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

Should you visit Palma de Mallorca or Geneva?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Palma de Mallorca or Geneva, 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.

Palma de Mallorca

Palma de Mallorca is a cultural, historic, and beautiful island. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches.

Geneva

Geneva is a international, professional, and classy city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. It's a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Palma de Mallorca and Geneva: Pros and Cons

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

Travelers will usually find more to do in Palma de Mallorca than Geneva, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Palma de Mallorca is more popular for its nightlife, music, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Geneva is known for its museums, shopping, and big city activities. Palma de Mallorca is more touristy than Geneva and is popular 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. Geneva is popular for its role as a global hub for the United Nations, the Red Cross, and the World Health Organization.

The turquoise water and white sand beaches

How is Palma de Mallorca different from Geneva?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Geneva 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 Geneva can be an interesting and educational experience. Famous sights and landmarks include the spectacular Water Jet, St Pierre Cathedral, and the Palais des Nations. There are also impressive art and history museums in the city.

Palma de Mallorca does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Both Palma de Mallorca and Geneva offer a number of great restaurants to choose from.

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.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Geneva. The city has an amazing mix of traditional Swiss restaurants as well as diverse ethnic options. Traditional dishes include fondue and raclette, both of which involve the decadent Swiss cheese.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Geneva Better for Nightlife?

Palma de Mallorca is an unbeatable place for nightlife. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife and partying.

The nightlife in Palma de Mallorca is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. Head to Magaluf and Palma for the most popular places.

If you're looking for night time activities Geneva has a few options to choose from. During the day the city is all business, but at night the professionals, interns, students, and NGO workers all come together to enjoy a drink at a bar or dance at one of the city's diverse clubs.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Geneva Better for Music?

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

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

Geneva is not a live music destination.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Geneva Better for Resorts?

Palma de Mallorca is a great destination for its resorts. However, Geneva is not a resort destination.

There are plenty of resorts in Palma de Mallorca to choose from. Top resorts on the island include The St Regis Mardavall, Viva Cala Mesquida Resort and Spa, and Nixe Palace Hotel.

Geneva is not a resort destination.

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

Palma de Mallorca is a good destination for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Geneva is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Grab a mask and fins and explore the underwater scenery 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.

Geneva is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Geneva Better for Beaches?

Palma de Mallorca is an unbeatable place for its beaches. However, Geneva is not a beach destination.

Palma de Mallorca offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around 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.

Geneva is not a beach destination.

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

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

Palma de Mallorca is a good destination for visiting its old town. Alcudia is the best old town on the island. It has cobblestone streets and historic walls that give it charm and history.

Many people head to Geneva to see the old town. The Old Town offers a number of charming streets where you can wander as well as historical buildings including St. Pierre Cathedral.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Geneva Better for Hiking?

Palma de Mallorca is a good destination for its hiking experiences. However, Geneva is not a hiking destination.

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

Geneva is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Palma de Mallorca or Geneva?

Geneva is a must-visit destination for shopping. Also, Palma de Mallorca is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping opportunities.

People travel from around the world to go shopping in Geneva. Famous for its posh shops and luxury brands, this city is a popular shopping destination. From chic boutiques to deluxe toy stores, you'll find something for everyone. In particular, the city is known for its Swiss watches, Swiss Army knives, chocolate, and wine.

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

Is Palma de Mallorca or Geneva Better for Families?

Palma de Mallorca is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Palma de Mallorca is 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.

Geneva offers lots of family activities. This diverse city has a number of chocolate shops, toy stores, and parks where kids can play. They'll be impressed by the Water Jet and there are few places where you can swim in the lake when the weather is warm.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Geneva Better for Couples?

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

Palma de Mallorca is a nice destination for couples. With beautiful beaches and a fun Spanish flare, Mallorca makes for a memorable honeymoon.

Geneva makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Wandering Old Town, sampling Swiss chocolate, and enjoying one of the many ethnic restaurants around town all make for great date activities. Fondue in a traditional restaurant is also a not to be missed experience.

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

Palma de Mallorca is a great destination for backpackers. However, Geneva is a city with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to 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.

Geneva is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. The city is often overlooked by backpackers as it is pretty expensive. Many hotels cater to the business traveler crowd, but there are a few hostels to choose from.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Geneva Better for Students?

Geneva is an excellent place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Palma de Mallorca is not popular with students.

