Balearic Islands
Holidays
Balearic Islands is best for...
Couples: Romance blossoms in Majorca among the stunning scenery and the winding streets of ancient cities. The innate romance of the city’s all-year-round warm weather, soft-as-silk beaches, indulgent spas in the most luxurious hotels and the Balearic wine made from distinctive local grapes make Majorca one the best destinations for a romantic holiday.
Families: The chill sister among the Balearic Islands, Menorca is the best place for a family getaway. Pure white sands roll into shallow turquoise waters calming as the day where you can swim all year. Best for teaching your children how to swim or dive before indulging in steaming seafood stews and delicious sweets such as the sugar-dusted ensaimadesi. Or take the whole family for a loop around the island’s coastline along the ancient Cami de Cavalls, a hiking route that goes all the way back to the 14th Century.
Night owls: Nothing is as iconic as Ibiza’s lively nightlife. The hub of Europe’s party scene with world-famous nightclubs such as Pacha and Ushuaïa where you can dance the night away. The nights are one of a kind in the birthplace of the unique Balearic sound, on full blast throughout the island as DJs and party lovers fill the beaches while the streets are jam-packed with trendy bars and live music.
Getting around Balearic Islands
By ferry: There are multiple ferry options from Spain to the Balearics, and catamarans for travel between the islands, offering greener alternatives to flying.
By bus: There is a reliable and comprehensive transport system throughout the islands, covering almost every town and village.
By metro: Palma Majorca has two metro lines that serve the suburbs of the city.
By car hire: You can travel the islands at your own pace by hiring a car during your visit to any of the islands.
Fast facts for Balearic Islands
Language: Catalan and Spanish. Other languages such as English, French, German and Italian are also often spoken by locals. To be on the safer side, make sure to have a phrasebook or a translation app with you during your visit.
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Local time: GMT+1
Fly to:
· Palma de Mallorca: For visiting Alcudia, Cala D’Or, Puerto Pollensa, Santa Ponsa
· Mahon Airport: For visiting Cala’n Bosch, Cala Galdana, Calan Porter, Punta Prina
· Ibiza Airport: For visiting Es Cana, Playa Den Bossa, San Antonio Bay, Santa Eulalia
Flight time from the UK: It takes around 2 and a half hours to fly from the UK.
Tourist Information: For more information on all Balearic Islands locations, please visit the official tourism website here.
Visa/health: If you are a UK citizen and have a valid passport, you do not need a visa for Spanish holiday visits for up to 90 days. Visit the official UK travels website for restrictions, travel advice, visa requirements and health advice here.
More travel guides: Curious for more? We have a range of travel guides and holiday destinations from all over the world! Here are a few: Cyprus | Egypt | Greece | Portugal | Spain | Canary Islands | United Arab Emirates | Turkey | Bulgaria | Maldives
Your Guide to Balearic Islands holidays
- Food & Drinks
- Beaches
- We Love
- At a Glance
Food & Drinks
Often of Catalan descent, the traditional Balearic Islands dishes follow a slow-food philosophy. Using local ingredients and traditional recipes, Balearic cuisine has something for every palate.
- Try the steaming seafood stews or freshly grilled fish for a taste of the Mediterranean, or enjoy the paprika-spiced sobrassada and the smokey Mahon cheese. Find a variety of arrossos in one of the local restaurants or experience the buzzy tapas bars in Palma’s Mercat de l’Olivar.
- Top the delicious food off with the Majorcan red wine Binissalem. If you need something sweeter, give the sugar-dusted ensaimades a chance, and you won’t regret it.
Beaches
The Balearic Islands have some of the best white beaches and clearest turquoise waters in the Mediterranean, offering you many choices when it comes to your holidays. Whether you want to sunbathe on the soft sands and enjoy the calm waters, go diving to discover the rich biosphere or try the action-packed resorts with a range of water sports, the Balearics will deliver the best locations to you.
- Enjoy the peace at the secluded beach of Sa Calobra, tucked away at the end of a gorge, deep in the Serra de Tramuntana mountains in Majorca.
- For a little more scenery as you enjoy the waters, visit the twin bays of Macarella and Macarelleta between the cliffs in Menorca.
- Or enjoy the wild Ibiza during the day, with its unique geography, dramatic rock formations and shallow waters where you can watch the beautiful sunset
We Love
The centuries-old history of the Balearic Islands can be seen anywhere you look in the islands. Each of the major cities in the archipelago has a unique architecture and history, filled to the brim with art galleries, a clutch of museums, fresh-produce markets and old towns where the influence of the island’s British influence can still be felt.
- See the Gothic beauty of La Seu, visit the Balearic Islands’ greatest contemporary art collection at Es Baluard and stroll along the creative seaside Santa Catalina. Spare some time to visit the world’s oldest settlement at Ibiza Town’s UNESCO-listed Dalt Vila, founded by the Phoenicians in 654 BCE, where you can still see the salt flats that have still in use since its foundation.
- Go for a ride on the narrow gauge train between Palma and Sóller, going through plains and winding through mountains and tunnels of the Serra de Tramuntana. If you want to experience the islands on foot, opt for the historical hiking routes winding between centuries-old watchtowers such as the 16th-century Torre de Ses Portes, or follow one of Formentera’s 30 official Rutes Verdes to go through villages, sea flats, fortified churches and beautiful beaches.
- Experience the sustainable tourism of the Balearics where the unique environment and biosphere of the islands are heavily protected by the locals. See the Neptune grass meadows in the shallow seas between Ibiza and Formentera, or go bird-watching in Parc Natural de Ses Salines. Help the communities keep the islands alive by joining the beach cleanups and supporting the local markets with their fresh produce and handmade crafts.
At a Glance
The average flight time from the UK to the Balearic Islands is approximately 2 and a half hours.
You can fly from a majority of UK Airports to Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza.
The Balearic Islands offer a pleasant climate all throughout the summer with 11 hours of sunshine every day and beach-friendly temperatures soaring up to 30°C.
travel advice
Get advice about travelling abroad, including the latest information on coronavirus, safety and security, entry requirements and travel warnings on the
FCDO website.