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

Should you visit Palma de Mallorca or Genoa?

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 Genoa, 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 historic, beautiful, and stunning island. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the beaches, hiking, and shopping.

Genoa

Genoa is a vibrant, colorful, and energetic port city. It's a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Palma de Mallorca and Genoa: Pros and Cons

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

Visitors will generally find more to do in Palma de Mallorca than Genoa. While Genoa is larger than Palma de Mallorca, Palma de Mallorca has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Palma de Mallorca is better known for its nightlife, music, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Genoa is more popular for its museums. Palma de Mallorca is more touristy than Genoa and is known for its strikingly blue waters, sandy beaches, all-inclusive resorts, and vibrant towns. Also, Palma de Mallorca is famous for the turquoise water and white sand beaches. Genoa is well known for its maritime history, its vibrant cultural scene, and being the birthplace of Christopher Columbus.

The turquoise water and white sand beaches

How is Palma de Mallorca different from Genoa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Genoa 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 Genoa?

Genoa 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 Genoa can be an interesting and educational experience. The city has a long history and it is filled with monuments, palaces, and museums. Popular places to visit include the Via Garibaldi Palaces, the aquarium (one of the largest in Europe), the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, and Santi Ambrogio.

Palma de Mallorca does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Both Palma de Mallorca and Genoa offer a number of superb 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 Genoa. The city's maritime roots have influenced its cuisine and you'll find seafood in many local dishes. Other classic Genoese flavors include pesto, anchovies, fried squid, and focaccia and cheese.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Genoa Better for Nightlife?

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

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

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Genoa. The city lights up at night and it's fun to experience the activity and energy. There's a nice evening atmosphere with many people out and about. You can grab drinks in Piazza Lavagna or see live music in Porto Antico. There are also many bars and clubs around town.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Genoa Better for Music?

Palma de Mallorca is great for its music scene. However, Genoa 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.

Genoa is not a live music destination.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Genoa Better for Resorts?

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

Palma de Mallorca is a popular resort destination that attracts visitors from everywhere. Top resorts on the island include The St Regis Mardavall, Viva Cala Mesquida Resort and Spa, and Nixe Palace Hotel.

Genoa is not a resort destination.

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

Palma de Mallorca is a nice place to visit for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Genoa is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Palma de Mallorca has a few areas where visitors often go scuba diving or snorkeling. 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.

Genoa is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Genoa Better for Beaches?

Palma de Mallorca is terrific for the beach. However, Genoa is not a good destination for its beaches.

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.

Genoa is a good spot to see the beach. While many people head to other nearby towns to enjoy the beach, you will also find a beach just ten minutes from the old town by bus. Boccadasse is one of the closest beaches to town. It's also possible to do a day trip to other more famous beaches in the area, but you need to be prepared to travel a bit farther.

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

Palma de Mallorca and Genoa both have notable 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 Genoa to see the old town. The old town is large and complex, with many different time periods represented in the architecture and development style.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Genoa Better for Hiking?

Palma de Mallorca is a nice place to visit for hiking. However, Genoa 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.

Genoa is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Palma de Mallorca or Genoa?

Shoppers can find a variety of notable stores in both Palma de Mallorca and Genoa.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Palma de Mallorca. Head to Palma for some of the areas best shopping.

Genoa offers some nice shopping areas. You can pick up a number of different souvenirs around town including baskets, t-shirts, and local pesto. Popular shopping areas include Galleria Mazzini, Via Roma, and Via XX Settembr.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Genoa Better for Families?

Palma de Mallorca and Genoa are both superb destinations for the whole family.

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.

Genoa is a very kid-friendly island. The city is home to the second biggest aquarium in Europe as well as the Galata Maritime Museum and the Nazario Sauro Submarine. In the port there's also Vascello Nettuno, which was a pirate ship that was used in the filming of the movie 'Pirates' by Roman Polanski. Other fun kid-friendly attractions include La Biosfera, The Children's Museum, and the Bigo Lift.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Genoa Better for Couples?

Genoa is an excellent place to visit for romance. Also, Palma de Mallorca is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Genoa makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's a beautiful port city with charming neighborhoods and some great restaurants. Couples will enjoy exploring this beautiful city and visiting its palaces and cathedrals.

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 Palma de Mallorca or Genoa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Palma de Mallorca and Genoa are both superb destinations 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.

