We already have another article telling you a bit about Spain, we talk about what it’s like to tour Northern Spain by car or train.
In today’s article we will tell you a little bit about the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, which is another Spanish autonomous community and with characteristics and peculiarities completely different from the rest of the country that we in the previous article.
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Imagine this: islands of fine white sand to the south, rough black sand to the north, rocky coves, but all suitable for lots of water fun, be it sailing, diving or surfing, or simply taking a dip in the Mediterranean. When night falls you can have damned quiet in some regions and events and parties in others that go on until dawn. The Balearic Islands are for everyone.
And today we will talk about the best things to do in Ibizam Mallorca, Menorca, Formentera, how to get there, hotels, tours and prices. Would you like to travel to Seville? Check this article!
The Balearic Islands
1 million 300,000 people live in the Balearic Islands archipelagos and although there are several islets of atolls, the four main ones are:
- Mallorca, where Palma is the archipelago’s capital.
- Menorca
- Formentera
- Ibiza
Everyone there speaks Catalan, but everyone also speaks Castilian.
How to get to the Balearic Islands?
If you fly to Madrid, the flight from Madrid to Palma (Mallorca) is more or less 3 hours by plane. It is simple, fast and cheap, there are tickets now, for example, all year round for around 28 euros, which can increase a little in high season. If you want to go by boat, you can go to Valencia, further south, either by car from Madrid or by taking a flight to Valencia with a connection in Madrid. Once you arrive in Valencia you take a Trasmediterranea or Balearia ferry, which takes eight hours to sail to reach Mallorca. But the ferries are very comfortable and you pay approximately 49 euros to make the crossing, being only 1 person.
Already with the expensive included in the trip, i.e. crossing 1 person + 1 car costs between 130€~180€.
Leaving from Barcelona, which is the closest arrival point to the islands, there are also two options, by plane is only 50 minutes flight with tickets from 18 euros. By boat, the crossing takes 7h 45min, and there are also boats arriving in the morning in the same two companies that we talked about, Balearia or Trasmediterranea, with prices around 49 euros.
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Mallorca
Let’s start then with the largest of the islands, Mallorca. It is the land of Rafael Nadal, besides the sensational beaches in the island’s capital, the only big city in the whole archipelago with tree-lined avenues, with the historic centre, with narrow streets that will really surprise you, and these streets are full of cool things to do.
Elegant parks, sensational museums and the splendorous Gothic Cathedral, which looks more like a huge ship anchored in the city. There is the Palacio Real de la Almundaina, the unusual round Bellver Castle, which in June even hosts a great classical music festival. There are also art galleries, excellent designer restaurants and great hotels.
In the coastal part, Es Molinar, specifically in Es Portixol, many seafood restaurants, cool bars, mega stripped atmosphere. And arriving from Mallorca we learn that the island was Moorish, then it was Roman, but currently it seems that it is German, this by the amount of them circulating there, in many restaurants including, there are waiters who speak German to facilitate the life of Germans in the region. The island is very large, it is divided into six regions. There is a lot of public transport, there are even underground, buses, ferries and water taxis that connect to the resorts and major beaches of the island.
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And you need to organise yourself to see what interests you most, otherwise you’ll end up missing out on some really cool stuff there.
Rent a car, because there are many unmissable beaches that are far from the city, it is worth renting a car to get around the island. The best thing is to stay in the capital and go out each day to explore Mallorca.
What are the best beaches in Mallorca?
The unmissable beaches in Mallorca are:
- Formentor Plateau
- Cala llombards
- Cala Saint Vicenç
- Cala Deià
- Calobra
Cape Formentor, the postcard of Mallorca
On the west coast is Cape Formentor, which is Mallorca’s postcard, with its cliffs and giant rock walls, the drive there alone will already make the trip worthwhile. To the east of Mallorca are some of the most beautiful beaches in Spain and many in the form of Calas, which are coves with very narrow shores between steep cliffs, that is called Cala, for example the Cala Romantica. There is a sequence of beaches with transparent waters and incredible colours that it is difficult to decide which is the most beautiful.
Cuevas Del Drach
The Cuevas del Drach is one of the most famous tourist attractions on the island, they are a must-see.
There are 4 huge caves, impressive, they even have a boat tour inside them that costs around 15euros.
