clean sand, well-developed infrastructure
Chaplain's Bay	Salou	sandy	beautiful views, modern infrastructure, fun atmosphere, entertainment and shopping
Salou main beach	Salou	sandy	hospitality, unique Catalan atmosphere, cleanliness, great service
Cala Mandia	Majorca	rocky, sandy	hospitality, first-class service, gorgeous scenery, peaceful atmosphere, proximity to attractions
Cala Mesquida	Majorca	rocky, sandy	quiet atmosphere, picturesque nature, luxury vacation
Cape Formentor	Majorca	sandy	unusual landscapes, resort infrastructure, fine white sand, clear water, rocky shores, evergreen forests, high prices
Albufereta beach	Alicante	sandy	uncrowded, calm sea, Blue Flag for cleanliness, fine golden sand, gently sloping entrance to the sea
Benijo beach	Tenerife	sandywild	romantic place, black sand, waves, bizarre rocks, picturesque landscapes
Bogatell Beach	Barcelona	sandy	Crowded, noisy, cheerful, cosmopolitan vacation spot, well-groomed territory, well-developed infrastructure
Calla Bassa beach	Ibiza	sandy	unusual scenery, clean, pleasant sand, natural shade, plenty of entertainment, youth recreation
Calla Benirras beach	Ibiza	sand and pebble	symbol of freedom, youth recreation, hippie vacation spot, snorkeling, boat trips
Calla Codolar beach	Ibiza	sand and pebble	nice sand, clear sea, pine groves, reasonable prices, not so crowded and noisy, relaxing atmosphere
Cala Conte beach	Ibiza	sandy	Blue flag, turquoise sea, picturesque landscapes, beautiful sunsets, crowded, miniature, predominant contingent of vacationers – the Spaniards themselves
Cala Jondal beach	Ibiza	sand and pebble	round-the-clock, trendy, crowded, famous nightclubs, youth holidays, beach holidays
Las Arenas beach	Valencia	sandy	fine sand, calm, shallow sea, promenade, children's and volleyball courts
Malvaros Beach	Valencia	sandy	urban, crowded, well-maintained, with everything necessary for a beach holiday, long and wide enough, without water activities, there are sports grounds
Sol d'en Serra beach	Ibiza	sandy	narrow, with rocky areas, a noticeable current near the shore, not for children's recreation, well-groomed territory, developed infrastructure, secluded atmosphere, beach activities
El Duc beach	Tenerife	sandy	Blue flag, luxury holidays, beautiful scenery, prestigious hotels and entertainment venues, shopping

Vacation with children

Italians are very kind to children – both their own and others, therefore, comfortable conditions for recreation are created for small tourists and numerous festive events are arranged. A feature of children's tourism in Italy is the opportunity to go on excursions, the routes of which were developed specifically for young travelers, not only entertaining, but also historical and educational.

A beach holiday with children in Italy is possible at any resort, but the most adapted for the needs of kids are the beach resorts of Sardinia and Sicily, as well as Rimini.

In Spain, tourists with children are greeted no less cordially, and most beach hotels operate according to the concept of “family holidays”. The most popular destination for parents with children in Spain is the Costa Dorada. There are not only clean sandy beaches and a smooth entrance to the sea, but also a huge selection of attractions, water parks, entertainment shows and children's discos.

shopping

Italy is the universally recognized shopping capital of the world. Travelers from all over the world flock to Milan, Rome, Florence, Rimini and Turin for new collections and sales. Shopping tours to Italy have gained no less popularity than beach and sightseeing tourism.

Most often, clothes, accessories, shoes, food, wine, antiques and jewelry, including Murano glass, are bought here. It is customary to buy fur products in Bologna and Milan. The most affordable prices for leather goods and shoes are in Marche, Bologna and Empol. Rome is famous for designer items and limited collections of stylish accessories.

Tourists get real pleasure from Spanish shopping. There are many local brands that produce products of European quality at very reasonable prices. In addition, there are many outlets in the country, most of which are located in the suburbs. In such stores, prices are lower than in metropolitan shopping centers by 70-80%. For example, a high-quality bag of one of the local brands in the provinces can be bought for 30-50 euros, and in the capital they will ask for 60-80 euros for a similar product.

From a trip, tourists prefer to bring local olive oil (from 10 to 30 euros per bottle), cheese (10 euros per kilogram), sweets, wine (on average 10-15 euros per bottle), jamon, candied violets, souvenirs, clothes, shoes, jewelry, lace and accessories.

The best cities for shopping are Barcelona and Madrid, while the best market in the country is in Zaragoza.

Conclusion

A vacation spent in Italy or Spain is, in any case, a European-level vacation, since both of these countries are actively developing tourism, taking good care of their sights, developing new excursion routes and improving the hotel base, thereby attracting foreigners and raising their tourist image.

At the same time, each of these directions has its own unique features, its own unique mentality and characteristic atmosphere, to be imbued with which means to arrange an unforgettable date with a new country, its nature and culture.