I am planing my first trip to Europe and i can decide if i should visit Spain or Italy and which cities in those countries as a must see?
I am traveling in a group of 4, we enjoy sight seeing, eating out and a fun nightlife. We expect to travel any where from 6-10 days. Any suggestions or advice is greatly appreciated.
SPAIN or ITALY??

can't decide*

Do you really want strangers to decide where you go?

OK, I'll play this game. ITALY! Rome if you have 6 days. Rome + one other destination if you have 10 days. If we get to decide the second destination too, then TUSCANY!

Who's next?

What time of year?

What is your budget?

Are you looking for cities? Resorts?

In so little time you are really looking at 2 locations at most.

I would do Italy before Spain - although I love Andalusia.

Have you done any reading at all about these countries? Looked at guidebooks? Looked at maps? What made you decide on Italy/Spain? What's your budget? What are your interests? How old are you?

Honestly, you need to do some basic research and figure out at least what made Italy and Spain appealing to you in the first place. Each one is an entire country with dozens of cities, and 6-10 days on the ground isn't much.

Fun nightlife? Spain...the Spanish are more laid back.....

Spain is somewhat less expensive and as alihitch says more laid back. Madrid is more what is conceived as
Spanish and Barcelona is more hip. Either are individually exciting. Have been to both and I prefer Madrid and points west..Salamanca, Segovia, Avila but that's me. Italy has much to commend it..Rome, of course...huge, noisy and historic.
Florence, cultural, picturesque,but expensive. Tuscany..knock your sox off georgeous and the vino !!!...food...scenery.. but as far as your trip goes ...whatever is of importance to you!! I'd happily go to any of the places and love 'em all!!!

"Spanish and Barcelona is more hip"

Hmmmm....my friends in Madrid may beg to differ Does this mean Spanish is not "hip"?

Great sites on wonderful Madrid, Barcelona and Sevilla for a start:
http://www.esmadrid.com/en/portal.do
http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/
http://www.exploreseville.com/

Barcelona is a very nice city, with the beach so close to the centre, the extraordinary Gaudi Architecture, the old centre with its narrow streets, the squares with cafes, restaurants with terrace... so much life in this city ! and the spanish way of life. The costa Brava has nice beaches too and small villages in the country side.

Kathy...in no way derogatory..I guess it was meant to be BCN was more into more recent architecture (Gaudi), more intense action (Las Ramblas), and MAD more traditional. Your friends in Madrid need not worry as I apparently misused "hip" in my definition. I love them both and appreciate the differences as I am sure visiter will!!! Now back to the poster's thread..OK???

I do not associate Italy with fun nightlife, but that could be just me. But in Spain there is wonderful nightlife, even for old folks like me. Dinners out are very late, and flamenco afterward in Madrid at places like Casa Patas is a terrific way to finish up the night. People of all ages are out in the street until all hours, strolling among the tapas bars, sitting in cafes in the outdoor plazas.

I would go to Barcelona and Madrid and, if you have the longer trip, to Seville.

I agree fun night life = Spain. Go to Barcelona and stay there! But if you don't want to stay in one place and you go for 10 days there then do Madrid/Barcelona/Seville. It will give you a good look at three different parts of Spain.

Italy for me... When I travel there it's not for night-life - but you mentioned sight-seeing and eating out and therefore I vote for Italy!!! For the food, wine, art, history, the people. I love Spain, too - but Italy stole my heart and even after many trips, I always long to go back... and will next year!

Just be aware than in Spain nightlife is that - starts at midnight and heads to 4, 5 or 6 in the am. (We had a hotel in Madrid near a couple of clubs and the herds of young people coming out of them singing at 5 in the am was NOT what we wanted.)

There is also nightlife for adults in Madrid, and it starts much earlier than midnight. Flamenco clubs may have two shows, and if there is just one it is probably around 10 or 10:30. The jazz club Cafe Central has live music every night from 9:00 to 11:00. http://www.cafecentralmadrid.com/

Don't know how night life can be so early when dinner isn;t until 9:30 or 10 pm (what we found in almost all restaurants).

Ibiza
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibiza