Did you know that Mallorca, the sunny island east of the mainland of Spain, has much more to offer than just sun and beach? Unfortunately, the island does not have a good name with many people and they only think of partying young people. Those partying youngsters do exist, but you will only find them in two beach towns. And because it is a fairly large island, you will not be bothered by it during your holiday. Are you curious about what you can see and do in Mallorca? These are the 5 must-sees that you must have seen.
Also read: Traveling through Spain with the camper during the corona crisis | Our experiences
Why Mallorca is my favorite island
Before I list the 5 things you don't want to miss on the island, I will first tell you why I think Mallorca is such a nice island. I have been there many times before. But never (except once when I was 10) really on vacation. The island of Mallorca is the place where sailing yachts go before and after their summer season in Europe. You can see a lot of them in the port of Palma, the capital of Mallorca, especially in the early and late season. Since I work on sailing yachts, I've been there quite a few times. Also for a longer period of time. It's big enough to discover something different every time. Because make no mistake, Mallorca is quite a large island. It lends itself well to a roadtrip, but most people choose to spend a week at the beach. Then you have to make choices, because seeing everything is going to be difficult.
The atmosphere on the island is one of the things I like about Mallorca. It is quite international. With many people who work or have worked on boats, but also many Germans and English who have a house there.
The nature on the island is beautiful. You will find beautiful beaches, but you can also enjoy walking or cycling in the mountains. And how about the cute mountain villages? You will also find it there! You can eat delicious food and have a party if you want. Of course, the weather is also a big plus. The sun often shines and it is only a bit colder a few months a year and I also just love the country of Spain. The language, the food, the people, nice squares and outdoor living. Delicious! I hope this article makes you as excited about Mallorca as I am.
My favorite places and sights of Mallorca
1. Palma de Mallorca
You may not expect it on an island in the Mediterranean, but you will find a very nice big city on Mallorca. The city of Palma is a real Spanish city, with cozy squares and small cobbled streets in the old part. But you can also shop well! If you are on holiday in Mallorca, you should definitely visit the city for a day. But even if you spend a night or even two there, you will not be bored, because there is plenty to do.
On the island of Mallorca you can eat well everywhere, but in Palma the choice is huge. There is something for every budget and every taste. You can eat cheaply in one of the local restaurants where you will also see many locals. Usually they come there to have a hot lunch or to get a beer after work. You are not really atmospheric here, because there is bright lighting and you sit on plastic chairs. But the food is often well priced and tasty.
You will not find many typical tapas restaurants in Palma. But Bar del Dia is one, where you can taste the traditional tapas well and for a reasonable price. And in the same neighborhood there are more nice restaurants. If you prefer to try international, special and luxurious tapas, the more expensive Ombú and Stagier Bar are very tasty. Almost everything served on your plate here can be photographed for Instagram!
In the city of Palma you should definitely visit the old part, with the beautiful cathedral that is well worth a visit both inside and out. The narrow streets are also wonderful to stroll through. You will certainly come across a cozy square to have a nice cup of coffee and if it is a bit later, you should definitely try a Tinto de Verano. A wonderfully refreshing mix of 7Up and red wine. It may sound a little crazy, but it's delicious!
Other recommendations in Palma are:
- Bellver Castle, or the Round Castle. If you don't have much time in the city, you can skip this one too. But if you take the hop on hop off bus or have more time, the castle is definitely worth a visit. Also because the view from here is beautiful!
- Enjoy cycling or walking along the boulevard to view boats. It is the place where the locals gather in the afternoon and enjoy a beautiful evening.
- The Santa Catalina district is full of tasty restaurants, nice bars and you will find a nice market. You can have lunch at the market and you will see many locals who get their daily groceries there. Another market, Mercado L' Olivar can be found in the center of Palma.
Also read: The best alternative city trips in Europe | Nice and different!
2. Cap de Formentor
Cap de Formentor is the northernmost tip of the island. And it is beautiful! The cliffs go steeply into the water and you can see the sea as far as you can see. There are a few viewpoints, of which I think Mirador de Colomer is the most beautiful. The road to it is also a nice road to drive. You pass the typical Mallorquin countryside with many lemon and orange trees.
3.Sa Colobra
Sa Colobra is a beautiful bay, with cliffs on both sides. It is beautiful to see, but the real reason to go here is the road to get there. The road has 26 hairpin bends, one of which is even a 360% bend over itself. When we drove up the road we also saw some cyclists who were climbing up, I was so glad we were with the car!
4. The Mountains
The Tramuntana Mountains are a mountain range that you will find in the west of the island. When I'm on the island, I love to escape the hustle and bustle of the city on the weekend and go into the mountains. You can take beautiful walks in the mountains. For example, you can walk the Dry Stone Route, which takes you no less than 8 days. It's still on my bucketlist.But for now I'll stick to day walks. I've made a few, but my absolute favorite is the Path of the Archduke. The whole walk takes about 6 hours. You will pass through a pine forest, where you will see some remains of people who lived in the forests, to make charcoal. The first part is quite a bit of climbing. But in principle it is doable for anyone with an average condition.
Once out of the woods you come to an open and fairly flat part. You walk here on a stone path, with a beautiful view over the sea and the mountains. This is therefore the ideal place for your lunch. After this path you can choose to complete the round and end again at your starting point in the town of Valldemossa or to walk to the town of Deia and take the bus back from there.
Besides enjoying the beautiful nature, you can also visit the beautiful mountain villages. You will not be the only tourist, but they are beautiful places. It's like going back in time for a while. Beautiful places to visit are: Valldemossa, Deia, Fornalutx and Sóller.
5. The beaches
Of course Mallorca also has beautiful beaches and wonderful sea water for swimming. You may find the most beautiful bays in the south-east of the island. You will also find Cala D'Or there, which is the most popular holiday place for the Dutch. That is the place where I had a great holiday with my parents a long time ago. I couldn't get out of the water. But the most beautiful bay on the south-east side is Caló des Moro. It can be a bit busy in July and August, but if it is really too busy, you will find many more beautiful bays in the area.
I often went to the beach of Can Pastilla with my boyfriend, where you can go kitesurfing when the wind is blowing.
A little closer to Palma you will find Cala en Cranc which is also a beautiful bay. Port de Sóller is a nice stop if you've been in the mountains, a nice boulevard with palm trees and cozy restaurants.
About Sandra and Awaywego.nl
Hi, I'm Sandra from travel blog Awaywego.nl and I write guest blogs in addition to articles on my own website Wereldreizigers.nl† In addition to information about the versatile island of Mallorca, you can find many other travel tips on my website. I am also active on Instagram† See you there!
