Mallorca Travel Guide
A personal guide to Mallorca: what I loved, what I’d go back for, where I'd send a friend - plus some honest thoughts to help make your planning easier
As I’m officially in summer travel planning mode, I thought it would be fun to elaborate on some of the destinations in this popular post highlighting some of my favorite European summer destinations.
First up is Mallorca. I know several people going this summer and with my own desire to go back, I wanted to share some of my favorite spots.
I didn’t go to Mallorca for the clubbing (so I stayed far away from Magaluf), but rather for the slower, softer side of the island. I search for this part of any destination that I travel to because I find that’s where the authentic, more savor-worthy experiences are.
I have a lot of saved places to share with you. So, without further ado, here is where I’d send my friends in Mallorca. Because we’re all friends here.
The Something Savored Guide to Mallorca
First, some of the logistics & ‘nice to knows’:
Fly into Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) which is the capital city and is well connected to most European cities.
Renting a car at the airport is ideal, in fact, I would argue that it’s essential. Roads are easy to navigate and public transport is limited outside of Palma.
If you’re traveling in peak season, parking will fill up quickly so you’ll want to arrive to popular beaches and small towns either earlier or later in the day.
Make restaurant reservations in advance or you’ll be disappointed.
As I mentioned above, avoid Magaluf if you aren’t going to Mallorca to party.
Here’s where I’d suggest you base yourself:
I haven’t yet experienced the entire island, however, of the places that I did get to, here is where I would suggest staying. On our 7 day trip, we based ourselves half the time near Santanyí and half the time near Sóller and loved both of those locations.
The capital city of Palma
Best as a base for shorter stays, has a great food scene and you won’t need a car to get around the city. You could arrange day trips easily from here.
What makes it special: Gothic architecture, buzzing restaurants, stylish shops, and the creative scene.
The vibe: Sophisticated and lively, feels like a mainland Spanish city.
In the mountains in either Sóller or Valldemossa
These mountain villages are oozing with charm and all have fabulous views. Sóller in particular is great as it comprises of both the more inland, mountain village and Port de Sóller.
What makes it special: Citrus groves in Sóller, cliffside magic in Deià, and fairytale streets in Valldemossa. Together, they capture the soulful, timeless side of Mallorca.
The vibe: Artistic, romantic, and slow-paced - postcard perfect.
On the Southeast Coast, particularly Santanyí
Ideal for beach access, rural fincas, and relaxed vibes. I very quickly fell in love with Santanyí with its market, lively restaurants, and laid back atmosphere. It’s also close to some stunning calas.
What makes it special: Golden-stone villages, secret coves, and breezy beach days.
The vibe: Relaxed and sun-drenched, perfect for slow living and coastal wandering.
Mallorca itinerary ideas:
Based on the places that I’ve visited and that I felt gave me a well-rounded experience of Mallorca, here are some itinerary ideas of varying lengths. We combined Mallorca (7 days, as it was our first time) with a short return trip to Menorca (3 days), an easy plane ride away if you are looking to combine the two.
For 3 days in Mallorca
Day 1 - Santanyí, a nearby cala, and/or visit Flor de Sal d’Es Trenc
Day 2 - Sóller and Port de Sóller
Day 3 - Valldemossa
For 5 days in Mallorca
Add on Palma and spend some extra time in one of the places above. If your accommodations come with a nice pool or view, you may want to build in time to just be and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
For 7 days in Mallorca
Honestly? All of the above but at a slower pace. You’ll be glad you did because Mallorca seems to invite this. Our trip was 7 days and we visited everything mentioned above, returning to some favorites multiple times.
Know someone who is traveling to Mallorca? Send them some travel inspiration!
Some recommendations for each place:
Santanyí: A lively yet laid-back village with a great weekly market and close to some stunning calas (Cala Llombards, Caló del Moro and S'Almonia).
Weekly market - if you’re in Mallorca on a Wednesday or Saturday, I highly recommend the market which is sprawled along the streets of the town center.
