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

Should you visit Palma de Mallorca or Lake Garda?

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 Lake Garda, 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 stunning, cultural, and historic island. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the beaches, hiking, and shopping.

Lake Garda

Lake Garda is a playful, fun, and energetic lake. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include hiking, shopping, and museums.

Palma de Mallorca and Lake Garda: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Palma de Mallorca or Lake Garda?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Palma de Mallorca. Although Palma de Mallorca and Lake Garda are popular destinations, Palma de Mallorca has more sights and attractions for tourists. Palma de Mallorca is very popular for its nightlife, music, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and historical sights, while Lake Garda attracts visitors for its museums and hiking. Palma de Mallorca is more touristy than Lake Garda and is known for its strikingly blue waters, sandy beaches, all-inclusive resorts, and vibrant towns. It is also well known for the turquoise water and white sand beaches. Lake Garda is famous for its beautiful setting, charming towns, and fun amusement parks.

The turquoise water and white sand beaches

How is Palma de Mallorca different from Lake Garda?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Lake Garda is a nice place to visit for its museums and history. However, Palma de Mallorca does not have museums and landmarks.

Lake Garda is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. While most people come for the natural beauty, there are also great castles that you can explore. Castello Scaligeri, Grotte di Catullo, and Castello Scaligero.

Palma de Mallorca does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Both Palma de Mallorca and Lake Garda offer a number of very good 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 Lake Garda. You'll find many great local restaurants in the area. Most make use of local ingredients such as olive oil, lemons, wine, and fish. Pasta and risotto are both popular throughout the area as well.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Lake Garda Better for Nightlife?

Palma de Mallorca is terrific for nightlife and partying. Also, Lake Garda is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

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

The people in Lake Garda know how to have a good time. You'll find clubs and bars in various towns that make for a great nightlife scene. You'll even find beach parties and fireworks shows during the most popular times of the year.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Lake Garda Better for Music?

Palma de Mallorca is an excellent place to visit for its live music scene. However, Lake Garda is not a live music destination.

Whether you like big venues or smaller artists, Palma de Mallorca has diverse options. Live concerts, international DJs, and a diverse range of styles have put the island's music scene on the map.

Lake Garda is not a live music destination.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Lake Garda Better for Resorts?

Palma de Mallorca is an excellent place to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Lake Garda is not a resort destination.

Palma de Mallorca is known as a popular and fun resort destination. Top resorts on the island include The St Regis Mardavall, Viva Cala Mesquida Resort and Spa, and Nixe Palace Hotel.

Lake Garda is not a resort destination.

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

Palma de Mallorca is a popular place for its diving and snorkeling. However, Lake Garda is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Palma de Mallorca has a few good snorkeling spots. 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.

Lake Garda is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Lake Garda Better for Beaches?

Palma de Mallorca is terrific for the beache. Also, Lake Garda is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for the beach.

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

Lake Garda is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. Despite there being no ocean, there are many great swimming beaches in the area. Many have sand and great places to relax. There's also plenty of watersports to choose from.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Lake Garda Better for its Old Town?

Palma de Mallorca is a popular place for its old town. However, Lake Garda does not have a historic old town.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Palma de Mallorca. Alcudia is the best old town on the island. It has cobblestone streets and historic walls that give it charm and history.

Lake Garda does not have a historic old town.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Lake Garda Better for Hiking?

Lake Garda 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 Lake Garda. There are many great walking and hiking trails in the area that take you through the natural beauty, connect the charming towns, and offer spectacular viewpoints.

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 Palma de Mallorca or Lake Garda?

Shoppers can find a variety of nice stores in both Palma de Mallorca and Lake Garda.

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

Lake Garda offers some nice shopping areas. Many villages around the lake are great for shopping. You'll find clothing stores, jewelry shops, and souvenir vendors with something for everyone.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Lake Garda Better for Families?

Lake Garda is a must-visit destination for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Palma de Mallorca is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Lake Garda is an amazing family-friendly lake to visit. The nearby amusement parks, including Gardaland, make this a popular destination for families. The area also has many places to swim, trails to explore, and castles to experience. Kids and adults alike will love this amazing kid-friendly area.

Palma de Mallorca is a very kid-friendly island. 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 Palma de Mallorca or Lake Garda Better for Couples?

Lake Garda 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.

