Do you prefer Italy or France?

This is like comparing camenbert and pecorino, but . . . . IMO France is an absolutely gorgeous country.

From the beaches and harbors of Normandy/Brittany to the South of France Provence and Cote d'azur and everything in between it is breathtaking.

The food is excellent, the trains fast and people friendlier than you might imagine, but . . .

Italy also has its wonderful churches, Rome, Milan and the beautiful countryside of Tuscany and the lakes at Como. People are very friendly, maybe too. It's a toss up because they offer such a diverse experience, but I will go with
FRANCE

I love both of them but because I adore Italian food, I'll vote for Italy!

That's like asking:
If I had to choose, would I want to go to a sophisticated dinner party (Paris) or a fun family picnic (Italy).


Weadles -- I'd have to give a nod to Italy's food, too.

France--especially the southern part. Nice people, wonderful food, and very diverse scenery. We just keep going back.

Well, although we enjoyed our one trip to Italy, we have been to France five times and are going again in October. So I would say we definitely choose France! I agree with everything the previous poster said. The country is so beautiful, the food wonderful, the people so nice (at least that is how we have found them), and we just love France!

France !!!

Much more diversity in landscape & people.

However:
Favorite countryside - Val d'Orcia in Tuscany

Most romantic city - Venice

Favorite mid-sized city - Siena

Stu Dudley

At the end of the day I'd have to say France, but I'm a total sucker for Italy, too. And two things I like better about Italy - the language and the food.

I love Italy a lot, but.....because of the eclairs, my vote goes to France!

Although I thoroughly enjoyed Italy each time I was there, I wasn't depressed when I had to go home, and I don't miss it much when I'm not there.

Can't live without Paris.

If there were only one France and one Italy I would probably pick Italy for it's history and art, from whence the West we know sprang.
But I've actually spent much more time in France visiting Paris and a few other spots including Burgundy and Normandy. I feel more comfortable there especially as compared to southern Italy, Rome and the south, which are more intense experiences.
As for the food I love it all in either place.
In short--It depends.

Italy, no contest.

BC

That is a hard one, I love them both! I really do not think I could pick one. I will continue to return to both as well as other countries that I LOVE.

I do love Andalusia, Spain best in the winter.

I love sunny winters and as much as I love Italy ( lived there a year,hated the winter) and France....their winters are too dark, rainy,windy and cold for me.

( That said, Andalusia summers are too hot for me..although last May in Italy it was even hotter).

So I suppose it depends on the season too as I prefer nice weather and as few tourist crowds as possible.

For the food, I'd have to go with Italy.

Otherwise, it depends on the time of year. In summer, I'd rather go to France & enjoy the not as hot weather & the long days.

I got married in Rome last month. My vote is definitely for Italy.

Italy. I used to cry every time we were there, thinking I might never get back. The art and architecture in Italy make me feel as though I am having a great meal, but will never have food again, and I am trying to eat enough to last forever. Finally, after a week each in Rome and Venice, I've stopped crying when we go. I also love the food and landscape, but most of all, the kindness and exuberance of the people, especially in Naples and Sicily.

I do also love France for many of the same reasons and feel more at home there. However, I feel as though I am on some kind of high in Italy and a lot calmer in France. I like being high.

Spain is somewhere in between (closer to Italy) in my emotions.

There are many places in France that I enjoy visiting - but for pure relaxation Is prefer Italy. Also, we've found that our budget goes further in italy - esp for excellent food.

I lived in Italy for a year as a young teenager. I loved it then, but now I absolutely have to say France! I keep going back, and don't want to go anywhere else. I like to drive around the countryside, and feel very comfortable doing that alone. People are extremely kind and helpful. I'm leaving in 3 weeks for Brittany, and can't wait!

food -Italy
desserts - France
shoes- Italy
clothes - France
small towns - Italy
capital - France
men - Italy
women -France

Wine - either !

Italy, Italy. Tho in my old age Paris has taken hold. (Last two trips included Paris.)

I think this is just as hard as choosing between your mother and your father or choosing which of your two children you like the best.

Why do you have to choose which is best? If you can only go to one, pick one this time and go to the other next time. I really couldn't say which is my favorite.

Both are beautiful...If I had only one month left on earth, (between Italy and France)... I would choose France, especially, Paris....you could bury me at Pere LaChaise.

There is nothing like sipping champagne in the south of France on a beautiful September afternoon.

Except eating gelato in Florence.

Or an afternoon of people watching in the mall below the Lourve.

Or having pizza in Rome.

Or wine tasting at a local bar in Paris.

So in my opinion both.

Hi

I have not see that much of France but I have been a few times to Italy and that is great. So I would love to go back to Italy. The trip last year to Florence and Tuscany (see my trip report http://gardkarlsen.com/florence_italy_travelogue.htm ) was great and I would love to explore more of Italy.

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

I've always raved about Italy, but, in fact, I've ended up in France about as often. It keeps drawing me back, one way or another. Both countries give such a gratification of the senses for some of the same reasons, like beautiful food and sights, and different reasons, such as personality and style.
You aren't going to lose with either and you'll be much better off with both.

That's like asking which of your children do you love best.

I love both so I alternate between the two. I have been to Paris x 5, The Alsace, Burgundy, Provence, The Languedoc and will be back in Provence/Paris in June. I would say that the Dordogne captured my heart the most for its beautiful villages, historic caves, pristine pastural countryside and tasty food.

In Italy, I've been to the Amalfi Coast and Sicily twice, Rome three times, Venice, Cinque Terre, Umbria,
and several areas of Tuscany. I would say that the area the captured my heart the most was the Val d'Orica for almost the same reasons as the Dordogne...except the caves of course.

You can't go wrong with either choice and there are so many areas in both of those countries to explore. It's kept me busy for many years and I still haven't run out of ideas...but unfortunately I am running short on funds with the high Euro.

Yes I prefer Italy or France

My broken Italian is better than my broken French. Growing up in NY made Italian less "foreign". Italy to me was much more relaxed and homey. France on the other hand is beautiful and I liked the idea that the food culture was more diverse (ie. Veitnamese, Chinese etc.). My next foreign trip is to Italy!

Sassafrass...I share your same emotions about Italy. I've been fortunate to visit 4 times and I've been brought to tears each time. Venice and Florence especially touch me in that way.

Last year we visited Provence first and then Tuscany. Provence was breathtaking and lovlier than I ever dreamed it would be. The people were very pleasant but a tad bit reserved, formal and serious. The difference between the French and the Italians was quite noticeable. There's something about the Italians that reminds me of Texans (of which I am one). They are very open, friendly, outgoing, demonstrative, more casual - I feel more at ease amongst the Italians. So! all that being said - France is incredible but Italy has my "heart".

I've been to France, mostly Paris, a lot of times.

Later this month, Italy for the fourth time. Not a big foodie or oenophile but going to Tuscany and Umbria.

Haven't been to Bordeaux or heavily into the French wine regions though. It seems Italy has hill towns among its wine region while I'm not sure what there is to see in Bordeaux or Burgandy outside of wineries.

Can't think of anything quite like Florence or Venice anywhere else in the world though, and I'm not even that big a fan of Renaissance art and architecture. I like the period but I'm more of an admirer of Modernist art.

Tough choice! I'd choose Italyrance.

mcnyc, see -- there you go proving we all have different tastes. I'd prefer Frataly.

Italy. Second choice, Austria.

France. I love the language, the food, the ambience. Italy was exciting and interesting and there is still a lot of it that I would like to see, and I did love Rome, but if pressed, I would choose France.

I've had a fascination with the French language since I was very small and people told me I said the letter "r" as if I were French. I figured if I lived there I could bypass the years of speech therapy trying to get me to say a proper American "r".

Someone else asked this question some months ago...interesting...Well, although I've been going to France almost annually since the mid 70s, for a 1-2 week vacation, I feel FAR more passionate towards Italy...it gets my pulse and heart beating fast. It's a stylish/classy/passionate place...not that France isn't...it's just different.
So, you probably ask..then why do you spend so much time in France? Well, it's because I'm so comfortable in France... Paris and I have had friends in both Paris and down in the south of France where I was able to stay at the villa of my best friend's uncle. Who could ask for anything more? He left his native California to live there for 25 years...until he died in his sleep at age 80... and the door was always wide open for friends to come. So, a huge villa in Beausoleil overlooking the water.
But, now that one of my best, male friends will retire in a few months, at 55 years old, and move to his new condo outside of Venice...well, I'll be heading there this April 2009. I'm to call Delta, this Friday. and try to cash in the miles. I'll spend 4 days outside of Venice and 4 days in Paris at a French friend's new apartment. Free trip/free accomodations! Smiles! Happy Travels!

NeoPatrick, if it helps any, I do speak Fritalian!

