23 essential beaches, towns, and museums in Mallorca
The island of Mallorca, which makes up the Balearic archipelago together with Ibiza and Menorca, is one of the most attractive destinations in Spain and the entire Mediterranean coast.
Discover a magical place, which does
justice to its fame and where you will find all kinds of options to enjoy an
unbeatable vacation. Landscapes, history, archeology, culture, gastronomy,
monuments, art, beaches, mountains ... and of course a lot of fun.
Mallorca is, without a doubt, one of the
favorite tourist places for national and international tourism, receiving
thousands of visitors from all over the world throughout the year. In this
article, we show you why.
Next, we are going to give you the keys so
that you do not miss any of the essential places on your tourist getaway.
Because there are many things to see and do in the largest of the Balearic
Islands.
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| Mallorca |
- Essential cities
and towns in Mallorca
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Palma de Mallorca
o Acadia
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Valldemosa
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Soller
o Manaker
o Andarta
o Delia
o Pollens
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Capdepera
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Puerto Portals
- Best beaches and
coves in Mallorca
o Calla Figuera
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Cala
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Cala d'Or
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Cala Mitjana
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Cala Mesquida
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Other beaches and coves
- Natural wonders of
Mallorca
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Sierra de Tramuntana
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Head of Formentor
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Caves of Drach
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Cabrera Island
- Museums in Majorca
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Juan March Foundation
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Es Baluard Museum
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Joan Miró Foundation
Essential cities and town
Palma de Mallorca
In addition to its magnificent beaches, Palma de Mallorca offers endless possibilities related to history, art, architectural heritage, gastronomy, and fun. On the shores of the bay, the Cathedral of Palma, known as “La Seu”, stands proudly, an impressive Gothic temple that defines the skyline of the city. Do not forget to visit the Bellver Castle, the Lonja de Palma, and the gardens of the Marivent Palace. Of course, it is also mandatory to walk the Paseo Marítimo to let yourself be infected by the animation of the city.A recommended excursion from the capital is to travel on a hundred-year-old train to Sóller. It departs from Palma de Mallorca and enters the Sierra de Tramontana. The train's machinery dates from 1912 and, during the 27 kilometers of travel, the traveler takes a trip back in time to the beginning of the 20th century. Before its inauguration, the town of Sóller was isolated from the rest of the island.
Acadia
Valldemossa
Be sure to visit the Cartuja de Valldemossa, a monastery built in the 15th century that has become one of the most visited monuments on the island due to its beauty and rich history. You can also visit its charming fishing port and the birthplace of Santa Catalina Thomas, the only Majorcan saint.
Manacor
Soller
Andratx
Deià
Pollensa
The archaeological and artistic heritage of
Pollensa is surprising, considered the cultural cradle of Mallorca, because
many poets, artists, and musicians come from here. There are many attractions
in this beautiful coastal town, from Calvari, which is reached by a climb of
365 steps, to the Santo Domingo convent, in whose cloister a Classical Music
Festival is held, or the Joan Marcha gardens, that still conserve a medieval
tower.
Capdepera
Located at the eastern end of Mallorca, the
municipality of Capdepera is a jewel with interesting tourist proposals in the
three main centers that make it up: Capdepera, Cala Rajada, and Canyamel.
Because this area has been occupied since the Bronze Age, numerous vestiges of
the cultures that have passed through have been found.
In the town of Capdepera,
some beautiful walls are preserved, the Capdepera castle, a fortress from the
14th century, and the church of Sant Joan. It is worth visiting on Wednesdays,
which are the days when a lively market is held. It currently has a fairly
touristy profile, since it has some complexes in its vicinity.
It is also a perfect destination for golf
lovers, who have an 18-hole course located between this town and the town of
Artà. The Capdepera Golf
course was designed by
renowned American golf course architect Dan Maples and is among the island's
favorites for golfers.
Puerto Portals
Puerto Portals is the marina of Portal Nous, a town in the
municipality of Calvià. It is one of the essential places to "see and be
seen" since the famous faces of the island are concentrated here. Jim
Carrey, Paris Hilton, and Bill Gates, among hundreds of other celebrities, have
passed through this place.
