There are only 4 Balearic Islands where you can go for a holiday,… Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera. Yet all of them are entirely different, with over 50 different and unique holiday destinations on them, choosing where to stay can be challenging. So, after living, travelling and working all over them for the last 20 years, here is my comprehensive, independent and unbiased holiday guide to where to stay in the Balearic Islands.
Which Balearic Island is best
Mallorca – Best Balearic Island for families, activities and excursions
Mallorca is the largest of the 4 Balearic Islands and has the most tourism. If you want the largest choice of things to see and do and experiences, this is the best Balearic Island for you. It does not matter if you are travelling as a family, solo travellers, or as a couple, this island, with so much choice, has something for everyone. Also, if you are travelling last minute or flying from a country without many direct flights, this might be a good choice, as Mallorca has the largest selection of flights coming and going to the island daily.
Complete guide to where to stay in Mallorca
Menorca – Best Balearic Island for relaxation and authenticity
Menorca has a bit less of everything and is a smaller-scale holiday destination compared to Mallorca, but because of that, it does not feel that touristy and more authentic. The island generally has a more relaxed feel, but also the holiday destinations on the island feel less crowded. Menorca, in many ways, feels like Mallorca, 20 years ago. If you are looking for active nightlife or clubbing, this is definitely not the island for you.
Complete guide to where to stay in Menorca
Ibiza – Best Balearic Island for couples, solo travellers and nightlife
Ibiza is well known for its clubbing and nightlife scene. While the island also has quiet and relaxed holiday resorts, the most popular destinations for nightlife and clubbing, like Playa d’en Bossa, Eivissa and San Antonio, give it that reputation. Of all 4, it is generally the most expensive and luxurious island to stay, so if you are looking for unique luxurious hotels and experiences, this is the best island for you.
Complete guide to where to stay in Ibiza
Formentera – Best Balearic Island for exclusive holidays
Formentera does not have an airport, which is a dealbreaker for many. You will first have to fly to Ibiza and then take the ferry to the island. Yet, because of this, it is the most natural of the 4 islands with very few tourism accommodations. Yet, do keep in mind that every day many tourists come over from Ibiza to visit the island, so some places get quite busy during the daytime. In general, it is a pretty exclusive and unique place for a holiday in the Balearic Islands, but the extra travel time and complexity is worth considering. Many holidaymakers might find a holiday in Ibiza more enjoyable with a day trip to the island to explore it.
Where to stay in the Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands offer a lot of variety. Even within the individual islands, you can find resorts that are very different from each other. Having spent over 20 years working, travelling, and living on the Spanish Islands, here is my selection of the best holiday destinations for you.
Best place and hotels for a family holiday in the Balearic Islands
- Playa de Muro in Mallorca is ideal for families who love the beach – Iberostar Playa de Muro
- Puerto de Alcudia in Mallorca is great for families with older children who want lots to see and do – Zafiro Palace Alcudia
- Cala Bona in Mallorca is ideal for a relaxing family holiday while still having bustling Cala Millor a short walk away – Protur Bonaire Aparthotel
- Cala Mesquida in Mallorca for an all-inclusive-family holiday – Viva Cala Mesquida Resort
- Palma Nova in Mallorca for families with older children or teenagers who want lots of attractions, shows and amusement parks nearby – Sol Katmandu
- Cala en Blanes in Menorca, with many different beaches, live shows and a waterpark, great for families who want a change of scenery each day – Globales Los Delfines
- Cala en Bosch in Menorca for a family holiday with young children – Zafiro Menorca
- Es Canar in Ibiza is best for those who want a family beach holiday specifically in Ibiza – Leonardo Royal Hotel
- Cala de Bou in Ibiza for a family holiday with teenagers and older children – Marvell Club
All-inclusive family holidays in the Balearic Islands
If you are just looking for the best and most complete all-inclusive family holiday hotels and the surrounding area is not that important to you, because you stay most of the time in the hotel, here are the 3 best ones. 1 for each island.
- Mallorca: Protur Safari Park Park
- Menorca: Occidental Menorca
- Ibiza: Tui Magic Life Cala Pada
Best budget holiday destinations in the Balearic Islands
It is possible to find budget deals all year round on the Balearic Islands outside of the school holiday season but remember that any month before May and after October might not be ideal for most people as it is not really beach holiday weather then. Depending on the year and weather, it can be, but it is not guaranteed. Here are the best options if you are looking for a place with more budget-friendly accommodations.
