Visit Majorca: What to do on the largest of the Balearic Islands?

Majorca, the largest island of the Balearic Islands, is located in the Mediterranean. Majorca is one of the most touristic islands in Europe. The island welcomes thousands of tourists every year attracted by the sumptuous landscapes offered by the island. Far from the clichés of television shows, you will see that Mallorca is not just an island where you can party. Visit Mallorca it is also to discover its capital, Palma, its beaches and its creeks, its small villages or its gastronomy. Throughout this article you will discover what to do in Mallorca, what to see on this wonderful Spanish island.

Summary: 

• Visit Mallorca: practical advice
• What to do in Mallorca: the essentials
• Majorcan gastronomy
• My opinion on Mallorca

Visit Mallorca: practical advice

Let's start this article dedicated to visiting Mallorca with some practical advice.

Getting to Mallorca:

• By plane :
  The easiest solution to visit Majorca is to reach the island by plane. The island has an international airport (the third largest in Spain), Son Sant Joan Airport, located about 10 kilometers east of the largest city on the island: Palma. Many companies connect Majorca to the rest of Europe, this is the case of AirEuropa, the company with which we traveled. The company has, for example, direct connections Paris (Orly) – Palma. You can also search for a flight from Skyscanner which will find you the best possible flight to Palma.

Flight to Mallorca with Air Europa
Air Europa is a Spanish company (headquartered in Majorca) which mainly offers flights to Spain but also to Central America with many crossings to Brazil, Argentina, Cuba, Peru and Colombia. In France, the company offers flights from Paris (Orly and CDG), Nantes and Toulouse. Find a flight with AirEuropa

• By ferry:
  It is recently possible to reach Majorca and the city of Alcudia from France and the city of Toulon by ferry. The Corsica Ferries company allows you to reach the island, in high season, from France (with your vehicle if you wish).

When to visit Mallorca?

Mallorca is an island that can be visited all year round. It enjoys a particularly mild climate. The question you have to ask yourself is: what is the purpose of your trip? Even if the weather is ideal to enjoy the island all year round, it will, of course, be better to travel to Mallorca during the summer to enjoy its magnificent beaches. Small inconvenience, the summer period is particularly coveted by most tourists, this implies a price increase but also particularly populated tourist places.
Outside the months of June to September, the number of tourists is lower. Even if it will be more difficult to enjoy swimming in winter, Majorca will be able to satisfy you with many other activities that we will develop below.

How to get around Mallorca?

• By train :
  The island of Mallorca has two train lines. One linking the city of Palma to Soller, in the northwest of the island; the other connecting Palma to Sa Pobla or Manacor in the east of the island. It will therefore be possible for you, from Palma, to visit two of the main cities of Majorca.
• By car :
  Traveling by car is, of course, more suitable. Majorca's road and motorway network is very well developed. It is easy to get around the island and reach the main points of interest on the island. Unless you opt for a ferry crossing from Toulon (or Barcelona), it will be easier to rent a car at Palma airport. To do this, I advise you to use the AirportRentals.com comparator, which will find, among the many car rental companies, the one that best suits your needs.

A short summary of the essentials of a visit to Mallorca

Before going further, here is a brief summary of what you will see in the rest of the article.
Some of the essentials of a stay in Majorca:

• Enjoy the many coves and heavenly beaches of the island
• Discover the typical villages of the North coast of Majorca
• Visit Palma, the capital of Majorca (guided tours possible)
• Guided tour, by bike and in French of Palma
• Visit a bodega and taste Mallorcan wine
• Enjoy a beautiful sunset on a catamaran cruise
• Flying over the island in a hot air balloon (reservation required)
• Visit the Rafa Nadal Museum Xperience (ticket available online)

Learn more about Mallorca with PIAF
When we arrived in Majorca we had the chance to meet Freddy Calligaris, founder of an information and support platform for French speakers in Majorca: PIAF. This platform aims to help French speakers and advise them during their visit to Mallorca, but also during their installation on the island in the case of an expatriation.
You can find a lot of information on Majorca on the site piafmajorque.es

Accommodation in Mallorca

Before leaving to visit Majorca, you will have to ask yourself the question of accommodation on the island. There are many places to stay during your stay in Majorca. It is even possible to change hotels during your stay, even if this is in no way an obligation.
The island is not very big, about 110 kilometers separate the two ends of the island. It is therefore quite possible to stay at the same hotel during your visit to Mallorca while visiting the whole island.

