We’ve taken our kids to three of the four Balearic Islands, at three very different ages. Mallorca when Damian was 2, and again with both boys at 6 and 3. Menorca at 5 and 2. Ibiza in July 2026, with a 13-year-old and a 10-year-old. From Barcelona they’re all short flights, and each one suits a different kind of family. Here’s how to choose.
Where we stayed on each island
Alua Calas de Mallorca Resort – all-inclusive on the east coast, with kids aged 6 and 3.
Apartments near Cala Blanca – just south of Ciutadella, our base with a 5- and a 2-year-old.
Leonardo Royal, Es Canar – a quiet family beach on the east coast, with a 13- and a 10-year-old.
Mallorca, Menorca or Ibiza: the quick answer
| Mallorca | Menorca | Ibiza | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Choice: resorts, towns, mountains | Toddlers and young kids: calm, shallow calas | Tweens and teens: calas, boats, old town, sunsets |
| Size | Biggest. Drives of an hour or more | 53 km end to end | Small. Everything within 45 min |
| Vibe | Varied. Pick your area carefully | Quiet, slow, rural | Family east and north, party south and west |
| Car? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Our ages | 2; then 6 and 3 | 5 and 2 | 13 and 10 |
| Our pick for… | An all-inclusive or a winter trip | A first beach holiday with small kids | A holiday older kids will remember |
Mallorca with kids
The biggest island, with the most choice, which is both the good news and the trap. Base in the north (Alcúdia, Port de Pollença) for long, shallow sandy bays with toddlers, or on the east coast for all-inclusive resorts. We spent New Year there with Damian at 2 and loved it off-season: villages, Formentor, Deià, and prices a fraction of August’s. In October 2019 we did four days all-inclusive at Alua Calas de Mallorca with both boys. Our one big mistake was not renting a car, which cost us a 3-hour bus from the airport.
Read: Mallorca with kids: where to stay and best areas · Alua Calas de Mallorca review
Menorca with kids
If your children are small, this is the one. Menorca is quieter than its sisters, and its southern calas are sandy, shallow and sheltered: Cala Galdana was our favourite beach with a 5- and a 2-year-old. We stayed in an apartment near Cala Blanca, flew from Barcelona for €200 return for all four of us, and rented a car for €190 for five days (our prices then, not today’s). At the end of September it was 33°C with warm water and empty beaches.
Read: Menorca with kids: best beaches and where to stay · our 5-day Menorca itinerary · the lighthouses of Menorca · best sunsets in Menorca
Ibiza with kids
Forget the reputation. The party is concentrated in San Antonio and Playa d’en Bossa, and the east and north are family territory. We went in July 2026 with a 13- and a 10-year-old and stayed in Es Canar, on the east coast, with its calm beach and a catamaran with a slide. From there we worked our way round the calas, kayaked at Portinatx and walked up to Dalt Vila, the walled old town. At 13 and 10, Ibiza gave them more to do than a toddler-friendly island would. For toddlers, I’d still pick Menorca.
Read: Ibiza with kids: the family guide · our 7-day Ibiza itinerary · best family hotels in Ibiza · what our Ibiza trip cost · Ibiza with teenagers
Formentera (not yet)
The smallest island, a short ferry from Ibiza, and famous for water that looks like the Caribbean. It’s still on our list. Accommodation is limited and expensive, and the island restricts how many vehicles can enter in summer. It’s usually easiest as a day trip by ferry from Ibiza.
Which Balearic island is best for families?
- Toddlers and under-5s: Menorca. The beaches are calm and shallow, and drives are short.
- A stay-put week with a kids’ club: Mallorca’s all-inclusive resorts.
- Off-season or winter: Mallorca. It has the most to do when it’s not beach weather.
- Tweens and teens: Ibiza. Boats, calas, snorkelling, sunsets and an old town.
Getting there from Barcelona
All three are short flights from Barcelona (under an hour in the air), and there are also overnight ferries if you want to bring your own car. Whichever island you choose, book the car when you book the flight. We learned that on every one of them.
Balearic Islands with kids: FAQ
Which Balearic island is best for families with young children?
Menorca. Its southern calas are sandy, shallow and sheltered, the island is small, and it’s quieter than Mallorca or Ibiza.
Is Ibiza good for kids?
Yes. The party areas are concentrated in San Antonio and Playa d’en Bossa. The east and north of the island, around Es Canar, Santa Eulària and Portinatx, are quiet and family-friendly.
Mallorca or Menorca with kids?
Menorca for toddlers and a slow beach holiday. Mallorca for more choice: all-inclusive resorts, towns, mountain villages and more to do outside the summer season.
Do you need a car in the Balearic Islands?
Yes, on all three. The best beaches are not on bus routes, and on Mallorca a bus transfer from the airport to the east coast took us three hours.