- Inland: Especially in Mallorca, there are a lot of houses and villas for rent, much cheaper than accommodation near the coast. If you are looking for a holiday where you just want the good weather, a pool, don’t need to be near the beach and want to explore a bit around the island, this could be a great budget holiday option. Not only will your accommodation be cheaper, but also nearby restaurants offer much more budget-friendly pricing than the more touristy holiday destinations near the beach.
- Mahon: This place is also suitable for a budget holiday destination. Not only is it close to the airport, so you will save money getting there, but this area has many Airbnb holiday lettings and other holiday accommodations that are more budget-friendly. Locals mainly inhabit Mahon, and few tourists stay here, so prices in bars and restaurants are also aimed at them and not as high as in Menorca’s more touristy holiday destinations.
- Less well-known locations: Binibeca, Son Parc, Fornells and Cala Morell in Menorca. Cala Vines, Cala Fornells, Font de Sa Cala and S’illot in Mallorca. Cala Llenya in Ibiza. These are also excellent places to stay for a holiday but not that well known. Because of this, you can find some really good budget deals here.
Best couples and adults-only holiday destinations and hotels in the Balearic Islands
- Playa d’en Bossa in Ibiza for luxury or party holiday for singles and couples – Ushuaia
- Santa Eulalia in Ibiza for a city trip holiday with nice beach, promenade, many restaurants and marina ideal for older couples – Catalonia Royal Ses Etaques
- Playa de Palma in Mallorca for younger couples and solo travellers, close to Palma and El Arenal clubbing scene – Pure Salt Garonda
- Palma Nova in Mallorca is great for younger adults who like to go clubbing in nearby Magaluf but don’t want to be in the middle of it during the daytime – Zel Mallorca
- San Antonio in Ibiza for younger adults with active nightlife and many beaches to explore nearby – Palladium Hotel Palmyra
- Eivissa in Ibiza is great for a city holiday with active nightlife ideal for couples and singles of all ages – The Standard Ibiza
- Cala Galdana in Menorca for a beach holiday for couples who like a relaxing or active holidays – Artiem Audax
Best luxury holidays in the Balearic Islands
For true luxury, there is only 4 destination in the Balearic Islands. While Menorca and Mallorca have luxurious hotels all over the island, there is not a specific holiday destination on them where their entire area is luxurious. So, only Ibiza and Formentera are suitable for a true luxury holiday.
- Playa d’en Bossa in Ibiza for luxury and active nightlife – Ibiza Hard Rock Hotel and Gran Palladium Palace Ibiza
- Eivissa in Ibiza for luxury city holiday with great nightlife – Mirador de Dalt Vila
- Talamanca in Ibiza for luxury beach holidays – Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay
- The island of Formentera for unique luxury holidays – Cala Saona Hotel & Spa
Best beach holidays and hotels in the Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands have many great beaches. But, like in most places, the best ones have no accommodation nearby. So, in this list, I focus on holiday destinations with fabulous beaches with accommodations or hotels directly next to the beach.
- Playa de Muro in Mallorca is one of the only holiday destinations in Mallorca with direct access to the beach from many of the hotels, with no promenades or roads in between. The more South you go in Playa de Muro, the better the beaches and access to them – Zafiro Bahia
- Cala Galdana has the most beautiful and pristine beach in Menorca – Melia Cala Galdana
- Playa d’en Bossa in Ibiza for a luxury holiday with many beach clubs – Ushuaia
- Formentera has the most exclusive and pristine beaches in the Balearic Islands – Hotel Riu La Mola
- Cala Mesquida in Mallorca has one of the more natural-feeling beaches in the Balearic Islands – Viva Cala Mesquida Resort & Spa
- Puerto Pollensa in Mallorca has many mini beaches located in the town centre with all facilities and restaurants directly near or on the beach – Hotel Illa d’Or
- Cala San Vincente in Ibiza for an excellent, small scale and relaxed beach holiday with few hotels away from busy Ibiza – El Somni Ibiza
Best hiking holidays in the Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands are also popular for hiking holidays because of the great trails and the budget-friendliness. Most people who want to go hiking come here in March, April, May, September, October and November. These months are generally much cheaper and have more suitable hiking weather. So where should you go?
