The Balearic Islands have lured sailors, artists, and sunseekers for millennia. Romans fortified ports here; Catalan kings left Gothic spires; modern travelers come for clear water, robust cuisine, and mountain-meets-sea vistas. In one week you can pair the culture and coves of Mallorca with Ibiza’s UNESCO-listed old town and laid-back chiringuito life.

Mallorca’s heart beats in Palma—its sandstone cathedral, Arab baths, and markets—while the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape, frames stone villages and citrus valleys. Ibiza surprises beyond its clubs: whitewashed lanes of Dalt Vila, pine-fringed beaches, salt flats, and a quick hop to baby-blue Formentera.

Expect Mediterranean cuisine (ensaimadas, sobrassada, pa amb oli, fresh-caught fish), reliable public buses, easy island-to-island ferries, and plentiful day cruises. Pack reef-safe sunscreen, light layers, and swim shoes for rocky calas. Avoid peak midday sun in summer; book popular restaurants, boats, and car hires ahead in July–September.

Palma de Mallorca

Palma is the elegant, walkable capital of Mallorca—think golden-stone alleys, Gothic rosettes, and leafy courtyards. La Seu Cathedral rises above the bay; modernist markets dish out seafood and cheese; nearby beaches like Illetas and Cala Major are a quick bus or taxi away.

• Top sights: La Seu Cathedral, Royal Palace of La Almudaina, Arab Baths, Es Baluard Museum, Santa Catalina and Mercat de l’Olivar markets, Bellver Castle’s hilltop views.
• Local flavor: ensaimadas at Ca’n Joan de S’Aigo; tapas at La Rosa Vermutería; vermouth and shellfish bars in La Lonja; sunset aperitivo on the Paseo Marítimo.
• Fun facts: Antoni Gaudí consulted on La Seu; the 1912 timber-and-olive-wood train to Sóller still clacks through orange groves.

Where to stay (Palma): For character and convenience near Old Town and the marina. Browse stays on VRBO or Hotels.com. Standouts with quick-book links: ultra-private Cap Rocat (former fortress on a quiet bay), design-forward beachfront Iberostar Playa de Palma, and wallet-friendly heritage guesthouse Hostal Pons.

Getting to Palma (PMI): From within Europe, compare flights via Omio. Traveling from outside Europe? Search global options on Trip.com. PMI to central Palma is ~20 minutes by taxi (~€20–25) or 25–30 minutes by public bus A1.

Day 1: Arrival in Palma, Cathedral Glow, and Tapas

Morning: Travel day. If you arrive early, drop bags and grab specialty coffee at La Molienda (local roaster; try the pistachio croissant) or Arabay Specialty Coffee near Passeig del Born.

Afternoon: Walk the waterfront to Parc de la Mar for a postcard view of La Seu Cathedral reflected in the lake. Tour La Seu and the Almudaina Palace next door, then duck into the 10th‑century Arab Baths for a cool, quiet moment.

Evening: Tapas crawl in La Lonja. Start with anchovy-gilded potatoes and vermouth at La Rosa Vermutería & Colmado; continue to Bar España for pintxos and bombas; finish with a nightcap at Brassclub (Mallorcan botanicals in their “Pomada” riff). Dessert: thick hot chocolate and ensaimada at Ca’n Joan de S’Aigo.

Day 2: Island Circuit by Vintage Train, Tram, and Boat (Full Day)

Ride the historic Sóller train through citrus valleys, sail the rugged coast to Sa Calobra, and wind through the Tramuntana. Book this classic circuit here:

Mallorca in One Day Sightseeing Tour with Boat Ride and Vintage Train

Lunch is typically on the go—pack fruit and pastries from Fornet de la Soca or plan a quick pa amb oli in Sóller. Back in Palma by late afternoon to rest or stroll the Passeig del Born.

Day 3: Markets, Beach Time, and Sunset Under Sail

Morning: Graze at Mercat de l’Olivar: Bar d’es Peix for razor clams, oyster bar for a pair of locals, and a wedge of Mahón cheese to share. Or cross to Santa Catalina Market—Bar Joan Frau dishes a textbook paella by the pan.

Afternoon: Taxi or bus to Illetas for turquoise water and beach clubs. Prefer closer sands? Cala Major is 10–15 minutes from town; visit Joan Miró Foundation nearby for bold color and studio vibes.

Evening: Toast the day aboard a small-group sail with open bar and light snacks:

Mallorca Midday or Sunset Sailing with Light Snacks and Open Bar

Post-cruise dinner: El Camino (standing marble bar; order the red prawns and tortilla), or Tast Club (hidden door, refined Mallorcan classics). Book ahead.

Day 4: Alcúdia Walls, Sea Caves, and Northern Flavors

Morning: Drive or bus ~55–70 minutes to Alcúdia Old Town. Walk the medieval walls and browse local crafts. Coffee at Can Moixet on the square (try the llonguet sandwich).

