For years, the Balearic and Canary Islands have drawn travelers in search of sun and sea. But the islands I return to hold so much more. What continues to surprise me is how distinct each one feels from the next. Hopping between them can feel like stepping into entirely different countries.
One island might greet you with wind-sculpted cliffs and volcanic terrain. Another welcomes you with rolling vineyards, olive trees, and quiet villages where life unfolds slowly and beautifully. Some are wild and rugged. Others are soft and green. Each has its own pace, its own personality. And the food, whether from a tiny family-run kitchen or a destination-worthy restaurant, can be astonishing.
What I love most is how these islands invite you to move. Hike pine-scented trails and coastal paths. Cycle past ancient terraces and jaw-dropping views. Or slip into the sea to find coves you’d never know existed from land.
A multi-week island-hopping itinerary has become a favorite among RTLM travelers. It’s easy to see why.
The Spanish islands are places of deep character, layered history, and natural splendor. I can’t wait for you to experience them the way I’ve come to know and love them.
The Balearic Islands: Four Islands, Four Personalities
The Balearics sit in the Mediterranean, just off Spain’s eastern coast. Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera each offer something distinct, and together they create one of Europe’s most compelling island groups.
Mallorca: Mediterranean Marvel
Mallorca is the largest and most diverse of the Balearics. Yes, there are busy resorts along parts of the southern coast, but venture beyond them and you’ll find an island of surprising depth and beauty.
The Tramuntana mountains dominate the northwest, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape of dramatic peaks, stone villages, and terraced olive groves. The drive along the coastal road (the Ma-10) is one of Europe’s most scenic, winding past clifftop monasteries, hidden coves, and views that ask you to stop and take it all in.
The villages of Deià and Valldemossa have long attracted artists, writers, and those seeking refuge from the ordinary. Stone houses cascade down hillsides. Gardens overflow with citrus and bougainvillea. The pace is slow and seductive.
Mallorca’s food scene has slowly become world-class. From casual beach shacks serving grilled fish to Michelin-starred restaurants reimagining Balearic cuisine, the island offers culinary experiences that rival anywhere in Spain. The local markets burst with produce, the seafood is impeccable, and the wines (particularly from the Binissalem region) are finally getting the recognition they deserve.
Where to Stay in Mallorca:
- Can Rocat – A former fortress transformed into a minimalist sanctuary, where contemporary design meets historic stone. The infinity pool seems to float above the Mediterranean.
- Belmond La Residencia – An icon in Deià, beloved by creatives for decades. Two 16th-century manor houses surrounded by gardens, with views of the Tramuntana mountains and access to some of the island’s best hiking trails. This property is worth the trip in itself.
- Four Seasons Mallorca – Contemporary luxury on the quieter east coast, with exceptional service and a sense of calm that permeates everything.
- Son Bunyola – Richard Branson’s boutique hotel tucked into the Tramuntana mountains. Intimate, spectacular, and romantic.
- Ask us about our favorite Mallorcan villas.
READ MY BLOG: Mallorca: Tiny Towns and Sophisticated Dining
Menorca: The Shy Sister
If Mallorca is diverse and Ibiza is energetic, Menorca is serene. This is the Balearics at their most family-friendly and unspoiled, a place where development has been carefully controlled and nature still dominates.
The beaches here are pristine, tucked into protected coves with water so clear you can see your toes touching the sand. The interior is charming, all stone walls and whitewashed farmhouses. The pace here is slower than anywhere else in the Balearics.
Menorca is also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which means the island’s natural and cultural heritage is protected. You’ll find prehistoric monuments scattered across the landscape, evidence of human habitation dating back thousands of years.
The food is simpler here than in Mallorca or Ibiza, but no less satisfying. Fresh fish, local cheese (particularly Mahón, a cow’s milk cheese with protected origin status), and caldereta de langosta (lobster stew) are island specialties.
Where to Stay in Menorca:
- Son Vell – A beautifully restored farmhouse offering understated elegance and genuine Menorcan hospitality. Perfect for those seeking tranquility.
