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

Should you visit Nagano or Palma de Mallorca?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nagano and Palma de Mallorca can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Nagano

Nagano is a scenic, historic, and traditional city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include hiking, shopping, and museums.

Palma de Mallorca

Palma de Mallorca is a historic, beautiful, and stunning island. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the beaches, hiking, and shopping.

Nagano and Palma de Mallorca: Pros and Cons

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

Travelers will usually find more to do in Nagano. Although Nagano and Palma de Mallorca are popular destinations, Nagano has more sights and attractions for tourists. Nagano is very popular for its skiing, museums, hiking, and big city activities, while Palma de Mallorca attracts visitors for its nightlife, music, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, and beaches. Palma de Mallorca is more touristy than Nagano and is known for its strikingly blue waters, sandy beaches, all-inclusive resorts, and vibrant towns. Nagano is famous for its historic temples, beautiful mountain setting, and being the host of the 1998 Winter Olympic Games. It is also well known for Zenko-ji Temple.

How is Nagano 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 Nagano. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Is Nagano or Palma de Mallorca Better for Skiing?

Nagano is an excellent place to visit for skiing and snowboarding. However, Palma de Mallorca is not a skiing destination.

Nagano offers world-class skiing that is fun for everyone. The city hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics and many of the skiing events were held at ski resorts in the area. In the Nagano Prefecture you'll find several ski resorts with some of the most popular being the Hakuba ski areas, Shiga Kogen, Nozawa Onsen, and Myoko Kogen.

Palma de Mallorca is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Nagano or Palma de Mallorca?

Nagano is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. However, Palma de Mallorca does not have museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Nagano can be an interesting and educational experience. The area is filled with history and there are many places to explore. Matsumoto Castle, the Matsumoto City Museum of Art, Zenko-ji Temple, and Togakushi Shrine are just some of the highlights.

Palma de Mallorca does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Nagano and Palma de Mallorca.

Nagano has a huge number of terrific restaurants. You'll find many of Japan's culinary favorites here like ramen, udon, sushi, and sashimi. There are also regional dishes and some comfort food like Tonkatsu and Oyaki Dumplings.

Dining out in Palma de Mallorca is an experience not to be missed. 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.

Is Nagano or Palma de Mallorca Better for Nightlife?

Palma de Mallorca is terrific for nightlife and partying. Also, Nagano is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its evening party scene.

Palma de Mallorca is a must-see party destination. Head to Magaluf and Palma for the most popular places.

Nagano offers plenty to do in the evening. The nightlife scene is varied, from local and intimate venues, to wild and crazy clubs. You'll find all styles and activities such that whatever you're looking for, the city likely won't disappoint.

Is Nagano or Palma de Mallorca Better for Music?

Palma de Mallorca is a great island for its live music scene. However, Nagano is not a live music destination.

Palma de Mallorca has a thriving music scene. Live concerts, international DJs, and a diverse range of styles have put the island's music scene on the map.

Nagano is not a live music destination.

Is Nagano or Palma de Mallorca Better for Resorts?

Palma de Mallorca is a great island for its luxury resorts. Also, Nagano is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its resorts.

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.

Nagano has a few great resort options. You'll find wonderful mountain resorts throughout the entire prefecture.

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

Palma de Mallorca is a island with good options for its diving and snorkeling. However, Nagano is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

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.

Nagano is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Nagano or Palma de Mallorca Better for Beaches?

Palma de Mallorca is terrific for the beache. However, Nagano is not a beach destination.

Palma de Mallorca is considered to be a world-class beach destination. The island is lined with sandy beaches and rocky coves, which have contributed to it becoming one of Europe's most popular beach destinations.

Nagano is not a beach destination.

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

Both Nagano and Palma de Mallorca have nice historic old towns worth visiting.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Nagano. Throughout the prefecture there is a lot of history and charming towns. If you're willing to get out of Nagano City, you can enjoy an area filled with tradition and culture. In particular, Tsumago-juku was the first preserved old town in Japan.

Palma de Mallorca offers a nice historic old town area. Alcudia is the best old town on the island. It has cobblestone streets and historic walls that give it charm and history.

Is Nagano or Palma de Mallorca Better for Hiking?

Nagano is an excellent place to visit for its hiking trails. Also, Palma de Mallorca is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its hiking experiences.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Nagano. The surrounding area is filled with stunning scenery, natural beauty, and beautiful hikes. You'll find shrines and temples, historic villages, nice views, and peaceful walks throughout the region. One of the most unique walks is along the highest road in Japan, the Norikura Echo Line. The route is at 8,800 feet and is lined with ten meter high snow walls. It's open from from late April to the end of June every year.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Palma de Mallorca. There are many beautiful hikes along the water and through the countryside that offer beautiful views and pass by quaint towns.

Is the Shopping Better in Nagano or Palma de Mallorca?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Nagano. There are a number of shopping streets that are fun to explore including the historic street of Naka-mise. This street is lined with tea shops, cafes, traditional stores, and more. While there aren't a huge number of shopping centers around town, Midori Nagano is one of the biggest.

Many visitors go to Palma de Mallorca to go shopping. Head to Palma for some of the areas best shopping.

Is Nagano or Palma de Mallorca Better for Families?

Both Nagano and Palma de Mallorca are high quality to visit with kids.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Nagano is very family-friendly. Chibikko Ninja Village is a great place for kids with climbing walls, indoor playgrounds, and more. There are also a number of sports facilities around town, and you can keep the sport theme going with a visit to the Nagano Olympic Museum. Animal lovers will enjoy a visit to the Nagano Chausuyama Zoo and for little kids, the Nagano City Joyama Zoo is nice.

Palma de Mallorca is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Is Nagano or Palma de Mallorca Better for Couples?