In a place like this, there is no shortage
of luxury yachts in its more than 6,500 moorings, no exclusive boutiques or
elite restaurants, and terraces. Our recommendation is to go there to get to
know the atmosphere, indulge yourself in a gourmet treat
and play at discovering the familiar faces, which are always there, in the
summer season. If you go in the evening, order a cocktail on the Paradigm
terrace and enjoy the views.
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| Mallorca |
Discover the best beaches in Mallorca
Cala Figuera
Located about 60 kilometers southeast of
Palma, Cala Figuera is a district of the rural town of Santanyí.
It is a beautiful rocky cove with spectacular transparent waters. It is
surrounded by cliffs and, due to the lack of parking and its difficult accessibility,
it is not a crowded space during the summer season. Of course, the yachts, from
the sea, do approach this little paradise and many remain anchored in the
middle of this spectacular landscape.
Cala Mondragó
Not far from Cala Figuera, you will find Cala
Mondragó, one of the best beaches in the southeast of Mallorca, which usually
has a distinctive blue flag. It has been part of the Mondragó Natural Park since 1992, so its natural beauty is
protected. The beach has all kinds of services: bathrooms, showers,
restaurants, umbrellas, etc. Along the beach, there are trails of between 1 and
10 kilometers through the natural park
Cala d'Or
This tourist complex located in the
southeast of Mallorca, between Portocolom and Portopetro, stands out because
its constructions do not usually exceed two heights and because, in addition,
nature surrounds the whole place. Cala d`Or is surrounded by an area of
​​pine trees and beaches with transparent waters where both families and
groups of friends can enjoy a few days of vacation and relaxation without
giving up good restaurants, shops, and bars. In addition, you only have to move
a little to enjoy beautiful coves such as Cala Esmeralda, Cala Gran, Cala
Ferrera, or Cala Petita.
It also has a good marina with more than
600 moorings, which is at the same level as other more renowned ones such as
those in Port Adriano or Andratx.
Cala Mitjana
Just two kilometers from Cala d'Or is this
cove with calm, blue-green waters. It is made up of two arms divided by the
entrance of the sea, a strip of 70 meters and rocky character, and another
slightly larger, of 120 meters, with fine white sand.
La Cala Mitjana is suitable for practicing underwater fishing
and is common to see sailboats or yachts moored nearby. Although it can also be
accessed on foot, bathers are not always willing to walk about 20 minutes
through uncomfortable paths to reach it. Of course, once there, with the beach
to themselves, no one regrets.
Cala Mesquida
Declared a Natural Area of ​​Special
Interest since 1991, along with Calla Molto and Calla Aguila, Calla Mesquita is
very popular throughout the summer. The cove is protected between two rocky
areas that end in a dune system with mastic and pine trees. It is an ideal
place to spend a day at the beach in an enclave with few buildings and crystal
clear waters. Bird watchers will find here one of the largest colonies of
cormorants and seagulls in the Balearic archipelago.
It is located just 7 kilometers from Capdepera
and its access is easy. If you go by car, you can leave it in the nearest
urbanization or the parking lot and then walk about 100 meters. Some buses stop
200 meters away.
Other outstanding beaches in Mallorca
The island of Majorca has no less than 550
kilometers of rugged coastline, which is why it boasts a large number of very
beautiful beaches and coves, many of them with the distinctive blue flag.
Choosing between its 262 beaches is a very complicated task, but apart from the
beaches and coves already mentioned, there are others that it would not hurt to
point out in our list of favorite beaches in Mallorca.
- Formentor
beach
This beach is one of the must-sees in Cape Formentor due to the beauty of the enclave and the cove
itself. The setting could not be more idyllic: a strip of white sand lined with
pine trees that almost kiss the turquoise water in some areas. On hot days the
shade of the trees is the best refuge. It has all the services a bather may
need, from hammock rental to water activities and restaurants.
This beach can be reached by car along the
winding road of the Formentor peninsula, by boat, or by bus from Pollença.