- Mallorca: The Serra de Tramuntana mountain range takes you the whole way across the island’s mountains.
- Menorca: The Cami de Cavalls coastal baths take you all the way around the island.
- Ibiza: For day hikes that end in the same spot at the end of the day.
- Formentera: Too small to really be considered a hiking destination.
Best nightlife holiday destinations and hotels in the Balearic Islands
Menorca and Formentera don’t have any active clubbing nightlife. If you are looking for a more relaxed nightlife with just a few drinks and maybe a show, you can find it on those islands. But those looking for real clubbing and party nightlife should go to Mallorca or Ibiza.
- Playa d’en Bossa in Ibiza for a luxurious and pricey clubbing scene with lots of major clubs and big names – Ushuaia
- San Antonio in Ibiza has the more approachable and smaller-scale nightlife in Ibiza – Ibiza Rocks Hotel
- Eivissa in Ibiza with Pacha’s, lots of outside bars with DJs and many more massive nightlife clubs a short ride away – El Hotel Pacha
- Magaluf is the nightlife holiday destination that is most popular with Scandinavians and British holidaymakers in Mallorca – Sol House The Studio
- El Arenal is the holiday destination most popular with German, Belgian and Dutch tourists for its nightlife in Mallorca – Hotel Whalafun
Best relaxation in the Balearic Islands
The best place for a relaxing holiday in the Balearic Islands has to be Formentera. Yet getting there is not relaxing since there are no direct flights. You will first have to fly to Ibiza, get a taxi to the port and then take a ferry across. So, if Formentera does not sound like a good place for you… here are some other relaxing and less crowded holiday destinations.
- Mallorca: Canyamel, Porto Cristo, Cala Romantica and s’Illot
- Menorca: Fornells, Cala en Porter and Cala Morell
- Ibiza: Cala Llenya and Cala Nova
Best place for an authentic Spanish holiday in the Balearic Islands
- Mahon in Menorca: The current capital of the island.
- Ciutadella in Menorca: The island’s former capital with a lovely beach nearby also.
- Eivissa in Ibiza: The capital of Ibiza with lots of nightlife and history.
- Santa Eulalia in Ibiza: Nice city with long golden beach in front.
- Figueretas in Ibiza: Right next to Eivissa city with a great beach in front.
- Palma in Mallorca: The biggest city of all the capitals on the Balearic Islands, with many restaurants and culture.
- Inland: Especially in Mallorca but also in Ibiza and Menorca, you will find the inland to be much more authentic, while the coastline is much more developed and full of tourists.
Where NOT to stay in the Balearic Islands
While all destinations in the Balearic Islands have pros and cons, some might not be ideal for your circumstances.
- For elderly, families with small children or those who are mobility impaired, these resorts are not ideal because of the hilly terrain: Cala Tarida, Cala Llenya in Ibiza. Peguera in Menorca. Arenal d’en Castell and Cala Morell in Menorca.
- For those visiting the islands before half of May or after half of October: You might want to stay away from smaller or less popular holiday destinations as many of the things in the resort might still be closed.
- For those who don’t like long airport transfers: It is best to avoid Menorca as it does not have highways, and transfer times can take very long to some destinations. If you book a taxi in Menorca, it goes much faster than by bus because of the small roads and complicated road network.
When to visit which Balearic Island
Unlike what many people think because they only visit the islands when they are hot in summer, the winter climate in the Balearic Islands is much milder and more rainy. If you are going in the winter months and are looking for hot and beach weather, you might be better off choosing the Canary Islands instead. Here is a quick summary of when to visit the Balearic Islands
- November to April: If you are visiting during these months, it is best to stick to the islands’ capitals as many other locations on the islands will feel empty with many things closed. Palma. Mahon, Ciutadella, Eivissa and Figueretas are your best choices. But Playa de Palma and Puerto de Alcudia could also be a good choice.
- First half of May and last half of October: It is best to stay in the bigger and more famous holiday destinations, and often the best island is Mallorca as it has more things open and more direct flights during these months.
- Last weeks of May till first 2 weeks of October: Any island and destination in the Balearic Islands.
- July and August: The busiest months for the islands and especially Mallorca. If you don’t like crowds and busy beaches, Menorca will be a better holiday destination for you.
