Mallorca: Sun, Sand, and the Sparkling Mediterranean Escape

Catedral-Basílica de Santa María de Mallorca

Mallorca is a favorite vacation destination for many European tourists, especially Germans and English visitors.

Even after living in Germany for more than 10 years, Mallorca was not on my radar, as I was more attracted to the colder countries in the north. I was busy chasing the northern lights, reindeer, and snow—lots and lots of snow. Finally, after having enough of the cold, I decided to chase some waves on sunny beaches. Mallorca is perfect in many ways. Palma airport is just two and a half hours away by flight from Düsseldorf. So, it’s far enough to enter the "sunny region," yet close enough to arrive before the flight becomes boring or tiring. Bonus points: it's in the same time zone and uses the same currency, making it hassle-free!

Mallorca has a lot to offer. During our 6-day trip, we spent two days relaxing on and around the beach, exploring numerous beach bars and restaurants. Surprisingly, the Indian food was much tastier than what we’ve experienced in Germany.

We were also eager to explore the island, and we found that car rentals were surprisingly inexpensive compared to other tourist destinations. We planned our itinerary based on our interests and time constraints.

Caution: Even though Mallorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands, it still feels small compared to the number of tourists with cars. It's advisable to check for parking at each location before visiting to make things less stressful when you arrive. Parking spots were full even in September, so it would be even more difficult during the high season. Be sure to read the latest reviews for updated rules, as these sometimes change, such as whether parking is limited to residents or if there are restricted hours.

1. Palma – The Capital City

Palma is the capital of the Spanish island of Mallorca (Majorca). As you leave the airport and head towards the city, you'll notice many traditional windmills dotting the landscape. I found some interesting details about them here: Windmills of Mallorca.

The city's most iconic landmark is the massive Santa María Cathedral, a Gothic structure that was begun in the 13th century and overlooks the Bay of Palma. We purchased the €25 ticket, which included access to the church, the terrace, and the art gallery. We visit churches for their architecture, interior decoration, and the calming energy felt in places of worship. This church is more impressive from the outside than from within. As for the terrace, it’s worth skipping, especially if you’ve visited other spectacular terraces, like those in Milan or Barcelona.

We skipped the following attractions in the city:

• Castell de Bellver: To the west of the city, the hilltop Bellver Castle stands as a unique medieval fortress with its distinctive circular shape.
• Mercat de l’Olivar: A historic market hall filled with vendors selling fresh produce, cheese, seafood, pastries, and prepared foods.
• Ferrocarril de Sóller: The quaint, narrow-gauge wooden train, dating back to 1912, travels along a scenic route between Sóller and Palma.

2. Sóller

Sóller is a charming town renowned for its beautiful natural scenery and historic architecture. Visitors can explore the picturesque main square, Plaça de sa Constitució, lined with cafés and shops, and admire the stunning modernist church, Sant Bartomeu. Unfortunately, we could only view the church from the outside, as it was closed during our visit.

A vintage tram connects Sóller to the nearby port town of Port de Sóller. While we heard that the ride is breathtaking, we decided to skip it due to time constraints and opted to visit the port by car instead.

3. Port de Sóller

Port de Sóller features a small beach and a rocky shoreline, beautifully surrounded by the majestic mountains. We enjoyed a lovely meal there before taking a short break to soak in the stunning views.

4. Cala de Deià

For us, Cala de Deià was the most disappointing stop on our itinerary. The last 5 kilometers to reach the cove were challenging to drive, and upon arrival, we discovered that it looked nothing like the pictures on Google Maps. After reading some reviews, I found that many others had experienced the same letdown. Although there is a popular restaurant that offers great views, it is quite expensive and mostly full. We opted to have snacks there.

View from the restaurant

5. Valldemossa 

Valldemossa is a picturesque village known for its charming cobblestone streets and historic Carthusian monastery, where composer Frédéric Chopin spent a winter. We timed our visit to the monastery to enjoy the 15-minute piano recitals included with the ticket. Valldemossa offers visitors beautiful views and delightful cafés. 

6. Alcudia

Alcudia boasts a beautiful white sand beach that attracts many young families with small children. During our brief visit, we noticed an overall quiet vibe compared to Palma, even though it was still bustling with tourists.

