I think that only a few people haven’t heard in their lifetime about Ibiza or Mallorca islands. They are both extremely popular and are treated as a must-go vacation destination. For our summer vacation last year, we were in doubt between the Ionian Islands and the Balearic Islands. Greece was not new to us while Spain yes, and we decided to travel to Ibiza, Formentera and Mallorca for two intensive weeks. On the Internet, you can find tons of travel guides for each island but I believe the most helpful would be a comparison between them, Ibiza vs Mallorca. In this blog post, you will find a fair analogy from costs to nightlife in Ibiza and Mallorca.
Costs
Ibiza and Mallorca are part of the Balearic Islands, close to each other, mainly Mediterranean tourist islands but the difference in travel costs is huge. Ibiza has a reputation as a luxury destination, with a vibrant nightlife and has attracted celebrities and rich young people. On the other side, while Mallorca’s nightlife is not silent, the island is more couple and family-friendly. Another factor would be the geographical size. Mallorca is six times larger than Ibiza and the island has more offers in terms of services in the travel industry.
Ibiza is twice as expensive compared to Mallorca. But was the service and the beauty of the island two times better? I wouldn’t say.
In terms of costs, Mallorca wins convincingly.
Mobility
We were exploring almost every day something new in these islands and transportation was a bit of an issue. Alket did a long research on this topic and wrote a detailed post about mobility in the Balearic Islands, which was a huge help during our trip.
To summarise for Ibiza vs Mallorca:
Airports: Each island has an airport well connected with the rest of Europe.
Ports: The islands are connected between them and mainland Spain.
Public Transportation: Ibiza has bus lines between main cities but travelling outside them, takes more time and a minimum of two lines. While Mallorca has a more dense public transportation system and a few train lines at your disposal.
Rented cars and taxis: The rate and the service of taxis on both islands were almost the same. You will need more to rent in Ibiza but it is an acceptable rate. You can always rent a car if you want to be more comfortable.
Mallorca wins in mobility, mainly for well-connected public transport.
Service Ibiza vs Mallorca
Since we paid more in Ibiza, it automatically should come to a better service. Unfortunately, it wasn’t. The service was good on both islands but Mallorca was cheaper and the win goes for this island.
Mallorca has the same service as Ibiza but for a better price.
Food
The traditional cuisine on both islands is almost the same with little differences. The highlights were Paellas des Marisco in Cala Tarida, Ibiza and everything we ate in Soller Mallorca.
It is hard to decide on this one but in Mallorca, you get to enjoy more authentic cuisine, so Mallorca wins.
Beaches
To enjoy the maximum of that Mediterranean vibe, the weather didn’t help us. End of May and the start of June, the weather half of the time was cloudy. But this didn’t move us away from the beaches. We visited the beaches on the west coast of Ibiza and they were on top. Wide beaches and perfectly crystal water invite you to take that dive. While in Mallorca we travelled on the Northwestern and Southern coasts, mainly with small bays.
Slightly better are the beaches of Ibiza.
Adventure
But the costs and the beaches don’t define an island. Don’t you think? Let us dive into adventure. Where do you sense the adventure most? Which one has more dramatic landscapes and offers a more unique experience?
While water sports are widely present in both, Mallorca has more dramatic places such as Sa Calobra. Northwestern Mallorca, where Serra de Tramuntana is located, a UNESCO World Heritage has a mountainous terrain and it’s a great place for hiking and cycling. Mallorca has also beautiful caves to explore on its coast. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the time to go but this activity is first in line for the next time.
It became clear to us that in adventure travel, Mallorca wins.
Authentic towns
A big win for Mallorca is the authentic towns such as Deia, Soller etc. They are one of my top experiences in the Mediterranean. Ibiza has also its towns but the ones in Mallorca are so dreamy and curated and a reason to go back. Travelling to visit the towns in Mallorca is perfect in spring and autumn. This way you avoid the high season of summer and the heat.
The medal goes to Mallorca.
Capitals in Ibiza vs Mallorca
Ibiza City and Palma de Mallorca, outside the old towns, didn’t have anything special. But the old town on both islands is way better than I expected. Ibiza’s old town with typical white houses and narrow alleys looking at the sea, was something to remember. While Mallorca’s old town is larger than Ibiza, it has a different architecture and offers a wider variety of activities.
Deciding on this one is hard. For us, both are uniquely beautiful on their own.
Nightlife
I will not write much about nightlife in the Baleares because we all know who is the queen. We went to one of the nightlife clubs in Ibiza and honestly, the experience was not the best. Maybe the nightlife in your thirties is different. Anyway, Ibiza is very focused on nightlife, has made a lot of investment in it and compared to Mallorca, has more potential.
Nightlife belongs to Ibiza.
Conclusion Ibiza vs Mallorca
| Comparison | Ibiza | Mallorca |
|---|---|---|
| Costs | × | √ |
| Mobility | × | √ |
| Service | × | √ |
| Food | × | √ |
| Beaches | √ | × |
| Adventure | × | √ |
| Authentic towns | × | √ |
| Capitals | √ | √ |
| Nightlife | √ | × |
| Final | × | √ |
Mallorca wins persuasively over Ibiza. Starting from a smaller budget, better mobility, a sense of adventure and unique petite towns Mallorca is our favourite island in Balearic.
If you were thinking about where to go, Ibiza vs Mallorca, I hope this article helps you to decide which island to visit. And if you have already visited both, is Mallorca your favourite too? Tell us in the comments below!
