A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Palma de Mallorca vs. Pompeii for Families, Backpackers, and Couples

Should you visit Palma de Mallorca or Pompeii?

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 Pompeii, 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. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the hiking, shopping, and nightlife.

Pompeii

Pompeii is a famous, iconic, and one-of-a-kind archeological site. Other reasons to visit include museums.

Palma de Mallorca and Pompeii: Pros and Cons

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

Visitors will usually find more to do in Palma de Mallorca than Pompeii, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Palma de Mallorca is better known for its food, nightlife, music, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, hiking, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Pompeii is more popular for its museums. Palma de Mallorca is well 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. Pompeii is well known for its well preserved archaeological ruins that are still intact following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

The turquoise water and white sand beaches

How is Palma de Mallorca different from Pompeii?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Pompeii is a must-visit destination for its museums and history. However, Palma de Mallorca does not have museums and landmarks.

Travelers visit Pompeii from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. Pompeii is a city frozen in time and it is truly a one-of-a-kind destination. The streets remain as they once stood, lined with shops and homes. Highlights of a visit include the Forum, the Antiquarium, the Temple of Isis, and the Teatro Grande.

Palma de Mallorca does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Palma de Mallorca is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. However, Pompeii is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

Palma de Mallorca has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. 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.

While Pompeii is not famous for its food, you'll find what you need there. While there is a café near the Forum, the quality of the food isn't great and it can get crowded. You'd do best to bring your own food as the site is large and you'll want to eat on your own schedule.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Pompeii Better for Nightlife?

Palma de Mallorca is renowned for its evening party scene. However, Pompeii is lacking in options for nightlife.

Palma de Mallorca is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. Head to Magaluf and Palma for the most popular places.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Pompeii. As a popular tourist destination, you'll find some bars nearby, but most people visit as a day trip and head out of town before the evening hours.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Pompeii Better for Music?

Palma de Mallorca is an excellent place to visit for its music scene. However, Pompeii 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.

Pompeii is not a live music destination.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Pompeii Better for Resorts?

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

Vacationers can choose from a number of terrific resorts in Palma de Mallorca. Top resorts on the island include The St Regis Mardavall, Viva Cala Mesquida Resort and Spa, and Nixe Palace Hotel.

Pompeii is not a resort destination.

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

Palma de Mallorca is very good for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Pompeii is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's worth going snorkeling or scuba diving 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.

Pompeii is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Pompeii Better for Beaches?

Palma de Mallorca is renowned for the beach. However, Pompeii is not a beach destination.

With world-famous beaches, Palma de Mallorca is a very popular vacation 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.

Pompeii is not a beach destination.

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

Palma de Mallorca is very good for its historic old town charm. However, Pompeii does not have a historic old town.

Palma de Mallorca has an old town worth visiting. Alcudia is the best old town on the island. It has cobblestone streets and historic walls that give it charm and history.

Pompeii does not have a historic old town.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Pompeii Better for Hiking?

Palma de Mallorca is very good for its hiking trails. However, Pompeii is not a hiking destination.

Many people include a hike when visiting Palma de Mallorca. There are many beautiful hikes along the water and through the countryside that offer beautiful views and pass by quaint towns.

Pompeii is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Palma de Mallorca or Pompeii?

Palma de Mallorca is very good for its shopping areas. However, Pompeii is lacking in options for shopping.

Palma de Mallorca has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Head to Palma for some of the areas best shopping.

Pompeii has some shopping areas for those that seek them out. There are some souvenir stands outside of the site where you can buy trinkets to remember your visit.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Pompeii Better for Families?

Palma de Mallorca and Pompeii are both excellent 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.

Pompeii is a very kid-friendly island. Its a city frozen in time, and even kids will get lost in the history and story behind Pompeii. The trick is to find a kid-friendly tour and understand the layout before you arrive. Because it's so big, you want to know which places to visit and which you might want to skip with kids who have short attention spans.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Pompeii Better for Couples?

Palma de Mallorca and Pompeii are both notable 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.

Pompeii makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's an iconic destination in Italy, and should be added to any Italian trip itinerary. It's not exactly a romantic destination, but it's something that every visitor should see.

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

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

Plenty of budget travelers and 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.

