It seems to me that a lot of travelers kind of despise Mallorca and have it classified as a tourist destination where there are only resorts where people go to the beach and nothing more. I’ve had that for a long time too. It’s just that Mallorca isn’t like that at all. I spent a month here and Mallorca won me over. It does get a lot of tourists, though, and some of the beaches are littered with hotel complexes. But that’s just part of the island. Other than that, it’s beautiful Spanish towns, mountains, castles, nature and city life in Palma.
Tip: If you’re heading to Mallorca, I recommend booking your tickets at 5-hour Catamaran Cruise with Lunch & Swim and Skip-the-Line ticket to Palma Cathedral. Book online in advance – you’ll save time and avoid queues.
Where to stay in Mallorca
Mallorca is quite expensive even for Spain. So I’m talking mainly about accommodation. You can rent beautiful villas in Mallorca, if you go with more people and have a car, the price is great. We stayed with six people in a beautiful villa near Alcudia for less than 500 per night for one.
Port de Pollença or Alcudia in the north or Cala d’Or in the south have nice beaches and a quieter atmosphere. For more lively and urban life I would choose Palma de Mallorca or Magaluf. A lovely town and a good starting point for trips around the north of the island is Sollér.
Tips for accommodation in Mallorca
- Can Alomar Hotel – a luxury boutique hotel in the centre of Palma, with an elegant atmosphere and great access to the sights,
- MHOUSE Boutique Hotel Palma – a modern hotel 100m from Plaza de España, ideal as a base for walking around the old town,
- Hotel Cort – a boutique hotel on Plaza Cort in the centre, with a terrace/swimming area, ideal for those looking for style and comfort.
The best places to see in Mallorca
There’s a lot to see in Mallorca, but it’s actually quite small. The shortest route around it can be around 300 kilometres. The problem is that you can’t quite do it the shortest way because every now and then there’s something you’ll want to drive to, turn off and stop for a swim or a view.
Mallorca is full of lemon trees, by the way, in April when I was here the lemons ripen and I must say that for the whole month the trees and alleys covered with yellow lemons never failed to take my breath away.
Palma de Mallorca
Palma de Mallorca is the capital of Mallorca and its landmark is the unmissable Gothic cathedral of La Seu. In addition, there is the large Plaza Mayor, Bellver Castle and Almudaina Palace. Palma also has a large boat harbour. Palma is a modern Spanish city, with lots of good cafes and restaurants. There are also two markets, Santa Catalina and Oliver.
Valldemossa
Valldemossa is a beautiful historic town with the Cartuja Monastery, where the composer Frédéric Chopin lived. There are beautiful views of the surrounding area. The town is interesting with narrow streets with stone houses, lots of plants and pots.
While you’re in Valldemossa, it’s a “must” to try the coca de patata, which is a kind of local sweet doughnut.
Sóller and Port de Sóller
Sóller is a small town in the western part of Mallorca. It’s probably the most popular tourist town in Mallorca, not many people miss it, but maybe I’m wrong, because it’s quite quiet and has a nice rural atmosphere. In the main square is the church of Sant Bartomeu.
The town of Sóller is also known for its narrow railway line that connects Sóller to the port of Port de Sóller. The line was built in the early 20th century and is still in use as a historic railway. You can take a ride from the centre, the ride costs 7 euros. If you’d rather skip the train experience and save money, bus 204 is 3 euros. The ride takes about 25 minutes.
In Sólerro I liked Sa Botiga de sa Plaça, a small shop with local food and a small garden with a few tables where you can also taste.
Cap de Formentor
The peninsula in the north of Mallorca is famous for its dramatic cliffs and spectacular sea views. The lighthouse at Cap de Formentor is probably the most iconic image of Mallorca, apart from the cathedral in Palma.
Banyalbufar
The small town is famous for its thousand-year-old terraced vineyards built for growing Malvasia wine. It’s more of a short stop for those views. We had a seafood paella here at Son Tomàs, a restaurant that overlooks the terraces.
Alcudia
Alcudia is a historic town with a castle that has well-preserved medieval walls that you can walk around. Inside is a beautiful little town.
At Alcúdia, in Port de Alcúdia, there are beaches suitable for both family holidays and kite surfing.
Petra
I understand if you don’t find Petra interesting enough to visit, but I had to. My town. It happens to be really nice though, even though tourists don’t come here much, it’s inland, almost in the middle of Mallorca. There’s the big church of Sant Pere de Petra and an exceptionally beautiful cemetery (I know, also a weird tourist attraction, but it’s nice).
However, Petra is known as the birthplace of Saint Junipero, the founder of the Franciscan Order. He also has a museum here, the Casa Museu de Fra Juníper Serra.
Alaró
Alaró is a town at the foot of the Tramuntana Mountains, famous for its castle, Castell d’Alaró, which offers breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. The area is ideal for hiking and cycling, with many trails leading to the mountain peaks.
The walk from the town centre to the castle is quite a leisurely stroll, about 8 km with an elevation gain of 552 m, practically all the way up a gentle hill. There are beautiful views along the way, I met sheep several times, and there is a restaurant and parking halfway up. Super views at the top and stables with a few donkeys.
The best beaches in Mallorca
Mallorca is renowned for its beautiful beaches, and the coastline offers snorkelling and diving spots in addition to quiet relaxation.
- Es Trenc – the most famous beach is Es Trenc in the south of the island. It has fine white sand and clear turquoise water. It is part of a nature reserve, so there are no sunbeds or refreshments.