Where to stay during a trip to Majorca?

Several choices will be available to you as to the location of your hotel.

• Sleep in Palma :
  The first of these choices will be to stay in Palma, the largest city on the island. Indeed, many activities take place there. This may be a good idea but not necessarily the only solution. Palma and its surroundings can be visited on a good day and Mallorca has so many other things to offer that Palma is far from being the only solution. In addition, the airport is located on the outskirts of Palma, you will be able to visit the city when you arrive or leave Majorca.
• The south coast of Majorca:
  We will review, below, the particularities of each coast of the island. You will see that the South coast is particularly famous for its beaches and coves. You will benefit from a more central position to visit Majorca, however this coast is also the most popular with tourists.
• East of Majorca:
  The east of Mallorca can also be a good choice. Certainly you will be a little further from Palma, however you will be close to many places of interest such as Manacor, Artà, or the Formentor peninsula.

Stay at Park Hyatt Majorca
It is on this coast of the island that we had the chance to stay in the sumptuous Park Hyatt Majorca. A real village in which you can enjoy several restaurants, swimming pools, terraces as well as magnificent and spacious rooms. If you want to know more about my hotel in Majorca, do not hesitate to read my article dedicated to the Park Hyatt Majorca. Learn more

• The North West of Mallorca:
  Last choice that will be offered to you, to stay in one of the magnificent villages of the North West of the island. Typical villages, pretty beaches and proximity to Palma.

Need help organizing your trip to Mallorca?
If you wish, you can get help in organizing your visit to Mallorca from an agency. All They Want is an agency specializing in Majorca which will offer you different solutions to organize your stay in Majorca. The agency will be able to find you a flight, a rental vehicle or even book certain activities for you, ideal for visit Mallorca.

What to do in Mallorca: the essentials

• Visit Palma and its surroundings
• The North coast and its villages
• The south coast and its coves
• The East of Majorca: between city and nature

Visit Palma and its surroundings

Let's start our visit in the capital of the Balearic Islands: Palma. Palma is a city of 430 inhabitants located on the south coast of the island. The city was founded in -000 BC and its history, punctuated by invaders (Viking, Berbers), has left many traces still visible in the city such as, of course, the cathedral, but also its Bellver castle or even different places in its historic center such as the Arab baths. The city is divided into several districts, some more residential, others rather access to activities aimed at tourists, such as the seafront or the Magaluf district, Palmanova (very touristy), but the essential district of the city will be , of course, the historic center with the main places of interest.

Catamaran cruise in Palma de Mallorca
Before telling you more about the essentials to visit in Palma, let me tell you about an activity that I highly recommend during your visit to Mallorca: a catamaran trip in the bay of Palma de Mallorca.
Indeed, the catamaran trip is one of the key activities to do in Mallorca. By day, but also in the evening, a catamaran trip will allow you to enjoy a different view of the city of Palma, the surrounding coasts but also a magnificent sunset that you will remember for a long time. Book your catamaran trip

Now let's move on to the essentials of a visit to Palma de Mallorca:

• Palma Cathedral:
  Impossible to visit Majorca without visiting the famous cathedral of Palma. Palma Cathedral is one of the tallest buildings in the city. Built in 1299, the cathedral was restored many times following an earthquake in 1851 which damaged many buildings in the city. Palma Cathedral can be visited every day from 10 a.m. until 17 p.m. or 15 p.m. in summer, 18 p.m. in winter and 15 p.m. every Saturday of the year. The price to visit Palma Cathedral is 15€. I recommend that you opt for a skip-the-line ticket giving you access to the cathedral and its museum for €15.
  
