Which are the best and cheapest places to stay on Mallorca? How much do summer and low season stays cost? Read in this chapter.
Where to stay in Mallorca
Due to its size and diversity, Mallorca can be a bit confusing for first-timers. At least in terms of finding the perfect place to live. There are many resorts and towns in Mallorca where everyone can choose what suits them best.
As everywhere in Europe or in the world, you can find all the available places on the island on these classic portals:
Choose a hotel in advance at a discount
See the indicative map of the best places to stay in Mallorca:
Large and lively beach resorts
If you prefer larger resorts with full facilities and entertainment, head to the south-west coast of the island.
El Arenal and Can Pastilla
A pair of resorts close to the airport.
El Arenal - Located east of the centre of the capital. A bustling resort that never sleeps, it's more suited to the young and party people. It offers countless bars and discos that are open almost non-stop, one straight long beach and the proximity to Palma and the airport is also an advantage.
Accommodation prices are low for Mallorca and El Arenal is one of the cheapest resorts on the island. Prices in high season start at 66 eur for a double room.
Can Pastilla - Located just minutes from the airport and close to the main town, to which it is connected with a promenade along the sea. On the other side it is effectively connected to El Arenal. A pleasant resort with a long sandy beach and all the tourist amenities, ideal for those looking for long flat beaches, plenty of restaurants and bars, proximity to the airport and Palma and also lower prices than the rest of the island.
For a night in a double room here you can pay from 66 eur 81 eur . Check out
Paguera
South-west of Palma, you'll find this popular resort, which offers a rich nightlife, a renowned pedestrianised area along which you'll find souvenir shops and restaurants, as well as beautiful beaches offering water sports. In the area southwest of Palma, which is known for its famous resorts and town beaches, Paguera is one of the cheapest resorts with prices from 66 eur per night for two.
Magaluf and Palmanova
West of Palma, there are also two other bustling resorts just a few dozen metres apart. While Magaluf is a centre of nightlife, popular especially with the young, Palmanova is one of the quieter resorts with well-kept, urban-style beaches. Here you will also find the popular Marineland Dolphinarium.
Cala Major
This is actually a suburb of the capital, easily accessible by public transport buses with a beautiful sandy beach and a gradual entrance. You'll find a few souvenir shops and bars and restaurants, and a decidedly quieter and more pleasant environment, as well as a more photogenic rugged coastline than, say, El Arenal or Can Pastilla on the other side of Palma.
Large and quieter beach resorts
The resorts on the east coast are particularly popular, providing the ideal mix of lively town centres and long, spacious beaches suitable for families and relaxing holidays. However, the resort facilities still provide every conceivable entertainment.
Sa Coma, S'Ilot and Cala Millor
The east of the island belongs to the popular trio of resorts of Sa Coma, S'Illot and Cala Millor, all of which lie in a single strip roughly 3km apart. Cala Millor is the busiest, while Sa Coma is the quietest, but all the towns within Mallorca are quieter and ideal for families with children.
All three resorts boast beautiful and very clean wide sandy beaches with a gentle entry into the water, but there are also smaller deserted beaches in small coves nearby. The resorts also offer a wealth of sporting activities - there are several tennis courts, riding clubs and renowned cycling routes.
You'll find mostly good quality mid-sized hotel resorts with prices from 73 eur 92 eur per night in a double room.
- Accommodation and hotels in Sa Coma
- S'Illot accommodation and hotels
- Cala Millor accommodation and hotels
Alcúdia, Can Picafort, Playa de Muro
On the north-east coast you will find one of the most popular beaches, Playa de Muro, and the town beach of Alcúdia, which is directly adjacent to Muro. The beautiful setting of over 6 km of sandy beach, where you'll find lively corners full of bars and sporting activities, as well as a more empty natural area, attracts mainly holidaymakers who want to enjoy the tranquillity and occasionally go for a hike, for example to nearby historic Alcúdia.
Hotels tend to be cheaper in the quiet resort of Can Picafort, while in Port d'Alcúdia you'll find livelier surroundings and hotel resorts.
Port de Pollenca
The northernmost part of Mallorca is also one of the most beautiful. The foothills of the Tramuntana Mountains create a photogenic backdrop towards the hinterland, while the breathtaking scenery of Cape Formentor paints a spectacular view along the coast. In addition, the area is home to Cala Formentor beach, which is regularly ranked in the top 5 of Mallorca's most beautiful beaches in many rankings.
