Where to Visit

There is something for everyone in Mallorca!

North-A little bit of everything

If you are traveling aroun the north, we recommend visiting Pollensa, Puerto Pollensa, Formentor, Alcudia, and Puerto Alcudia. There, you will find luxury hotels, sublime beaches, world-class cycling, and family-frienly holidaying.

Take a look at this article for more information on where to go and what to do.

South-Palma, long beaches, and nightlife

The southern region of Mallorca includes Palma as well as some of the best beaches and lively resorts. While we tend to stay away from the touristy vibes of El Arenal and Can Pastilla, we do love visiting Colonia St Jordi which contains Es Trenc, Santanyi, Sa Rapita, Cala Pi, and Cala Mondrago that doubles as a nature park.

Check out this article to learn more about exploring this region of the island.

East-Narrow coves, caves, ruins

The tranquil east region of Mallorca includes Portocolom, Manacor, Arta, and Colonia de Sant Pere. If you like tennis, Manacor is the hometown of Rafa Nadal and includes a tennis sports center and museum. If you enjoy more of the outdoors, there is great climbing and hiking along the coast of the east. Additionally, there are some astounding caves in East Mallorca that are accessible to the public along Arta, Drac, an Hams. This landscapes also lends itself to delicious wine tasting locations.

Check out what else there is to do on this side of the island by visiting this article.

West-Mountain, villages, cliffs

If you want a sneak peek of our wedding space, check out the west coast and explore the Tramuntana mountains. Here you will also find some of the most breathtaking towns like Deia, Soller, and Valdemossa. If you stop in Soller, we recommend stopping at Eugenios Wood Factory to pick up some pieces made from olive trees. If you stop in Soller or Deia, check out the sunset and delicious food. Don't miss out on Valdemoosa with its beautiful streets and shops. If you are feeling adventurous, you can hike between the towns!

Inland-Farms, villages, sanctuaries

Across the inland of the island, we recommend visiting Inca to shop for some woderfully crafte items, or tours the wineries spread across Binissalem.

What to Do

For the Thrill Seeker...this is our disclaimer...we are not liable and please take out insurance (::facepalm::)

Are you an adrenaline junkie...or just want to travel back home with an epic story? Mallorca has a wide range of landscapes to choose your adventure from, including the mediterranean sea, rocky cliffs (recently made a cameo on the HBO Max show, The Climb), steep mountain trails, and some of the coolest caves to explore.

Some of our favorite things to do on the island include:

-Flyboarding

-Mountain biking...okay so I don't do this but wish I did

-Diving

-Jet Skiing

-Windsurfing...I can't, but you should try your luck

-Canyoning, Rock Climibing, and/or Rapelling-you can find many tours on the island that will take you via seaside cliffs or within caves

-Coasteering

-Wakeboarding

-Kitesurfing

-Cave Swimming-check out Cova de Coloms

*Book your adventure with Mallorcaactivities.com

Don't Chase Waterfalls...Chase Calas Instead

Mallorca is a beach lover's paradise! It would be impossible for us to list out all the incredible beaches to visit..seriously..there are 262 beaches on the island. Wherever you are on the island, there is a sandy or rocky paradise right next to you. We do advise that Mallorca's water is salty, so bring googles and watch those contacts!

Beach wise, our recommendations would be:

-Es Trenc in Colonia e Sant Jordi (check out the salt factory nearby)

-Pollenca, Portals Vells

-Playa de Formentor

-Playa de Alcudia

-Playa de Muro

Now for our secret...while beaches are great and more likely to snuggle you in sand rather than rocky terrain...you are bound to fall in love with the Calas in Mallorca. Calas are sheltered bays formed amoung the cliffs. There are so many of these remote paradises in Mallorca but we advise having a rental car to get to them, as they are in fact more remote. Many of them do require a small hike or walk down to them, and some like Sa' Calobra, you can actually hike all the way to.

Our favorite Calas in Mallorca are:

-Cala Santanyi

-Cala Estellences-Great snorkeling opportunities

-Cala Tuent-Amazing sunsets

-Cala Mesquida-one of the few places you can catch a wave

-Cala Millor-lots of amenities and things to do here

-Cala Mondrago-will take your breath away

-S'Amarador-this is also where you will park for Cala Mondrago

-Cala Varques-not easy to find, which is one of its attractions. Park in a lane and take a 15 minute walk through pines to arrive.

