The Ultimate Travel Guide to Palma De Mallorca

With the grey European winter setting in, Nigel and I decided to go on a weekend getaway to Palma De Mallorca. Our trip was short, 3 nights and 4 days but we totally enjoyed it. 

As a big island, Mallorca has a lot to offer in terms of activities and also transport options. Geographically, Mallorca has two mountain ranges Serra de Tramuntana to the north and the Serres de Llevant to the south and a beautiful plain in between. It is home to long sandy beaches with warm seawater where you can find great places for watersports and swimming.

Disclaimer: If you’re looking to escape from Germany, then Mallorca is not the place to be. Mallorca is ‘colonised’ by Germans in the sense that they’re the main tourists and so in a way, you might feel like you’re in Germany.

Firstly – when should you go to Palma De Mallorca? 

The best time to visit Palma De Mallorca is March-May when the weather is comfortably hot (around 25 degrees) and not to mention it is not yet too busy with tourists. Don’t make the rookie mistake we did of going during winter because it will be chilly and windy. But honestly winter with the sun is definitely more bearable than winter with a grey sky. 

The first thing to do 

La Seu Cathedral was on the top of our list. It’s a large and charming cathedral which is standing in the centre of Palma.  We found its Roman Gothic architecture to be intriguing. 

Thereafter we did tour the city in Palma. It’s best to do this first since most activities are far and would need more time. We admired the architecture and hustle and bustle of Old Town. Then, we stopped for a coffee at one of the cafes and watched people. 

This part of the island is filled with boutique stores laden with beautiful merchandise for those that like shopping.

To cover more ground, I would recommend hiring some bikes and cycling through. In hindsight, we could have done more sightseeing if we had done so. 

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Where to stay in Mallorca

The northeast side of the island is the place to be if you want easy access to beautiful the picturesque coast at Cala Agulla. 

Staying close to Puerto Portals, a yacht-filled harbour will give you access to its first-class restaurants, bars and boutiques that come with a hefty price tag.

For a Spanish rural escape, you want to stay close to the foot of the Tramuntana mountains or close to the Formentor Peninsula.

Those who like lounging by the beach should head down to the south close to Es Trenc, the island’s best beach for glittering blue waters. In historic Deia surrounding mountains and isolated roads make for an idyllic atmosphere, but the prices tend to be expensive in this area.

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Do I need a car in Mallorca?

Mallorca is a big island and most of the activities are about water, beaches and hiking. Some of the hidden beaches and coves are best accessed by car because the distances are usually long. If you can get a car you can do way more sightseeing in Mallorca. That being said, public transportation is easy in Mallorca, the bus fares are cheap costing about 2 euros per person without transfer.

Touring Mallorca by bike is a fantastic way to see the island. We didn’t get the chance to rent bikes though but there are loads of places to hire cycles from. 

How to get to Mallorca

Flying is almost certainly the quickest and most convenient method of travel to the island of Mallorca. There’s a wide choice of airlines that offer flights at competitive prices. Some international flights in and out of the island are seasonal and only operate between May and October, but more and more airlines are running throughout the year.

For Something Adventurous: The Caves of Drach

At 1200 meters wide and 25 meters deep, the Caves of Drach are the hidden underbelly of the island’s East Coast. Featuring one of the largest underground lakes in the world, the tour is one of a kind. The sheer beauty and drama of the space shouldn’t be missed. This is a mistake we committed, we weren’t mobile so we couldn’t tour the caves.

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Other things to do

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• And if you like heights but think Jungleparc sounds like a bit too much effort, you can appreciate Mallorca from above with a hot air balloon flight. We recommend Mallorca Balloons if you feel like taking to the sky.
• One of the nicest tours of the island you can take is the perfect pairing of walking and wine – you’ll really feel like you’ve earned that drink! You can find out more about some great itineraries at Mallorca Hiking.

Dishes to try

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• Tumbet is more of a side dish than a main meal, but this Balearic take on ratatouille tastes amazing.
• Sobrassada is a local spicy sausage cooked in a huge number of ways – it’s even eaten on bread with honey!

• And any trip to Mallorca wouldn’t be complete without trying some seafood – the lobster stew known as calderata is one of the nicest ways to get a taste of the ocean.
• Lastly, are you even in Spain if you don’t try some Paella? 

This is a round-up of all the things you definitely have to do if you go to Santorini. Let me know if you would have more information and I’d be sure to get back to you!