• Almudaina Royal Palace:
  The Royal Palace is none other than one of the residences of the King of Spain. It is a former Almoravid palace (people from North Africa who invaded Majorca). Visiting the palace takes about 40 minutes. The entrance fee is 7€. The palace is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 18 p.m. in winter and until 20 p.m. in summer.
• Cloister and church of Sant Francesc:
  Don't miss the cloister and the Church of Saint Francis of Palma. These buildings form an impressive architectural ensemble. A visit full of charm that will only take you a few tens of minutes. The entrance will cost you 5€. The cloister and the church are open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 18 p.m.

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Visit Palma de Mallorca by bike
For the sake of time, or just comfort, you might be interested in touring Palma by bike. I myself opted for this means of transport in order to visit the city of Palma and benefit from the information of a local guide. I particularly enjoy city tours by bike. This allows you to move quickly around the city and reach points of interest to visit and then return later if necessary. This tour, which lasts approximately 3 to 4 hours, will give you a very good overview of the must-see places in Palma. Many stops are planned and you benefit from a little time to visit some of these places. We decided to return, on our own, to some of the places that we had particularly appreciated. Book your guided tour of Palma by bike

• Arab baths:
  The Arab baths are the remnants of Arab domination over the city of Palma and the entire island. Of these baths, only a few rooms formerly used as steam baths remain, as well as a garden. The visit costs only 2€. The baths are located a few dozen meters from the cathedral, in a small street in the historic center.
• Bellver Castle:
  This castle, located on the heights of Palma, about 3 kilometers from the historic center, has the particularity of being round. It is one of the few round castles made in Europe. It dates from the 4th century and was built at the request of Jacques II. The castle was used as a royal residence but also as a prison, as a coin factory and finally as a museum. The castle can be visited, it will cost you XNUMX€.
  

Coastering in Mallorca: push your limits
Our visit to Majorca was an opportunity to discover an activity that we did not know, the coastering ! Let me tell you more about this activity that recently arrived in Mallorca. Coastering consists of jumping into the sea from a cliff. The activity is, of course, supervised by a person with extensive experience in this field. After you have equipped yourself with a helmet, a life jacket and suitable shoes, the activity begins. This begins with relatively low jumps, from 1 to 3 meters, then takes a little height and ends with jumps of 8 or even 11 meters!
You can also enjoy a zipline! Being dizzy, I dreaded this activity for a long time, yet I only have good memories of it, a good way to visit Mallorca (or at least part of the island) in an original way. Know that it is, of course, possible not to perform certain jumps. Book your coasteering activity

The North coast and its villages

Now let's move on to the north coast of the island. This is mainly made up of steep cliffs and offers relatively few beaches or coves. This does not detract from the magnificent panoramas that it is possible to see. The particularity of this northern part of the island lies in its many small villages of great beauty. This part, which extends from the surroundings of the town of Banyalbufar to the north of the town of Soller, is really worth the detour. It is impossible to visit Majorca without visiting some of these typical villages.
Focus on 4 villages on the north coast of Majorca, in which it will be most pleasant to walk:

• Banyalbufar:
  A small town in the north of Majorca, Banyalbufar has retained a more authentic spirit than Palma. The city was founded by the Moors in the XNUMXth century. From this people still remain the terraces built for local agriculture such as olive, almond or orange trees. The town offers magnificent views of the surrounding area, as does the road that leads to the village along the coast: the Sierra de Tramuntana classified as UNESCO world heritage. Some beaches are accessible from the road such as Cala Banyalbufar.
  
• Valldemossa:
  We continue our journey north to stop at Valldemossa, a charming little town typical of the island of Majorca. A visit to the city is undoubtedly one of the essential things to do in Mallorca. The historic center of the city is most pleasant. The city is particularly known for having hosted personalities such as Frédéric Chopin, George Sand or, more recently, Michael Douglas and his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones. You will be able to visit the monastery where George Sand and Frédéric Chopin stayed, the Cartoixa de Valldemossa, a former monastery of the Carthusian order. The visit will cost you 9€.
  
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• He said:
  Deià is an atypical small town, it is nicknamed the city of artists. Indeed the city has seen many of them, painters, writers and even film actors. Deià is today a city popular with “people”. It is, for example, in this city that Michael Douglas bought an old castle. Some luxury hotels in the region testify to this attraction of the richest towards this city. Like Valldemossa, Deià has a pretty pebble beach, Cala Deià.
• Sóller:
  Soller is one of the most popular villages for tourists passing through this northwest coast of the island. The town is actually a locality of 4 unmissable places, the town of Sóller, the port of Soller, located about 3 km from the town and then the villages of Fornalutx and biniaraix. Sóller is a place that combines culture, tradition with small squares, cafes and restaurants but also beaches and idleness if you take the small tram that connects the town of Sóller to its port. To enjoy a breathtaking view of the port of Sóller, especially at sunset, you can go to the Santa Catalina viewpoint which overlooks the village.
  Biniaraix is ​​a tiny village located not far from Sóller, on a hiking trail linking the town of Sóller to the monastery of Lluc (a hike of about thirty kilometers essential for those who wish to visit Majorca on foot).
  

The south coast and its coves

Let's take the road to the south coast of Majorca. It is famous for its many coves, called Cala (or Calo). This coast, essentially made up of cliffs, is home to magnificent beaches embedded between two rocky blocks. You will also find some very pleasant seaside resorts, some of which still offer large white sand beaches. We will cover the essentials of this coast from the town of Porto Cristo, located in the south-east of Mallorca, to the town of Llucmajor and its coast, located south of the city of Palma.

• Porto Cristo:
  A pleasant little seaside resort set on a natural harbour. This fishing village is a privileged place for holidaymakers who come to enjoy the beaches of Majorca. The city offers many restaurants and hotels as well as a very beautiful beach.
  The city is also home to a surprising place, les grottes you dragon. An essential place in the city, these caves, discovered at the end of the 25th century by the Frenchman Edouard Martel, are impressive for their size. Located 2,4 meters underground and more than 4 kilometers long, these caves, made up of 115 huge chambers, are home to one of the largest underground lakes in Europe. This lake is 30m long, 9m wide and almost XNUMXm deep. These caves can be visited from Porto Cristo. Concerts are given daily in the caves near the lake.
  Not far from the Caves of Drach, there is another kind of cave, the Hams caves. They also have an underground lake. These caves were the first in Spain to be opened to the public in 1910. These caves also host daily concerts during visits.

Visit to the caves of dels Hams
Discover the caves of dels Hams very close to Porto Cristo. 850 meters to cover in the caves to meet its underground lake and its many chambers. Also attend a music show: Magical Mozart on The Sea of ​​Venice and enjoy incredible acoustics. Book your visit to the Caves of Els Hams

• Portocolom:
  Main seaside resort on the South coast, Portocolom, which looks like a small fishing village, offers many ideal accommodations to enjoy this South coast and its beaches. Located a few hundred meters from the center of Portocolm, Cala Marçal is one of them.
  
• Cala d’Or :
  La Cala d'Or is also a popular seaside resort as it offers a wide choice of bars, restaurants and an active nightlife. La Cala d'Or and its surroundings offer many places of great beauty that attract yacht owners. The town of Cala d'Or is surrounded by magnificent coves such as the cove great Cala Ferrera, Cove Egos or the shut up guys and d'es Forti. Very popular tourist places during the summer period.
• Caló des Moro:
  A little further south is what is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful coves in Mallorca, Caló des Moro. A small beach with white sand bordered by turquoise water and embedded between the cliffs. A heavenly place also popular with tourists.
  