-Cala d'es Moro

-Cala Deia-No sand, but the town is a literal heaven-featured in Night Manager, and it boasts some of the best restaurants on the island

-Sa' Calobra

-Cala Pi

-Cala Llombards-slightly more towel space than some of the above options, also a good spot for cliff-junping. You can easily combine this cala in a daytrip or 'cala crawl' with Mondrago and Calo d'es Moro.

-Cala Sa Nau

-Cala Agulla

-Cala d'es Burgit

Regardless of whether you decide on a beach or Cala, please note that parking is difficult in some of them so arrive early. As far as amenities, bathrooms are rare except in the tourist hotspots, and you may find some have a hut that serves way overpriced drinks and snacks...so our advice...stop at the grocery store ahead of time and take your own...they are allowed on the beaches/calas, but please remember to keep the island clean and take everything out you bring with you.

Better yet, grab a group and rent a boat to take you to some of the above spots, OR sign up for a jeep tour on the island that will pit stop at one of the incredible beaches!

Hiking

Hiking is one of our favorite activities on the island. Mallorca has two mountain ranges-Serra de Tramuntana and Sierra de Llevant-with more than five summits over 1,000 meters high. The Serra de Tramuntana mountain range covers from the northwest of the island to the north and holds the highest moutain-Puig Major-at 1445 meters and also the well-known mountain canyon-Torrent de Pareis. In the east lies the Serra de Llevant with its stepp cliffs.

Our recommendation, check out the north and northwest of the island where the GR 221 will take you around various cities and landscapes or Torrent de Pareis that will take you to Sa' Calobra.

For the Wine Lover

Spain has some incredible wine, and you will find many of them available in Mallorca. Go into any market or restaurant, and you will find some of the finest Riojas and some incredibly knowlegeable and helpful subject matter experts that will happily have you taste through the different vintages and regions of Spanish wine. Two great places to shop for wines:

-Mercat de l'Olivar

-Catavinos

If you want a more local experience, travel north and east of Palma for a tranquil scenic journey to the Tramuntana mountain ridge, where you can drive, hike, or cycle to wineries across the plain of Es Pla. Mallorca's wineries are small, but we have about 100 of them and many of which you can tour, taste, and even talk to the owners and wine makers. Check out this article that showcases some of the most popular ones:

https://www.decanter.com/wine-travel/mallorca-travel-guide-for-wine-lovers-452793/

For Families

If you are traveling with your kids, there are plenty of things to do on the island. There is an aquarium and Marina Land. We also recommend the following beaches that have more amenities, restaurants, shops, mini golf, playgrounds, etc.

Playa de Muro

Pollenca

Alcudia

Sant Jordi

Palmanova

Cala Mesquida

Cala Rajada

Shopping

Let's face it, you are our friends so we know that a few of you-like us-like an iced coffee and some retail therapy! While you are in Mallorca, you'll find high-end designer boutiques, quaint artist's wokshops, high-street shops, and traditional markets to explore...so don't overpack on your way over!

If you want authenticity, check out the shops in the inland towns where local potters, pearl shops/factories, leather workers, glass blowers, and produce growers have their workshops. You will find that each town is known for something.

The old town of Palma is where you can enjoy the best and most vaired shopping. Passeig des Born, Passeig Mallorca, and Avinguda Jaume III have all your desingers and boutiques that you can explore while stopping at the many cafes that line the street.

Check out this article with more information on what the different neighborhoods offer: https://www.seemallorca.com/shopping

Where to Eat

Spain is where our family lives, it is where we got engaged, it is where we will be getting married, and it is where we find ourselves in a love triangle with our third partner....Spanish food.

Whether you like meat, seafood, are gluten free, or vegetarian...get ready for amazing food...Mallorca is a culinary hub! Below is a list of our favorite places to grab a bite, what you can expect if you want to eat like a local, and some renowned spots:

Favorite Restaurants

Naan

Naam-or really anywhere in Deia

La Botana

Santina

Rosevelvet Brunch and Coffee

La Molienda Bisbe-GF options

Mistral Coffee Roasters

Ca'n Joan de s'Aigo-Cafe an ice cream parlour that dates back to 1700

El Perrito-Vegan and GF options

Rapha Mallorca-Part coffee shop, part bike shop

Santosha-Locally sourced, organic wines, and vegan options

Mymuybueno Deli-Located near Passeig del Born and exclusively prepares vegan products that are free o gluten and refined sugar

Top floor of El Corte Ingles-Offers coffee with a view

Rawcoco Green Bar

Mercat 1930

Sumaq Restaurant-Peruvian fusion

Casa Maruka-Authentic Spanish cuisine

Munay-Peruvian food (more budget friendly than Sumaq)