- Beaches
of the bay of Alcúdia
The beaches of the Bay of Alcúdia are in a
highly developed tourist area, so they usually have all the services that
tourism requires. In this bay, you should not miss the so-called Alcúdia beach, a strip of golden sand bathed by the Mediterranean
for about three kilometers and with a good assortment of restaurants nearby. It
is one of the largest inlets in the Balearic Islands and is divided into two
parts: from the marina to the Ciudad Blanca urbanization, and from here to Muro beach,
another magnificent option for a day by the Mediterranean.
Although the temptation to stay on this
beach is high, it is advisable to also visit other sandy areas and small coves.
Among them is the Alcanada
beach, very pleasant, framed
by pine trees and with the islet of Alcanada (and its beautiful lighthouse)
just in front; and the cove
of Coll Baix, with a virginal
aspect and access through a forest.
- It's
Trenc Beach
Es Trenc beach, with its ravishing wild beauty and its
2 kilometers in length, is one of the most beautiful in Mallorca. It is located
in the protected environment of the
Maritime-Terrestrial Natural Park of Es Trenc-Salobrar de Campos, which continues to ensure its authenticity
away from tourist buildings. Many compare this beach with the Caribbean given
the whiteness of its sand washed by a turquoise sea. This area is ideal to
enjoy a day at the beach, eat at a nearby restaurant and pay a visit to the
Salinas de Es Trenc where they will teach you the whole process to get salt
from seawater.
- Muro
Beach
Located in the town of Muro (next to
Alcúdia), Muro beach is one of the favorites of many families who return year
after year to enjoy its white-sand beaches. Among its main attractions are its
calm waters, which invite you to bathe with very little danger, accessibility,
the presence of nearby restaurants and leisure areas for children. You should
also know that Muro beach is divided into four sectors. The former has numerous
hotels and restaurants nearby. The second and third are quieter, and the
fourth, known as Es Capellans, is once again very lively and with very close
tourist establishments. Almost all the sectors have a blue flag, which
guarantees the good services offered to the bather.
- Cala
Portal Nous
Just 10 kilometers from Palma is the
important tourist center of Portal Nous, an ideal place to spend a day at the
beach, shopping, going to dinner, or simply strolling among the yachts. But if
what you want is to sunbathe and take a bath, the small cove of Portal Nous,
also called Bendinat cove, is more than enough with its 100 meters in length
and just over 20 meters in width. On this beach of fine white sand, you will
find umbrella and hammock rentals, showers, and good restaurants nearby.
- Cala
Portal Vells
This small Portal Vells beach, barely 50
meters long and 20 wide, is very popular with families for its white sand,
turquoise water, and the presence of some caves to explore. It has two swimming
areas and the water is so crystal clear that it is a pleasure to dive or
snorkel near the shore. In summer, there is also a kiosk where you can buy
sandwiches.
Natural wonders of the island
Sierra
de Tramontana
Declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in
2011, the Sierra de Tramuntana (or Serra de Tramuntana) is the backbone of
Mallorca. It stretches 90 kilometers in the northwest of the island, between
Cap de la Mola (Andratx) and Cap de Formentor. The sierra encompasses 20
municipalities, with an area of ​​just over 1,000 square kilometers. The
highest peak is Puig Major, with 1,445 meters of altitude, followed by Puig de
Massanella, with 1,364 meters.
Head of Formentor
It is the northernmost point of the island
of Mallorca. The Cap de Formentor is a narrow peninsula about 20 kilometers long
that forms a landscape worthy of a postcard. We suggest you take a walk through
this privileged natural enclave because it will allow you to discover its
beaches and coves, its unique lighthouse, and a spectacular horizon. It is also
essential to enjoy Formentor beach, with its crystal clear waters, golden
sands, and green pine trees, which has maintained its blue flag for many years.
The emblematic Hotel Formentor contributes to this, where the Formentor Sunset
Classics Festival is held every year, the great event with classical music in
Mallorca.
Caves of Drach
These spectacular caves penetrate 1,200
meters into the subsoil of the island of Mallorca and leave us enraptured by
the sculptures that nature designs, while we navigate between stalactites and
stalagmites and listen to the noise of the drops that come off the ceiling. An
exciting scenery that is between 11 and 53 million years old. Occasionally,
exclusive classical music concerts are organized in the Drach caves due to their exceptional acoustics.
