The best hotels in Balearic Islands

This small family-run hostal sits a short walk from the Sant Antoni harbour and the famous sunset strip. Rooms are basic but kept clean, with air conditioning and decent wi-fi. The owners are friendly and genuinely helpful with directions and restaurant tips. Breakfast is included and surprisingly good for the price. A solid no-frills base for budget travellers exploring Ibiza.

The hotel sits right above the calm turquoise waters of Cala Llonga, one of Ibiza's more sheltered family beaches. Rooms are modest and dated in decor but most have balconies with direct sea views that punch well above the price. The small pool area fills up quickly in July and August so arrive early. Staff are efficient and the beach bar downstairs does good fresh fish. It is not a luxury stay but the location is genuinely hard to beat at this rate.

Hotel Tres occupies a beautifully converted 16th century mansion on Carrer dels Apuntadors in the heart of Palma's old town. The rooftop terrace with its plunge pool overlooks the cathedral and is one of the best spots on the island for a morning coffee. Rooms blend exposed stone walls with contemporary furniture and feel genuinely stylish without being cold. The surrounding streets are full of independent restaurants and galleries so you rarely need to go far. An excellent choice for couples wanting culture alongside comfort.

This adults-only property sits directly on Playa de Migjorn, one of the quieter stretches of sand on the island's south coast. Suites are spacious with private terraces and the spa is genuinely well equipped with a hammam and good massage menu. The beach bar serves local wines and fresh tapas until late afternoon. It draws a crowd that wants to relax rather than party, which makes it refreshingly calm by Ibiza standards. The only downside is that you will need a hire car to reach most restaurants in the evening.

Hotel Port Mahon stands on a clifftop above the largest natural harbour in the Mediterranean and the views from the front rooms are spectacular. The building has a classic colonial feel that suits the Georgian architecture of central Mahon. Rooms are comfortable and well maintained with good air conditioning and quality linens. The restaurant is worth eating at even if you are not staying, with a menu focused on traditional Menorcan dishes. A short walk brings you to the old quarter with its gin distilleries and waterfront restaurants.

This restored farmhouse sits in the green countryside between Ferreries and Cala Galdana, surrounded by traditional stone walls and ancient olive trees. There are only eight rooms, each decorated with local handmade furniture and hand-woven fabrics from the island. Breakfast uses produce from the property's own garden and the owner prepares a different Menorcan dish each evening for guests who book the dinner option. The silence here at night is remarkable and completely different from the resort towns on the coast. It suits travellers who want to understand what Menorca actually looks like beyond the beaches.

Opened in 1929, the Formentor sits at the end of a dramatic pine-covered peninsula in the north of Mallorca, reached by a winding road with views that stop traffic. The property was recently renovated and the balance between heritage detail and modern comfort has been handled well. Rooms facing the bay are the ones to book and the private beach below the hotel is the finest on the island. The main pool terrace fills up each morning so guests staying multiple nights quickly learn to reserve a lounger early. A landmark hotel that still earns its reputation after nearly a century.

Hacienda Na Xamena clings to a cliff face on the rugged north coast of Ibiza, 180 metres above the sea, and the setting is unlike anything else on the island. The cascading pool terraces cut into the rock face are genuinely dramatic and the sunsets from the hotel bar are extraordinary. Suites are large with private terraces and decor that leans into the white Mediterranean aesthetic without feeling generic. The spa uses a series of thermal waterfall pools built into the cliff and is worth booking in advance. Access requires a car and the remote location means it works best as a destination in itself rather than a base for exploring.

La Residencia occupies two restored 16th century manor houses in the hillside village of Deia on the Tramuntana coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The hotel has long attracted artists and writers and there is a working art studio on the property with a permanent collection of Balearic work. Rooms and suites are individually furnished with antiques and original art and several have private garden terraces with mountain views. The Son Fony restaurant is among the best hotel dining rooms in Spain, with a Mallorcan tasting menu that changes seasonally. The village itself is walkable from the hotel and the rocky cove of Cala Deia is a fifteen minute walk down a steep path.

Son Net is a 17th century hilltop mansion in the mountain village of Puigpunyent, about 20 kilometres north of Palma and a world away from the coastal resorts. The property has only 24 rooms and suites, each one different, with original stone fireplaces and a serious collection of contemporary art displayed throughout. The infinity pool looks out over olive and almond groves toward the Serra de Tramuntana range and the quiet is total. Dinner at the hotel restaurant is a formal but not stiff affair, with Mallorcan produce handled with real skill. Guests who want beach access will need a hire car but the countryside surrounding the property is reward enough for those who come to slow down.