The ideal window for the Balearic Islands runs from May to June and through September. In May-June, beaches are fully open, temperatures reach 22-28 °C, the sea gradually warms (21-24 °C in June) and the islands operate at full capacity without the summer saturation. This is the ideal period for hiking in the Serra de Tramuntana and for Formentera before the summer influx.
July-August is peak season. Ibiza and Mallorca are packed, accommodation is expensive and the most popular calas need to be reached before 9 am or the car parks are closed. The sea is wonderful (26-28 °C) but the quality of experience drops significantly at the most frequented sites. Menorca and Formentera hold up better thanks to access restrictions at their most sensitive beaches.
September is our most recommended month: the sea stays warm (25-26 °C), visitor numbers fall sharply from 15 August on Mallorca and from early September on Ibiza, prices drop and local restaurants find their soul again. It's also the grape harvest season in Mallorca (Binissalem wines).
Winter is relevant only on Mallorca and partially on Menorca. Palma in December-March is a pleasant, low-tourist city (12-17 °C), ideal for culture and gastronomy. Ibiza and Formentera largely shut down from October to April.
Read also
- Palma de Mallorca, capital of the Balearics — La Seu cathedral, Almudaina Palace, the old town and island gastronomy.
- Spain — Complete guide: visa, budget, regions to explore and best time to visit.
- Catalonia — Barcelona, the Costa Brava and the Pyrenees — the neighbouring mainland region.
- Andalusia — Seville, Granada, Córdoba and the beaches of the Costa del Sol.