- Playa de Muro – Mallorca’s largest beach is in the bay of Alcúdia. Here, on the other hand, are all the services, including the possibility of water sports.
- Cala Millor – a popular beach with a long promenade on the east coast between Cala Millor and Cala Bona.
- Playa de Formentor – in the north of the island, surrounded by pine trees and mountains. This narrow beach is famous for its white sand and its gradual entry into the water, making it ideal for swimming and water sports. It is accessible both by car and by boat from Puerto de Pollensa.
- Sa Calobra – is known for its dramatic surroundings with cliffs. The beach is rocky and can only be reached through a long tunnel, but it’s worth it!
- Son Serra de Marina – a beach in the north of the island popular with surfers due to its bigger waves. It is surrounded by mountains and offers spectacular views.
- Cala Llombards – a picturesque beach in the southeast.
Things to do in Mallorca
As well as lounging on the beach, roadtripping around Mallorca and sampling great Spanish food, Mallorca is also a great place for hiking, cycling, kite surfing and wine lovers.
GR-221
The GR-221, also known as the Ruta de Pedra en Sec, is a long-distance hiking trail in Mallorca that runs approximately 120-130 km through the Serra de Tramuntana, a Unesco World Heritage Site. The route starts in Sant Elm and ends in Port de Pollença. The trek usually takes 6-8 days and involves an elevation gain of around 5000m, making it a moderately challenging route suitable for beginners and experienced hikers.
There are 7 refugios along the route where you can stay, and you can refill water on some sections. It is advisable to plan the trek outside of summer, more for March, April or October, November when temperatures are more pleasant.
What will you see along the way? The journey starts at the western tip of Mallorca in Sant Elm, where there are beautiful beaches and sea views. The route overlooks the island of Sa Dragonera and continues through the towns of Sollér and Deià. A short distance from the route is Puig Major, Mallorca’s highest mountain. From the top there are breathtaking views of the entire Serra de Tramuntana mountain range. The end is in the town of Pollença in the east of Mallorca.
Cycling in Mallorca
Mallorca has beautiful views and quality roads, making it a paradise for road cycling. It offers both coastal paths and more challenging mountain trails. At the same time, there are plenty of rental facilities for both road and mountain bikes.
Winery
Mallorca has a rich winemaking tradition that dates back to antiquity. Various grape varieties are grown here, such as the typical Mallorcan red Manto Negro, the red Callet and the white Prensal Blanc (Moll).
The main wine regions are Binissalem, Pla i Llevant and Andratx and Serra de Tramuntana. You can visit wineries with a tour and tasting in Bodega Angel, about 20 km from Palma, where the tour costs 15 euros. Bodegas Macia Batle is just next door and they do the tour for 5 euros if you buy at least one bottle.
Kite surfing
In areas such as Alcúdia, Es Trenc or Cala Mesquida, where conditions are ideal thanks to stable winds and wide beaches, there are opportunities for kite surfing. There are several schools for both beginners and advanced kiters. The best time for kite surfing in Mallorca is from May to October, when the winds are stronger and more stable. There are also various kite surfing competitions in the summer.
What to taste in Mallorca
The cuisine in Mallorca is Mediterranean, focusing on local and seasonal ingredients. You can try classic Spanish dishes such as paella and tapas, or specialities from Mallorca itself.
A favourite here is pa amb oli, which is not so different from the Spanish pan con tomate, which is bread with olive oil and crushed tomatoes, sometimes also with ham or cheese. It is eaten for breakfast like the sweet pastry ensaimada, which is a twisted spiral topped with sugar, and can be just that or filled with jam. The sobrasada, a sausage made from pork, peppers and spices, is also widely used in Spain.
Where is Mallorca
Mallorca is the largest island in Spain, it belongs to the Balearic Islands, which are in the Mediterranean Sea. Mallorca lies between the islands of Ibiza and Menorca, about 200 km off the Spanish coast, east of Valencia and south of Barcelona. Algeria is already south of Mallorca.
When to go to Mallorca
Mallorca is of course a popular summer destination with all that that entails. There are a lot of tourists there. So if you don’t have to use your summer holidays to visit Mallorca, it’s better to go there any other time. As for warm weather for swimming, it will be from May to October.
If it’s not swimming and water sports you’re after, but rather the beauty of nature or trekking and cycling, Mallorca is beautiful in the other months too, with 300 days of sunshine a year, so even if it’s not hot, the weather will be nice. I was in April and it was over a day for a t-shirt and a cooler swim. But even in December the temperature here averages around 17ºC.
How to get to Mallorca
Mallorca has its own airport , Palma de Mallorca (PMI). The flight from Prague takes 2 and a half hours and is operated by low-cost carriers Ryanair or EasyJet, so you can get a ticket for around 2,500, often for less.
You can also take a ferry from Valencia and Barcelona, which takes around 7 hours. So if you’re considering a roadtrip to Spain, a trip to Mallorca may be in the cards.
Transport and how to travel in Mallorca
From Palma de Mallorca Airport you can get to the centre of Palma in about 20 minutes on the A1 bus, which runs every few minutes, costs €5 and you can buy a ticket from the driver.
Mallorca has an extensive bus network, so you can get virtually anywhere. I spent most of my time in Mallorca without a car and it was fine.
But a car is best anyway if you want to travel around the island, and you do, because there’s a lot to see. If you’re not coming by your own car on the ferry, it’s best to book a rental car at the airport.
You can also travel by boat not only to the nearby islands of Ibiza and Menorca, but also intercity Pollensa – Formentor or Port Sollér – Sa Calobra.
