Comparison · Algarve vs Palma de Mallorca · Portugal / Spain
Algarve vs Palma de Mallorca
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Vitor Oliveira from Torres Vedras, PORTUGAL, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
Choose Algarve for Sea cliffs and caves and Golden beaches; choose Palma de Mallorca for La Seu cathedral, Old town courtyards and a short break. Algarve is generally less expensive, and the two are about 965 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 965 km
- Less expensive
- Algarve
- Best time for Algarve
- May–June and September
- Best time for Palma de Mallorca
- May–June and September–October
Side by side
| Algarve | Palma de Mallorca | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Portugal | Spain |
| Known for | Sea cliffs and caves, Golden beaches and Cataplana | La Seu cathedral, Old town courtyards and Ensaïmada |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September | May–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 7 days | 5 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $130–$250 | $160–$270 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 29°C (84°F) | August, 31°C (88°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 16°C (61°F) | January, 15°C (59°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 8 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 7 |
| Beaches | Praia da Marinha | Can Pere Antoni |
| Airports | FAO, LIS | PMI |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Algarve for…
Sea cliffs and caves and Golden beaches. The Algarve is Portugal's southern coast, about 150 km from the Spanish border at the Guadiana River to Cape St Vincent, Europe's south-western tip. West of Faro, the coast breaks into honey-coloured cliffs, sea caves and coves such as Benagil and Ponta da…
Choose Palma de Mallorca for…
La Seu cathedral, Old town courtyards and a short break. Palma, the capital of Mallorca and the Balearic Islands, is dominated by La Seu, the Gothic cathedral that rises straight from the old sea walls above the bay. Behind it, the old town is a warren of lanes with stone mansions and hidden courtyards, Moorish…
Top sights compared
| # | Algarve | Palma de Mallorca |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benagil Cave | La Seu cathedral |
| 2 | Seven Hanging Valleys Trail | Royal Palace of La Almudaina |
| 3 | Ponta da Piedade | Bellver Castle |
| 4 | Cape St Vincent | Es Baluard |
| 5 | Fortress of Sagres | Fundació Miró Mallorca |
Food compared
| Algarve | Palma de Mallorca |
|---|---|
| Cataplana | Ensaïmada |
| Grilled sardines | Sobrassada |
| Piri-piri chicken | Pa amb oli |
| Octopus | Tumbet |
Which is cheaper?
Algarve is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $130–$250 per person there, against $160–$270 in Palma de Mallorca (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Algarve on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 965 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 13 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Algarve or Palma de Mallorca cheaper?
Algarve is usually less expensive: about $130–$250 a day mid-range against $160–$270 (estimates).
+Is Algarve or Palma de Mallorca better for a first trip?
Pick Algarve for Sea cliffs and caves and Golden beaches, or Palma de Mallorca for La Seu cathedral, Old town courtyards and a short break.
+How far is Algarve from Palma de Mallorca?
About 965 km in a straight line.