- Son Ermità & Binidufà – Two refined sister properties share a tranquil rural estate in the heart of Menorca. Son Ermità, now welcoming guests, and Binidufà, set to open in 2026, are each intimate 11-room retreats housed within beautifully restored 18th-century fincas.
- Fontenille Menorca is made up of two distinct yet deeply connected fincas: Santa Ponsa and Torre Vella. Just ten minutes apart, they offer two perspectives on the island’s quiet elegance.
- At Santa Ponsa, a restored 18th-century palace is surrounded by lush botanical gardens, with an extraordinary spa tucked into centuries-old cisterns.
- At Torre Vella | Finca Agroturismo, the landscape takes center stage with dramatic cliffs, sweeping sea views, and an expansive organic farm rooted in sustainability.
- Ask about our villa list in Menorca.
READ MY BLOG: Menorca: Gem of Spain’s Balearic Islands
Ibiza: Two Islands in One
Ibiza has two distinct personalities, and understanding this is key to experiencing the island properly.
There’s the Ibiza of legend, the party island that pulses with electronic music and all-night revelry. The superclubs of Ibiza Town and Playa d’en Bossa are legendary, drawing top DJs and music lovers from around the world. This is Ibiza at its most electric, a place where summer never ends and the party starts at midnight.
Then there’s the other Ibiza, particularly in the north. This is where free spirits, artists, and wellness seekers have gathered for decades, drawn by the beauty, the light, and the bohemian energy that predates the clubs by generations.
The north of the island offers secluded coves, pine forests, organic farms, and a pace that feels wonderfully removed from the party scene. Villages like Santa Gertrudis maintain their charm, with markets, artisan shops, and restaurants focused on farm-to-table dining.
Where to Stay in Ibiza:
- Six Senses Ibiza – This is where wellness meets the Balearics. Tucked on Ibiza’s peaceful northern tip overlooking Xarraca Bay, Six Senses offers a completely different experience of the island. The spa is extraordinary, the farm-to-table dining is exceptional, and the vibe is bohemian luxury at its finest. Whether you’re seeking yoga on your private deck, e-biking through pine forests, or simply soaking in the crystalline waters of the bay, this property captures the authentic, free-spirited soul of northern Ibiza.
- Villa Infinity – a private, architect-designed retreat in Ibiza’s exclusive Vista Alegre community, with sweeping sea views, a private dock, two boats, and staff on hand. Designed for year-round living and just 25 minutes by boat to Formentera, this six-bedroom estate is one of the island’s most sought-after homes.
READ MY BLOG: Ibiza: Six Senses Brings a Whole New Vibe
Formentera: The Ultimate Escape
Formentera is accessible only by boat from Ibiza (a 30-minute ferry ride), and that’s part of its appeal. This is the smallest and most laid-back of the four main Balearic Islands.
The beaches here are legendary. Water in shades of turquoise and sapphire. White sand so fine it squeaks underfoot. A sense of being utterly, blissfully removed from the world.
There are no large resorts, no nightclubs, no mass tourism infrastructure. Instead, you’ll find beach shacks, bicycle paths (the preferred way to explore), organic restaurants, and a bohemian vibe that feels authentic rather than manufactured.
Formentera is for those who want to unplug completely, to spend days alternating between beach and café, to watch sunsets from quiet coves, and to remember what it feels like to have nothing on the agenda.
Where to Stay in Formentera:
- Ternaka – Barefoot chic in its purest form, steps from crystalline waters. The design is minimal, the vibe relaxed, the experience unforgettable.
- Hotel Dunas – A serene escape with a laid-back, bohemian spirit that captures everything Formentera is about.
The Canary Islands: Europe’s Volcanic Edge
The Canary Islands sit off the coast of Africa, closer to Morocco than to mainland Spain. These are volcanic islands, dramatic and otherworldly, where year-round sunshine meets landscapes that range from lunar to lush.
Each of the seven main islands has its own character, but all share certain qualities: exceptional weather (averaging 22°C/72°F year-round), dramatic volcanic scenery, and a sense of being wonderfully far from everything.