• Its Saltworks:
  A charming little town in the south of Majorca, ideal for spending a few days in peace. The city has an architecture typical of Majorcan cities. Not far from the city, in Colonia de Sant Jordi, the port of the city, there are salt marshes.
  
• Es Trenc:
  Very close to the town of Colonia de Sant Jordi is one of Mallorca's most famous beaches, Es Trenc. This beach of more than 2 kilometers long is appreciated by tourists but also by locals for its white sand and turquoise water. The beach is lined with sand dunes and natural park of Salobrar de Campos. A wild expanse of small lakes and vegetation, home to many species of birds, an essential place to visit in Mallorca.
  
• Llucmajor and its coast:
  Llucmajor is one of the main towns in Mallorca with nearly 40 inhabitants. The city was built in the 000th century and has many places to see such as the town hall, located on Plaça d'Espanya, or its church of San Miguel of the XNUMXth century.
  On the west coast of Llucmajor, there are a few seaside resorts as well as large hotel complexes. The seaside offers magnificent landscapes, especially at sunset.
  

The East of Majorca: between city and nature

• Now let's move on to the eastern part of Mallorca. It is in this part of the island that we stayed during our week in Majorca, in Canyamel, in the magnificent Park Hyatt Mallorca hotel. I tell you about this hotel in a dedicated article: Park Hyatt Majorca, an exceptional place to stay in Majorca.
  This part of the island has some charming villages like Artà, beautiful coves, a magnificent cape, Formentor as well as the second largest city on the island, Manacor, which I will tell you about right away.
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Hot air balloon flight in Mallorca
And why not take advantage of your visit to Majorca to treat yourself to a hot air balloon flight? Hot air balloon flights in Mallorca are among the cheapest in Europe. The island seen from the sky is even more beautiful. The flights take place early in the morning for several reasons. First of all for more technical reasons related to the lower temperature at dawn than during the day. The other reason is that watching the sunrise from a hot air balloon is a breathtaking spectacle that I highly recommend.
The flight takes about 1 hour. An hour during which you will enjoy a breathtaking view of Majorca in the most calm and peaceful atmosphere it can be. Book your hot air balloon flight

• Manacor:
  I will only briefly tell you about this city, unfortunately we did not have the chance to visit it. Note that Manacor has the oldest church in Majorca, Our Lady of Sorrows, dating from the twelfth century.
  For sports enthusiasts and especially tennis, a stop in Manacor seems imperative. Manacor is none other than the city that lives to grow Rafael Nadal ! It is in this city that the athlete has set up his academy which I will tell you about below. Impossible to visit Majorca without visiting the museum dedicated and created by the tennis player.

Rafa Nadal Museum Xperience
It is therefore in his hometown, Manacor, that Rafael Nadal decided to set up his academy. A school for young tennis players that the Majorcan inaugurated in 2016 and which welcomes many young players. The academy offers to supervise its young players, educated in this academy and closely followed by many coaches and teachers.
In addition to the academy, it is the Rafa Nadal Museum Xperience that you will be able to visit. Divided into two parts, the place includes a museum with an incredible collection of trophies belonging to Rafael Nadal but not only, outfits of other great sportsmen like Roger Federer, Tiger Woods or Cristiano Ronaldo are on display.
The museum also offers you the opportunity to test a whole host of games and other simulators of all kinds where you will face Cristiano Ronaldo, Michael Phelps or Usain Bolt. A visit that I highly recommend if you are passionate about tennis or even sports in general. Book your visit to the Rafa Nadal Museum

• Canyamel and Capdepera:
  Canyamel and Capdepera are two small towns located on the east coast of Majorca. This part of the island is much less touristy than the South or the West and will allow you to enjoy the beaches and the few coves in a more relaxing way. The main attraction in the area is the castle of Capdepera accessible after a walk that will take you to the top of the hill on which the castle is located.
• Artà:
  Another typical Mallorcan small town with its countless small streets and squares. Artà will be ideal for a stopover of a few hours for a meal and a short walk. You can climb to San Salvador Sanctuary to enjoy a first-class panorama of the city and its surroundings.
  
• Alcúdia:
  Small typical Mallorcan town that we unfortunately didn't have time to visit. The city is located not far from an ancient Roman city called Pollentia. You can contemplate one of the smallest Roman amphitheatres. If you go through Alcudia Tuesday or Sunday, then you will have the chance to fall at the same time as the city market.
  About 1 kilometer south of Alcùdia is the port of the city from which one of the largest beaches in Mallorca begins, a heavenly white sand beach on which you can practice kayaking, Stand Up Paddle or simply laze under the Mallorcan sun.
  
• Formentor:
  Let's end with one of the most incredible places in Mallorca, a must on a visit to Mallorca, the head of Formentor. One of the most famous landscapes on the island. With its cliffs, this cape offers a spectacle of great beauty at sunset and sunrise, especially from the viewpoint of the Malpas viewpoint. Not far from this viewpoint is Formentor beach with its restaurants and high-end hotels.
  
  If you go to Formentor, do not hesitate to make a short stop in the town of Pollensa and its port (Purto Pollensa) to discover this magnificent little old town, its typical little streets and its vestiges of the past such as its famous Pont Roma

Majorcan gastronomy

Let me tell you a few moments about gastronomy in Mallorca. Even if it resembles in certain points, logically, what we can know, like Paella, originating from the city of Valencia in Spain, Majorca still has some specialties of its own.

Sobrasada

• The sobrasada, or sobrassade in French, is a typical charcuterie from the island of Majorca, it even has the famous IGP label meaning that the product has a protected geographical indication.
  The sobrasada is nothing but a sausage, essentially made of pork mixed with paprika. This Majorcan specialty is ideal to enjoy as a tapas accompanied by a good glass of wine.
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Mallorca wine
Wine has a long history in Mallorca. This dates back to the arrival of the Romans on Mallorcan soil in the XNUMXnd century BC Despite difficult times, wine growing has not ceased on the island of Majorca from that time until today. Viniculture has even, in recent years, become more and more widespread on the island of Majorca with the production of an increasingly qualitative wine.
The island of Majorca has two Denominations of Origin and 6 Protected Geographical Indications.
For wine lovers, a visit to a vineyard, a bodega, is a must during a stay in Majorca.
We had the chance to discover the Ramanya bodega located on the wine route. A typical small island farm that allowed us to learn more about the history of wine and its production on the island of Mallorca.
Bodega Ramanya also has the particularity of possessing an astonishing collection of old objects, all originating from the island of Majorca.

Ensaimada

The ensaimada is a traditional pastry from the island of Majorca. The ensaimada has a spiral shape characteristic of this pastry. It can be filled with cream or jam or even chocolate. There is also a version filled with sobrasada!

My opinion on Mallorca

Visiting Mallorca was a big surprise for me. I discovered a pleasant island, offering much more than crowded seaside resorts. Palma is a pleasant city which conceals monuments to be seen. Its historic center is one of the most pleasant. Outside of Palma, you can discover a multitude of small villages, each prettier than the next. Going along the coast, to the South as well as to the North, will give you access to magnificent beaches and viewpoints.
I visited Majorca in September, and although the number of tourists was not really an issue, I think it can become during the months of July and August, at the height of the season.
My visit to Majorca made me want to come back to visit the places I didn't have time to see. I will probably opt for a visit in October or November to fully enjoy the island.

My visit to Majorca follows an invitation from PIAF, a platform bringing together useful information on life in Majorca for French speakers.
The All They Want agency, a travel agency specializing in Majorca, also contributed to the smooth running of our trip. I would also like to thank the Park Hyatt Mallorca hotel for the stay spent in an exceptional setting.
The flight was offered to us by the company Air Europa offering direct connections to Palma de Mallorca.