Geneva is a great city to visit as a student. The University of Geneva attracts many international students and the city is quite diverse. It feels like a mixing bowl of cultures, so students will feel very welcomed and comfortable here.

Palma de Mallorca is not popular with students.

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

Geneva is a must-visit destination for times when you don't have a car. Also, Palma de Mallorca is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Geneva has a world-class public transit network to take passengers everywhere in the city. The very comprehensive system includes trams, buses, and boats.

You'll find some public transit in Palma de Mallorca, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. 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 Palma de Mallorca or Geneva a more walkable city?

Geneva is an excellent place to visit for its walkability. Also, Palma de Mallorca is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.

Geneva is very walkable. Most areas where visitors spend their time can be easily explored on foot.

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 Palma de Mallorca Worth Visiting? and Is Geneva Worth Visiting?.

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

How long in Palma de Mallorca or Geneva?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Palma de Mallorca and Geneva. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Palma de Mallorca than in Geneva. Usually, 3-5 days is a good amount of time for Palma de Mallorca, and 1-3 days is enough time in Geneva.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Palma de Mallorca than Geneva 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 Palma de Mallorca or Geneva?

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.

When visiting Geneva, people usually allow for lots of time. One day is often enough time to do most activities. It offers something for everyone.

A weekend in Palma de Mallorca or Geneva?

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.

When visiting Geneva, people usually allow for lots of time. Your budget might influence how long you stay. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here.

Five days in Palma de Mallorca or Geneva?

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.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the classy big city of Geneva. 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.

A week in Palma de Mallorca or Geneva?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the stunning 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.

Geneva is a popular choice for travelers. One of the main draws to the area is the shopping. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Spain, The Best 3-Week Tours in Spain, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Switzerland, and The Best Adventure Tours to Switzerland.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Palma de Mallorca and Geneva, we can see that Geneva is more expensive. And not only is Palma de Mallorca much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Palma de Mallorca would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Palma de Mallorca 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 Geneva would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Geneva than you might in Palma de Mallorca.

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

Which is Bigger, Palma de Mallorca or Geneva?

Palma de Mallorca has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Geneva. When comparing the sizes of Palma de Mallorca and Geneva, 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 Palma de Mallorca or Geneva?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

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

Both Geneva and Palma de Mallorca during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Palma de Mallorca for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Geneva in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Palma de Mallorca is a little warmer than Geneva in the summer. The daily temperature in Palma de Mallorca averages around 24°C (76°F) in July, and Geneva fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

In Geneva, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Palma de Mallorca. In the summer, Palma de Mallorca often gets more sunshine than Geneva. Palma de Mallorca gets 334 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Geneva receives 285 hours of full sun.

Palma de Mallorca usually gets less rain in July than Geneva. Palma de Mallorca gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Geneva receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Palma de Mallorca and Geneva. Many visitors come to Palma de Mallorca in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Geneva for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Palma de Mallorca is a little warmer than Geneva. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Palma de Mallorca in October average around 19°C (66°F), and Geneva averages at about 14°C (56°F).

In Palma de Mallorca, it's very sunny this time of the year. Palma de Mallorca usually receives more sunshine than Geneva during autumn. Palma de Mallorca gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Geneva receives 127 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Palma de Mallorca usually receives less rain than Geneva. Palma de Mallorca gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Geneva receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

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

The winter brings many poeple to Palma de Mallorca as well as Geneva. Most visitors come to Palma de Mallorca for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Geneva because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Geneva can be very cold. In January, Palma de Mallorca is generally much warmer than Geneva. Daily temperatures in Palma de Mallorca average around 11°C (52°F), and Geneva fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

In the winter, Palma de Mallorca often gets more sunshine than Geneva. Palma de Mallorca gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Geneva receives 62 hours of full sun.

Palma de Mallorca usually gets less rain in January than Geneva. Palma de Mallorca gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Geneva receives 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

Both Geneva and Palma de Mallorca are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Palma de Mallorca because of the beaches and the natural beauty. Also, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Geneva this time of year.

Palma de Mallorca is a little warmer than Geneva in the spring. The daily temperature in Palma de Mallorca averages around 14°C (57°F) in April, and Geneva fluctuates around 11°C (53°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Palma de Mallorca. Palma de Mallorca usually receives more sunshine than Geneva during spring. Palma de Mallorca gets 210 hours of sunny skies, while Geneva receives 174 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Palma de Mallorca usually receives less rain than Geneva. Palma de Mallorca gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Geneva receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Geneva and Palma de Mallorca