Posted by Money
The currency in Mallorca is the Euro. Fortunately, this means that Germans and Austrians don’t have to worry about exchanging money. In Mallorca, small amounts are often paid in cash. Larger amounts (hotels, rental cars, expensive restaurant bills, flight tickets, petrol) can also be paid by credit card. However, cash is also welcome for larger amounts. If you pay in cash, you can often negotiate a cheaper price in hotels and guest houses.
EC card: Most tourists in Mallorca withdraw money from ATMs using their EC card. There are many ATMs (in Spanish “Cajeros automáticos”), and almost all of them accept EC cards. Of course, there are fees: around 5-6 euros per withdrawal. However, Deutsche Bank customers, for example, can withdraw cash for free in the numerous Deutsche Bank branches in Mallorca. More and more direct banks (internet banks) in Germany are also offering free bank accounts with EC cards or credit cards, which can be used to withdraw money from ATMs in other EU countries or worldwide. Shopping with an EC card is not possible everywhere in Mallorca (but it is very common). Hotels can be paid for with an EC card almost everywhere. Large supermarkets (e.g. Mercadona, Carrefour, Aldi or Lidl) and many petrol stations accept EC cards. Smaller restaurants, cafés or shops often do not accept them or prefer cash. In tourist areas, the acceptance of EC cards is higher than in remote regions.
Credit cards are also being used more and more in Mallorca
Credit card: With a credit card you can withdraw money from ATMs and shop in Mallorca. As in Germany, the most common credit cards in Mallorca are MasterCard and Visa. However, withdrawing money from ATMs with a credit card sometimes incurs higher fees than with an EC card. There are also banks in Germany that offer credit cards with free withdrawals abroad. You should check with your bank at home before you go on holiday to Mallorca; the fees are often also listed on your bank’s website. Many places also accept mobile payment systems such as Google Pay or Apple Pay. For smaller expenses, it is advisable to have some cash with you. If you plan to rent a car or eat in more luxurious restaurants, a credit card is often even required.
Prices
Mallorca is not a cheap travel destination. The price level for most things is roughly the same as in Germany. In particular, the prices for accommodation such as hotels and rental cars in Mallorca are subject to strong seasonal fluctuations. In summer, hotel rooms can easily cost twice as much or more than in winter. The most expensive months are July and August, and the cheapest month is January. Spending the winter on Mallorca can be surprisingly cheap. Many older Germans in particular come to the Germans’ favorite island for several months in the winter.
Accommodation: It is difficult to get a double room for under 80 to 100 euros in the season. However, especially in winter, you can also find simple rooms for 30 to 50 euros in Mallorca’s tourist areas. Single rooms are often 20-30% cheaper than a double room. Here you can book hotels and holiday apartments on Mallorca cheaply.
Restaurants: The prices in restaurants in Mallorca are cheaper than in Germany. In a simple restaurant or tavern, a main course costs around 10 to 20 euros. There are usually cheap daily specials. Drinks, especially mineral water, are often much cheaper. Coffee: 2 – 3 € In contrast to less touristy areas in Spain, there are many cheap fast food restaurants on Mallorca.
Typical menu in the tourist areas of Mallorca (fast food restaurant, a few years old)
Fast food: This is sometimes even more expensive than in Germany. A doner kebab usually costs at least 7 euros in Mallorca, while at McDonalds, Burger King, etc. a meal costs around 10 euros. German sausage stands are also common in the tourist hotspots. These are often cheap (see picture below, a few years old, now a little more expensive).
Price display at a sausage stand in Ballermann a few years ago, the average prices are now a bit higher.
Bars/pubs: A large beer (0.5l) on Mallorca normally costs between 4 and 5 euros (in 2025). German beers are offered in the tourist areas. Weissbier (wheat beer) is also usually available for the same price or a bit more expensive. Long drinks and cocktails vary greatly in price depending on the bar. You can save money with special offers and happy hour offers that are very popular in Mallorca.
Rental cars: In winter you can get a small rental car for under 25 euros per day, in summer you pay 50 euros or even much more per day for the same car. Prices depend very much on the time of year and local demand. Since prices often vary greatly, it is worth comparing. Booking a rental car in Germany is often the cheapest option during the season. In winter, rental cars on site in Mallorca are usually cheaper. Petrol prices Mallorca: approx. €1.70-1.90 per liter
Current ferry schedules / book ferries
You can find current ferry departure times on the good ferry booking website Ferryscanner.com. We recommend buying tickets for ferries in Spain online in advance. Ferries are often full, you often cannot find the right office to buy tickets, there are long queues at the counter, there are language problems.
Supermarkets: The large supermarkets in particular are very cheap. They have a similar price level to Aldi or Lidl in Germany. The supermarkets of the Mercadona chain are particularly cheap and have a wide range of brands and cheap products. Lidl is also now represented in Mallorca. The range of goods and prices at Lidl are similar to those in Germany. Small supermarkets in the tourist areas and in the city centers are usually significantly more expensive. Aldi branches can also now be found on the island. The prices and range of goods at Lidl and Aldi are roughly the same as in Germany.
Drugstore / cosmetics / sunscreen: There are over 10 branches of the German drugstore chain Müller on Mallorca. However, these are not always easy to reach if you don’t have a car. In Spanish shops, drugstore items are usually more expensive and you often can’t get the brands you know and like. Sunscreen is more expensive in Mallorca than in Germany, so you should get it beforehand. We buy the things we’re used to before our vacation on Amazon, so you can also order a travel guide and maybe a map of Mallorca at the same time.
Electronics/photo: Thanks to the EU, there are hardly any price differences anymore. Good advice and reasonable prices can be found in the El Corte Inglés department store in the capital Palma de Mallorca (two large branches in the city center). Many smaller electronics stores, some of which are run by Asians, often have very inexpensive offers. These are often cell phones, cameras and tablets.
Cigarettes: The prices for cigarettes in Spain are slightly cheaper than in Germany. In 2025, a pack will cost between 6.50 and 7 euros, depending on the brand. There are almost always 20 in a pack. Cigarettes in Mallorca can only be sold in special tobacco shops, which are only open in the mornings and early evenings during the week. However, there are cigarette vending machines in some bars and hotels. This means that you can only buy cigarettes in the evenings and on Sundays there. As far as we know, you can take 40 packs to Germany for private use (as of 2025). Cigarettes are available in Mallorca from the age of 18. In contrast to the Canary Islands, prices are no lower in Mallorca than on the mainland.
Alcohol: In supermarkets in Mallorca, alcoholic drinks are sometimes even cheaper than in Germany. A bottle of the cheapest vodka or gin costs around 7 euros at the popular cheap supermarket chains Mercadona, Lidl or Aldi. Beer costs about the same as in Germany. Wine is very cheap. As with cigarettes, strict attention is paid to ensuring that the buyer is over 18 years old.
Excursions on Mallorca
Holidaymakers without a rental car in particular like to take excursions by bus or boat. If you spend most of your time in your holiday destination and only want to make 1-2 major excursions on Mallorca, day trips by bus or boat are usually cheaper than with a rental car. Here are some recommended trips:
Full-day excursion by train, bus and boat on Mallorca with several interesting destinations: More information
Big catamaran trip from Palma de Mallorca: More information
Visit to the famous Dragon Cave in the east of Mallorca: More information
Excursion with horse riding on Mallorca: More information
Map of Mallorca
