Mallorca vs Menorca: Which Island Should You Pick?
Choosing between Mallorca and Menorca feels like a huge decision. It took me 5 trips to Mallorca to finally visit Menorca, because I didn’t know if I would like it as much.
But I was SO wrong. These two Balearic islands are both great destinations for your holiday. They have stunning scenery, incredible beaches, great restaurants and plenty of choice of accommodation.
But there are some key differences between them that might make one island more suited to you and the way you like to travel.
In this Mallorca vs Menorca guide, I’ll compare the two islands across a list of categories, including how easy it is to get there, getting around the island, cost, restaurants, accommodation, nightlife and more.

The ultimate comparison guide between Mallorca vs Menorca – which one should you choose?
Before I get into the specific categories, here’s a quick overview of Mallorca vs Menorca, so you have a general idea of what each island is like.
Menorca is a smaller island, so it’s easier to get around, which lends itself nicely to shorter trips. The beaches are slightly more rustic and undeveloped than in Mallorca, perfect if you enjoy places more off the beaten track. There’s a great selection of restaurants, bars and hotels, but there’s not very much nightlife.
For more information on visiting Menorca, you can read my Menorca travel guide.
Mallorca on the other hand is 5 times the size of Menorca, so you should aim for at least 7 days there to properly explore. There’s more of a nightlife scene, although it’s geared towards the younger generation. The landscapes are stunning, and there’s plenty of towns and villages to explore, alongside fantastic beaches.
For my recommendations on the best things to do on the island, check out my 7 day Mallorca itinerary.
Getting there
Both Mallorca and Menorca have international airports, and flights from London take around 2.5 hours to reach both islands.
However, there are more flights to Mallorca than Menorca, so you’ll have more choice when it comes to the airport you depart from and the time you want to fly.
If you’re flying from the USA, there are select direct flights from Newark Liberty airport to Mallorca. But most flight routes will require you to change.
There’s currently no direct flights from the USA to Menorca. Most flights stop in Madrid or Barcelona, where you’ll catch a short onwards flight to Menorca.
Winner: Mallorca – it has a much larger airport, which is better connected to both the UK and the USA.
Getting around
Menorca is a much smaller island than Mallorca, but that doesn’t necessarily make it easier to get around, as Mallorca has a better public transport network. There’s buses, trains and trams that will take you to most of the major towns and large beaches.
Menorca doesn’t have trains or trams, but there are buses that will take you from Mahón and Ciutadella to some of the towns and beaches.
There are taxis on both islands, but there aren’t enough of them in comparison to the number of people, especially in the summer when there’s thousands of tourists.
So you’ll often be waiting a long time to get a taxi, especially in more remote parts of the islands. On my most recent trip to Mallorca, I waited 45 minutes at the taxi rank for a car to show up!
There’s Uber in Mallorca, but not in Menorca. Be careful though, as it’s a LOT more expensive than a taxi. I paid €90 for a 30 minute trip with Uber in Mallorca. The same trip would have cost me €40 with a taxi, but there wasn’t any available.
I’d really recommend hiring a car for both Mallorca and Menorca, as you’ll have much more flexibility in visiting more remote beaches that are hard to get to with public transport.
I always book my hire cars through Discover Cars. They compare the costs of loads of different providers to help you find the cheapest option for your trip.
Winner: Mallorca – the public transport system is much better in Mallorca, but I’d recommend hiring a car on both islands.
Cost
Both Mallorca and Menorca are quite similar in terms of costs.
Public transport is cheaper in Mallorca as there’s more options available. For example, a single bus ticket from Palma to Deià (around a 45 minute journey) costs €2.70, whilst a single bus ticket from Mahon to Ciutadella in Menorca (around 50 minutes) costs €5.75 (that’s €3 more expensive!).
The cost of hiring a car is pretty similar on both islands. Hiring a car in Mallorca for 4 days in the middle of June will cost you around £63, and in Menorca, it’ll cost you about £70 for the same dates.
