Where to Stay in the Balearic Islands: Hotels by Resort

On Mallorca, the south-west is the quickest to reach. Magaluf, Calvià and Santa Ponsa are 16 to 20 minutes from Palma airport, which makes them the natural choice for a short break or for families who dread a long transfer. Calvià is the large municipality here, with Magaluf and Santa Ponsa as its coastal resorts. In the north, Alcúdia, Pollença and Port de Pollença suit travellers who want history and scenery alongside the beach: Alcúdia has the Roman site of Pollentia, while Port de Pollença is the base for the drive out to the Far de Formentor lighthouse. Can Picafort, about 38 minutes from the airport, sits near the Son Real necropolis. On the east coast, Cala Millor fronts the headland of Punta de n'Amer, and Porto Cristo is the town for the famous caves.

On Ibiza, the choice is between Sant Antoni de Portmany on the west coast, 12 minutes from the airport and close to coves such as Cala Salada and Cala Bassa, and Santa Eulària des Riu on the east, 16 minutes away, with Cala Llonga, Cala Pada and Platja des Niu Blau nearby. On Menorca, Maó is the main town, 4 minutes from the airport, with archaeological sites such as Sa Cudia Cremada and Cornia Nou close by.

Every resort on this page is coastal, so the typical stay is a beach holiday hotel booked as part of a package, with flight, room and transfer bundled together. The short transfer times on all three islands mean you are rarely more than 40 minutes from the airport, which is why package bookings with half board or all inclusive dominate for British families.

The larger towns, such as Maó, Santa Eulària des Riu, Sant Antoni de Portmany and the Calvià area, are working places with year-round life as well as beach hotels, which suits travellers who want restaurants and streets to wander in the evening. Smaller resorts such as Cala Millor, Can Picafort and Port de Pollença are more purely holiday towns built around the seafront. Rather than guess at what is available, filter the live hotel prices on this page by resort and board basis.

May and June are the sweet spot: Palma averages 24°C in May and 29°C in June, with little rain. July and August reach 32°C and coincide with the UK school holidays, when package prices rise and the best-located rooms go early, so book well ahead for those weeks. September stays warm at around 28°C but is the wettest month of the year in Palma, with around ten rain days.

If you want a package, you can compare deals from Jet2holidays, TUI, loveholidays and On the Beach here, alongside hotel-only prices if you prefer to book flights separately. Car hire is worth comparing if you plan to explore Formentor or the east coast caves from a south-west base, and you can browse tours and tickets on this page too.