It's common for backpackers to visit Pompeii. It's touristy and crowded, but also world renowned and not-to-be-missed. Whether you're a backpacker or a luxury traveler, Pompeii is on most itineraries.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Pompeii Better for Students?

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

Plenty of students visit Pompeii. It's history and educational significance make it a great study abroad destination, whether you visit alone, with friends, or as part of a tour group.

Palma de Mallorca is not popular with students.

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

Visitors will find notable public transit in both Palma de Mallorca and Pompeii.

Palma de Mallorca has some 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.

You'll find some public transit in Pompeii, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. Many visitors from Sorrento and Naples arrive via the the Circumvesuviana train. There are also buses from many different locations.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Pompeii a more walkable city?

Pompeii is a must-visit destination for its walkability. Also, Palma de Mallorca is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.

It's very easy to get around on foot in Pompeii. You can walk around the entire site in about 4 hours, but you'll really want to allow a full day if you want to see everything in depth.

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 Pompeii Worth Visiting?.

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

How long in Palma de Mallorca or Pompeii?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Palma de Mallorca or Pompeii to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Palma de Mallorca than Pompeii because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 3-5 days is a good amount of time for Palma de Mallorca, and 1-2 days is enough time in Pompeii.

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

In Palma de Mallorca, you'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This island offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

With museums around the destination of Pompeii, there's plenty to do. One day is often enough time to do most activities. It offers something for everyone.

A weekend in Palma de Mallorca or Pompeii?

In Palma de Mallorca, you'll find shopping and nightlife. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Most people come for the beaches. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

With museums around the one-of-a-kind archeological site of Pompeii, 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 Pompeii?

Palma de Mallorca is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Palma de Mallorca has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Travelers enjoy the museums when visiting the ancient destination of Pompeii. 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 Pompeii?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Palma de Mallorca. Many people enjoy the live music and food when visiting Palma de Mallorca. It's also a relaxing resort destination. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Pompeii is a popular choice for travelers. One of the main draws to the area is the museums. This archeological site 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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, and The Best Walking Tours in Italy.

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

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

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 Pompeii in the Summer?

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

In July, Palma de Mallorca is generally around the same temperature as Pompeii. Daily temperatures in Palma de Mallorca average around 24°C (76°F), and Pompeii fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

It's quite sunny in Pompeii. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Palma de Mallorca. Palma de Mallorca usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Pompeii during summer. Palma de Mallorca gets 334 hours of sunny skies, while Pompeii receives 313 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Palma de Mallorca usually receives less rain than Pompeii. Palma de Mallorca gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

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

Both Pompeii and Palma de Mallorca during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Palma de Mallorca because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Palma de Mallorca is a little warmer than Pompeii in the autumn. The daily temperature in Palma de Mallorca averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and Pompeii fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

It's quite sunny in Palma de Mallorca. In the autumn, Palma de Mallorca often gets more sunshine than Pompeii. Palma de Mallorca gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pompeii receives 189 hours of full sun.

Pompeii gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Palma de Mallorca usually gets less rain in October than Pompeii. Palma de Mallorca gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 132 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Palma de Mallorca and Pompeii. The shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Palma de Mallorca this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Pompeii for the museums.

In the winter, Palma de Mallorca is a little warmer than Pompeii. Typically, the winter temperatures in Palma de Mallorca in January average around 11°C (52°F), and Pompeii averages at about 8°C (47°F).

Palma de Mallorca usually receives more sunshine than Pompeii during winter. Palma de Mallorca gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Pompeii receives 115 hours of full sun in the winter.

Pompeii receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Palma de Mallorca usually receives less rain than Pompeii. Palma de Mallorca gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

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

The spring brings many poeple to Palma de Mallorca as well as Pompeii. Many travelers come to Palma de Mallorca for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In April, Palma de Mallorca is generally around the same temperature as Pompeii. Daily temperatures in Palma de Mallorca average around 14°C (57°F), and Pompeii fluctuates around 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 Pompeii. Palma de Mallorca gets 210 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pompeii receives 189 hours of full sun.

Palma de Mallorca usually gets less rain in April than Pompeii. Palma de Mallorca gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Pompeii and Palma de Mallorca