We visited Mallorca and found you can have a wildly different experience on the tourist-loved island depending on where you stay

Maria Noyen,Anneta KonstantinidesSep 3, 2023, 16:04 IST

Mallorca can offer wildly different travel experiences depending where you stay.JAIME REINA/AFP via Getty Images, Maria Noyen/Insider

The Spanish island of Mallorca is one of Europe's hottest destinations this summer.
But it can offer wildly different experiences depending on where you stay.

Clear-blue sea, secluded coves, stunning medieval architecture, and delicious seafood — Mallorca has it all.

Because of that, it's no wonder why the largest Spanish island in the Balearic has become one of Europe's hottest destinations, with millions of tourists returning year after year. Earlier this year, the Majorca Daily Bulletin reported that more than 16 million tourists visited the island last year.

Apart from regular visitors, it's also beloved by celebrities. Over the years, a number of high-profile people have been spotted enjoying Mallorca, including former first lady Michelle Obama, Jeff Bezos, and Princess Diana, who vacationed on the island with Charles and young Princes Harry and William in 1990, Tatler reported.

Insider reporters Maria Noyen and Anneta Konstantinides traveled to Mallorca on separate occasions in 2022. They visited different parts of the island, but both came to the same conclusion: Your experience can be wildly different depending on where you stay.

Insider's Maria Noyen visited Mallorca with friends in May 2022. She didn't expect to stay in one of the island's biggest tourist hubs.

Insider's Maria Noyen in Mallorca in May 2022.Maria Noyen/Insider

The first time Noyen visited Mallorca, she toured beautiful, secluded coves on the island by sailboat with her family.

Sa Foradada in Mallorca is only accessible by boat or by walking.Maria Noyen/Insider

When she returned a decade later, Noyen stayed in a basic, clean hotel in Magaluf.

Noyen's hotel room was basic but clean and had a view of the coastline.Maria Noyen/Insider

At night, the neon-lined streets of Magaluf became crowded with throngs of tourists looking to party.

Young European tourists hit the streets of Magaluf at night.Clara Margais/picture alliance via Getty Images

During the day, Noyen found that the beaches around Magaluf were crowded.

People on the beach in Magaluf, Mallorca, in 2022.Clara Margais/picture alliance via Getty Images

She found that quieter and cleaner beaches are located just a short car ride away from Magaluf.

Smaller beaches outside of Magaluf have crystal-clear water.Maria Noyen/Insider

Magaluf isn't the place to visit in Mallorca if you're interested in sampling authentic Spanish cuisine, Noyen found.

Tourists sit in a restaurant located on the street Punta Ballena in Magaluf, Mallorca.Emilio Rappold/picture alliance via Getty Images

In order to get a more authentic taste of what Mallorca has to offer, Noyen visited smaller towns outside of Magaluf.

Noyen found the food was more authentic outside of Magaluf, Mallorca.Maria Noyen/Insider

Insider's Anneta Konstantinides went to Mallorca for a girl's trip in July 2022, not realizing she had booked a hostel on the island's other main tourist hub.

Konstantinides in Mallorca.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Konstantinides had been attracted to El Arenal because it was close to the airport and had hostels just steps from the beach.

Konstantinides' hostel in Mallorca.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

She found the best time to visit the main beach was in the early morning, when most of the tourists were still asleep.

Playa de Palma in Mallorca.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

As with Noyen's experience in Magaluf, Konstantinides struggled to find authentic Spanish cuisine in El Arenal.

El Arenal in Mallorca.Clara Margais/picture alliance via Getty Images

Konstantinides took a 15-minute bus ride every night to Palma de Mallorca's Old Town to soak in Spanish food and architecture.

Palma de Mallorca's Old Town.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Konstantinides also ventured out of El Arenal by booking a day at a beach club.

Sunset at Purobeach Palma.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Both Noyen and Konstantinides found that Mallorca has so much to offer. Just make sure you do your research before picking the area you visit.

A less crowded beach less than 30 minutes away from Magaluf, Mallorca.Maria Noyen/Insider

I've traveled between London and Paris 3 times over the past 2 years. Here's why taking the Eurostar train is better than flying, even though it costs more

Cookies on the Business Insider India website