Afternoon: Board a small-boat adventure from Port d’Alcúdia to secluded Coll Baix and nearby caves—swim, snorkel, and SUP in postcard coves.

Mallorca Beach & Caves Boat inc Drinks, Tapas, SUP & Snorkel

Evening: Sunset stroll along Port de Pollença’s Pine Walk. Dinner at Terrae (zero-waste, creative tasting menus) or Bodega Ca’n Ferra for grilled fish. Return to Palma (~1 hr) or stay north if you prefer a quieter night.

Ibiza (Eivissa)

Ibiza wears many faces: a citadel of cobbled lanes (Dalt Vila), salt-flat horizons, bohemian markets, pine-scented coves, and some of the world’s best beach clubs. Even if clubs aren’t your scene, the island’s calm mornings, seafood lunches, and vermouth sunsets will be.

• Top sights: Dalt Vila UNESCO ramparts, Marina Botafoch, Ses Salines and Es Cavallet beaches, Cala Comte and Cala Bassa, Es Vedrà viewpoints, Santa Gertrudis village.
• Eat & drink: tapas at La Bodega; pintxos and txakoli at Can Terra; garden dining at La Brasa; healthy brunch at Passion Café; sunset at Sunset Ashram (Cala Comte).
• Vibe check: In high season (June–Sept) reserve beach beds and dinners; spring and autumn are glorious for hiking and calm seas.

Where to stay (Ibiza Town & nearby): For easy dining and Dalt Vila access, base in Ibiza Town or Talamanca. Compare stays on VRBO or Hotels.com. Talamanca’s waterfront suits families; Ibiza Town is lively; Santa Gertrudis offers quiet, central access to all coasts.

Getting from Mallorca to Ibiza: Morning fast ferries Palma–Ibiza take ~2–3.5 hours and often cost €35–€70—compare departures on Omio (Ferries). Flights are ~50 minutes; check European options on Omio.

Day 5: Ferry to Ibiza, Dalt Vila Ramparts, Pintxos Night

Morning: Depart Palma by fast ferry or short flight. On arrival, drop bags and fuel up at Passion Café (marina location; smoothies and eggs Florentine) or Croissant Show by the ramparts.

Afternoon: Climb through Dalt Vila’s bastions—Portal de ses Taules, the cathedral terrace, and the views toward Formentera. Explore artisan shops tucked into whitewashed lanes.

Evening: Go casual at Can Terra (standing pintxos, Basque-style grilled meats; arrive early) or book La Brasa’s garden for wood-fired rice and grilled turbot. Post-dinner, sip a hierbas ibicencas at S’Escalinata’s colorful steps.

Day 6: Formentera by Catamaran—Swim, Snorkel, Paella (Full Day)

Sail to sands so pale they look powdered sugar. Snorkel over seagrass meadows, lounge at anchor, and savor paella with an open bar on this all-day cruise:

Ibiza to Formentera Cruise with Snorkeling, Paella & Open Bar

Back in port, dine at La Bodega (grilled octopus, tortilla, and padrón peppers) beneath Dalt Vila’s walls, or watch superyachts glide past from Marina Botafoch.

Day 7: Cala Comte Blues, Last Swim, and Departure

Morning: Head to Cala Comte or Cala Bassa early for luminous water and rocky ledges perfect for a final dip. Coffee and a tostada at Chiringuito Cala Escondida (Comte) if open for the season.

Afternoon: Quick lunch before your flight or ferry: Cala Bassa Beach Club (grilled dorada) or La Escollera at Es Cavallet (seafood rice with a beach breeze). Transfer to the airport or ferry terminal. If your departure is late-day and seas are calm, consider a 6-hour coastal cruise with stops at two iconic beaches:

Ibiza Beach Hopping Cruise with Paddleboards, Drinks and Food 6h

Departure logistics: Ibiza Airport (IBZ) is ~10–20 minutes from town by taxi. Compare intra-Europe flights on Omio; for onward intercontinental trips, search Trip.com.

Practical Notes & Extra Ideas

• Car vs. bus: Public buses connect Palma to major beaches and villages; for northern Mallorca calas or Ibiza’s western coves, a car eases timing (reserve early in summer).
• Seasonality: May–June and Sept–Oct offer warm seas and lighter crowds. many beach bars operate seasonally—check opening weeks.
• More tours if you add time: private Palma bay sail (Private sailing yacht by the Bay of Palma)

  

  or a small‑group catamaran with tapas (Mallorca Catamaran Small Group Cruise with Tapas)

  

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In one week you’ll have scaled cathedral terraces, rattled through orange groves on a vintage train, sailed coves, and wandered Ibiza’s fortress lanes. The Balearics reward curiosity—every cala, courtyard, and bar de barrio adds another chapter to your island story.