A new study by the ferry booking platform Ferryhopper places Mallorca in second place in the ranking of the best Mediterranean winter sun destinations, only behind Malta.

According to the research, Mallorca offers an average temperature of 10.37 °C, with 9.97 hours of daylight per day and a low level of rainfall (around 31 millimetres per month and only 5 rainy days). The average hotel price per night is €154.15, making the island an attractive alternative for travellers seeking good weather without crowds.

Es Carnatge Beach Palma

These indicators are reflected in its Sunshine Score of 95.01 points, an index that combines all analysed factors – climate, hours of sunshine, rainfall and prices – to measure the overall quality of the destination in winter.

A boost for year-round tourism

The Ferryhopper report highlights that the rise of winter tourism can help diversify Spain’s seasonal economy, especially in regions such as the Balearic Islands, where most activity is concentrated in the summer months.

“For years, destinations like Mallorca have concentrated the majority of their visitors during the summer months, creating strong seasonality. However, the island’s mild climate, cultural richness and tranquillity in winter show that it is possible to enjoy the Mediterranean all year round,” explains Ferryhopper. “Mallorca has all the ingredients to attract a new type of traveller: those seeking good weather, authenticity and local experiences without the summer crowds,” the platform adds.

In Mallorca, events such as the almond blossom, hiking routes through the Serra de Tramuntana and cultural visits to Palma are gaining popularity in winter. These factors help to maintain employment, reduce seasonal migration and strengthen the local economy.

Top 10 Mediterranean winter sun destinations

Rank Destination Country Avg. temp (°C) Daylight hours/day Monthly rainfall (mm) Rainy days/month Avg. hotel price (€) Sunshine Score
1 Malta Malta 12.96 10.23 54 7.73 95.19 99.88
2 Mallorca Spain 10.37 9.97 31 5.13 154.15 95.01
3 Sardinia Italy 10.37 9.93 34 5.77 171.13 86.91
4 Kusadasi Turkey 9.63 10.10 101 9.23 78.93 77.93
5 Split Croatia 7.78 11.03 74 8.07 124.02 77.16
5 Piran Slovenia 5.56 9.47 57 6.43 109.20 77.16
7 Vlorë Albania 9.44 9.90 83 9.43 59.90 76.33
8 Mykonos Greece 11.67 10.10 62 8.33 188.35 69.84
9 Santorini Greece 12.78 10.20 64 9.30 578.84 65.77
10 Bar Montenegro 7.41 9.77 119 10.00 76.18 62.52

Study methodology

The Ferryhopper analysis assessed the main Mediterranean winter destinations based on five key indicators: average temperature, daily daylight hours, monthly rainfall (in millimetres), number of rainy days, and average hotel price per night. Weather data were sourced from Weather Spark and price data from Kayak.com. Each destination received a score (Sunshine Score) after comparing all values by percentiles, allowing the identification of places with the best balance between climate, sunshine and cost during winter.