The Canary Islands are firmly on my radar, and I’ll be visiting in 2026 with a full recap to follow. Lately, I’ve been completely captivated by the white wines coming out of the Canaries – made from indigenous grapes like Listán Blanco, Malvasía, and Gual. They’re fresh, mineral, and wonderfully complex, with subtle differences from island to island. I can’t wait to explore them in context!
If you cant make it to the islands this year, I would love to give an insider on a top example of creative Canary Islands gastronomy paired with wines that will knock your bathing suit off on your next visit to Madrid – Gofio.
Tenerife: Contrasts and Contradictions
Tenerife is the largest and most diverse of the Canaries. At its heart rises Mount Teide, Spain’s highest peak (3,718 meters) and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The volcanic landscape around Teide is otherworldly, all rust-colored rocks and twisted lava flows that look like they belong on Mars.
But Tenerife is also lush laurel forests in the Anaga Mountains, black sand beaches on the north coast, and resort towns in the south where northern Europeans come to escape winter.
The island’s diversity means you can hike volcanic trails in the morning, have lunch at a seafood restaurant by the ocean, and watch the sunset from a rooftop bar in a colonial town, all in the same day.
Where to Stay in Tenerife:
- The Ritz-Carlton, Abama – Perched on cliffs overlooking the Atlantic, this is one of Spain’s finest resorts. Moorish-inspired design, championship golf, exceptional dining (including a two-Michelin-starred restaurant), and service that sets the standard.
- Bahia del Duque – is a tranquil, village-style resort along Tenerife’s Costa Adeje, thoughtfully designed to reflect the charm and character of Canarian heritage.
Lanzarote: The Artist’s Island
Lanzarote is the work of two creators: nature and César Manrique. The volcanic eruptions of the 18th century shaped the island’s dramatic landscape. Manrique, the Canarian artist and architect, shaped how we experience it.
His vision was architecture in harmony with nature, and his influence is everywhere. The Jameos del Agua (a concert hall built inside a lava tube), the Mirador del Río (a viewpoint carved into a clifftop), and the Jardín de Cactus (a garden of 4,500 cacti in an old quarry) are all testaments to his genius.
The island’s volcanic wine region, La Geria, is unlike anywhere else on earth. Vines grow in individual pits carved into volcanic ash, protected by semicircular stone walls. The landscape looks lunar, but the wines (particularly the white Malvasía) are exceptional.
Gran Canaria: A Continent in Miniature
Gran Canaria packs remarkable diversity into a relatively small space. The south is all golden dunes (the Maspalomas dunes feel like the Sahara transplanted to the Atlantic). The interior is mountain villages, pine forests, and dramatic ravines. The north is green, subtropical, and home to the capital, Las Palmas.
This is an island for active travelers. Hiking, cycling, surfing, and exploring villages that cling to cliffsides and seem untouched by time.
Fuerteventura: Wind, Waves, and Wide-Open Beaches
Fuerteventura is for surfers, windsurfers, and beachcombers. This is the Canaries at their most elemental: windswept, stark, and hauntingly beautiful.
The beaches here stretch for miles, backed by dunes and lapped by Atlantic waves. The interior is barren and volcanic, with scattered villages and a sense of isolation.
It’s not for everyone, but for those who love wind sports, endless beaches, and landscapes that feel like the edge of the world, Fuerteventura delivers.
Final Thoughts
Spain’s islands offer far more than sun and sand. They offer diversity, character, and the chance to experience Spain in ways that feel completely distinct from the mainland.
The Balearics give you Mediterranean beauty, sophisticated dining, and islands that range from serene (Menorca) to creative and bohemian (northern Ibiza) to dramatically mountainous (Mallorca). Formentera offers escape in its purest form.
The Canaries give you volcanic drama, year-round sunshine, and landscapes that feel otherworldly. From Teide’s peak to Lanzarote’s lava fields to Fuerteventura’s endless beaches, these are islands for those who want nature at its most elemental.
Each island asks something different of you. Some ask you to party. Others ask you to slow down. Some ask you to hike volcanic craters or dive into turquoise coves. Others simply ask you to sit, watch the sunset, and remember what it feels like to be completely present.
The beauty of Spain’s islands is that you can return again and again, each time discovering a different mood, a different way of being.
Ready to discover Spain’s islands?
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