A Travel Price Comparison for Spain Palma de Mallorca vs. San Sebastian for Food, Nightlife, Beaches, and Resorts

Should you visit Palma de Mallorca or San Sebastian?

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 San Sebastian, 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 beautiful, stunning, and cultural island. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the nightlife, live music, and food.

San Sebastian

San Sebastian is a beautiful, splendid, and outdoorsy city. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Palma de Mallorca and San Sebastian: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Palma de Mallorca or San Sebastian?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Palma de Mallorca than San Sebastian. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Palma de Mallorca is very popular for its nightlife, music, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, hiking, and impressive beauty, while San Sebastian attracts visitors for its museums, food, and shopping. Palma de Mallorca is more touristy than San Sebastian and is popular 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. San Sebastian is famous for its many Michelin-starred restaurants, its world class beaches, and its beautiful buildings.

The turquoise water and white sand beaches

How is Palma de Mallorca different from San Sebastian?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

San Sebastian is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Head to Castillo de la Mota for nice views and walks. Museo San Telmo offers an overview of Basque culture and Palacio de Miramar is another interesting place to visit.

Palma de Mallorca does not have museums and landmarks.

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

San Sebastian is a must-visit destination for its restaurants. Also, Palma de Mallorca is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, San Sebastian is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. It is a famed culinary capital of not just Spain, but the entire world. The city has many Michelin-starred restaurants where you can experience modern or traditional recipes prepared by world class chefs. There are also pintxo bars, food markets, and gourmet food shops, that sell local ingredients and dishes. Much of the cuisine includes seafood, but you'll also find a local twist on traditional tapas. Dining is a true experience in this town.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit 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.

Is Palma de Mallorca or San Sebastian Better for Nightlife?

Palma de Mallorca is very popular for nightlife and partying. Also, San Sebastian is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.

Palma de Mallorca is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. Head to Magaluf and Palma for the most popular places.

San Sebastian has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. You can expect a lively nightlife scene around town with many bars and places to hang out. Some of the best nightlife is found in and around Parte Vieja, Centro, Reyes Católicos and Gros.

Is Palma de Mallorca or San Sebastian Better for Music?

Palma de Mallorca is notable for its live music scene. However, San Sebastian is not a live music destination.

If you love music, you'll find something to enjoy in Palma de Mallorca. Live concerts, international DJs, and a diverse range of styles have put the island's music scene on the map.

San Sebastian is not a live music destination.

Is Palma de Mallorca or San Sebastian Better for Resorts?

Palma de Mallorca is notable for its resorts. Also, San Sebastian is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its luxury resorts.

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.

San Sebastian has a few great resort options. It's both a city and a resort vacation destination with many beachside resorts that are popular during the summer months.

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

Palma de Mallorca is a nice place to visit for its diving and snorkeling. However, San Sebastian 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.

San Sebastian is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Palma de Mallorca or San Sebastian Better for Beaches?

Palma de Mallorca is very popular for the beache. Also, San Sebastian is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for the beach.

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.

The beaches at San Sebastian attract visitors from all over. The city has three urban beaches that are a huge attraction during the summer months. For surfing and a lively atmosphere, head to the Playa de la Zurriola. The playa de la Concha is the most photographed and famous beach in town and Ondarreta is another beautiful option.

Is Palma de Mallorca or San Sebastian Better for its Old Town?

Palma de Mallorca is a nice place to visit for its old town. However, San Sebastian does not have a historic old town.

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.

San Sebastian does not have a historic old town.

Is Palma de Mallorca or San Sebastian Better for Hiking?

Palma de Mallorca is a nice place to visit for the nearby hiking options. However, San Sebastian 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.

San Sebastian is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Palma de Mallorca or San Sebastian?

San Sebastian is an excellent place to visit for shopping. Also, Palma de Mallorca is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting San Sebastian. A mix of familiar brands and locally made items make shopping a fun activity. You'll also find many artisan food shops around town where you can take home some local wine or other culinary treats.

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

Is Palma de Mallorca or San Sebastian Better for Families?

Palma de Mallorca and San Sebastian 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.

San Sebastian is a very kid-friendly island. This city is surprisingly family-friendly. Not only is there the beach, but there are playgrounds everywhere. There's also the fun Monte Igueldo San Sebastian Amusement Park and the San Sebastian Aquarium. You could also take a boat ride or explore the many parks and gardens around town. And, of course, there are the many ice cream shops to check out.

Is Palma de Mallorca or San Sebastian Better for Couples?

San Sebastian 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.

San Sebastian makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. With its nice beaches, stunning view points, and world class restaurants, this city makes an excellent couple's destination. There are Michelin star restaurants to dine in and many parks and gardens where you can take a stroll as well.

