Island hopping in the Balearic Islands – experience Mallorca’s neighboring islands

When vacationing in the Balearic Islands, you should experience at least two islands. Ferry connections take you easily from one island to another.

1. On the four islands you can find everything you could want

Were you planning to go on a summer vacation to Mallorca or another Balearic island? You should combine at least a couple of islands in the same vacation. The distances are short, and Spain’s Mediterranean islands all have their strengths.

In the Balearic Islands, the islands complement each other so seamlessly that an island hopper does not have to worry about going to the trouble of going around four similar islands. If you fell in love with island hopping in Greece, try the same in the Balearic Islands.

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Majorca has dramatic mountain scenery and the international city of Palma, while Menorca has wonderful natural beaches. Ibiza of stylish boutiques is one of the world’s most famous party destinations. Many people have never heard of small Formentera, which makes it a fascinating excursion destination.

2. Think about where you start the journey

If you plan to visit all the Balearic islands during your vacation, you should start your trip from Menorca, for example. There is a ferry connection from the island to Mallorca, from where you can continue to Ibiza. On the other hand, Formentera can be easily reached from Ibiza, even for a day trip.

At the moment, however, there are only direct flights from Finland to Mallorca, which makes it a good base. From Majorca, you can take a ferry to both Menorca and Ibiza.

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In Menorca, ferries depart from both Ciutadella and Mahon.

You can fly to other islands from Finland via, for example, Mallorca or Barcelona.

When planning island hopping, you should remember that you can also buy one-way flights from tour operators, which makes it possible to fly to one place and return home from another island.

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3. How much does island hopping cost?

The prices of ferry tickets have risen considerably in the Balearic Islands in the last few years, and the prices do not collapse anymore, even outside of the busiest season.

For example, a two-hour ferry ride between Mallorca and Menorca costs almost 100 euros each way. There may be offers for same-day return tickets. The cheapest tickets between Mallorca and Menorca can be obtained from the Corsica Ferries company, which however does not have daily crossings. So you should think about the travel dates already when planning your vacation in order to save money.

If you travel by ferry with a car or motorcycle, you have to pay a separate price for the ferry.

The cheapest ferry tickets between Mallorca and Ibiza cost around 50 euros depending on the season, but you can also prepare for double the prices. Reduced prices are available at least for children and permanent residents of the Balearic Islands.

Nowadays, ferry tickets are probably not cheaper than flights, but the trip is more pleasant with Takuu. The ferry takes you directly to the destination without transfers from the airport, and you don’t have to pay an additional fee for luggage.

4. This is how you book tickets

In the Balearic Islands, the biggest ferry companies are Balearia, Trasmediterránea and Menorca Lines. The Corsica Ferries company also has routes on the islands, but they operate infrequently. There are several different operators between Ibiza and Formentera, the cheapest of which is Aquabus.

If you know what day you will travel, it is worth booking ferry tickets in advance on the companies’ own websites. You can usually check-in online for a ferry trip in the same way as for a flight. At the same time, you can print the boarding pass or save it on your mobile phone for reading the barcode.

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ShutterstockIsland hopping in the Balearic Islands
The small island of Formentera is easy to visit from Ibiza.

Tickets are also sold in ports at the ferry companies’ own counters. During the busiest summer months, public holidays and events, you should not leave booking ferry tickets to the last drop.

5. Prepare for these by island hopping

It is worth noting that ferries may depart from more than one place on one island. For example, in Mallorca you can travel to Palma or Alcudia, and in Menorca to Ciutadella or Mahon.

Depending on the ferry and the route, you can book a standard deck seat or a cabin for the trip. Deck seats are usually not numbered, so seats are reserved as passengers board. The distances are not very long in the Balearic Islands, and the journey is completed comfortably while admiring the scenery.

Restaurant services vary between ferries and routes, but you can find at least a simple cafe and a small shop. Not all ferries have a wifi connection, and the phone network may also be lost at sea at some point.

The Balearic ferry terminals are usually not very big, but they have bus and taxi connections to city centers and nearby holiday destinations.

Before boarding the ferry, the luggage is scanned. You should keep your passport close at hand, even if you are traveling within the same country.

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Read also: Majorca, Ibiza or Menorca? This is how popular holiday islands differ from each other

Source: www.rantapallo.fi