NorahIn my life, I have had the privilege of exploring some absolutely incredible destinations. I have seen stunning mountains, spectacular rivers, and bustling cities. Some of my best memories, and most unique destinations, have been the stunning islands off the coast of mainland Europe. These islands are popular and bustling, and in this guide I will be comparing two of the most popular: Santorini vs. Mallorca.
Where are Santorini and Mallorca?
Santorini is a Greek island located about 200 miles south of Athens. It is located in the Aegean Sea, and can be accessed by ferry or plane (or private jet, if you know someone).
Mallorca is located in the Mediterranean, east of mainland Spain.
How big are Santorini and Mallorca?
In terms of land mass, Mallorca is massive in comparison to Santorini. Santorini is approximately 73 square kilometers, while Mallorca is over 3600 square kilometers. I definitely felt this as I was exploring both islands-Santorini is significantly smaller than Mallorca, and as a result is much easier to navigate.
I have a whole guide on things I did wrong on my Mallorca trip, including my best tips!
What is the weather like in Santorini and Mallorca?
Both islands have stunning, beautiful weather. While there are seasons, the winter weather is mild. Summers can be quite hot, and are also peak season. If you are looking to explore these beautiful locations in a less crowded environment, I would recommend traveling to both islands during the shoulder seasons of April-May and September-October.
Both islands have very dry weather. I would describe the landscape as almost desert like, with scraggly cliffs and rocky beaches.
What is there to do on each island?
There is SO much to do on both Santorini and Mallorca. While I have recommendations for both islands, here are my must sees:
In Santorini, I highly recommend renting an ATV to explore the whole island. These are easy to find and a cheap way to explore the whole area. I also recommend doing a sunset cruise-the view of the Santorini Caldera was truly one of the prettiest things I have ever seen in my life. Finally, if you are an adventurous hiker, there is a beautiful walk from Fira to Oia, with a cliff jumping spot at the very end!
In Mallorca, there are stunning beaches and a bountiful nightlife scene. I really enjoyed Cala Llombardes and exploring the city of Palma.
I have a whole guide to the ultimate two week Greece trip, as well as a guide on how much my trip cost!
How expensive is each island?
Both Santorini and Mallorca are VERY expensive. They are very popular destinations, and there are limited resources on the islands. Because of this, it is quite expensive to visit each island.
I stayed in hostels on both islands and tried to make an effort to be frugal at each location. I found Santorini to be easier to navigate on a budget-it was extremely difficult to navigate around Mallorca on a budget.
If you have room to splurge, either island has excellent lodging and excursions for those willing to spend a bit more money. I would recommend pinning your budget, and thinking through what elements of your trip (lodging, food, excursions, etc.) you want to prioritize.
How long do you need at each island?
I would recommend three full days in Santorini and one full week in Mallorca. Because Mallorca is such a larger island, it takes longer to navigate and there is so much more to see. I would also recommend planning out a loose itinerary, regardless of which island you end up choosing. Even if your plan is to lounge at the beach-what beach? On both Santorini and Mallorca there are so many options for beaches that it would be advantageous to do your research in advance.
Which island has better nightlife?
I believe that Mallorca has better nightlife than Santorini. On both islands, you are sure to find fun clubs and bars. However, Mallorca is home to Palma-a much larger city and a hub for fun nightlife. Santorini does not have a large party vibe, and feels more like a quiet, luxury destination.
Which island has the better beaches?
This is the impossible question! To begin, it is important to note that there are a wide variety of beaches on both islands. Mallorca has stone and sand beaches, big beachers and tiny coves. The island of Santorini is largely on a cliff, so there are less actual beaches (but more dramatic cliff faces and views).
My recommendation would be if you are going for the beautiful beaches, go to Mallorca. If you are going for the stunning beauty, go to Santorini.
Which island is busier?
Both Santorini and Mallorca are incredibly busy. These islands are jam packed, especially during the tourist season. In Mallorca, the crowds are super concentrated around the beautiful cove beaches, while in Santorini the crowds are really centered around the picturesque city of Oia.
A couple pieces of advice surrounding the crowds:
- The crowds definitely increase during the summer season, particularly July and August. If it is at all possible, I highly recommend visiting either island during the shoulder seasons of April-May and September-October. The weather will still be lovely, but there will be way less tourists.
- If you are going during the busy season, consider going to other spots on these islands. The crowds tend to be super concentrated around the main tourists spots, but other parts of the islands are not busy at all. For example, Oia is super popular in Santorini. However, the other cities on the island are not at all crowded, and could be an excellent alternative option.
- If you must go to the popular destinations during peak tourist season, go to the most popular destinations early. Try to beat the crowds, as way less people will be out there for sunrise. This is also a chance to maximize lighting to get a wonderful picture!
Which island do you recommend: Santorini or Mallorca?
I absolutely loved my time in both Santorini and Mallorca, but if I could only travel back to one destination, I would choose Santorini. Santorini had the perfect mix of epic landscapes, awesome adventure, and delightful island vibes. I also found Santorini to be much more affordable and accessible than parts of Mallorca. In Santorini, there were so many accessible activities and you did not need a care to navigate the island.
Mallorca is still absolutely lovely, but if I had to choose between the two, Santorini is spectacular.
Check out this video I made from my time in Santorini:
