Mallorca was my home for 7 months so I got to know the island pretty well. Mallorca is one of those destinations that I wouldn’t necessarily visit on my own, but since I was there for work I made the most out of my time there and saw as much as possible.
Mallorca is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea, the biggest of four Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera). The official languages are Spanish (Castellano) and Mallorquín, which is a Mallorcan dialect somewhat similar to Catalan. Since Mallorca is a massive tourist destination particularly popular for British and German tourists, you won’t have a problem getting by with English as a tourist.
When to go
When is the best time to go to Mallorca greatly depends on what kind of experience you want to focus on. June and September are the best for enjoying beautiful beaches. April – May and October – November are great for sightseeing.
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If you want to enjoy the beautiful beaches and do some sightseeing: June and September is when I would recommend you to visit Mallorca. It’s warm but not impossibly hot and humid, the sea is warm enough to swim and it’s not overcrowded with tourists.
July and August are the hottest months and the peak of the season. It gets very hot and humid (could be even above 35C). If you’re only interested in beaches then you can simply cool off by jumping into the sea, however sightseeing in this hot weather can be quite challenging.
If you’re more interested in sightseeing: I would say April/May and October/November would be the best, however all months except for the hot July and August are great. The season in Mallorca is from May through October. If you decide to stay in Mallorca in any other month, you’ll find a lot more peace and your vacation will be more enjoyable.
If you’re flexible with your dates, I would avoid going to Mallorca in July and August. Since the island is small, yet a very popular European destination for tourists, your experience of Mallorca for example in the beginning of June will be very different from to the end of July. The beaches are mostly small so they get busy quite fast. You might be waiting in lines for cafes and restaurants struggling to get a table. Finding a parking spot will be challenging as well. If I were to go on vacation to Mallorca, I would go in the last two weeks of June or the first two weeks of September to get the best of both worlds.
Where to stay
Mallorca is a small island, so if you plan on renting a car, you can explore the whole island regardless of where you’re staying. To make sure you’re closer to what is most important to you, stay in the following areas:
- North or East if you want to be close to the most beautiful beaches.
- West if you want to wake up in a true Spanish village surrounded by the Tramontana mountains.
- South if you want to be close to the airport, the capital or your main goal is to party.
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North - Read MoreLess
Alcudia
The North is a popular place to stay, it’s home to the longest beach on the island called “Playa de Muro” with crystal clear waters, fine sand and practically no rocks. It’s popular for families with kids due to more shallow waters (I guess I’m in this category since I prefer shallow waters?) but also it’s the best area for water sports.
There’s plenty of things to do in the evening as well, either more chill options or if you want to experience the night life. Visit the old town of Alcudia and see the old wall, go for an evening stroll in Port de Pollença and end the night with a delicious dinner. Visit the most northern part of the island, Cap de Formentor and Formentor beach. If you want to ride a horse during the sunset, visit Rancho Grande horse ranch, recommendable for kids as well. I would look for accommodation in Alcudia as it has the perfect combination of everything.
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The South and southwestern part of the island is the most crowded part and known for its three major locations. The South does have beaches, however, not those gorgeous ones that are all over the ads of Mallorca.
The benefits of staying in the South is, that it’s a good starting point for driving to any other place on the island. The Tramuntana mountains and the villages are close, you’re close to the capital and airport. However, if you want to be close to those stunning Mallorcan beaches, the South is not the place for you.
Palma, the capital
I recommend staying in Palma to those who want to discover the city more in detail. There is a beach not too far from the cathedral. Palma is about 15 min drive from the airport.
Compared to other areas in the South, Palma is more diverse, and you’ll actually get a cultural experience. You can buy tickets for the Palma sightseeing bus where you can get off and on at designated stops and explore the city if you don’t have a car. One of the main attractions is the Cathedral La Seu and the royal palace of Palma. While I personally did not enter either, I appreciated the beauty of the architecture from the outside. If you wish to enter, I suggest buying tickets beforehand online, to avoid waiting in the long line at the entrance.
Visit Bellver Castle, today it’s home to the national museum of the city of Palma. You can also admire the beautiful view of Palma and its port from the castle.
One of the main attractions is also the train ride from Palma to Soller on the orange express. Buy the tickets for both ways online in advance as the train only goes a few times per day and tour agencies buy out a lot of the tickets. You don’t want to end up having to take a very expensive taxi from Soller back to Palma.
Playa de Palma, Arenal
This is what many call the German party area. Imagine groups of teenagers or young adults walking around with matching T-shirts, Adidas socks and slides. They will probably already be partying by 9am. In this area a lot of the restaurants and bars are German, the signs are German too, you might find it difficult to order in Spanish. This place is popular for younger Germans who want to party in a mostly German environment. If you don’t see yourself enjoying in this environment, don’t stay in this area unless you find accommodation at a good price and you don’t intend to spend the day in the area.
The whole area goes along the coast. The beach is OK, but as previously mentioned you won’t find breathtaking beaches in this area if that’s what you’re looking for.
You might find on certain websites that the Palma Aquarium is a must see in Playa de Palma. I however would (only) recommend it for families with kids or for someone who’s never been to an aquarium or snorkeled before. The aquarium is quite modest so don’t expect a big aquarium such as the one at the Dubai Mall for example. There’s also a waterpark in Playa de Palma, a bit further from Balneario 0.
Palmanova, Magaluf
Many call it the British party area. The difference between Playa de Palma and Palmanova (apart from one being a German area and the other British), is that the beach in Palmanova is quite nicer I must admit. I personally prefer Palmanova, however it is still a party area for the younger generation, so I do not recommend staying here unless that’s what you’re looking for.
I did go to BCM in Magaluf, the biggest club on the island. During high season, different artists make an appearance at this club. Me being a fan of urban music, you know I had pay them a visit when Justin Quiles and Dalex were there. Duuuh.
You can visit the Western waterpark or if you’re travelling with kids, visit the Katmandu Park for children.
Can Pastilla
Can Pastilla is a few minutes drive from the airport and is right between Palma and Playa de Palma. The beach is nicer than in Palma and prices a bit lower. Compared to Playa de Palma, this is not a party area, it is quite calm. So if you want to stay somewhere near Palma and the airport but still want a hotel at a beach with some more peace, I would suggest staying in Can Pastilla.
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The East is where almost all the most beautiful beaches are located. The beaches are called »calas« which in Mallorquín means cove. If you’re just looking to relax at the beach, find accommodation in the East. On the other hand, if you’re someone who wants to see a bit more during your holiday, you’ll have to rent a car in order to get anywhere else.
There are many beaches here and also a few small towns that had developed around them. Popular amongst tourists are Cala Radjada, Cala Millor and Cala D’Or. There are many other beaches in the East, however you might find that there isn’t a lot to do around there. Drive to Cala Mesquida, Cala Anguila, Cala Llambards, Cala Pi and Cala Figuera. The latter is a small fisherman’s village, it would be my go-to place for a stroll and lunch. You can also visit the Caves of Drach and the Rafael Nadal Academy. There is a part of the academy which is a mix of an entertainment point (more so for kids) and museum-like expositions with interesting facts about Rafael Nadal, his and other players’ rackets etc. You’ll also find pieces of clothing and equipment donated by other great sportsmen, for example LeBron James’ shoes, Fernando Alonso’s race car, Mickael Jordan’s jersey etc. This could be interesting for tennis lovers, Rafael Nadal’s fans and kids interested in games and entertainment.
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The western side of the island is most known for the Tramontana mountains which are part of the UNESCO world heritage. Hidden in the mountains you’ll find the most beautiful villages, all of which are fairly close to each other. if you have a car, you can explore all of them in one or two days. On this side of the island, you’ll find only few beaches, so this are is more for exploring the villages, hiking, cycling etc.
The most popular points to see are listed below.
Soller and Port de Soller: Soller is best known for its gothic church in the middle of the square and the tram that goes to Port de Soller. If you’re travelling by car, Port de Soller is a few minutes away, it’s quite bigger than Soller and there is a bit more to do and explore.
Deià: even the late Princess Diana paid a visit to this small but breathtaking village. Since it’s very small village with limited parking space you might find the best day to go to be Sunday, as there are less people.
Valldemossa: is personally my favorite village of all of them, for different reasons. Parking is the easiest compared to other villages (yes knowing that I won’t have problems with finding parking is important for me, I get frustrated quickly if it takes too long to find a parking spot). I usually put the GPS in google maps to »Valldemossa parking 2«, where I always managed to find space. In Valldemossa you’ll see streets full of flowerpots everywhere, on the floors, the walls and even hanging from above. In Valldemossa you can visit the Fredrich Chopin museum which is in a monastery where Chopin lived. If you’re at a cafe/restaurant you might want to try their local pastry »coca de patata« which is made from potato bread. Most of the cafes and restaurants are quite small with limited tables and on the street. If you want to be a bit more secluded, have an amazing meal or drink overlooking the village of Mallorca, go to Can Uetam cafe. They have many tables, it’s very aesthetically pleasing, and the view is incredible.