Both Nagano and Palma de Mallorca are nice destinations for a couple's getaway.

Nagano makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The city has a lot of history and beauty, making it a romantic destination for couples. There are also outdoor activities as well as a number of sports that you can enjoy.

Palma de Mallorca is a good city for couples to visit. With beautiful beaches and a fun Spanish flare, Mallorca makes for a memorable honeymoon.

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

Palma de Mallorca is a great island for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Nagano is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Palma de Mallorca. 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.

Plenty of backpackers visit Nagano. There are several good hostels in the area, as well as some great activities for young travelers, backpackers, and sports enthusiasts.

Is Nagano or Palma de Mallorca Better for Students?

Nagano is a nice place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Palma de Mallorca is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Nagano. It's relative affordability combined with its close proximity to Tokyo and laid back populations make this a nice place to study.

Palma de Mallorca is not popular with students.

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

Nagano and Palma de Mallorca both offer nice public transit to get you around.

While Nagano offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. The main station in town is Nagano Station. There's a bus and train system through the area, including buses that run to Zenkoji Temple. There's also a bus that goes to the Togakushi area and takes about an hour. However, renting a car will give you more freedom and efficiency. .

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 Nagano or Palma de Mallorca a more walkable city?

Nagano and Palma de Mallorca are nice when it comes to walkability.

Nagano is a somewhat walkable place. Parts of the city are walkable and there are hiking trails around the Togakushi area, where you'll find many shrines and other attractions.

Palma de Mallorca is a somewhat walkable city. 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 Nagano Worth Visiting? and Is Palma de Mallorca Worth Visiting?.

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

How long in Nagano or Palma de Mallorca?

In either Nagano or Palma de Mallorca, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Palma de Mallorca than Nagano because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Nagano, and 3-5 days is enough time in Palma de Mallorca.

Families should spend more time in Palma de Mallorca than Nagano. 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 Nagano. 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 Nagano 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 Nagano or Palma de Mallorca?

With shopping and museums around the destination of Nagano, there's plenty to do. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. One day is often enough time to do most activities. It offers something for everyone.

Many travelers enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the destination of Palma de Mallorca. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Nagano or Palma de Mallorca?

With museums and skiing around the traditional city of Nagano, there's plenty to do. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. 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 great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Nagano or Palma de Mallorca?

Travelers enjoy the skiing and nightlife when visiting the traditional destination of Nagano. Hikers are also drawn to this area. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Palma de Mallorca. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Most people come for the beaches. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Nagano or Palma de Mallorca?

Nagano is a popular choice for travelers. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. This city 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.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the cultural destination of Palma de Mallorca. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Japan, The Best 2-Week Tours in Japan, The Best 2-Week Tours in Spain, and The Best 3-Week Tours in Spain.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nagano and Palma de Mallorca, we can see that Palma de Mallorca is more expensive. And not only is Nagano much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nagano is in Asia and Palma de Mallorca is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Nagano would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nagano and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Palma de Mallorca would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Palma de Mallorca than you might in Nagano.

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

Which is Bigger, Nagano or Palma de Mallorca?

Palma de Mallorca has a larger population, and is about 4% larger than the population of Nagano. When comparing the sizes of Nagano 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 Nagano 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 Nagano or Palma de Mallorca in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Nagano and Palma de Mallorca. Most visitors come to Nagano for the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Palma de Mallorca because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Nagano is generally around the same temperature as Palma de Mallorca. Daily temperatures in Nagano average around 25°C (77°F), 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. Nagano usually receives less sunshine than Palma de Mallorca during summer. Nagano gets 136 hours of sunny skies, while Palma de Mallorca receives 334 hours of full sun in the summer.

Nagano gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Nagano usually receives more rain than Palma de Mallorca. Nagano gets 222 mm (8.8 in) of rain, while Palma de Mallorca receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

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

The autumn brings many poeple to Nagano as well as Palma de Mallorca. The autumn months attract visitors to Nagano because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Additionally, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Palma de Mallorca this time of year.

Nagano is cooler than Palma de Mallorca in the autumn. The daily temperature in Nagano averages around 16°C (60°F) in October, and Palma de Mallorca fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Palma de Mallorca. In the autumn, Nagano often gets less sunshine than Palma de Mallorca. Nagano gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Palma de Mallorca receives 204 hours of full sun.

Nagano receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Nagano usually gets more rain in October than Palma de Mallorca. Nagano gets 227 mm (9 in) of rain, while Palma de Mallorca receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

Both Palma de Mallorca and Nagano are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The skiing, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Nagano this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Palma de Mallorca for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Nagano in the winter. In the winter, Nagano is much colder than Palma de Mallorca. Typically, the winter temperatures in Nagano in January average around 2°C (36°F), and Palma de Mallorca averages at about 11°C (52°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Nagano. Nagano usually receives more sunshine than Palma de Mallorca during winter. Nagano gets 212 hours of sunny skies, while Palma de Mallorca receives 164 hours of full sun in the winter.

It's quite rainy in Nagano. In January, Nagano usually receives more rain than Palma de Mallorca. Nagano gets 446 mm (17.5 in) of rain, while Palma de Mallorca receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

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

Both Palma de Mallorca and Nagano during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Nagano for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Palma de Mallorca in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In April, Nagano is generally cooler than Palma de Mallorca. Daily temperatures in Nagano average around 11°C (52°F), and Palma de Mallorca fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

In Palma de Mallorca, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Nagano often gets less sunshine than Palma de Mallorca. Nagano gets 191 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Palma de Mallorca receives 210 hours of full sun.

Nagano usually gets more rain in April than Palma de Mallorca. Nagano gets 94 mm (3.7 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 Nagano