A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Faro vs. Palma de Mallorca for Nightlife, Resorts, Beaches, and Food

Should you visit Faro or Palma de Mallorca?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Faro or Palma de Mallorca, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Faro

Faro is a popular, busy, and active resort town. Other reasons to visit include scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and shopping.

Palma de Mallorca

Palma de Mallorca is a historic, beautiful, and stunning island. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and hiking.

Faro and Palma de Mallorca: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Faro or Palma de Mallorca?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Palma de Mallorca. Although Faro and Palma de Mallorca are both popular with visitors, Palma de Mallorca has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Palma de Mallorca is more popular for its food, nightlife, music, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Faro is known for its resorts. Palma de Mallorca is more touristy than Faro and is known for its strikingly blue waters, sandy beaches, all-inclusive resorts, and vibrant towns. It is also home to the turquoise water and white sand beaches. Faro is popular for its historical sights and rich culture.

The turquoise water and white sand beaches

How is Faro different from Palma de Mallorca?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Palma de Mallorca and Faro. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Is the Food Better in Faro or Palma de Mallorca? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Palma de Mallorca is great for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Faro is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Palma de Mallorca. Food here is centered around pork, fish, and vegetables. It is flavored with garlic and olive oil and it offers that feeling of comfort that comes with home cooking.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Faro. It has become a major tourist town, so you have to get a bit creative to find a more traditional restaurant. Look for fresh seafood like cod, monkfish, or shellfish if you want some local flavors.

Is Faro or Palma de Mallorca Better for Nightlife?

Palma de Mallorca is a must-visit destination for nightlife. Also, Faro is not as popular, but is still a nice resort town for nightlife and partying.

Palma de Mallorca is a world class party destination. Head to Magaluf and Palma for the most popular places.

Faro has plenty to do after the sun goes down. The city's bustling party scene thrives along Rua de São Pedro, Rua Conselheiro Bívar, and Rua do Prior.

Is Faro or Palma de Mallorca Better for Music?

Palma de Mallorca is great for live music. However, Faro is not a live music destination.

The music scene in Palma de Mallorca draws a good crowd. Live concerts, international DJs, and a diverse range of styles have put the island's music scene on the map.

Faro is not a live music destination.

Is Faro or Palma de Mallorca Better for Resorts?

Faro is a must-visit destination for its luxury resorts. Also, Palma de Mallorca is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its resorts.

Faro offers an unforgettable resort vacation. Popular resorts include Vila Vita Parc Resort and Spa, Conrad Algarve, and Tivoli Carvoeiro.

In Palma de Mallorca, you'll find some of the region's top resorts. Top resorts on the island include The St Regis Mardavall, Viva Cala Mesquida Resort and Spa, and Nixe Palace Hotel.

Is Faro or Palma de Mallorca Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

You'll find good snorkeling or scuba diving in both Faro and Palma de Mallorca.

Faro has a few areas where visitors often go scuba diving or snorkeling. There are both snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities in the area. It's possible to snorkel off of several beaches or arrange a scuba diving excursion with a local dive shop.

It's fun to get in the water and check out the local marine life in Palma de Mallorca. Head to Cala Santanyi on the south side of the island for the best snorkeling. For scuba diving, National Park of Cabrera is one of the most popular spots.

Is Faro or Palma de Mallorca Better for Beaches?

Palma de Mallorca is a must-visit destination for its beaches. Also, Faro is not as popular, but is still a nice resort town for the beache.

The beaches in Palma de Mallorca are among the best in the world. The island is lined with sandy beaches and rocky coves, which have contributed to it becoming one of Europe's most popular beach destinations.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Faro. The most popular beach in the area is Faro Beach. It can get crowded during the summer months but if you walk a bit you can often get away from the crowds. To reach the beach you'll need a car or you can take the bus as the beach is about 10 km away.

Is Faro or Palma de Mallorca Better for its Old Town?

Faro and Palma de Mallorca both have good historical old towns that attract visitors.

Faro is a good destination for visiting its old town. You'll find historic buildings and cobblestone streets in the old town. It's a nice place to explore, grab a bite to eat, and do a little shopping.

Many people head to Palma de Mallorca to see the old town. Alcudia is the best old town on the island. It has cobblestone streets and historic walls that give it charm and history.

Is Faro or Palma de Mallorca Better for Hiking?

Palma de Mallorca is a nice place to visit for hiking. However, Faro is not a hiking destination.

Palma de Mallorca has hiking trails worth exploring. There are many beautiful hikes along the water and through the countryside that offer beautiful views and pass by quaint towns.

Faro is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Faro or Palma de Mallorca?

If you're looking to go shopping, Faro and Palma de Mallorca both offer plenty of good spots.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Faro. The town isn't as big as some others, so it's shopping scene isn't as comprehensive, but you will find the major brands as well as souvenir shops to peruse when you need a break from the beach.

Palma de Mallorca offers some nice shopping areas. Head to Palma for some of the areas best shopping.

Is Faro or Palma de Mallorca Better for Families?

Palma de Mallorca is great for its kid-friendly activities. However, Faro is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

Palma de Mallorca is a very family-friendly destination. The beaches are large and sandy with beautiful blue waters. There's also many activities that both adults and kids can enjoy around the island including waterparks, aquariums, and amusement areas.

Faro is not the most family-friendly destination. There are some nice nature reserves in the area so kids who love wildlife will enjoy a visit.

Is Faro or Palma de Mallorca Better for Couples?

Faro and Palma de Mallorca are both good to visit as a couple.

Faro is a nice destination for couples. With the beautiful natural areas and historic old town, this seaport makes a nice couples vacation.

