Choosing between Sicily or Mallorca for your next vacation is like deciding between pasta and paella—both are delicious, but they offer completely different flavors. Whether you’re dreaming of crystal clear coves or ancient Greek ruins, both islands have something incredible to offer.
If you’re planning a trip to Europe and wondering where to go, this guide breaks down everything you need to know before you book your flight. From the stunning coastlines of Mallorca to the rich history of Sicily, let’s dive into the details.
Sicily: The Cultural Giant
Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean, covering about 9,900 square miles—that is about the size of New Hampshire. There are 5 million people that live in Sicily, and it is a very important island as it was one of the major trade routes throughout the Mediterranean.
Most of the people live in Palermo (just over a million) and Catania (just under a million). Everything else in Sicily is quite rural or you have some of the larger cities like Syracuse. The topography here is quite mountainous and it has the highest volcano in Europe, Mount Etna, on the east side.
History and Vibe
The history of Sicily is quite interesting as this island has been controlled by many cultures. First inhabited in the 8th century by the Greeks, it’s been controlled by the Greeks, the Romans, the Carthaginians, the Vandals, and Ostrogoths. It has been an empire, a fiefdom, a county, and currently, it’s an autonomous province of Italy.
If you’re looking for a deeper, more Sicilian experience, then I would suggest that you spend a couple of weeks here. With a couple of weeks, you can spend some time in the countryside in the agriturismos as well as at all the major sites and seeing all of the major ruins throughout the island.
Getting Around Sicily
How do you actually get to Sicily? Well, it’s quite easy. You can fly into the main airport in Palermo or Catania. Just something to know: it is quite expensive in a taxi to get from the airport to the main part of the city.
The best way to see this island is sort of town hopping. My suggestion to you is to hire a car. Sicily has quite the reputation for driving, especially in the city of Palermo, but having a car gives you freedom.
If you’re flying in, make sure you have all your documents ready. Sometimes travelers face issues where they checked in but no boarding pass was issued due to document checks, so be prepared.
Food in Sicily
Let’s talk about food. Arancini, the fried rice balls, are really, really delicious. They’re famous for pistachios here, famous for tuna, and marzipan in the shape of fruit. They also have an eggplant dish called caponata which is served room temperature—really nice.
And of course, cannoli. Yum. Breakfast tends to be simple: coffee with maybe a brioche and also some kind of sweet spread whether it’s pistachio or marmalade or a sweet ricotta.
Mallorca: The Beach Paradise
We’re starting off our trip in Mallorca the right way with a boat ride. Mallorca is an island, so all the beaches are going to be pretty packed especially during summer. But one way to beat the crowds is to head out in boats and go to these small coves where no one can get to.
The Coastline
I did not know Mallorca had a coastline like this one. It is gorgeous. We’re just going along these massive cliffs alone with no one in sight. The water, of course, couldn’t be any more sparkling. It’s a really nice spot; I feel like I could spend all day here.
One of my favorite parts about the entire cove are these small houses right on this hill over here. It’s definitely a great picture spot. Believe it or not, this isn’t even the most beautiful cove here in Mallorca. Right around the corner is Caló des Moro.
Activities and Culture
We’re visiting the capital city of Palma. This is probably where you’re going to fly into and most likely stay around. It is a gorgeous city; there’s so many tapas bars and just walking around for a full day is worth it, especially seeing the cathedral and all these pretty side streets.
Today we’re going to be doing a cooking class. We’re going to do the Spanish tortilla. A good tortilla is when it’s not super dry, creamy inside. Next up is the sobrasada which is a cured meat; it’s pork and it’s very local here to Mallorca.
If you plan to rent a car in Mallorca and go into these small villages, you’ll see they are really cute. Just going in there, they’ll have all these amazing restaurants. We love going to find places that are not packed with a bunch of tourists like Palma is.
Travel Logistics for Mallorca
For those of you interested in getting a van from Mainland Spain to Mallorca, it was super easy and you could book online. We shipped our van from Valencia to Mallorca and that was around 350 USD.
If you have a layover in Europe before heading to the island, consider getting off at your layover city to add another destination to your trip.
Comparing the Experience: Sicily vs. Mallorca
When deciding between Sicily or Mallorca, consider what kind of traveler you are.
Vibe Check
- Sicily: Authentic, rustic, historically rich. It feels like a journey through time with Greek temples and Norman castles.
- Mallorca: polished, stunningly beautiful natural landscapes, turquoise waters. It feels like a high-end beach vacation with charming European towns.
Accommodation
In Sicily, my friend and I were here for a week and we spent approximately a hundred dollars a night for a very clean nice room. Most of the hotels are very clean, very simple, not super fancy.
In Mallorca, campsites can be around €27 a night, which is high, but remember you’re on Mallorca and it’s an expensive island.