Jardines de Alfabia: about 10 min from Valldemossa you’ll find the most beautiful gardens with an old manor house. You can do a tour around the old house and see how families from the upper class used to live in Mallorca centuries ago. You’ll find many ponds and palm trees. My favorite part is that this is not a point for massive tourism, which means it’s one of the few places you’ll be able to enjoy in more peace even during high season. At the end of the gardens, you’ll also be able to sit down and have a drink with a table right next to the beautiful pond surrounded by the palm trees. For those looking for location for a wedding, this is a perfect wedding location spot as well!
Sa Foradada viewpoint: close to Valldemossa you’ll find what is in my opinion the best view for sunsets on Mallorca. There’s a cafe where you can sit down and enjoy the view. TOP TIP: if you’re planning on seeing the sunset, you won’t be the only one, as it’s a very popular place very likely flooded with people. So, make sure to arrive at least 1h (if not even more) before sunset time, otherwise it will be impossible to find parking.
Es Guix restaurant: I’m someone who isn’t really into fancy restaurants that much, however this restaurant has such a beautiful location that I decided to go just because of this. It’s hidden in the Tramontana mountains close to the village of Lluc, so you’ll be driving on a very serpent road. Make sure to take medication if you tend to get car sick easily. Also, it would be fantastic if you don’t run over any cyclist while driving there, that road is very popular for cyclers. And don’t forget to make a stop to enjoy the view of the mountains.
Transportation
I highly advise renting a car in Mallorca. It’s a small island so you’ll really be able to see everything you want to see, regardless of in which part of the island you’re staying. Taxis can be expensive and bus connections are limited in areas other than the South.
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Driving in Mallorca is easy, however watch out for those speed limits, on the highway there are quite a few radars. If I remember correctly the law allows 5 km/h of tolerance over the speed limit. If you go more than that you might get a ticket (usually about 50 EUR if you pay within a certain period of time). At least compared to Slovenia this is quite expensive and you can go 5 km/h over the speed limit quite quickly by accident.
After my first few weeks in Mallorca I realised that there was a radar on my way to work. I paid so many tickets because they all at the same time, that I’m expecting an official status of a donor from the Mallorcan government!
Parking
There are a few things to take into consideration when parking. I highly recommend renting a car and getting the option of full insurance. Mallorcans aren’t really careful when it comes to parking, so you might return to your parked car with a few scratches and bumps. When parking make sure you’re not parking on a yellow line, otherwise you’ll quickly get a ticket or even worse, get your car towed. The Mallorcan police is quite effective when it comes to giving out fines so I wouldn’t really count on not getting a ticket if you’re parked in a wrong place.
The parking garages are mostly very small, the driveway can be very narrow. Also the parking spots on the streets where you parallel park are not marked. So you might find only a very small space available. That’s why it’s best to rent the smallest car possible to make your parking experience easier. How would one park an Audi Q7 for example I have no idea. #richpeopleproblems
When it comes to parking at beaches, you’ll most likely find a bigger public parking place near a beach. Most of the parking places around beaches are free. In my experience, when going to the beach by car, it’s best to look up the nearest public parking on the map. If you put the actual beach in your GPS you might arrive at the beach from the other side where parking is difficult and limited.
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Taxis are quite expensive and getting one in certain areas can be a challenge. Reception at your hotel can call the taxi for you. Finding one on the street might be hard depending on the area. In busier places there might be taxi stands, but during high season you might find yourself standing in a line for a taxi. The main issue is that there’s so many tourists during the season that there are simply not enough taxis available. I found the same problem to be in Mallorca’s sister island Ibiza. I will say that during nighttime in Palma it shouldn’t be a problem finding a taxi on the main streets (Plaza España, Plaza Reina etc..).
If you’re arriving at the airport in high season, the taxi line will be insane. So, I highly suggest you organize your transfer in advance by either renting the car at the airport or booking a transport in advance.
There is Uber in Mallorca but it’s even more expensive than the already expensive taxis. I would only advise using Uber as a last resort.
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The bus connections are good in the South. If you’re staying in Palmanova/Magaluf, Playa de Palma/Arenal or Can Pastilla it will be easy to take a bus for example to Palma or to the airport. You can buy your ticket on the bus by paying the driver either by cash or card. If you’re located relatively near the airport, you might be able to take the local bus from the airport A1 or A2.