Palma de Mallorca makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. With beautiful beaches and a fun Spanish flare, Mallorca makes for a memorable honeymoon.

Is Faro or Palma de Mallorca Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Palma de Mallorca is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Faro is not as popular, but is still a nice resort town for backpackers.

Palma de Mallorca is very popular with the backpacker crowd. There is no shortage of hostels in Mallorca so it's easy to find an affordable place to stay and a young crowd to hang out with.

Faro is a good resort town to visit for backpackers. The are some good hostels in the area, but it's a bit tricky to get around without a car.

Is Faro or Palma de Mallorca Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Faro and Palma de Mallorca both offer good public transit to get you around.

While Faro offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are buses that connect the city to the beach, the airport, and other outlying areas.

Palma de Mallorca has a few public transit options. There is an efficient bus system that can get you around the island, but trips are less frequent on weekends. Pick up the Intermodal Card which can get you from town to town.

Is Faro or Palma de Mallorca a more walkable city?

Faro and Palma de Mallorca are good when it comes to walkability.

Faro is somewhat walkable. The city's old town is particularly walkable.

Palma de Mallorca is a somewhat walkable place. It is a larger island that is not walkable, but Palma is generally a walkable area. If you stay in the central area you should be fine to explore on foot but if you want to get out into more rural areas, you'll need access to some type of transportation.

For even more information, also check out Is Faro Worth Visiting? and Is Palma de Mallorca Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Palma de Mallorca or Faro?

How long in Faro or Palma de Mallorca?

In either Faro or Palma de Mallorca, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. In our opinion, Palma de Mallorca has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Palma de Mallorca than Faro. In general, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Faro, and 3-5 days is enough time in Palma de Mallorca.

Families should spend more time in Palma de Mallorca than Faro. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Palma de Mallorca, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Palma de Mallorca than Faro. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Palma de Mallorca that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Palma de Mallorca than Faro if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Palma de Mallorca.

One day in Faro or Palma de Mallorca?

With nightlife and scuba diving and snorkeling around the destination of Faro, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It offers something for everyone.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the destination of Palma de Mallorca. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Faro or Palma de Mallorca?

With scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping around the busy resort town of Faro, there's plenty to do. Your budget might influence how long you stay. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here.

Palma de Mallorca is a fun place to experience. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Faro or Palma de Mallorca?

With shopping and nightlife around the popular destination of Faro, there's plenty to do. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. If you have five days, this resort town makes for a great vacation. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here.

Visitors enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the beautiful destination of Palma de Mallorca. This island offers something for everyone. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

A week in Faro or Palma de Mallorca?

Faro is a popular choice for travelers. It's also a relaxing resort destination. This resort town offers a variety of activities to choose from. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

The stunning island of Palma de Mallorca offers scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Portugal, The Best 2-Week Tours in Spain, and The Best 3-Week Tours in Spain.

When comparing the travel costs between Faro and Palma de Mallorca, we can see that Palma de Mallorca is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Faro Expensive? and Is Palma de Mallorca Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Faro or Palma de Mallorca?

Palma de Mallorca has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Faro. When comparing the sizes of Faro and Palma de Mallorca, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Faro or Palma de Mallorca?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Faro or Palma de Mallorca in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Faro and Palma de Mallorca. The summer months attract visitors to Faro because of the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Palma de Mallorca this time of year.

Faro is around the same temperature as Palma de Mallorca in the summer. The daily temperature in Faro averages around 25°C (78°F) in July, and Palma de Mallorca fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Palma de Mallorca this time of the year. In Faro, it's very sunny this time of the year. Faro usually receives more sunshine than Palma de Mallorca during summer. Faro gets 374 hours of sunny skies, while Palma de Mallorca receives 334 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Faro usually receives less rain than Palma de Mallorca. Faro gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Palma de Mallorca receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Faro or Palma de Mallorca in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Faro as well as Palma de Mallorca. The shopping scene are the main draw to Faro this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Palma de Mallorca for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Faro is around the same temperature as Palma de Mallorca. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Faro in October average around 20°C (68°F), and Palma de Mallorca averages at about 19°C (66°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Palma de Mallorca. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Faro this time of the year. In the autumn, Faro often gets more sunshine than Palma de Mallorca. Faro gets 222 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Palma de Mallorca receives 204 hours of full sun.

Faro usually gets more rain in October than Palma de Mallorca. Faro gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Palma de Mallorca receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Faro or Palma de Mallorca in the Winter?

Both Palma de Mallorca and Faro are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Faro for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Palma de Mallorca in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

In January, Faro is generally a little warmer than Palma de Mallorca. Daily temperatures in Faro average around 12°C (54°F), and Palma de Mallorca fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Faro usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Palma de Mallorca during winter. Faro gets 161 hours of sunny skies, while Palma de Mallorca receives 164 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Faro usually receives more rain than Palma de Mallorca. Faro gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Palma de Mallorca receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Faro or Palma de Mallorca in the Spring?

Both Palma de Mallorca and Faro during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Faro in the spring for the beaches. Furthermore, most visitors come to Palma de Mallorca for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.

Faro is a little warmer than Palma de Mallorca in the spring. The daily temperature in Faro averages around 17°C (62°F) in April, and Palma de Mallorca fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

In Palma de Mallorca, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Faro. In the spring, Faro often gets more sunshine than Palma de Mallorca. Faro gets 248 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Palma de Mallorca receives 210 hours of full sun.

Faro usually gets less rain in April than Palma de Mallorca. Faro gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Palma de Mallorca receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Palma de Mallorca and Faro