Primo Taco

La Paloma

Cappuccino

Ombu

Forn de Sant Joan

Quadrat

El Camino

Manataco-Authentic Mexican tacos

Clandesti Taller Gastronomic-Mallocan market cuisine

Arume

La Vieja-Trendiest place for tapas

Botanic-Organic, healthy cuisine

De Tokio A Lima-Japanese, Peruvian, and Mediterranean fusion

Vandal-For those who miss the hustle and bustle and trendy cocktails of a NYC vibe

Ritzi

Michelin Star Restaurants

There are 9 restaurants that boast a total of 10 Michelin stars across Mallorca:

DINS - 1 star

Béns d'Avall - 1 star

VORO - 2 stars

Adrián Quetglas - 1 star

Andreu Genestra - 1 star

Es Fum - 1 star

Maca de Castro - 1 star

Marc Fosh - 1 star

Zaranda - 1 star

Learn more about each one here.

Local Street Foods of Mallorca

Sobrasada

The soft, pâté-like, sobrasada sausage is often served spread on crispy bread as a snack and accompanied by a cold beer.

If you want to purchase a sausage of sobrassada, some of the best in Palma can be found at Mercat Olivar. This is Palma’s main produce market and is full of things you’ll want to eat there and then and stuff in your suitcase.

...you also do not need to go far to find cured meats...and we suggest you try them all!

Coca de Trampo

The coca de trampó is one of the most typical snacks in Mallorcan cuisine. Similar to the Italian pizza without cheese, and with a pastry crust (the “coca”) more like that of a quiche. Typically, these deliciously colorful slices are covered with a topping (the “trampo”) of thin little chunks of roasted red and green peppers, white onions, tomatoes and fresh parsley.

If you love markets, head to the boisterous Santa Catalina Market on a Saturday morning to sample this dish shoulder-to-shoulder with locals.

Tumbet

Tumbet is similar to that of a French ratatouille or Spanish pisto. It is a simple dish of gently fried vegetables topped with homemade tomato sauce and baked slowly in the oven. Alongside huge pans of simmering paella at many outdoor markets, you will often see an equally large dish of tumbet on offer with fried eggs plonked on top giving the dish some extra body and vibrancy.

Ensaimada (not vegetarian friendly unless you ask for it specifically)

You don't have to go far to see one of Mallorca's most famous pastries...literally...it is all over the airport. To start the day, many locals pair their coffee with a traditional pastry known as ensaïmada. This sugar-dusted delicacy is similar to the croissant and has been proudly produced on the island since the 17th century. Although most ensaïmadas come just as a spiral of feather-light pastry, some bakeries stuff them with cream or chocolate for special occasions.

Pa’ amb Oli

This straightforward snack consists of a thick slice of hearty moreno bread rubbed with garlic, over which comes a layer of freshly squished ramallet tomato, a drizzle of olive oil and flaked sea-salt. The Catalan variations on this dish, known as pa’ amb tomàquet, see an embellishment of either cured jamón serrano, anchovies, or slices of hard, tangy manchego cheese.

Tapas

Tapas is a very popular style of eating in Spain and follows to the islands. This is the best way to sample all of the above and more...so get friendly with your group and start sharing your food! You will also find that dinner is enjoyed on the later side with most not eating until after 8:00 pm, although the island does service tourism so restaurants will be open earlier-just don't be surprised if it does not get busy until just before sunset.

Spanish Turron 1880

Check out the shop in the city of Palma..conveniently located next to the salt shop.

Salt

"The island in Spain where salt is like gold"

One item we absolutely recommend you make space it your luggage for-Flor de Sal-or "flower of salt" what salt is called in Mallorca, and for good reason.

Owing to the island's combination of abundant sunshine, low daytime humidity, and the gentle Mediterranean breeze, Mallorca has been home to salt production since the Roman days...but this is not your average iodized table salt. The Flor de Sal comes in different shapes, sizes, and flavors and once you try it, you'll never cook the same again. Stop by the factory in Es Trenc where you can enjoy a light brunch an a beach day, or go to any of the Flor de Sal shops in the city and stock up! Then when you get home, sprinkle it on your Pa'amb Oli, fish, steak, or grilled veggies.

Dietary Restrictions

Mallorca is very friendly towards dietary restrictions. You will find gluten free and vegan options in most restaurants, however, just because something appears to be veggie please ask!

Please note that summers in Mallorca are BUSY, so set reservations early. Some restaurants only take reservations by phone.