Comparison · Málaga vs Palma de Mallorca · Spain
Málaga 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: Kiban, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Quick answer
Choose Málaga for Picasso, Alcazaba and lower day-to-day costs; choose Palma de Mallorca for La Seu cathedral and Old town courtyards. Málaga is generally less expensive, and the two are about 694 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 694 km
- Less expensive
- Málaga
- Best time for Málaga
- April–June and September–October
- Best time for Palma de Mallorca
- May–June and September–October
Side by side
| Málaga | Palma de Mallorca | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Spain | Spain |
| Known for | Picasso, Alcazaba and Espetos | La Seu cathedral, Old town courtyards and Ensaïmada |
| Best time to visit | April–June and September–October | May–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 5 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $130–$220 | $160–$270 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 31°C (88°F) | August, 31°C (88°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 17°C (63°F) | January, 15°C (59°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 9 | 8 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 7 |
| Beaches | La Malagueta | Can Pere Antoni |
| Airports | AGP | PMI |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Málaga for…
Picasso, Alcazaba and lower day-to-day costs. Málaga is the capital of the Costa del Sol and the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, a port city where a Moorish fortress, a Roman theatre and an unfinished Renaissance cathedral sit within a few minutes' walk of each other. The Museo Picasso, the Carmen Thyssen…
Choose Palma de Mallorca for…
La Seu cathedral and Old town courtyards. 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
| # | Málaga | Palma de Mallorca |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alcazaba of Málaga | La Seu cathedral |
| 2 | Gibralfaro Castle | Royal Palace of La Almudaina |
| 3 | Museo Picasso Málaga | Bellver Castle |
| 4 | Málaga Cathedral | Es Baluard |
| 5 | Roman Theatre | Fundació Miró Mallorca |
Food compared
| Málaga | Palma de Mallorca |
|---|---|
| Espetos de sardinas | Ensaïmada |
| Fried fish | Sobrassada |
| Boquerones | Pa amb oli |
| Ajoblanco | Tumbet |
Which is cheaper?
Málaga is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $130–$220 per person there, against $160–$270 in Palma de Mallorca (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Málaga on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Málaga and Palma de Mallorca are about 694 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Málaga and 5 in Palma de Mallorca.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Málaga or Palma de Mallorca cheaper?
Málaga is usually less expensive: about $130–$220 a day mid-range against $160–$270 (estimates).
+Is Málaga or Palma de Mallorca better for a first trip?
Pick Málaga for Picasso, Alcazaba and lower day-to-day costs, or Palma de Mallorca for La Seu cathedral and Old town courtyards.
+How far is Málaga from Palma de Mallorca?
About 694 km in a straight line.