From Palma, there are buses you can take to some villages on the island, however I personally feel like it’s too much of a hustle and would not recommend using a bus in those areas.
Top beaches
Wherever I go, beaches are the first thing on my list of places to see. Here are some of my favorites.
Playa de Muro
The longest beach on the island in the North, with crystal clear and shallow waters. It’s suitable for children as well. This is where you can also do some water sports activities such as surfing and kiteboarding on those windy days.
Playa Mesquida
In the Northeast, you’ll find Playa Mesquida which is my favorite beach on Mallorca. It’s one of the very few beaches with an amazing restaurant/beach bar (an actual restaurant, not just a few tables and chairs sitting in the sand) with a stunning view of the beach. Since the beach is quite big, it’s perfect during the months of July and August when it’s high season. For desert lovers, you’ll also find sand dunes behind the beach, which make the beach even more unique. There’s also more parking spots available compared to other beaches on the island.
Playa S'Amarador
This beach is in a natural reserve park. You’ll have to pay for parking and walk about 7 min (if you’re a slow walker like me) to get to the beach. Getting there might be a bit difficult as the GPS takes you down the wrong road and wants you to make turn where it’s forbidden. When you’ll be approaching the beach make sure to look out for signs for the beach. I have been to this beach twice and both times I got lost because google maps gives you wrong directions to the beach and wants you to make a turn into the wrong direction. So as you’ll be approaching the beach, watch out for signs “playa” or “beach”. Be attentive as at some point you’ll notice a sign with a QR code for the directions to the beach that the locals put up. Scan that code and you’ll get the coordinates of the parking from which you then walk to the beach. Many thanks to whoever put up that QR code sign!
Cala Marcal
This beach is quite big, but since it’s not very popular it doesn’t get too crowded. It has a shower and a beach bar. On the left side off the beach side you’ll see a few restaurants with an amazing view of the beach. Kaikuana Bech restaurant has the best cappuccino I have had on the island and their food was incredible as well (11/10 for their chipirones!).
Cala Pi
On the internet you’ll find everybody writing that Cala Pi is one of the most beautiful beaches and has the reputation of being the most instagrammable beach. My opinion: the view from the top overlooking the cala is incredible I completely agree, you’ll get some amazing pictures there. However, after walking down the stairs to the actual beach, you’ll notice that the sand looks more like dirt and the sea is quite dirty. I would suggest making a stop here and enjoy the view, take a few pictures then drive to a different cala if you want to spend the day at a nice beach.
Cala Llambards
Cala Llambards is one of the smaller beaches but beautiful and clean”. If you’re staying somewhere around the south this might be the closest nicer beach. At least it was for me when I was living in Playa de Palma.
Playa de Muro
The longest beach on the island in the North, with crystal clear and shallow waters. It’s suitable for children as well. This is where you can also do some water sports activities such as surfing and kiteboarding on those windy days.
Playa Mesquida
In the Northeast, you’ll find Playa Mesquida which is my favorite beach on Mallorca. It’s one of the very few beaches with an amazing restaurant/beach bar (an actual restaurant, not just a few tables and chairs sitting in the sand) with a stunning view of the beach. Since the beach is quite big, it’s perfect during the months of July and August when it’s high season. For desert lovers, you’ll also find sand dunes behind the beach, which make the beach even more unique. There’s also more parking spots available compared to other beaches on the island.
Playa S'Amarador
This beach is in a natural reserve park. You’ll have to pay for parking and walk about 7 min (if you’re a slow walker like me) to get to the beach. Getting there might be a bit difficult as the GPS takes you down the wrong road and wants you to make turn where it’s forbidden. When you’ll be approaching the beach make sure to look out for signs for the beach. I have been to this beach twice and both times I got lost because google maps gives you wrong directions to the beach and wants you to make a turn into the wrong direction. So as you’ll be approaching the beach, watch out for signs “playa” or “beach”. Be attentive as at some point you’ll notice a sign with a QR code for the directions to the beach that the locals put up. Scan that code and you’ll get the coordinates of the parking from which you then walk to the beach. Many thanks to whoever put up that QR code sign!
Cala Marçal
This beach is quite big, but since it’s not very popular it doesn’t get too crowded. It has a shower and a beach bar. On the left side off the beach side you’ll see a few restaurants with an amazing view of the beach. Kaikuana Bech restaurant has the best cappuccino I have had on the island and their food was incredible as well (11/10 for their chipirones!).