Make sure you book your hire car in advance to get the best possible price!
Both islands have a good selection of affordable hotels, but you’ll find that Mallorca is a bit more expensive. In Menorca, you can get a beachfront hotel for £70 a night in June. In Mallorca, a hotel of a similar standard will cost you just over £100.
Winner: Menorca. Mallorca is slightly more expensive, but not by much.
Restaurants
Both Mallorca and Menorca have an incredible selection of restaurants. You’ll be eating well no matter which island you choose.
Unsurprisingly, you’ll find a lot of seafood restaurants on both islands, and the quality and freshness of the fish is incredible.
Mallorca has some really beautiful restaurants in incredible settings, and I’ve visited a lot of them on my 5 trips to the island. My favourite restaurant is C’as Patro March, a seafood restaurant with unrivalled views over the water.
You’ll have probably seen El Olivo on Instagram. It’s set amongst the mountains at the La Residencia hotel, in the idyllic hilltop village of Deià and is a must visit in Mallorca. Even if you don’t go for dinner, you can pop in for a drink on the hotels terrace.
Some of my other favourite restaurants are Restaurant Illeta (located in the middle of the sea) Cap Falco (a great beach club/restaurant), La Universal (perfect for date night in the stunning harbour town of Port d’Andratx) and Patiki Beach (a lovely lunch place on the beach in Port de Soller).
In Menorca, I’d recommend the restaurant at the Menorca Experimental hotel. The setting in the middle of the countryside is absolutely stunning, and they serve delicious small plates perfect for a leisurely lunch.
There’s also Nonna Bazaar (Mediterranean food in a beautiful setting), Morvedra Nou (hotel restaurant in the countryside), Coral (stunning sea views), and Ivette (a beach club with impressive views).
Winner: This one is a tie. Both Mallorca and Menorca have incredible restaurants, you’ll be well fed no matter which one you choose.
Hotels
Both Menorca and Mallorca are home to an incredible selection of hotels, from luxury seafront resorts, to charming boutique hideaways.
In Mallorca, my favourite hotels are Concepcio by Nobis, Sant Francesc Hotel Singular and Hotel El Vincenc de la Mar.
In Menorca, I’d recommend Cristine Bedfor, Menorca Experimental, Morvedra Nou and Amagatay Menorca.
During my recent trip to Menorca, I stayed at Villa Le Blanc. It’s a beachfront hotel with 3 swimming pools, plus 6 restaurants and bars.
The rooms are bright and airy with beautiful views over the sea, and the service was brilliant. It’s a great base for your trip to Menorca as it’s located in between Mahón and Ciutadella.
Winner: Menorca. Both islands have a brilliant selection of hotels, but hotels in Menorca tend to be slightly cheaper.
Beaches
Both Mallorca and Menorca are home to stunning beaches, and it’s one of the biggest appeals of both islands.
The beaches in Menorca are slightly more rustic, with fewer amenities and beach bars.
UNESCO declared Menorca a biosphere reserve in 1993, which recognises the island’s focus on development in a sustainable way.
There’s a huge focus on protecting the coastline, beaches, and the sea life, so just know you’ll be treated to extra stunning beaches in Menorca.
My favourite beaches in Menorca are:
- Cala Macarelleta
- Cala Es Canutells
- Cala en Brut
- Macarelleta
- Cala Galdana
- Cala Fustam
The beaches in Mallorca are just as beautiful, but they’re slightly more developed than Menorca, which may be better suited to you if you’re travelling with children.
You’ll still find hidden coves and quieter beaches in Mallorca though, there’s a great mix of both.
My favourite beaches in Mallorca are:
- Es Trenc
- Cala Llombards
- Calo des Moro
- Cala s’Almunia
- Cala Pi
- Cala de Deià
- Sa Calobra
Winner: Menorca. This one is personal preference as I prefer the more untouched beaches.
Nightlife
Neither Mallorca or Menorca are party islands. If you want to party, go to Ibiza. But Mallorca definitely has more nightlife than Menorca.