Another full day tour that we really like is the Palma Sóller, which is a narrow gauge, retro-looking electric train with wooden cars that connects Palma to the little town of Sóller. It is a fast trip, 27 km, one hour up and down, passing through tunnels, pine forests, beautiful plains, and arriving there the other tram to go to the Port of Sóller and a beautiful bay, where you can spend the day exploring the region, and understanding the stories of invasions and pirate battles that took place there.
Es Firó, The Mallorcan Party
For those who go there in May, the locals of Sóller have a party to recreate the pirate battles, everyone painted and dressed as pirates, the Moors and the locals, pretending to fight to the sound of thunders, drums and billy clubs, it is great fun, this party is called Es Firó.
For hiking and nature lovers, there is the Cordillera Da Serra De Tramuntana, this place is covered with olive trees, forests, pine trees, earthy villages, all this is just the tip of the most known things on the main island, there are many more things to do for those who have more time to stay.
How long to stay in Mallorca to enjoy your holidays?
I recommend staying in Mallorca to enjoy the place at least 5 days. And you can rent a Catamaran, Sailboat, Yacht and Speedboats to tour the whole region, either for a day trip or for those who can stay longer on the boat along the coast of Mallorca.
How much does it cost to rent a boat/yacht in Mallorca?
It costs between 1,500 euros and 5,000 euros per day to rent a yacht with sails. As these yachts accommodate 10 to 12 people, have four double bedrooms, 2 sofa beds, do the math, it is relatively “affordable” to have such an experience.
It is possible that your day as a movie star or football player may become real kkkkkk
How many flights does Palma receive in high season?
Palma receives over 40 flights a day from June to September, so a word of warning, any travel schedule there has to be thought through well in advance to be able to book hotel, tours and restaurants.
- Sant Francesc Hotel Singular
A beautiful mansion turned into a hotel.
- Price: 210 euros per night
- El llorenc Parc de la Mar
- Price: 184 euros per night
- Castillo Hotel Son Vida
- Price: 210 euros per night
- Melia Palma Marina
- Price: 108 euros per night
- Be Live (10 minutes from the centre)
- Price: 84 euros per night
Menorca
Let’s go to the second island Menorca. Taking a flight from Palma to Maó (capital of Menorca), costs approximately 65 euros, it is a 40 minute flight.
If you prefer, you can take the ferry from Alcúdia to Ciutadella de Menorca, which costs around 17 euros. With less than 100,000 inhabitants, 216km of coastline, it is much smaller than Mallorca, the island is much quieter, in fact it is the quietest of all the Balearic Islands. Thanks to a national nature conservation park, the S’Albufera des Grau, it hides beautiful, little known beaches and has archaeological sites.
What catches your attention in Menorca?
The majority of tourists on the island are more mature couples and families with children. Although the island is smaller, Maó is a large and bustling city, the historic centre for example, is very reminiscent of Palma de Mallorca, narrow streets, typical houses, cultural and historical sights. There is also the huge Plaça de la S’Esplanada, made by the British.
It also has the 16th century Arc de San Roc, the Catedral de Menorca with the Capilla de Las Almas, which is the main tourist attraction of Maó.
Mahón Gin
You will even find a gin distillery, the Xoringuer, where it is said that gin was distilled for the first time in the world in Menorca in the 18th century. Another curiosity, the locals of Menorca say they were the creators of mayonnaise, in Mahón, where the Salsa Mahon-Nesa came out, originating the name mayonnaise, and then it went to France and recognized by the Duke of Richelieu. Hence the French say they were a French invention, but that is what the local culture of Maó in Menorca says.
Port of Maó
Mahon Harbor, this place is 5 km long, it is the second largest Natural Refuge in the world, second only to Pearl Harbor in the United States. From this harbour you have a view of the city that was built on top of the cliffs, surrounding the southern part of the harbour.
Nudist Beach
A very important thing!
Let go of your preconceptions, almost all the beaches on the island are frequented by people who practise nudism or naturism. Getting naked there is totally normal, so the idea is to pretend that everything works out.
What are the beaches like in Menorca?
And as you might imagine, the beaches in Menorca are very quiet, even more so than those in Mallorca. There you can feel the vibe of a restaurant with a small bar, like in Cala Turqueta, one of the favourite beaches of the region. Other very nice beaches we saw there:
- Es Grau – 10 km to the north.
