Mallorca offers all the marvels of the Mediterranean. Come for the white sand beaches along aquamarine seas and then be drawn to explore stone hillside villages. Buy designer clothes or local ceramics, hike arid mountain trails and discover hidden coves perfect for swimming or cliff-jumping. Finish your evening with a candlelit meal in the capital’s old town, seafood specialities at a beach bar or cocktails and clubbing with holidaymakers from around the world.
A marvellous Mediterranean holiday
Mallorca offers Mediterranean flavours of every kind. There’s plenty of seafood and sunshine, watersports and hiking trails, charming villages and inimitable nightlife. And of course, sandy beaches vast and white, and cliff-backed coves beside a turquoise sea.
A cultured capital and unbeatable beaches
The island’s gorgeous capital, Palma de Mallorca, will keep you cultured and entertained when you’re not at the beach. Its enormous cathedral has airy flying buttresses, a bizarre neo-Gothic façade and interior designs by Gaudí. Next door, explore the 13th-century palace and gardens of L'Almudaina and walk the maze of the Arab quarter – look for the revered 800-year-old olive tree. In addition to the charming pedestrianised old town, Palma also boasts Art Nouveau masterpieces and grand boulevards. As for Mallorca’s beaches, choose from long stretches of golden sand in the north and south, secluded coves in the east and rugged cliffs in the west with tiny beaches you’ll have to hike to. One of the three must-see beaches is Cala Formentor at the northern tip of the island, lined with lush greenery and pines. Portals Nous is a full-service beach with watersports, beach bars and restaurants. Peaceful, turquoise-watered Platja des Coll Baix is accessible only by boat or on foot through pine forests.
Culinary exploration
Mallorca has become a real foodie island in recent years, on par with Madrid or Barcelona, with tapas, seafood specialities, fusion cuisine and Michelin-star quality alongside your typical beach fare. As for traditional Mallorcan dishes, try hearty lobster stew called caldereta de llagosta, tumbet, a version of ratatouille, or a spreadable sausage called sobrassada, all accompanied by pa amb oli, brown bread rubbed with garlic and tomato. At traditional restaurants, you’ll receive a glass of hierbas mallorquinas at the end of your meal, a local anise and herb liqueur. In Palma’s old town, have tapas at the quirky Quina Creu or at Ombu for fancier fusion versions. Partake in a parade of seafood at La Parada del Mar, where you choose your own fish and how you would like it prepared. If you are a Michelin-level foodie, Marc Fosh’s eponymous restaurant hidden in the old town is the place to be. For family friendly, traditional Mallorcan cooking, Los Patos in Port d'Alcúdia is a relaxing option, with a playground for the kids. To try just one of many intriguing fusion restaurants, Sumailla in Port d’Andratx offers Japanese cuisine with a Peruvian twist.
World-class shops and clubs
Palma is known for Passeig des Born, lined with the likes of Louis Vuitton, Hugo Boss and Mulberry. To peek into local shops and galleries, explore the cobbled streets around Plaça Major and Plaça Cort. You’ll also find shopping opportunities at the island’s marinas – Puerto Portals, Port Adriano and Port d'Andratx for designer goods, and more affordable options in Cala d’Or, Port d'Alcúdia and Port de Pollença. To explore a real Mallorcan market, spend your Sunday in Santa Maria, a sleepy town that bursts with colour as crowds arrive to buy fresh produce as well as arts and crafts from local potters, weavers and other craftspeople – not to mention the local wines. Mallorcan nightlife bubbles up from every corner of Palma’s old town and the neighbourhoods of La Llonja and Santa Catalina. In summer, music flows all along the bar lined Paseo Marítimo. The alleys of the old town are also worth exploring, to find gems such as El Neo Gastro Bar for cocktails, Bar Abaco for its gorgeous courtyard and Agua for live rock music nights. In Santa Catalina, try LAB Cocktail Bar for drinks, Kaelum or Brooklyn Club for the club scene. For a chicer evening, head to Nikki Beach. Outside Palma, Magaluf is party central, but you’ll also be spoilt for choice with bars and clubs at resort towns around the island or have a more chill evening in a hill town or village.
Mountains and watersports
Mallorca’s hill towns and seaside villages each have their own charm. Deià is perched above the sea and boasts a backdrop of the Serra de Tramuntana mountains. Valldemossa drew Frederic Chopin and George Sand to its mountainside monastery. Speaking of mountains, brave drivers may wish to tackle the Sa Calobra (The Snake), 12 kilometres of hair-raising hairpin turns that take you to a breathtaking view, or back down to the blue sea. Another hilltop destination is Pollença, where you can climb to two sanctuaries to look down across medieval stone and red-tiled roofs. Active holiday? Cycling, hiking, sailing, mountain biking, horse riding, climbing, golf, tennis are available on Mallorca. As for watersports, scuba divers should discover Formentor's caverns or (with a permit) explore the wrecks and caves of Illa de Cabrera. In the north, kayaking and cliff jumping are de rigueur, while kitesurfing is best off the Badia de Pollença. For a serene day in nature, board a boat to Parc Nacional Marítim-Terrestre de l'Arxipèlag de Cabrera, a collection of 19 uninhabited islands – Illa de Cabrera and the blue marine cove Sa Cova Blava are truly exceptional sights to see.
Palma de Mallorca airport
Palma de Mallorca Airport is eight kilometres from the centre by bus, taxi or rental car. Intercity buses will take you to other parts of the island. The airport has duty-free shops, a pharmacy, jewellery, top fashion brands, accessories, toys, electronics, souvenirs and travel necessities. Food-wise it has fast food and takeaway shops, tapas bars and restaurants serving local specialities.
Palma de Mallorca weather
Mallorca, as you can imagine, has mild winters and hot, sunny summers tempered by breezes off the sea, perfect for your island vacation. Average temperatures are 25°C in August and 10°C in January. Note that the Sierra de Tramontana mountain region is much cooler.
FAQs for booking flights to Mallorca
How to get cheap flights to to Mallorca?
Use FareFinder to compare fares and discover the cheapest Mallorca flights for the next 6 months, helping you to plan ahead and save. Frequent flyers can save even more by joining the Wizz Discount Club, which gives you and your companions access to an instant €10.00 discount on fares from €19.99 and further discounts on checked-in baggage purchased online.
When is the best time to visit Mallorca?
If you want to experience warm days with few crowds, March to May is the best time to visit Mallorca. The temperatures are ideal for fun outdoor activities like mountain biking or hiking, and you can still book into most hotels and enjoy a warm meal at restaurants. Mallorca, as you can imagine, has mild winters and hot, sunny summers tempered by breezes off the sea, perfect for your island vacation. Average temperatures are 25°C in August and 10°C in January. Note that the Sierra de Tramontana mountain region is much cooler.
How to get from Mallorca Airport to Magaluf?
Palma de Mallorca Airport is located 8 kilometres from the city centre and can be reached by bus, taxi, or rental car. The airport offers intercity bus services to various parts of the island. To get from Palma Mallorca Airport to Magaluf, you have six options: the recommended way is to take the direct bus A11, which takes 35 minutes. The cheapest option is to drive, taking 20 minutes. Other alternatives include a combination of buses with a travel time of 54 minutes. Taxi's, town cars and shuttles take 20 minutes. The bus is a convenient and cost-effective choice, running hourly and directly to Magaluf.
How do I offset the carbon emissions of a Mallorca flight?
As part of our commitment to reduce carbon emissions, we've launched a carbon offsetting scheme. Input the details of your Mallorca flight into our travel footprint calculator to calculate your carbon emissions. You can choose to offset your emissions by making a payment supporting two verified carbon-reducing projects. You will receive a certificate in return, recognising the offset emissions.
