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

Should you visit Palma de Mallorca or Heidelberg?

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 Heidelberg, 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 shopping, nightlife, and live music.

Heidelberg

Heidelberg is a historic, quaint, and energetic town. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Because of its quaint atmosphere, it draws plenty of visitors, too. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Palma de Mallorca and Heidelberg: Pros and Cons

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

You'll generally find more things to do in Palma de Mallorca than Heidelberg. Palma de Mallorca is bigger than Heidelberg, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Palma de Mallorca is better known for its nightlife, music, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and hiking, while Heidelberg is more popular for its historical sights, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Palma de Mallorca is more touristy than Heidelberg 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. Heidelberg is well known for its picturesque beauty, romantic atmosphere, and its classic old town.

The turquoise water and white sand beaches

How is Palma de Mallorca different from Heidelberg?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Both Palma de Mallorca and Heidelberg 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 Heidelberg. The old town is filled with local restaurants that offer an assortment of traditional dishes. The restaurants offer a mix of outdoor and indoor seating and classic dishes include saumagen, lewwerkneedl, and dampfnudeln.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Heidelberg Better for Nightlife?

Palma de Mallorca is an amazing island to visit for its evening party scene. Also, Heidelberg is not as popular, but is still a nice town for nightlife.

Palma de Mallorca has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. Head to Magaluf and Palma for the most popular places.

Heidelberg offers plenty to do in the evening. As a university town, you'll find a very young population and many bars, pubs, and nightclubs where you can hang out.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Heidelberg Better for Music?

Palma de Mallorca is a great island for its music scene. However, Heidelberg 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.

Heidelberg is not a live music destination.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Heidelberg Better for Resorts?

Palma de Mallorca is a great island for its luxury resorts. However, Heidelberg 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.

Heidelberg is not a resort destination.

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

Palma de Mallorca is a good destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Heidelberg 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.

Heidelberg is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Heidelberg Better for Beaches?

Palma de Mallorca is an amazing island to visit for the beach. However, Heidelberg 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.

Heidelberg is not a beach destination.

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

Heidelberg is a must-visit destination for its historic old town. Also, Palma de Mallorca is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its old town.

The rich history of Heidelberg can be explored in its historical center. The charming old town, or Altstadt, is lined with cafes that spill out onto the street and churches with bells that chime hourly. The area is filled with activity and there are many shops, ice cream vendors, and restaurants to choose from.

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 Palma de Mallorca or Heidelberg Better for Hiking?

Palma de Mallorca is a good destination for hiking. However, Heidelberg 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.

Heidelberg is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Palma de Mallorca or Heidelberg?

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

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

Heidelberg offers some nice shopping areas. The pedestrian area is the best place to pass your time shopping. There are name brand stores mixed in with local independent shops which you'll mostly find on the side streets. Popular items to buy include wooden toys, Christmas decorations, and candy.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Heidelberg Better for Families?

Palma de Mallorca is a great island for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Heidelberg is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Palma de Mallorca. 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.

Heidelberg is a family-friendly place to visit. With its many ice cream shops, playgrounds, and impressive castle, this city makes a nice stop for families with kids. The restaurants usually have a kid's menu and there are a number of kid-friendly museums and activities.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Heidelberg Better for Couples?

Heidelberg 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.

Heidelberg makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. This beautiful city offers an impressive backdrop for a couple's getaway. The view from the castle looks out beautifully over the city and the old town has many excellent restaurants and activities that are great for couples.

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 Heidelberg Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Palma de Mallorca and Heidelberg are both great 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.

Heidelberg is a great island to visit for backpackers. Prices are reasonable and there are a handful of hostels around town. As a university town, you can be assured there are plenty of fun activities and cheap places to eat.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Heidelberg Better for Students?

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

Plenty of students visit Heidelberg. It is a beautiful student town with a lot of activities for young visitors. This is not the most popular study abroad destination, but it does have a lot to offer for those who visit.

Palma de Mallorca is not popular with students.

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

Heidelberg 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 Heidelberg can move around easily with public transportation. There are trams and buses that connect the old town to the train station.

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 Heidelberg a more walkable city?

Heidelberg 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.

Heidelberg is very walkable. The 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 Palma de Mallorca Worth Visiting? and Is Heidelberg Worth Visiting?.

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

How long in Palma de Mallorca or Heidelberg?

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

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

With live music and food around the cultural island of Palma de Mallorca, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Heidelberg, there's plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. One day is often enough time to do most activities. It offers something for everyone.

A weekend in Palma de Mallorca or Heidelberg?

With food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the destination of Palma de Mallorca, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

With food and shopping around the energetic town of Heidelberg, there's plenty to do. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Visiting the old town is also a must. 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 Heidelberg?

Palma de Mallorca, a popular island, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this island. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the energetic destination of Heidelberg. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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 Heidelberg?

Palma de Mallorca is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Heidelberg is a popular choice for travelers. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. This 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Spain, The Best 3-Week Tours in Spain, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Germany, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Germany.

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

Which is Bigger, Palma de Mallorca or Heidelberg?

Palma de Mallorca has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Heidelberg. When comparing the sizes of Palma de Mallorca and Heidelberg, 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 Heidelberg?

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 Heidelberg in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Palma de Mallorca and Heidelberg. 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 Heidelberg in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Palma de Mallorca is generally a little warmer than Heidelberg. Daily temperatures in Palma de Mallorca average around 24°C (76°F), and Heidelberg fluctuates around 21°C (69°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Heidelberg 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 Heidelberg during summer. Palma de Mallorca gets 334 hours of sunny skies, while Heidelberg receives 224 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Palma de Mallorca usually receives less rain than Heidelberg. Palma de Mallorca gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Heidelberg receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

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

The autumn brings many poeple to Palma de Mallorca as well as Heidelberg. 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 Heidelberg for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Palma de Mallorca is much warmer than Heidelberg in the autumn. The daily temperature in Palma de Mallorca averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and Heidelberg fluctuates around 12°C (54°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 Heidelberg. Palma de Mallorca gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Heidelberg receives 102 hours of full sun.

Palma de Mallorca usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Heidelberg. Palma de Mallorca gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Heidelberg receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

Both Heidelberg and Palma de Mallorca are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Palma de Mallorca for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Heidelberg because of the shopping scene and the cuisine.

The weather in Heidelberg can be very cold. In the winter, Palma de Mallorca is much warmer than Heidelberg. Typically, the winter temperatures in Palma de Mallorca in January average around 11°C (52°F), and Heidelberg averages at about 3°C (37°F).

Palma de Mallorca usually receives more sunshine than Heidelberg during winter. Palma de Mallorca gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Heidelberg receives 38 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Palma de Mallorca usually receives less rain than Heidelberg. Palma de Mallorca gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Heidelberg receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

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

Both Heidelberg and Palma de Mallorca during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Palma de Mallorca because of the beaches and the natural beauty. Furthermore, the natural beauty are the main draw to Heidelberg this time of year.

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

It's quite sunny in Palma de Mallorca. In the spring, Palma de Mallorca often gets more sunshine than Heidelberg. Palma de Mallorca gets 210 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Heidelberg receives 155 hours of full sun.

Palma de Mallorca usually gets less rain in April than Heidelberg. Palma de Mallorca gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Heidelberg receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Heidelberg and Palma de Mallorca