Bar Ca’n Mañas - traditional bar where you can grab a coffee before heading towards the center of the village
La Nouvelle Famille - a great spot for relaxing with a glass of wine and some shareable plates on Plaça Major, we went back multiple times. Note, contrary to some more recent Google reviews, we experienced both kind service and nicely-prepared food. If you go in the future, please report back.. I hope it’s still good!
Shops - Terra Origens and Ceramica Terra Cuita
Visit Cala Figuera while you’re in the area, a small fishing port where you can walk around the perimeter of the inlet right beside fishing boats and traditional houses.
Also while you’re in the area, visit Flor de Sal d’Es Trenc. They have shops around the island but I recommend going to their main location (put Salines des Trenc into Google for directions) so you can see the salt pans and get the full experience, it’s a really beautiful spot.
Sóller & Port de Sóller: I really enjoyed Sóller because I think it provides a well-rounded experience with both a village set inland amongst citrus groves and a seaside port, reachable by a vintage tram. It’s a perfect blend of mountains, markets, and Mediterranean swims.
MiniBar: a nice spot to grab a smoothie or try a Sóller bomb, a refreshing drink made from orange juice and yogurt ice cream, while looking out over the sea.
Restaurant Hotel Corazon: the service wasn’t the best which usually is a dealbreaker for me, but because of the special setting and quality of the food, I would say it’s still worth going here for some sunset drinks and bites.
Ses Oliveres: the paella was good that we went back twice during our trip!
Shopping along Carrer de sa Lluna
Ride, or snap some photos of, the vintage tram which runs right through town
Valldemossa: Tucked into the Tramuntana mountains, Valldemossa is a picturesque village with cobblestone streets, plant-lined alleys, and a tranquil atmosphere. We spent a morning/early afternoon here and enjoyed coffee on a leafy square then wandered around the quiet streets, popping in and out of some lovely independent shops. It had a really nice feeling to it.. like what you’re searching for when you go to Mallorca.
Barbaflorida Cafè - coffee & breakfast
Shops - Tienda SONMO, Mimossa, Roseta, Ana’s Room
Palma: You likely don’t think of the city when you think of Mallorca but Palma is worth a visit. We hope to go back and spend more time here. It feels like a mainland Spanish city with all of the conveniences you’d expect, but has a cool, laid-back atmosphere. If you’re a coffee lover, there some great cafes to be explored!
Bar La Sang - natural wine bar
La Rosa Vermuteria & Colmado - tapas (a popular spot so book or be prepared to wait. This spot was definitely good but it didn’t blow me away
Mercat de l’Olivar and Mercat de Santa Catalina - I remember there being some great cafes and restaurants near Mercat de Santa Catalina
Shops - Cortana, Santapalma, Arquinesia Perfumes
Sant Elm: Tucked away on Mallorca’s western tip, this small fishing village is a great escape from the crowds. It’s a little bit out of the way and I wouldn’t prioritize if you only have a couple of days but I’d say worth a stop for a swim and snack if you are in Mallorca for 5 days or more.
Bar Petit - have a drink and a bite to eat overlooking the sea, very friendly service!
Grab a sunbed on Platja des Geperut or take a swim at Cala Crisca. You can also find some steps down to the sea off of Avenue Jaume I.
Deià: A hilltop haven for artists, with dramatic cliffs and wild Mediterranean beauty. Parking was tricky to find but if you can, it’s worth a stroll through. Much quieter than some of the other places on this list.
Datura Studio Isla - women’s clothing
de moniö - cafe and shop
Note - there is a particular restaurant on the water here that is really hard to get a reservation at and the service isn’t known to be great. While we had a good experience once we were seated at our table overlooking the cove, for everything else that lead up to actually getting seated at said table, I would say, don’t worry if you can’t get a booking - it won’t make or break your trip.
What I wanted from my trip to Mallorca was to enjoy slow mornings with great coffee, wander through sun-drenched hilltop villages, savor a flavorful paella by the sea, and dive into the crystalline water from the rocky edges of a cala. I found all of that and I hope this guide gives you a feel for the Mallorca I fell in love with.
If you’ve explored parts of the island I haven’t mentioned, I’d love to hear your favorites. I’m always-and-forever building my next time lists! And if you have any questions, I’m always happy to chat.