Lake Garda makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. You'll find a lot of families in the area because of the amusement parks, but that doesn't mean that this isn't a romantic and beautiful spot for couples. There are many charming towns to explore and scenic viewpoints to check out. There are also excellent romantic restaurants that you should try.

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 Lake Garda Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Palma de Mallorca is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Lake Garda is not quite as popular, but is fairly good 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.

Lake Garda is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are a few good hostels around the lake that are affordable and fun. The area also see enough backpackers to keep the atmosphere fun and social.

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

Lake Garda 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 Lake Garda can move around easily with public transportation. There are ferries, buses, and trains in the area.

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 Lake Garda a more walkable city?

Lake Garda 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.

Lake Garda is very walkable. There are walking trails that connect the villages around the lake and this how many people choose to get around.

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 Lake Garda Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Lake Garda or Palma de Mallorca?

How long in Palma de Mallorca or Lake Garda?

It's fun to spend time in either Palma de Mallorca or Lake Garda. 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 Lake Garda.

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

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

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 shopping and museums around the destination of Lake Garda, there's plenty to do. It's also a great beach destination, too. 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 Lake Garda?

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 museums and nightlife around the fun lake of Lake Garda, 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.

Five days in Palma de Mallorca or Lake Garda?

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 nightlife and food when visiting the playful destination of Lake Garda. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. 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 Lake Garda?

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.

Lake Garda is a popular choice for travelers. Most people come for the beaches. This lake 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 Tours for Seniors to Italy, and The Best Contiki Tours to Italy.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Palma de Mallorca and Lake Garda, we can see that Lake Garda 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 Lake Garda would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lake Garda 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 Lake Garda Expensive?.

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

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 Lake Garda in the Summer?

Both Lake Garda and Palma de Mallorca are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Palma de Mallorca in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Lake Garda for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Palma de Mallorca is around the same temperature as Lake Garda. Typically, the summer temperatures in Palma de Mallorca in July average around 24°C (76°F), and Lake Garda averages at about 24°C (75°F).

It's quite sunny in Lake Garda. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Palma de Mallorca. Palma de Mallorca usually receives more sunshine than Lake Garda during summer. Palma de Mallorca gets 334 hours of sunny skies, while Lake Garda receives 286 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Palma de Mallorca usually receives less rain than Lake Garda. Palma de Mallorca gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Lake Garda receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Palma de Mallorca or Lake Garda in the Autumn?

Both Lake Garda and Palma de Mallorca during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Palma de Mallorca for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Lake Garda because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Palma de Mallorca is generally a little warmer than Lake Garda. Daily temperatures in Palma de Mallorca average around 19°C (66°F), and Lake Garda fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

It's quite sunny in Palma de Mallorca. In the autumn, Palma de Mallorca often gets more sunshine than Lake Garda. Palma de Mallorca gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lake Garda receives 137 hours of full sun.

Palma de Mallorca usually gets less rain in October than Lake Garda. Palma de Mallorca gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Lake Garda receives 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Palma de Mallorca or Lake Garda in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Palma de Mallorca and Lake Garda. The winter months attract visitors to Palma de Mallorca because of the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Lake Garda this time of year.

It's quite cold in Lake Garda in the winter. Palma de Mallorca is much warmer than Lake Garda in the winter. The daily temperature in Palma de Mallorca averages around 11°C (52°F) in January, and Lake Garda fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).

Palma de Mallorca usually receives more sunshine than Lake Garda during winter. Palma de Mallorca gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Lake Garda receives 98 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Palma de Mallorca usually receives less rain than Lake Garda. Palma de Mallorca gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Lake Garda receives 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Palma de Mallorca or Lake Garda in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Palma de Mallorca as well as Lake Garda. The beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Palma de Mallorca this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Lake Garda for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Palma de Mallorca is a little warmer than Lake Garda. Typically, the spring temperatures in Palma de Mallorca in April average around 14°C (57°F), and Lake Garda averages at about 13°C (55°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Palma de Mallorca this time of the year. In the spring, Palma de Mallorca often gets more sunshine than Lake Garda. Palma de Mallorca gets 210 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lake Garda receives 169 hours of full sun.

Palma de Mallorca usually gets less rain in April than Lake Garda. Palma de Mallorca gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Lake Garda receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Lake Garda and Palma de Mallorca