Genoa is a great island to visit for backpackers. There are a number of affordable hostels in the area, and while this isn't the top backpacker destination in Italy, it is a nice place to spend some time.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Genoa Better for Students?

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

Genoa is a great port city to visit as a student. It's a popular study abroad destination so you'll find a number of international students in the area. The city is also well connected for exploring the region.

Palma de Mallorca is not popular with students.

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

Genoa is an excellent place to visit 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.

Visitors to Genoa can move around easily with public transportation. There's a wide range of different public transit options that are all operated by AMT. The system includes buses, an underground (one line), funiculars (two), lifts (ten), a boat, cogwheel and narrow gauge railways.

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 Genoa a more walkable city?

Genoa 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.

Genoa is very walkable. The old town, where most tourists spend the majority of their time, is easy to explore 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 Genoa Worth Visiting?.

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

How long in Palma de Mallorca or Genoa?

It's fun to spend time in either Palma de Mallorca or Genoa. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Palma de Mallorca due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 3-5 days is a good amount of time for Palma de Mallorca, and 2-4 days is enough time in Genoa.

Families should spend more time in Palma de Mallorca than Genoa. 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 Genoa than Palma de Mallorca. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Genoa 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 Genoa 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 Genoa?

In Palma de Mallorca, many people enjoy the live music and food that this beautiful destination offers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

With shopping and museums around the destination of Genoa, there's plenty to do. 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.

A weekend in Palma de Mallorca or Genoa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Palma de Mallorca. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

With museums and nightlife around the vibrant port city of Genoa, there's plenty to do. 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 Genoa?

Palma de Mallorca is a fun place to experience. In Palma de Mallorca, many people enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping that this destination offers. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the colorful destination of Genoa. 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 Genoa?

You'll find shopping and nightlife around the stunning destination of Palma de Mallorca. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Genoa is a popular choice for travelers. This port 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 Budget Tours to Spain, The Best Tours for Seniors to Spain, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Italy.

When comparing the travel costs between Palma de Mallorca and Genoa, we can see that Genoa 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 Palma de Mallorca Expensive? and Is Genoa Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Palma de Mallorca or Genoa?

Genoa has a larger population, and is about 60% larger than the population of Palma de Mallorca. When comparing the sizes of Palma de Mallorca and Genoa, 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 Genoa?

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 Palma de Mallorca or Genoa in the Summer?

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

In July, Palma de Mallorca is generally around the same temperature as Genoa. Daily temperatures in Palma de Mallorca average around 24°C (76°F), and Genoa fluctuates around 25°C (76°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Genoa this time of the year. In Palma de Mallorca, it's very sunny this time of the year. Palma de Mallorca usually receives more sunshine than Genoa during summer. Palma de Mallorca gets 334 hours of sunny skies, while Genoa receives 295 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Palma de Mallorca usually receives less rain than Genoa. Palma de Mallorca gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

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

The autumn brings many poeple to Palma de Mallorca as well as Genoa. 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. Additionally, many travelers come to Genoa for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Palma de Mallorca is around the same temperature as Genoa in the autumn. The daily temperature in Palma de Mallorca averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and Genoa fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Palma de Mallorca this time of the year. In the autumn, Palma de Mallorca often gets more sunshine than Genoa. Palma de Mallorca gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Genoa receives 183 hours of full sun.

Palma de Mallorca usually gets less rain in October than Genoa. Palma de Mallorca gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

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

In the winter, Palma de Mallorca is around the same temperature as Genoa. Typically, the winter temperatures in Palma de Mallorca in January average around 11°C (52°F), and Genoa averages at about 11°C (51°F).

Palma de Mallorca usually receives more sunshine than Genoa during winter. Palma de Mallorca gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Genoa receives 127 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Palma de Mallorca usually receives less rain than Genoa. Palma de Mallorca gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

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

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

In April, Palma de Mallorca is generally around the same temperature as Genoa. Daily temperatures in Palma de Mallorca average around 14°C (57°F), and Genoa fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

It's quite sunny in Palma de Mallorca. In the spring, Palma de Mallorca often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Genoa. Palma de Mallorca gets 210 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Genoa receives 198 hours of full sun.

Palma de Mallorca usually gets less rain in April than Genoa. Palma de Mallorca gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Genoa and Palma de Mallorca