Looking for a property in The Balearic Islands?
The Balearic Islands may just be the perfect place to call hogar dulce hogar - This Spanish island archipelago is well known all over the world, for its pristine beaches that evoke true paradise.
The islands are a sought-after location by many, due to the Mediterranean climate, the landscape, the culture, and also the famous parties at Ibiza. The official languages of the Islands are Catalan and Spanish, which means they had a lot of influence on other cultures and turned the Islands even more curious and the local people more hospitable. Mallorca has a very Mediterranean climate with beautiful beaches if you want to go swimming, diving, or get a tan, but if you want to try something more adventurous, you can cycle, or walk through the mountains. Check out our Things to do in Spain, Seas a Day for ultimate beach exploration!
For a cultural experience, you can check the cathedral and the classy old town of Palmas, the capital of Mallorca. Here you can also enjoy outdoor sports, like golf and tennis! Menorca remains unspoilt along its northern coastline where rolling green hills meet golden, secluded bays. Formentera is the smallest of the Balearic Islands. You can access it via a ferry from Ibiza harbour. The island is so idyllic, you will feel like you’re in the Maldives rather than the Mediterranean.
In Ibiza, the famous Island may be known for its parties, but there is a lot more to this. You can discover San Antonio, the place where parties go on, and Ibiza Town. Ibiza is a striking island, ringed by rocky coves and crystal-clear waters. You will discover that Ibiza is much more than clubs and bars.
The Balearic Islands consist of the following areas:
Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera
The best thing to do is explore the stunning islands, the natural landscape and the long history. Here we have some suggestions for you:
Serra de Tramuntana: Mountains of the north wind and offer to you a chance to hike, cycle or drive through the landscapes of deep cliffs and the highest point, called Puig Major.
Visit the studio of a surrealist master: Fundació Pilar i Joan Miró is a Palma-based museum dedicated to the works of Catalan surrealist painter Joan Miró.
Playa de Muro: It is a favorite spot for visitors, has calm and shallow water, white and clear sands, and a variety of hotels and restaurants. Has kind of amenities like umbrellas, restroom facilities, and access for those with disabilities.
Cala Llombards: Located on the southeast coast, are warm and gentle. Framed by pine trees and bobbing boatsheds, Cala Llombards boasts white sands and a tropical beach bar that serves up cold drinks and plates of fish.
Bellver Castle: In the 14th century, the rounded Bellver Castle, reigns at the top of the hillside, just west of Palma, and offers a 360-degree view of the city and the bay.
Palma Cathedral Le Seu: Started out as a mosque, but turned to a Cathedral when the city fell to the French. You cannot miss the exterior of the Cathedral, and inside you must see the giant and circular rose window, which Antonio Gaudi put above the main altar.
Alcúdia Old Town: Became a centre of trading and these days, it's a lovely restored old town complete with ancient architecture, hidden gardens and delicious restaurants.
Mallorca Boat Tours: Viewing Mallorca from the water that surrounds it is a great way to experience the island’s remote corners and cerulean waters.
Menorca is one of the smallest Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea.; its name derives from its size, contrasting it with nearby Majorca.
Cala Turqueta & Cala Pregonda: Explore the treasure trove of tranquil turquoise coves surrounded by weathered cliffs and pines. Cala Turqueta, boasting sparkling shallow waters encircled by a thick, wild forest; and Cala Pregonda, featuring distinctive reddish-gold sands and micro islets controlling the waves, are among the most memorable.
Queso Mahón: Taste the region's famous cheese, Queso Mahón made with hand-pressed, unpasteurized milk and aged for one to six months. Visit top producer Subaida, a Georgian-style estate and dairy farm for a tour around the green grounds, a visit to the animal compound, and a tasting of their best products.
Trepucó and Talatí dels Dalt: Some of the Balearics’ best surviving examples of prehistoric artefacts are found on this island; you can view the relic remains of ancient Talayotic settlements.
This beautiful Island is full of attractions with breathtaking views from the glittering waters of the mediterranean sea.
Es Vedra: A small rocky island located off the west coast of Ibiza, people usually call it Odyssey or the tip of the lost city in Atlantis. Es Vedra does seem to possess magical qualities, especially as the sun sets behind it.
Cala Comte: With warm waves, fine sands and shallow waters, this is a favourite spot among all travellers. We recommend enjoying an Ibiza sunset from this beach or from one of the nearby eateries that overlook the sand.
Ibiza Boat Tours: From the deck of a boat, is one of the best ways to explore Ibiza. There are a lot of tour operators that welcome travellers aboard to do just that. Along with taking passengers around the island and in and out of small coves, many tours also include food, drinks and the use of sports equipment.
Spend a day or several at one of many stunning beaches in Formentera, each with its own set of amenities.
Migjorn: A snorkelling resort, has the longest white sand strip providing the perfect opportunity to get your legs tanned during the hotter summer months.
Calo Saona: is a quaint bay surrounded by forests, red-hued cliffs, and an upscale hotel. Ses Illetes, offers blue waters, sand dunes, and an exceptional selection of eateries.
Espalmador: Steal away to neighbouring Espalmador, a private islet featuring crescent-shaped coves, Platja S’Alga, a beach with gentle cascading waters, and natural mud baths.