7. Far de Formentor

Far de Formentor is a lighthouse located at the northeastern tip of the island, and the journey to reach this point is adventurous, offering stunning views.

The road leading to the lighthouse is quite narrow, allowing just enough space for two buses to pass each other in opposite directions. Access by car is restricted due to a lack of parking spaces at the top and the narrow road. Visitors can travel by bicycle or public transport bus. The last opportunity to park is near Formentor Beach, but even in September, it can be quite crowded. We parked at Port de Pollença, which is one of the starting points for one of the two buses that run every 40 minutes; the other bus departs from Alcudia. The two buses always travel together on their upward and downward journeys, making multiple stops along the route to allow passengers to enjoy the scenic spots. Unfortunately, we didn’t get off at any stops due to time constraints, but that’s something we plan to do next time.

During our return journey, we noticed that the bus was so full that it couldn't pick up all the passengers waiting at the stop, leaving them to wait another 40 minutes in hopes that the next bus would have available seats. Traveling is not always sunshine and rainbows; it comes with its own set of challenges.

Once at the top, the views are absolutely breathtaking. We enjoyed some snacks and drinks at the café while soaking in the bright sunshine. We also encountered several goats along the way, one of which even visited us at the top!

8. Manacor

My husband loves tennis and follows the sport closely. Before visiting the island, I didn’t know that Rafael Nadal was born in Manacor. Instead of exploring the city, we went directly to the Rafael Nadal Museum. Half of the museum serves as an experience center dedicated to virtual reality and games, while the other half showcases trophies, many of which are replicas, won by Nadal and other Spanish players. It is a small museum. We would have liked to see more memorabilia, trophies, and information related to the tennis star. 

After visiting the museum, we were free to explore the area around the Nadal Academy, where we enjoyed watching budding young players practice their skills.

9. S'Almonia

The island is home to many coves and hidden gems, though some of them are not so hidden anymore. After reading reviews about how crowded popular spots can get, I decided to avoid them on this trip and instead visit this picturesque bay surrounded by rugged cliffs. We saw some local boys jumping from the cliffs, while others were swimming in the crystal-clear water. It wasn’t too crowded, probably because it was later in the afternoon, making it a worthwhile stop.

10. Drach Caves

The Drach Caves are a spectacular natural wonder located on the eastern coast of Mallorca. Renowned for their stunning stalactite and stalagmite formations, these caves also feature one of the largest underground lakes in the world, Lake Martel. Visitors are admitted in groups, and on the lake, musicians arrive in boats to perform 15-minute classical music pieces, creating a truly magical atmosphere. We purchased tickets in advance on their website, which clearly explains the entire process to avoid any surprises—except for the number of people allowed per group; in my opinion, they permit too many.

Next to the parking lot, we noticed some people heading onto a trail. After checking the map, we decided to follow the path, which led us to a beautiful viewpoint.

11. B15

Our hotel was near beach B15. In Palma, the beaches are conveniently nicknamed from B01 to B15, with "B" standing for Balneario. The most famous beach is B06, known as Ballermann, which is a lively area and a popular party destination. Overall, along this stretch of beaches, the shops and restaurants stay open until late evening, contributing to the hustle and bustle even on weekdays. The buses run regularly, even late at night, making it very convenient for partygoers.

All the beaches feature recliners and umbrellas, offering varying degrees of comfort. In Port de Sóller, we noticed that some umbrellas had lockers attached to their sticks for keeping valuables, but ours did not. The rates for two people ranged from €18 for wooden recliners and small umbrellas to €54 for cushioned white recliners with larger umbrellas. The price applies for the entire day, regardless of what time you claim your spot. The water was crystal clear in the mornings but became less so as the evening approached.

Next time, we would like to visit some popular coves like Caló del Moro and Sa Calobra, go on a long hike and if I can overcome my fear of water, it would be fun to join a kayak tour that takes the group into a cave.

I recently read that Antalya has replaced Mallorca as the #1 tourist destination for Germans. However, we still have so much to explore in the Schengen region that Turkey will have to wait. We're already looking forward to our next beach vacation!