Mallorca on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
A tight budget is harder in high season, but about €105 per person per day (bed €50, food €25, sights €10, transport €20) is realistic with a shared Palma hotel, buses and picnic lunches. Off-season, costs drop considerably.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €50 | €100 | €300 |
| Food & drink | €25 | €50 | €110 |
| Sights & tickets | €10 | €30 | €70 |
| Local transport | €20 | €30 | €60 |
| Per person, per day | €105 | €210 | €540 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Mallorca day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Palma's old town lanes and patios, and the cathedral seen from the Parc de la Mar
- The seafront promenade in Palma at night
- The 365 steps of the Calvari in Pollença
- The Sa Foradada viewpoint near Deià at sunset
- Cala Mondragó and Es Trenc beaches
- The walk through the tunnels to the Torrent de Pareis canyon at Sa Calobra
Cheap eats
- Ensaïmada from a bakery, about €1.50–3
- Pa amb oli (bread with tomato, oil and toppings), about €8–14
- Menú del día lunch in Palma, often about €13–18
- Sobrassada and cheese from the Mercat de l'Olivar for a picnic
- Tapas at bars in Santa Catalina or La Lonja, a few euros each
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in Palma's Santa Catalina and on the edges of the old town (about €100–160 a double in summer, roughly €50–80 each when sharing), in the few hostels in Palma, or in simple hostales in inland towns, which are cheaper than the coast.
Getting around cheaply
The EMT airport bus to Palma costs a few euros and takes about 20 minutes. TIB buses connect Palma with Sóller, Valldemossa, Pollença, Alcúdia and the south-east coves. A rental car is cheapest outside July–August and split between several people.
A sample budget day
- Morning: La Seu cathedral (about €10) and the old town lanes
- Lunch: Pa amb oli or a menú del día, about €12
- Afternoon: Bus to Bellver Castle area or swim at a city beach
- Evening: Tapas in Santa Catalina, about €15, and the seafront promenade (free)
- Total: about €105 including a shared hotel double and buses
More ways to save
- See Palma without a car and rent one only for the days you go to the mountains and coves.
- Look at inland towns such as Inca or Binissalem for cheaper rooms.
- Swim at public beaches rather than renting sunbeds or using beach clubs.
- Visit in February for almond blossom and very low prices, or in October for warm sea.
- Carry a refillable bottle and buy large water bottles in supermarkets.
- Do the GR221 walks, which are free and spectacular.
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Common questions
Can you visit Mallorca on a budget?
Yes with care: about €105 a day per person in summer, less off-season, with buses, menús del día and free beaches.
Do I need a car in Mallorca?
Not for Palma; buses reach the main towns. A car helps for the mountains, Formentor and the coves.
When is Mallorca cheapest?
November to March, often 30–50% cheaper, though many coastal hotels close.