La Savina: A lovely oasis is a total escape from civilization; there are no restaurants or hotels, just a dutiful watchtower, a few seasonal digs, and the peaceful sounds of nature.
Faro de La Mola, Can Blai Roman, and Es Caló: Just 12 kilometres from start to finish, marked green bike routes allow a seamless tour of the island. One of the longest routes takes cyclists on a relaxed ride from the Faro de La Mola lighthouse through a changing landscape and trees, the Can Blai Roman ruins, and Es Caló, a tiny fishing village that will make your mouth water with the amazing seafood.
Shopping Ibiza and Menorca offer a selection of outlets and high-end boutique shops while Formentera is known for bohemian clothing, accessories, and decorative items. But if you want to go shopping, you have to pay attention to time, commercial stores open late Monday-Saturday, while independent shops routinely take siesta breaks any time between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., then re-open until 8 or 9 p.m. Outdoor market openings vary between once a week to daily.
Weather In general, the climate in the Balearic Islands is Mediterranean and ranges between warm to mild in winter and hot and sunny in summer, with the peak of the sunshine in July and August. Almost 11 hours of sunshine are the daily average for summer. Daytime temperatures peak in the months of July and August around 28°C, with a night-time drop to around 4°C. In the winter months, the temperature drops below 14°C, and the spring months of March, April and May see average temperatures around 18°C, as do October and November.
Transportation If you're coming for holidays then car rental is your best option, if you prefer to combine days on the beach with sightseeing around the island. You can also find bus services linking the popular destinations and taxis are also plentiful. If pricey, self-drive gives the freedom to roam, and it’s essential for searching out for remote, deserted beaches and off-the-beaten-path villages.
Ferries are as useful for getting to the islands from Spain's ports at Valencia and Barcelona as they are for getting around the islands after arrival. To travel from the mainland, there's the choice of high-speed craft. Inter-island ferries run from Palma de Mallorca to Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera.
Mallorca has two train lines, one from Palma to Sa Pobla and Manacor and the other, the Soller Vintage Train, from Palma to Soller. Extensive bus routes run to and from all the main tourist areas in Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca, and Formentera, and the central areas of town are also well covered.
Airport To arrive in the Balearic Islands, there are 3 options and you can choose the one best for you:
Ibiza Airport
Set 7 kilometres from Ibiza Town, this smaller air complex is the arrival point for flights to Ibiza and Formentera. The airport offers flights to mainland business destinations such as Madrid and Barcelona, and inter-island flights on a scheduled, during the year
Menorca Airport
The single-terminal Menorca Airport is five kilometres from the island’s capital, Mahon. Most flights from Europe are seasonal and operated by low-cost carriers; regular scheduled flights to the Spanish mainland and European cities are supported.
Palma de Mallorca Airport
Set on the island of Mallorca, eight kilometres from Palma de Mallorca, Palma de Mallorca Airport is the main arrival hub for visitors to the holiday islands.
Beaches The Balearic Islands are approximately 200 kilometres off the southern coast of Spain in the west of the Mediterranean Sea. The pleasant climate, beautiful beaches and clean water mean that Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera are among the top holiday destinations for beach holidaymakers in Spain, attracting countless visitors every year. Almost all of them have crystal waters, rocks formations and gold sand. Each island has its own beauty, so here’s our guide to choosing your perfect beach in the Balearic Islands:
Mallorca:
SA CALOBRA - Sa Calobra is hidden at the end of a gorge, deep in Mallorca’s Serra de Tramuntana mountains.
PLAYA MURO - One of the longest beaches on Mallorca at 6km, it starts off at the popular resort of Alcudia and gets progressively more quiet as you get further out.
CALA TURQUETA - Completely surrounded by pine forest, this beach is best enjoyed by taking a fresh morning hike that will bring you to this natural paradise.
PLAYA DE FORMENTOR - is home to the island’s most breathtaking and dramatic scenery.
CALA GAT - Is small but perfectly formed. This beach has an intense turquoise sea and lovely setting.
Menorca:
CALA MITJANA - Is the gorgeous pair of coves Cala Mitjana and Mitjaneta,
CALA MACARELLETA - Menorca is packed with blissful bays that have the most beautiful electric blue waters and bone-pale sands which are walkable from nearby Cala Galdana.
Formentera:
SES ILLETES - The crystal clear waters and pale sands of Ses Illetes have become a tourist attraction.
CALA COMTE - With its dramatic rock formations, sand spit and shallow turquoise waters, Cala Comte’s unique geography makes it one of Ibiza’s most beautiful beaches.
LAS SALINAS - Ibiza’s most iconic beach is the big sand and blue seas of Las Salinas.
Restaurants & Bars Balearic cuisine is Mediterranean cuisine and it can be regarded as part of a wider Catalan cuisine since it shares many dishes and ingredients with Catalonia and the Valencian Community. Others see it as part of a more global Spanish cuisine. Traditional Balearic cuisine is rich in vegetables and cereal. A succinct selection of the primary dishes would be enchiladas, seafood and vegetable stews, coquettes, tombet, Maó cheese and wine.
Here follow a few of our recommendations for a few fantastic dining and bar experiences in:
Majorca
Menorca
Ibiza
Formentera