It is extremely difficult to choose - I've been to each country at least six times but if I had to choose, it would be France - there's that undefinable quality of life. Maybe because I love Paris so much (even though the layers of history in Rome and other Italian cities is certainly very attractive to me). If I won the lottery, I would definitely want to move to Paris!

Italy hands down

We wanted to go to Italy but flights were cheaper into Paris so we flew in and out of Paris and did trains to and in Italy. We found it very hard to find food in Paris without speaking French, and we had learned some Italian for Italy but did not need it. We had no trouble communicating in Italy, but it was a major challenge in Paris. So with all the supposedly great food in Paris, instead we had sandwiches that we could point at in the subway stations and McDonald's twice, definitely not what I would have hoped for.

It really depends on what you are looking for. Last summer I flew into Rome and spent a week touring the famous sites. I LOVED the people, the food, the culture. Then I took the train to Florence. After Florence I took the train along the Italian coast into France. Totally worth the 8 hr train ride!! So beautiful! I spend a couple of days in Cannes. I can't go to Europe without visiting Paris, so after Cannes I took the train to Paris. I spent a couple of days eating crossiants along the Sienne and wandering around the Musee De Orsay and Louvre. Oh I want to go back!

France or Italy? Help, please!
We are taking a Mediterranean cruise this winter, then have Dec. 21 to 28 free for a week's holiday of our choosing. But we can't choose. Any advice on winter in Italy or France?

Italy

By the way there is more diversity in Siciy than in all of France in terms of influence of other cultures.

Italy-the people, gelati, food, antiquities, smaller towns.


France-Paris is truly beautiful city with better museums than Italy, cave drawings, Loire Valley.

Love them both, but keep going back to Italy. The breathtaking beauty, culture, food, but most of all the wonderful Italians.... love it all.

Paris in the North, Lourmarin in the South--they've stolen our hearts. Of course, there is nothing quite like the hill towns of Umbria. Rome, unfortunately, has allowed the street vendors to become part of their culture and one cannot enjoy the beauty of Rome any longer without being accosted. We'll take France, her ambiance, wonderful people and exceptionally delicious food.

Have been to both more than once on extended journeys (five weeks or more) and I have to vote for France. The food is much better (much of the food in Italy is microwaved--just pop your head into the kitchen of a small restaurant and take a peek.

The Italian architecture and scenery is unforgettable, but sadly, our experience with Italians was negative. Although we tried to speak the language, we found the locals--especially in the Como area--to be very rude, even with one another. Smoking everywhere, even in non-smoking areas (train stations, airports). We are not typical Americans (we dress like Europeans and we are small and thin) and we are multi-lingual...we just couldn't figure it out. However, we found that we were very warmly greeted in France, wherever we went. The children in france are much better behaved than those in Italy. If you don't believe me, read the CruiseCritic travel boards about Mediterranean cruises. You will see over and over again the complaints among passengers about the ITalian children on the ship--they are much ruder than any other children.

One exception to our visits in Italy was Venice--there we noticed the residents to be distinctly different from other parts of Italy.

France every time. I've always found the French to be far more helpful and friendly, and while I love Italian food, the food served in even everyday restaurants in France is outstanding.

Admittedly my French is far better than my Italian, which may help.

Like France a lot. LOVE Italy with all my heart.
ITALY!!!!!

Just goes to show how people's travel experiences can differ--we've found the French to be much less helpful than Italians! I guess it's a matter of time and place.

Having been a flight attendent flying to both of those cities, hands done I would pick the Italians and the country.
My 24 year old daughter agrees.

I've been to both, six times to Italy, four to France, and by far Italy. Better food, beautiful languague nicer people and definetly a more ecclectic mix of scenery. And definetly more to offer in the way of historical monuments

Although I adore France and have been many times, I am with Sassafras as I just returned from Italy and cried with joy at being back in my beloved Italy when flying in and also cried when we left with the worry I might never return. Italy has it all - the mountains, lakes, coastline, Cinque Terre, architecture,cities, history, people with their overwhelming joy for life, and the food. What more could a mortal want? We had never flown into Venice before (have been to Italy 6 times) and it was utterly MAGICAL!

Absolutely adore Italy... Lived in Rome for 11 years!!! The people make a HUGE difference. Italians are very friendly...

I like them both and could not select one over the other, so I guess the answer is to just spend as much time as possible in each wonderful country!

This is the most difficult question ever posed - including those about the meaning of life!

