A guide to the Balearic Islands

The Balearic islands are a small archipelago off the coast of Spain, around 150 miles from Barcelona – the name is pronounced ‘ba-lee-a-ruck’, with the stress on the third syllable, and has been used since at least Roman times. Sitting in the western Mediterranean, they are officially an autonomous community of Spain, with both Catalan and Spanish spoken on the islands. They have been inhabited since around the third millennium BCE.

Balearics

The Balearic Islands are made up of around 150 islands, although only four of these are inhabited. Majorca (or Mallorca) is the largest of the group, followed by Minorca (or Menorca), Ibiza and Formentera. Together these four islands comprise around 99% of the Balearics, with tiny islets making up the majority of the rest. A fifth island, Cabrera, is part of a national park and has a military presence, but there are no other inhabitants.

All the main Balearic islands have something to tempt visitors, so it depends mostly on what you’re looking for from your holiday. Majorca is the largest of the islands, home to Palma de Mallorca with its royal palace and grand cathedral, as well as a string of fascinating caves, the walled city of Alcudia and some beautiful beaches and scenery.

Majorca Cathedral

Minorca is smaller and quieter, with two main towns at either end of the island, plus some significant prehistoric sites, and lovely walking trails along with more beaches.

Ibiza is famous for its clubs and nightlife, but there’s far more to the island if you’re not interested in dancing late into the night, with pretty villages, quiet coves and a calmer atmosphere in the south. Formentera is by far the quietest, and hardest to reach, but it’s a beautiful spot to escape to.

You’ll find fabulous beaches wherever you look in the Balearic islands – Majorca alone has around 260. But your final decision comes down to whether you’re looking for peaceful unspoiled coves or long stretches of golden sand, with plenty of facilities.

You can find quiet corners in Majorca but the island is best for its big open beaches, including some stretching for miles around Alcudia in the north, as well as along the coast near Palma, complete with watersports galore, loungers, lifeguards and other facilities.

Es Trenc beach, Majorca

Minorca’s beaches are mostly smaller, but often spectacularly pretty, with clear turquoise water and small secluded coves, while Formentera is perfect if you’re looking for completely unspoiled beaches; Ses Illetes is known for its crystal-clear water, although this island is best if you’re happy to venture off the beaten track.

Ibiza has a mix of beaches, so it’s somewhere to research in advance as you can find party beaches where sunbathing comes with bars and a thumping soundtrack, along with quieter spots to relax.

There’s more to the Balearic islands than sun, sand and sea. If you’re hoping for culture on your Spanish break, Majorca is unmissable, home to some of the islands’ biggest museums and galleries. Art-lovers should head to Es Baluard in Palma for modern art, plus Fundación Juan March which houses several big names like Dali and Miro, along with the Fundacio Miro just outside the capital. There’s also contemporary art in Andratx, while you can find musical and literary links at the Museum Chopin in Valldemossa and Museum de Robert Graves in Deià. Or head to the city museum Museo de Mallorca to discover more about the island’s heritage and culture.

Ibiza also has a vibrant creative side with a string of small galleries dotted around the island, along with the Marta Torres gallery in Ibiza Town, contemporary art at MACE in Dalt Vila, the capital’s old town, plus exhibitions at the Ses Coves Blanques Lighthouse in San Antonio. The Can Art Ibiza contemporary art festival is also unmissable if you’re visiting the island in late June.

Minorca might be small but it has an impressively long history, with a string of UNESCO-listed prehistoric – or talayotic – sites dotted across the island. In total, there are 1,586 archaeological sites on Minorca; not all can be visited easily, but you can discover various megalithic creations, a necropolis and some impressively well-preserved tombs. Ciutadella is also home to a cathedral and Castell de Sant Nicolau, one of several castles and forts on the island.

Naveta d’es Tudons megalithic chamber tomb, Minorca

You’ll find centuries of history to explore on Majorca too, including the Roman ruins of Pollentia just outside present-day Alcudia, once the most important city in the Balearic Islands. Alcudia itself still has much of its medieval walls, built to protect against pirate attacks, while the capital Palma has its own fascinating old town. Wander the historic streets, still home to the Arab Baths built when the island was under Muslim rule, where the city’s cathedral dates from the 13th century, while the neighbouring La Almudaina Palace was built in the 14th century. Just outside the town, looking down onto the Bay of Palma, Bellver Castle is another 14th century creation and one of the few circular castles in Europe.