Cala Pi
On the internet you’ll find everybody writing that Cala Pi is one of the most beautiful beaches and has the reputation of being the most instagrammable beach. My opinion: the view from the top overlooking the cala is incredible I completely agree, you’ll get some amazing pictures there. However, after walking down the stairs to the actual beach, you’ll notice that the sand looks more like dirt and the sea is quite dirty. I would suggest making a stop here and enjoy the view, take a few pictures then drive to a different cala if you want to spend the day at a nice beach.
Cala Llambards
Cala Llambards is one of the smaller beaches but beautiful and clean”. If you’re staying somewhere around the south this might be the closest nicer beach. At least it was for me when I was living in Playa de Palma.
Tips and hints
Living in Mallorca for 7 months has given me quite a bit of insight and experience. At this point I would describe myself as a professional tourist in Mallorca. If this will make even one person’s experience in Mallorca better or easier, my job is done.
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For cappuccino lovers: Mallorca in general isn’t exactly famous for its great coffee, which is really an understatement. During my first few weeks of living in Mallorca a fellow Cuban gave me advice after she saw my face drinking a (not so great) cappuccino. Apparently, if you don’t order cappuccino, but “café con leche y espuma” (coffee with milk and foam) which in fact is a cappuccino – they somehow make it differently and is at least drinkable. I thought that advice was funny but after ordering coffee with milk and foam instead of cappuccino at a café where I had been before, I realized that it’s the best advice one could’ve given me. Don’t ask me where the logic is, because I have no idea. I just know that after drinking barely drinkable cappuccinos for a few weeks, my experience improved once I started asking for coffee with milk and foam. The best cappuccino was in Kaukuana, a beach restaurant in Cala Marcal, it was exactly what I’m used to from Slovenia, bless their souls.
For all the shisha/hookah lovers: it’s hard to find a place with good shisha, at most places it’s pretty bad and expensive. The best ones I have had were in a Dominican bar called “Zona cero”. It’s in Palma, but not in the city center, which makes parking nearby free and quite easy. You’ll get an amazing shisha there, cocktails are unique and not expensive, and you’ll have the privilege of listening to some urban music. The other great shisha place I found was in the city center of Palma called “Karisma”.
The weather: in the summer there can sometimes be quite a difference in temperature between the North and the South. In general, I haven’t noticed any difference in the temperature, but in the hottest months of July and August while spending my day off in Alcudia I realized that it was 30C there but 35C in Palma. So if you plan on going to Mallorca during those months you might find that it’s not unbearably hot in the North as it is in the South.
Palma: I discovered that the best day to go to Palma was a Sunday for me. Of course, it depends on what exactly you want out of your day in Palma. On a Sunday you won’t be able to enter the Cathedral (so if you’re looking for a church to attend mass, you’ll have to look elsewhere). Why Sunday? Since some shops are closed, there is significantly less people in the city, meaning you can really admire the streets and architecture of the city, which on a weekday you might overlook. All restaurants and bars are open, even several shops are open. However if you want to go on a shopping spree choose another day of the week.
The “British” and “German” area: Mallorca is a popular tourist destination, but I never realized there are areas in the South that feel like a German and British colony. The areas of Playa de Palma, Arenal, Magaluf and Palmanova are areas where the tourists are mostly German and British teenagers or young adults who come to Mallorca to party. The bars, restaurants, sign, everything is in German and English. So, before booking accommodation in the areas make sure to read my “Where to go”, “South” section, so you know what to expect.
High season and crowds: during high season (July & August) it gets really crowded. You’re experience in Mallorca in these months compared to the other months might be completely different.
Buying groceries: the best place to buy groceries is in the bigger markets such as Mercadona, Lidl, Carefour. Throughout the cities you’ll find small stores and shops on every corner, however the prices of the groceries there are significantly higher. You’ll pay several euros for 200ml of sour cream!? So, if any of you have rented an apartment and intend on cooking at home, it’s better to find one of the markets I mentioned above.
Eating out: if you’re planning to go out for dinner, I highly suggest you make a reservation. Otherwise, you might find yourself stuck waiting in a line for all the good restaurants.
Generous cocktails: in Mallorca they are very generous with the amount of alcohol they put in the cocktails and are quite strong.
Shopping: Mallorca is mostly very expensive, however shopping for everything except food is cheaper. You’ll find many cute shops on the island with all kinds of nonsense, my favorite shop being ALE-HOP. I’m not big on shopping, but that shop was my happy place! You’ll find everything from massage equipment, technology, clothing, diaries and notebooks, kid’s toys, beachwear, backpacks etc.