- Platja de la Punta Prima – 8km to the south.
Where to rent a car in Menorca?
It is worth remembering, it is super important to rent a car to go around all these places and all these villages, so you are more independent from local transport and can get to know Menorca in the best possible way.
Ciutadella de Menorca
If you drive from Mahón, you can go to Ciutadella de Menorca, but on the way stop at archaeological sites, such as Torralba D’en Salort, which still preserves vestiges of the Talayotic Culture.
Ciutadella, although not the capital, is the largest city of Menorca and it is here that is the best shopping centre of the island, several shops, bars, restaurants, the best ones are located. There are still two other villages to visit, Es Mercadal which is the oldest village on the island, since 1300, and Ferreries, where are the ruins of the Castle of Santa Àgueda, being famous for shoes and leather. This is where the famous avarcas come from, typical shoes of the island, all handmade, very similar to an alpargata, but open at the front and back. An avarca in Menorca costs between 15 and 30 euros.
Trails in Menorca
For those who like hiking, you can’t miss a little 184 km of trails. It is the Cami de Cavalls trail, an 18th century defensive route that encircles the entire island and even has a bicycle lane.
Glass-bottom boat trip
For those with the family, the glass-bottom boat rides are the coolest attraction, costing around 15 euros a ride.
Where to stay in Menorca?
There is no ideal place to stay, as it is an island with 50 km of coastline, there are several nice towns, each strategic to visit the beaches.
For example Cala Galdana beach, which is close to the two main beaches of the island, Macarelleta and Mitjaneta, which are the ones people most like to go to. There are several options with nice prices for two people:
- Artiem Audax, 90euros per night;
- Cala Galdana Beach, 60 euros per night;
- Home n’fun, 84 euros per night;
In Ciutadella there are several mansions that have been converted into hotels, such as the:
- Hotel Tres Sants, 120 euros per night;
- Hotel Boutique Can Sastre, 120 euros per night;
- S’Hotelet D’es Born, 150 euros per night;
- Agroturismo Son vives, hotel for agrotourism 16km from Ciutadella. 120 euros per night.
Attention: When booking hotels, read the description carefully as there are many ‘ADULT ONLY‘ options, not accepting people under 18.
Formentera
Let’s talk now about Formentera, the smallest and most exclusive of the islands.
Formentera is famous for its fine sandy beaches, its turquoise sea and its ancient lighthouses. It is one of the most sought-after places for those who want exclusivity.
One of the most common ways to get there is by ferry from Ibiza to Formentor, also because there is no plane, the access to Formentera is only possible by boat. many people choose to visit both islands in the same trip, they are close to each other (Ibiza and Formentera), it is only 30 minutes by boat. There is also a direct ferry from the mainland to Formentera.
Rent a car in Formentera
About car rental, we recommend that you rent a car to make the most of your trip. Just follow the link below and we will provide you with the best car rental options.
La Savina
La Savina is where the boats arrive, it is the area with the greatest infrastructure on the island, hotels, restaurants, shops, it has a fisherman’s village vibe, it is very cool.
But because of all this movement, the beaches there are not the best.
Be sure to eat at Sa Sequi in La Savina.
Also visit Platja de Illetes, one of the best beaches, which is in the Ses Salines National Park, which is where the famous twin Siamese beaches are, the Ses Salines and Platja de llevant which are joined by an arm of sand.
Remember, nudism is common on this part of the island, in fact, on the whole island.
This island has 3 very nice historical ensembles:
- Sant Francesc Xavier (capital of the island);
- Sant Ferran de Ses Roques;
- Pilar de la Mola.
These points are formed by defence towers, lighthouses, churches, typical houses painted white, mills among other cultural and historical monuments. In the south of the island, El Pilar de la Mola, is the lighthouse of la Mola, and from up there you can see the sunset and the whole view of the island.
Another cool lighthouse is Es Cap de Babaria, it is even where several scenes from the Spanish film Sex and Lucia were filmed.
Formentera viewpoint
The Mirador de Formentera is another amazing place with breathtaking views.
San Francisco Xavier
This is the postcard of the island, full of beautiful white houses, and although it is tiny, it is the busiest place, with many restaurants, shops, churches, all in a style very similar to Greece?