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 San Sebastian Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Palma de Mallorca and San Sebastian 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.

San Sebastian is a great island to visit for backpackers. There are a number of hostels around town, and you'll find enough other backpackers looking to meet up so you'll never be lonely.

Is Palma de Mallorca or San Sebastian Better for Students?

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

San Sebastian is a great city to visit as a student. There are good educational programs in town, as well as nice beaches and a good student population. The locals are also welcoming and friendly.

Palma de Mallorca is not popular with students.

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

Visitors will find nice public transit in both Palma de Mallorca and San Sebastian.

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 San Sebastian, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There's a comprehensive bus system around town that's operated by Dbus.

Is Palma de Mallorca or San Sebastian a more walkable city?

San Sebastian 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.

San Sebastian is very walkable. It's a great city for walking, with many pedestrian areas and places where you can take a stroll along the river or seaside.

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 San Sebastian Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in San Sebastian or Palma de Mallorca?

How long in Palma de Mallorca or San Sebastian?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Palma de Mallorca and San Sebastian. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Palma de Mallorca than in San Sebastian. Usually, 3-5 days is a good amount of time for Palma de Mallorca, and 2-3 days is enough time in San Sebastian.

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

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the stunning destination of Palma de Mallorca. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Your budget might influence how long you stay. 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 San Sebastian, 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 San Sebastian?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Palma de Mallorca. Most people come for the beaches. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

With museums and nightlife around the splendid city of San Sebastian, there's plenty to do. Your budget might influence how long you stay. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. 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 San Sebastian?

Many travelers enjoy the live music and food when visiting the stunning destination of Palma de Mallorca. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from. If you have five days, this is a great place to go. Five days is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the outdoorsy destination of San Sebastian. 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 San Sebastian?

You'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the beautiful island of Palma de Mallorca. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

San Sebastian is a popular choice for travelers. Most people come for the beaches. One of the main draws to the area is the food. 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, The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain, and The Best Adventure Tours to Spain.

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

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 San Sebastian Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Palma de Mallorca or San Sebastian?

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

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 San Sebastian in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Palma de Mallorca as well as San Sebastian. The summer months attract visitors to Palma de Mallorca because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, the beaches and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to San Sebastian this time of year.

In the summer, Palma de Mallorca is a little warmer than San Sebastian. Typically, the summer temperatures in Palma de Mallorca in July average around 24°C (76°F), and San Sebastian averages at about 20°C (68°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Sebastian. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Palma de Mallorca this time of the year. In the summer, Palma de Mallorca often gets more sunshine than San Sebastian. Palma de Mallorca gets 334 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Sebastian receives 209 hours of full sun.

Palma de Mallorca usually gets less rain in July than San Sebastian. Palma de Mallorca gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Palma de Mallorca or San Sebastian in the Autumn?

Both San Sebastian and Palma de Mallorca are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. 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. Also, many travelers come to San Sebastian for the shopping scene.

In October, Palma de Mallorca is generally a little warmer than San Sebastian. Daily temperatures in Palma de Mallorca average around 19°C (66°F), and San Sebastian fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Palma de Mallorca. Palma de Mallorca usually receives more sunshine than San Sebastian during autumn. Palma de Mallorca gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while San Sebastian receives 144 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in San Sebastian. In October, Palma de Mallorca usually receives less rain than San Sebastian. Palma de Mallorca gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 155 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Palma de Mallorca or San Sebastian in the Winter?

Both San Sebastian and Palma de Mallorca during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Palma de Mallorca for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to San Sebastian in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Palma de Mallorca is a little warmer than San Sebastian in the winter. The daily temperature in Palma de Mallorca averages around 11°C (52°F) in January, and San Sebastian fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

In the winter, Palma de Mallorca often gets more sunshine than San Sebastian. Palma de Mallorca gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Sebastian receives 85 hours of full sun.

San Sebastian gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Palma de Mallorca usually gets less rain in January than San Sebastian. Palma de Mallorca gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 183 mm (7.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Palma de Mallorca or San Sebastian in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Palma de Mallorca and San Sebastian. Many visitors come to Palma de Mallorca in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to San Sebastian for the beaches during these months.

In the spring, Palma de Mallorca is a little warmer than San Sebastian. Typically, the spring temperatures in Palma de Mallorca in April average around 14°C (57°F), and San Sebastian averages at about 12°C (54°F).

In Palma de Mallorca, it's very sunny this time of the year. Palma de Mallorca usually receives more sunshine than San Sebastian during spring. Palma de Mallorca gets 210 hours of sunny skies, while San Sebastian receives 141 hours of full sun in the spring.

San Sebastian receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Palma de Mallorca usually receives less rain than San Sebastian. Palma de Mallorca gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for San Sebastian and Palma de Mallorca