The centre of the area is the resort of Port de Pollenca, where you will find most of the hotels or apartments. It is one of the more expensive resorts with prices from 92 eur per night for two.
Santa Ponsa
A quiet force among the lively resorts on the south-west coast is Santa Ponsa, with its beautiful pine-shaded beach and always relaxed atmosphere. It's also superbly accessible from Palma and the airport, its biggest competitive advantage over the far eastern resorts.
Quiet small resorts
If you prefer divine tranquillity and the beautiful scenery of small coves with turquoise and crystal clear waters, then the south-eastern, as well as the eastern coast of Mallorca, is your destination.
Cala d'Or, Cala Figuera, Cala Santanyí
The southeastern area of Mallorca is surrounded by beautiful mini beaches in coves with clear waters, great snorkelling conditions and photogenic rocky surroundings. Around the most famous coves, luxury and expensive resorts are springing up, among which the towns of Cala d'Or and Cala Figuera stand out, near which you will find the Mondrago Natural Park and Cala Santanyí, where you can visit the famous beaches of Cala Llombards and Es Calo des Moro.
Hotels in these resorts are expensive and prices usually don't drop below 110 eur per night for two.
- Accommodation and hotels in Cala d'Or
- Accommodation and hotels in Cala Santanyí
- Cala Figuera accommodation and hotels
Cala Rajada
A smaller resort at the easternmost point of the island, this resort attracts visitors with its complete facilities and two coastlines on either side of the peninsula on which it sits. The local bay of Cala Gat is one of Mallorca's most famous and is often featured in travel agency catalogue photos.
Cities
Even lovers of city life and history won't miss out on Mallorca. The most popular places to stay are:
Palma de Mallorca
The largest city and the centre of the island is ideal to live in if you want to go on daily trips around Mallorca in different directions and you won't have a rental car. It is from Mallorca that most of the buses and trains around the island depart. Plus, Palma itself definitely has a lot to offer for a weekend break on its own. You'll find mainly smaller hotels, but also larger and more expensive resorts along the beach.
Sóller
The popular historic town of Sóller and the small resort of Port de Sóller, which are linked together by a historic tramway, attract travellers not only to the beauty of the historic centre, but above all to the breathtaking scenery of the north-west coast, dominated by the cliffs of the Tramuntana Mountains and wonderful hiking treks.
However, Sóller's popularity is also reflected in its accommodation prices, which are among the most expensive in Mallorca. Classic hotels here start at 110 eur per night for two.
Accommodation prices in Mallorca
Mallorca is definitely one of the more expensive Mediterranean destinations, but on the other hand it is significantly cheaper than neighbouring islands such as Ibiza and Menorca. You'll find all categories of accommodation here, from luxury 5* all-inclusive resorts to student guesthouses with shared rooms (especially in Palma).
Prices vary, of course, depending on the type of accommodation you choose. The highest prices are from mid-June to mid-September, and in the rest of the year prices drop by up to 50%, with some resort hotels closing completely for the winter.
View current hotel prices and availability
See the indicative prices in each category per night in a double room in high season:
- 3* hotel without meals: 0 eur 29 eur 110 eur
- 3* hotel with breakfast: 0 eur 7 eur 128 eur
- 4* all-inclusive hotel: from 128 eur
- 5* all-inclusive hotel: from 220 eur
- Apartment and Airbnb: 0 eur 7 eur 73 eur
- Guesthouse with shared room: from 33 eur
Significantly lower prices can be found in the interior of the island, by up to 20% compared to living on the coast. If you prefer exploring the island to swimming and have a rental car, then living in the middle of the island is a good way to save money.
In Mallorca, there is a residence tax, which is not included in the price of accommodation and is paid separately at the reception, the amount of the residence tax depends on the category of hotel, but it varies in units of euros per week.
How and where to book accommodation in Mallorca
If you are heading to Mallorca on your own in the summer, we recommend that you search for and book accommodation as early as possible. The ideal time is about 3-4 months before your trip, but you can go longer. The thing is that in the summer season, capacity in mid-range and lower-priced hotels sells out quickly and if you book at the last minute, you'll be left with expensive hotels or accommodation in unattractive locations.
When booking accommodation in Mallorca, the popular booking.com is still the best place to find the vast majority of deals. If the accommodation is on booking.com, you usually won't get it cheaper anywhere else.