Folk Festivals Formentera
Despite being a quiet island, in July Formentera hosts several live music, rock and jazz concerts. In September, there is a guitar and viola festival in San Ferran, called Ferran Sor.
Where to stay in Formentera?
As we said before, the area of Es Pujols, is very good, so there we have selected some options for you to stay:
- Boutique: Five Flowers Hotel and Spa, 120 euros per night;
- Blanco Hotel, 106 euros per night;
- Gecko Beach Club Hotel, 240 euros per night;
- Innsotel Club Maryland, 142 euros per night.
In the old centre, Sant Francesc Xavier has the:
- Es Marès, 220 euros per night;
- Paraiso de los Pinhos, 196 euros per night.
Ibiza
We left it to the end on purpose, the name itself is already very famous.
Ibiza has the capital city of its own name. It needs no introduction, it is famous for its nights out, parties, nightclubs and for attracting celebrities from all over the world.
How to get to Ibiza?
To get to Ibiza the most practical and fastest way is by plane, either from Barcelona, Valencia or Madrid, buying in advance you can find return tickets for less than 50 euros.
Curious fact about Ibiza
In 1956 Ibiza was proud to have only 12 cars on the island, which in the 1960s became a World Heritage Site because of its urban architecture, its Renaissance architecture and its rich marine life. There are 142 thousand people living there, but in summer more than 4 million tourists arrive for the festivities, that is to say, there are 30 tourists for every inhabitant of the island. Every year more than 7 million tourists go there.
For those who are travelling around Spain before and want to go with their own rental car, the same scheme works as for the ferries.
Historic centre of Ibiza: Dalt Vila
In addition to sensational beaches and clubs, Ibiza also has a very cool historic centre called Dalt Vila. It has walls, white houses with coloured doors and windows and lots of flowers, it has the Catedral de la Virgen de Las Nieves, it has the Mercado de las Dalias.
Car hire is also essential to get around the streets of Ibiza.
What are the best beaches in Ibiza
The best beaches in Ibiza are:
- Cala Benirras;
- Cala Mastella;
- Cala de Boix;
- Cala Xarraca;
- Es Cavallet.
For those who can hire a speedboat for a day the tip is:
- Platges de Comte;
- Cala Bassa.
They are super trendy beaches, with great infrastructure, and are also close to the S’illot D’es Rencli.
Es Vedra is an island, part of the Es Vedra National Park. To get there you have to take a boat to Puerto de Santo Antonio, and then a private boat to the island which is totally uninhabited.
But why does everyone go there?
Because the main attractions are many myths and legends that involve this region of Ibiza, one of them says that the mountain is considered the third most magnetic place in the world and no compass works there. Other things they talk a lot about the God the Tanit, which is the most important goddess of this region, which is a region that dates back 600 years before Christ.
Music festivals in Ibiza
The music festivals always take place from May to September, always launching new world trends. These are the most popular clubs and discos in Ibiza:
- Privilege
- Eden
- Es Paradis
- Amnesia
- Hi
- Pacha
- Underground
- DC 10
- Angelo
Attention if you seek a more calm tourism, family and tranquility, the NORTH OF THE ISLAND is usually much calmer and does not have so many parties, so try to go there.
It usually goes like this
The nightclubs start at midday, there are specific events in the afternoon and music and parties all night long until sunrise. There are also beach clubs. Generally the party season goes from June to October, and besides the nightclubs, there are many boat parties at Playa D’em Bossa, for example.
Normally you go to a beach club with a package already bought, usually including attractions, food and drink. So take note of the names of the main beach clubs in Ibiza:
- Ushuaia Beach Club, Alok has already played there;
- Elements Ibiza- Cala Benirrás;
- Lover Cala Sol D’em Serra;
- Beach Club Playa Nikiki – Santa Eulalia;
- Beach Club Sunset Ashram – Cola Counts;
- Beach Club Jockey Club – Las Salinas;
- The Beach Club – Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza;
- Cotton Beach Club – Cala Tarida;
- White Elvissa Beach Club – Playa D’en Bossa.
Ibiza also has a water park called Aguamar Waterclub.
Sant Antoni de portmani is the fishing village that lies on the west coast of Ibiza and is one of the most touristic places on the island, very famous also for its sunsets.
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