Bellver Castle, Majorca

Ibiza has its own historic charms too, from the Phoenician settlement of Sa Caleta or the Puig des Molins to the Renaissance walls of Dalt Vila, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

If you’re looking for watersports, you’ll be spoiled for choice on all four islands, but there’s plenty more to tempt you outdoors in the Balearics. On Majorca, head into the Sierra de Tramuntana mountains, where you can go hiking amid the peaks, or you’ll find a string of walking routes across the island, including through the S’Albufereta wetlands. If you’re looking for something even more unusual, there’s sea caving to enjoy.

Parc Natural de s'Albufera des Grau wetlands, Minorca

Minorca has its own great walking routes too, such as the Cami de Cavalls, a 185km track which circles the island’s coast – it’s broken up into 20 shorter sections if you don’t fancy tackling the whole trail. Or discover the S'Albufera of Grau Natural Park, home to the largest wetland area on Minorca.

The best time to visit the Balearic islands is from around mid-April to mid-June, and September to October, when the sun shines and temperatures hover between 20C and 25C most days. There isn’t a huge difference in climate between the islands, although Majorca and Ibiza tend to be slightly warmer and sunnier than Minorca.

If you are looking to soak up the sun, heat of 30C and above in July and August isn’t unusual across the islands, although this is also when the Balearics are at their busiest. Little Formentera and Minorca tend to be slightly quieter than their more popular neighbours, with Ibiza getting most of its visitors between June and August.

View to Cape Formentor, Majorca

If you’re looking for an active break, the start and end of shoulder season is usually cooler for walking and hiking, although October does see more rain as the month goes on.

Water temperatures heat up from June, peaking between July and September, although they stay warm into October so if you’re hoping to swim, it’s better to plan a visit for autumn than April or May when the sea is still refreshingly cool.

Winter is still milder than the UK, with temperatures of around 14-16C but dropping below 10C at night, and with most rain between November and January.

Autumn is a great time to explore the Balearic islands. September is usually hot, with temperatures in the mid 20Cs, while October is only slightly cooler. The crowds of summer have left, so they’re also quieter, and you’ll have great weather to get outdoors if you’re planning to go walking or an active adventure, plus more pleasant temperatures to explore the cities, and enjoyably warm sea temperatures.

You can also enjoy the grape harvest this month, with the Festa des Vermar running over two weeks in September on Majorca, at Binissalem, considered the island’s wine capital, as well as other harvest festivals showcasing the islands’ food.

Ibiza’s closing parties at the biggest clubs tend to run until mid-October, so it’s worth knowing that the island’s nightlife is still in full swing in early autumn, although the main crowds have left and you can escape the party side of the island.

The quietest time of the year to visit the Balearic islands, you’ll find far fewer tourists during these months. It’s also the coolest and rainiest season, with temperatures rarely rising above 15C, and dropping below 10C at night – as buildings are usually designed to be cool during the summer months, it’s worth checking your accommodation will stay warm enough.

Many tourist attractions will have shorter opening hours or close entirely, while there are fewer ferries to Formentera during the off-season.

However, you can still expect plenty of sunny days, even if it’s not great weather for sunbathing on the beaches, and there’s more emphasis on the cultural side of the islands, so it’s the perfect time to visit the museums and art galleries. You can also see the almond blossom blooming in the Ibizan Valley of Corona and inland Mallorca, usually from late January and throughout February.

Spring is another of the best times to visit the Balearic Islands. The temperatures are pleasantly warm, reaching the low 20Cs during late April and into May. Water temperatures are still relatively cool during the first half of the year, but it’s a great time to get outdoors and enjoy walking across the islands as wildflowers bloom and the landscape turns a lush green. It’s also a perfect time for birdwatching in the wetlands.

Spring sees a string of festivals, as well as Easter celebrations across the islands. And while you’ll avoid the biggest summer crowds, the tourist season is underway, so you’ll find fewer restrictions in terms of opening hours, especially during late spring. It’s a particularly good time to visit Ibiza, with the start of the good weather but before the party season gets underway.

If you’re looking for sun, you can’t beat summer in the Balearic islands. This is the busiest time of year, so you’ll be sharing the sites with plenty of others though, and with temperatures soaring to 30C and higher during July and August, it can make sightseeing harder, and limits walking to avoid the heat of the day.

June is ideal if you’re hoping to hit the beaches but avoid the worst of the crowds, with water temperatures rising to make swimming and watersports even more tempting. There are a string of music festivals taking place through the islands in summer, as well as traditional fiestas; Minorca has some of the best known, including Sant Joan de Ciutadella, held at the end of June, and Sant Nicolau festivities in Es Mercadal in September.

Discover the Balearic Islands for yourself on a hotel holiday or island hopping adventure, or cruise to the Balearics on one of our cruises to Spain