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8 days -- Mallorca, Menorca, both?

We're planning a trip to either Mallorca or Menorca or both the first week of November. We have 8 days -- recommendations on islands and days on each. We prefer to stay at least 3 days in a location so we're not spending so much time packing/unpacking/checking in & out. I'd appreciate any and all recommendations for how and where to allocate our time over there. Thanks in advance for helping make this a great trip. (FYI, we love history, hiking, wine, good food, snorkeling, kayaking, and tend to prefer local to touristy.)

Posted by
1428 posts

I suggest you stick to Mallorca only. It's a pretty big island with plenty to do. By the way, it may be rainy in November.

Posted by
6889 posts

Menorca will be dead in November, and there is little to actually do there even in high season. Therefore, definitely Mallorca for me!
Although I do agree with the poster above, November is not the best time to go. Definitely too late for water-based activities. If you are after Spanish islands, consider the Canary islands maybe? The hiking is excellent on Tenerife or La Gomera, for example.

Posted by
5261 posts

All 8 days in Mallorca, there's much to see so you'll fill your time. November is low season so expect plenty of restaurant closures but you'll still be able to find places to eat.

Don't expect to do much snorkeling or kayaking in November but hiking in the mountains in the north will be great in November. Contrary to a previous post you are unlikely to experience much rain.

Posted by
1078 posts

We were just at Mallorca in September. I would recommend that you spend 2-3 days in Palma and see the sights then spend the next 5 days in Port de Soller. Port de Soller is a great place to kick back and just relax, there's lots of restaurants, the beach is beautiful and there's good hiking and biking to be enjoyed.

Get reservations for the Kingfish restaurant, it's very good, take a cruise on one of the boat charters for a sunset cruise or a dinner cruise. This is one of my favorites places in the Europe.

I agree with everyone else, skip Menorca, there just isn't much there.

Posted by
5261 posts

Get reservations for the Kingfish restaurant, it's very good,

The Kingfisher restaurant closes at the end of October for the winter season. Unfortunately most of the good restaurants in Soller are closed from October to February/March, the restaurants in the main square will be open but these cater to tourists and aren't that great.

Posted by
2 posts

Thank you all! I think it sounds like it makes sense to just stay in Mallorca and skip Menorca. We fly in Oct. 30, so maybe we can try the Kingfisher on Oct. 30 or 31 if they are still open.

Posted by
5261 posts

I've eaten very well at Marc Fosh's restaurant in Palma (https://www.marcfosh.com). Unlike much of the rest of the island the restaurants in Palma tend to remain open throughout the year so your choices of places to eat are better. Visiting in November I would look to base myself close to Palma and explore the island as day trips. We visit Mallorca frequently during the October half term holidays which often roll into November (our most recent being last October) and whilst the island is quieter there are no problems finding places to eat particularly in Palma which was as bustling as it always is however a large number of the better restaurants can afford to close for the winter.