When I was in college I had spent 4 months in France (Paris, Alsace-Lorraine and the Riviera). It was amazing, incredibly diverse, sophisticated, intellectually stimulating, beautiful in the northern U.S. kind of way but drifting SW by the time we got to the Riviera, quiet and sedate (except during Mardi Gras in Nice!). Then I took the train into Italy.

The train stopped right over the border and instantly the volume in the car quadrupled - kids running around, women shouting back and forth, food coming out for families, anyone and everyone talking to us. I practically got whiplash over the change. It was exhilarating, engaging and warm, casual, beautiful in the SW U.S. kind of atmosphere.

I have since been back to cover more of the two countries and have an even harder choice now.

The best of both worlds!

France - more geographic diversity from lush and green to dry Mediterranean
- more diversity in art from masters to Impressionist to Modern
- pastries and breads
- things work according to common rules

Italy - mostly drier, hotter climate with buildings reflecting a more casual climate
- more "Madonna and Child" paintings than can be counted by a computer and fewer alternatives, but great ancient history, ruins, etc.
- gelato (ice cream that defies description)
- lively free-for-all in rules and government
-"aggressive" friendliness that I find as a breath of fresh air, but some find very nervous-making

In short - YOU SIMPLY CANNOT DO JUST ONE!

"aggressive" friendliness that I find as a breath of fresh air,"

After 2 days of buying bread ( and pizza) in the same bakery in Rome , the employee greeted us like old friends and had a free sample of something for us to try each time.
I would not call that kind of friendliness " aggressive' - just as PP said - a breath of fresh air, wonderful and memorable !

France. Enjoyed Italy and hope to go back, but there is just something about France that I like better!

Italy. But then again, I'm Italian

Exciting Italy! I agree that I have experienced the most highs in Italy but more serenity in France. Paris gives me the high feeling that I get in Rome. Oh dear, I cannot choose! I LOVE Europe but agree the weak dollar is making all EU travel cost-prohibitive! Boo hoo!

Some very different experiences. i have had bad meals in France but never in Italy.

Italy being arid is somewhat true but sertainly not in the Alps or in the north.

I am headed for Paris in July but I would want to live in Italy.

Oh Italia!! I have been to both but Italy keeps capturing my heart. When I walk into the Borghese Gallery in Rome, it never fails to bring tears to my eyes. Sitting on a beach in Lerici and watching Italian families play. Market day in any small town in Tuscany. Driving the Amalfi coast drive. That first sight of the Grand Canal. Etc., Etc., Etc. I've been four times and I can't wait to go back!!

NeoPatrick I am with you...definitely Frataly !!!

What a difficult choice though. I have been to both many times and last year I went in May started In
Italy and home from France. This year we go in September and Start in France and home from Rome. It seems I can't hardly do one without doing the other !!! Too difficult a choice to make.

For me it has to be France. I just feel as though I belong there. Paris has my heart. I've never felt a connection with Rome. Paris has at it's core the Seine and a certain gentility. Rome is just too nitty gritty for me. The first time I entered Italy I came by train to the Ligurian coast after a week in Provence. The noise immediately overwhelmed me. The vespas, the animated people. It was too much. I prefer the markets in France to those in Italy. The displays of produce, cheeses, olives, etc are truly a work of art. All that being said, I do prefer Italy's art especially in their churches. And, the area in the crete area of Tuscany is breathtaking. All in all though it's France for me. My first time in Provence I had the most extraordinay feeling I was home. It wasn't until years latter I learned a branch of my family came from the south of France in the 900's. Maybe it was home in a previous life!

Italy, Italy, Italy! Although I absolutely love most of France (especially rural areas and lovely little villages) I would have to say Italy for about 1,938 reasons (too numerous to list).

I agree with Cole Porter:

"I love Paris in the springtime
I love Paris in the fall
I love Paris in the winter...
When it drizzles
I love Paris in the summer
When it sizzles

I love Paris every moment
Every moment of the year
Why or why do I love Paris
Because my love is near..."

My choices:

1) Netherlands
2) Italy
3) Ireland
4) Spain
5) Scotland
6) Germay
7) Hungary
8) France

Guess that's what makes the world interesting

Well, I also loved Rome!!!

I vote for Italy although I would like to add that my spouse votes for Spain based upon a simple criterion. The rest rooms are consistently cleaner than It and Fr is dead last with the most odoriferous nature. We always carry liquid hand cleaner, and tissue as needed.

Now how about a multi-country survey of WCs and the best to "handle" them, especially with spouses and children.