Cabrera Island
A highly recommended excursion from
Mallorca is to the Cabrera archipelago, which is located just 10 kilometers south of Las
Salinas on the island. The complex is made up of 19 islets. The most important
is the island of Cabrera, which, although small in size, is large in
biodiversity, and was declared a Maritime-Terrestrial National Park in 1991.
A boat trip to Cabrera allows you to
discover its flora, with more than 400 botanical species, and the fauna made up
of birds, fish, mollusks, reptiles, raptors, and some mammals. It is advisable
to visit the visitor center for information or to carry out educational
activities.
It is also a good opportunity to get to
know its small coves, where tranquility is a constant. There are beaches of all
kinds, with sand, rocks, or surrounded by cliffs. One of the best known is S'Espalmador, which is 140 meters long, has calm waters and
gravel soil. The longest is Cas
Pagés, 270 meters long and 12
wide, and sandy ground. Others that can also be enjoyed are Cala Donzell, Cala
Ganduf, and Cala Santa María.
Among the constructions that can be visited
in Cabrera are the 14th-century castle, the N'Ensiola lighthouse, the monument
to the French prisoners, the Blue Cave, the Botanical Garden, and the
Ethnographic Museum.
Museums to visit in Mallorca
Juan March Foundation Museum
This is a highly recommended visit both for
its large collection of 20th-century works –by great authors such as Pablo
Picasso, Juan Gris, Salvador Dalí, and Joan Miró– and for the building where it
is located.
The Juan March Foundation Museum has a good number of works by the most
representative artists of the first avant-gardes, mid-century movements, and
other more current generations. In its facilities, an old 17th-century house
adapted as a museum by the architect Guillem Reyn's I Font, interesting
permanent and temporary exhibits are exhibited. In addition, the museum
develops an extensive educational program for young people and adults. On a
walk through the city of Palma, you should not miss a stop at this interesting
cultural center.
Es Baluard, Museum of Contemporary Art of Palma
The Es Baluard Museum is considered one of the maximum references in
Contemporary Art in Mallorca. It was inaugurated in 2004 and has a collection
made up of more than 700 works dated between the 19th century and today. In
this museum, a special emphasis is placed on relating the artists and movements
that have come together in the Balearic Islands with the international context.
The frequent temporary exhibitions allow you to enjoy large exhibitions and
reflections on art without leaving Mallorca.
Its location in a Renaissance bastion is a
real luxury since you can enjoy the old historical spaces and the exceptional
architectural adaptation made to function as an art center. The total area of
​​Es Baluard is over 5,000 m2, of which half is dedicated to exhibition
spaces. It is divided into three floors that are connected to the exterior and
the walls through ramps, balconies, and skylights.
The visitor can walk through the central
patio, visit the old 17th-century cistern, access the viewpoint from which the
Cathedral of Palma de Mallorca can be seen, and move along the walls. In fact,
on the wall, there is an exceptional restaurant, Es Baluard Restaurant & Lounge.
Miró Mallorca Foundation
The Fundació Pilar I Joan Miró was created in Mallorca with the vocation of
being a space for the exchange of knowledge. Its mission is to show the art of
Joan Miró and make his creative process known. The artist remained on the
island from 1956 until he died in 1983; one of the most productive stages in
its history. He donated to the foundation a large number of works, paintings,
graphic work, drawings, and sculptures that he had distributed in his
workshops. The foundation's headquarters are located in Cala Maior where Miró
lived in his Mallorcan period, in a modern building designed by the well-known
architect Rafael Moneo. You should also visit the Sert workshop, the Son
Boter workshop, and the Sculpture Garden.
It is advisable to book a guided tour to
learn, from the hand of experts, the work of Joan Miró, its history,
techniques, anecdotes, and curious details. In addition to the exhibition
rooms, the complex houses the library, the auditorium, the store, and a
cafeteria located in the sculpture garden, with a terrace and views of the
Moneo building
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