If you are packing for either destination, you’ll need reliable luggage. Check out our comparison of Tumi Continental vs International to see which carry-on fits your island hopping needs best.
Best Time to Visit
- Sicily: Honestly, July and August in my opinion would probably be really miserable. Late September/early October or April/May is best.
- Mallorca: May is much less crowded but you’re sacrificing maybe some problems with weather. It’s only 75 and cloudy today but you’re definitely able to swim.
Cost Comparison Table
| Expense | Sicily (Est.) | Mallorca (Est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee | €1 – €2 | €2 – €3 |
| Breakfast | €3.50 (Brioche & Coffee) | €5 – €10 |
| Dinner (Main) | €16 – €22 | €20 – €30 |
| Car Rental | Moderate | Expensive |
| Accommodation | Affordable (~$100/night) | Higher End |
Don’t Miss a Meal: Dining Schedules in Sicily
As everywhere in the world, it’s important to know not just the food you should eat, but also the meal times because you don’t want to miss a meal, especially when you’re in Italy.
Lunch is typically from 12:30 to 2:30. You don’t want to miss out on a delicious pasta or Caprese salad because you arrived too late. Make sure to go to lunch during that specific window. In the middle of the afternoon, most of the cities are quite quiet. Things are shut down for the afternoon, almost like a siesta, even though they don’t call it that; it’s just hot. So you want to take a rest, go back to your hotel, or lay on the beach.
Dinners typically restaurants will open at 7:30, but they start filling up about 8:00 or 8:15, and then dinners go through about 10:30 to 11:00 p.m.
Tipping Customs
Also here in Sicily, they’re not big on tipping. If you’re just to have a coffee, you can perhaps round up to the nearest euro or leave nothing. When you’re there at lunch, you can leave a euro or two. At dinner, approximately 10 percent is fine. They are just not huge tippers here, but of course, tips are always appreciated.
Unique Culinary Experiences in Mallorca
While we mentioned the cooking class, the specific dishes in Mallorca deserve their own spotlight. Beyond the tortilla, we learned about Pa amb oli, which is bread toasted in the pan, rubbed with some garlic and tomato—literally rubbed with the tomato—and topped with one-year-old cheese and family olive oil. You taste the hint of garlic rubbed on the bread; it is just simple and delicious.
We also cooked Padrón peppers. We burned them a little bit on the sides and then fried them. They are actually from Galicia in the north of Spain, brought over by monks who went to South America, but now they are very famous in all tapas bars.
Resisting Globalization
Right next to our lunch spot in Palma, we found a pastry shop that looks famous. It was so crowded in there. There’s a sign here that explains the shop: “We offer traditional pastries from Mallorca made with local product and ancestral techniques. We defend a resistance attitude against the devastating globalization.” It is a good way to put it; we come to countries to try local stuff, we don’t want globalization either.
Shopping for Treasures in Sicily
If you are looking to bring something home, you have to buy ceramics. They are famous for their beautiful ceramics with these gorgeous light blue tones that are hand-painted—just stunning.
They are also famous for these two faces, a man and a woman, with an interesting sort of myth story about parents cutting the heads off of the kids. You will see these head vases everywhere. It is also famous to get the little face with three legs, which is the story of how Sicily came to be. This face with the three legs is called a Trinacria.
Something that’s really nice to take to friends and family is lemon-scented soaps or marmalades, as Sicily is famous for its lemons.
Planning Your Logistics: Parking and Closures
Sicily: The Sunday Rule
Something else to know about timing here in Sicily: the larger cities with all of the tourists tend to be open on Sunday but closed on Monday because all the tourists leave after the weekend. However, the smaller cities tend to be closed on Sunday, which is typical in Europe. This sort of comes from the fishermen who used to take Sunday off, so on Mondays, there was no fresh fish, so a lot of the markets were closed. Be careful about when you’re planning your trip and what you’re planning on doing on a Sunday and a Monday.
Mallorca: The Parking Struggle
Let me tell you about parking here on Mallorca. If you’re going to bring a van or even rent a car, you got to get to these beaches super early. If not, you’re going to have to park far away and walk. At some coves, we parked above and then took a bunch of stairs down. If you can find the big parking lots, I would recommend doing that to save yourself the hassle.
If you are dealing with tight schedules or long walks to the beach, you might want to ensure your luggage is secure and easy to move.
Final Thoughts
So, Sicily or Mallorca?
If you want a deep cultural dive with incredible food history and don’t mind a bit of grit, Sicily is for you. It is really charming and a lot of fun to stay in the heart of the old towns.
If you want breathtaking turquoise waters, boat days, and a more polished European island vibe, Mallorca is a must-visit. I can tell you right now I am blown away by Mallorca and we haven’t even done too much yet but I can tell you this: you’re going to want to come here.
Both islands offer something unique. Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean with layers of history, while Mallorca offers some of the most stunning coastlines in Europe. Whichever you choose, you can’t go wrong.