Magaluf is an area in Mallorca, about 25-minutes away from Palma, known for being the party area of the island. It’s home to cheap bars and a few nightclubs, including BCM, the biggest club on the island.
Menorca’s nightlife, on the other hand, is more laidback. The most famous bar on the island is Cova d’en Xoroi, which has been carved out of a cave on the edge of a cliff.
I’d recommend visiting for their sunset sessions, where they have live music and DJs playing every night.
There’s also a few bars in the main towns of Mahón and Ciutadella, but nothing as rowdy as Magaluf.
Winner: Mallorca. Mallorca has Magaluf, an 18-30s resort full of bars, clubs and pubs, whilst Menorca is much sleepier.
Things to do
Both islands have an endless list of activities and places to explore, so you definitely won’t be bored.
Menorca has Hauser and Wirth – a contemporary art gallery located on its very own island. You literally have to get on a boat to access it which is a fun adventure, especially if you have children.
In the capital city of Mahón is Xoriguer Gin Factory, claimed as the oldest gin in the Mediterranean. You can visit the shop for free, or book onto a guided tour to see how the gin is distilled.
There’s also stunning winery’s, I visited Bodegas Binifadet, a family run winery with a beautiful restaurant amongst the vineyards.
There’s the charming fishing village of Binibeca Vell, as well as the towns of Mahón, Ciutadella and Fornells.
If you like being active, there’s the Cami de Cavalls, a hiking trail that runs along the coastline of the island, and the Albufera des Grau Natural Park, where you can rent kayaks.
Read next: For more ideas of things to do in Menorca, make sure you read my Menorca travel guide
Similarly in Mallorca, there’s the Serra de Tramuntana, a UNESCO World Heritage mountain range, which is perfect for hiking and cycling.
Mallorca has a lot more towns to explore than Menorca, and it’s one of my favourite things about the island. Each one has a unique character and charm, with boutique shops, restaurants and cafes.
One of my favourite things to do in Mallorca is take the wooden train from Palma to Sóller. It’s such a fun journey and the views along the way are absolutely incredible.
I’d recommend booking your tickets in advance for the train as it’s one of the most popular activities in Mallorca.
For more ideas of things to do in Mallorca, make sure you read my 7 day Mallorca itinerary
My favourite towns in Mallorca are:
- Sóller
- Valldemossa
- Deià
- Pollença
- Alcúdia
- Santanyí
- Andratx
Winner: This one is a draw. It completely depends on how you like to spend your time!
Scenery
Mallorca has the Serra de Tramuntana, a UNESCO World Heritage mountain range, so you’re treated to jaw dropping views as you drive around the island.
Menorca is pretty flat, so the landscapes aren’t as pretty, but there’s still a stunning coastline.
Winner: Mallorca. With its stunning mountain range, you’re spoiled with beautiful views as you’re driving round the island.
Don’t choose, visit both
The best part about Menorca and Mallorca is that they’re only a short boat ride away from each other, so you don’t need to choose between the two, you can visit both!
It takes just 1.5 hours on a ferry from Mallorca to Menorca, or you can take a short flight (around 45 minutes).
Final thoughts
As you can see, there’s lots of factors to consider when comparing Mallorca vs Menorca.
Menorca is a smaller, quieter island, with more rustic and undeveloped beaches, whilst Mallorca is much bigger, with more towns and villages to explore, more nightlife, and better public transport.
Which one you choose really depends on personal preference and what you like to do on holiday.
But the best part is that you don’t actually have to choose. It takes just 1.5 hours on a boat to get between the two islands, so you could easily spend 10 days exploring them both!
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Read more Spain guides
How to Get to Cala Macarella & Cala Macarelleta in Menorca
Es Canutells, Menorca: Everything you need to know
Cova d’en Xoroi: Menorca’s Unique Cliffside Bar
Mallorca vs Menorca: Which Island Should You Pick?
The Ultimate 7 Day Mallorca Itinerary: Where to Eat, Sleep and Explore