After spending two weeks on the gorgeous Mediterranean island of Mallorca, Europe’s number one tourist destination, we’ve assembled a guide on the best places to visit on the island. This gem of a seaside destination is known for its vibrant capital, Palma, its beautiful beach coves and endless collection of holiday resorts. It also has some stunning scenery and natural attractions.
We were amazed at the sheer number of things to do in Mallorca. So much so, you could spend three weeks here and still not see everything. In this guide we’ll share all of the top places to visit in Mallorca, plus some of our own recommendations. You’ll find everything from mountain viewpoints and traditional towns, to beaches, botanical gardens and medieval castles.
If you have any questions about any of the places or attractions we’ve featured, be sure to post a comment.
Cuevas de Arta
Mallorca has many impressive caves scattered along its coastline. Drach Caves is the most well-known of the caverns, but it’s also extremely touristy. After reading online reviews, we opted for the quieter and equally as beautiful Arta Caves. This vast cave complex sits on the cliffside just outside of the town of Arta. It doesn’t look much from the outside, but venture inside and you’ll discover some of the coolest rock formations you’ll ever see.
To visit Arta Caves, you’ll need to join a guided tour. Tours take place every half an hour throughout the day, walking you through the deepest and darkest parts of the cavern. We’ve been to caves around the world and rate Arta as one of the best!
Mondrago National Park
Mondrago is a national park on Mallorca’s east coast that stretches for almost 2000 acres. It’s full of hiking trails, viewpoints, nature walks, and of course, some excellent beaches. Most people visit the park for its several beautiful coves. All of the beaches are sheltered, making them a good spot for swimming and paddleboarding.
Visit Mondrago National Park for a day of scenic walks and beach relaxation. There’s plenty to see here, and you aren’t confined to one beach for the day. If you aren’t a beach lover, we recommend visiting solely for the stunning coastal scenery.
Alcudia Old Town
Alcudia Old Town is one of the most historic and cultural places to visit in Mallorca. Located to the north-east corner of the island, this medieval town is a great spot for sightseeing, gift shopping and eating out. Terracotta stone buildings, narrow alleyways and bustling squares make it unlike most of the other places in our guide. It has a unique charm to it.
Spend time browsing the market stalls, grab a drink or lunch in one of the many affordable cafes, or walk along the castle walls. Alcudia Old Town also has several historic sites, including an old church, city gate and a museum.
Alcudia seafront
A complete contrast to the Old Town centre we’ve just mentioned, Alcudia’s seafront is one of the biggest tourist spots on the island. A long promenade and miles of sandy beach make it a top place to stay for anyone on holiday in Mallorca. It has a good selection of shops, bars and restaurants, and an upbeat atmosphere on an evening.
Visit Alcudia seafront during the day to relax on the beach or enjoy a drink in one of the beach clubs. Walk along the promenade and you’ll reach the marina, which is a great place to join a boat trip.
Cala Bona
Cala Bona is one of the most popular beach towns on Mallorca’s east coast. It’s a great place to visit for a slow stroll along its seaside promenade, gift shopping or to enjoy lunch with a view in the small marina. Cala Bona is quite a touristic place to visit, but it has a fun, family atmosphere and some excellent viewpoints. It’s a particularly nice place to visit at sunset.
The highlight of any trip to Cala Bona is the long promenade, which stretches all the way to Cala Millor in the south. Hire a four-person bike or walk the full length of the coastal strip, stopping for a drink in one of the many bars and cafes.
Cala Millor
Cala Millor is another one of Mallorca’s busy tourist resorts. For many years it has been a top place to stay for its selection of hotels, bars, restaurants and its long sandy beach. The Cala Millor beach is right in front of the promenade, so you have easy access no matter which hotel you’re staying in.
Stop by Cala Millor for a relaxing beach day with all the facilities you need on your doorstep. There are some excellent café and restaurant options for lunch. If you stay until the evening, you’ll get to experience the town’s upbeat nightlife scene, and a long street of high street and gift shops.
Cala Figuera Port
Cala Figuera port town is one of the prettiest coastal spots on the island. It’s known for is narrow duo of marinas and narrow harbour passage. Rows of houses sit of the edge of the harbourside and luxury yachts depart and arrive throughout the day. Visit Cala Figuera and you can walk the full length of the marina, getting up close to the boats and admiring the view of one of the prettiest corners of the island.
Inside town, Cala Figuera has several top-rated restaurants and cafes to check out. It’s a nice place to explore for a couple of hours whilst touring Mallorca’s south-east coast.
Cala Llombards
Mallorca has many beaches, but Cala Llombards is one that has taken the world of social media by storm. This tiny cove has quickly become one of the most famous beach locations in the Mediterranean. Located on the island’s south-east coast, Cala Llombards was once a quiet place to go for a swim and relax on the golden sands.
These days, it’s admittedly quite touristy. Crowds of tourists occupy the beach in the summer months, so it can be difficult to find a space on the sand. Nevertheless, it’s still a beautiful place to visit in Mallorca, especially if you arrive early on a morning when it’s quiet.
Cala Mesquida
We visited a lot of beaches during our time in Mallorca and Cala Mesquida was one of the highlights. This large, golden-sand beach is part of a protected national park. As it’s so large, there’s plenty of room so it never feels too crowded, even in the busy summer months. You can choose to lie on the sand, or can hire a sun lounger and umbrella for the day if you plan on staying a while.
Cala Mesquida is picturesque, comfortable and a great place for swimming. The bay is somewhat shielded from the waves and it has shallow water that stretches for hundreds of meters. This makes it a great beach for families, or water sports such as paddleboarding.
Cala Ratjada and Capdepera Lighthouse
The Cala Ratjada area is home to one of Mallorca’s most visually stunning coastlines. The town itself is small and quiet, featuring a good selection of bars and restaurants, and a scenic marina. Venture to the coastline and you’ll reach the dramatic rock formations of Punta de Capdepera. Capture some nice photos of the lighthouse or walk carefully along the cliffside to get a good view of the crashing waves below.
Cala Romantica
Next on our list is our favourite beach in Mallorca, Cala Romantica. Nestled on the edge of S’Estany d’en Mas town, this quaint, white-sand beach is an idyllic place to relax. The seawater in the bay is crystal clear and the sheltered location makes it great for swimming. It also has a unique phenomenon where the sand appears pink on the shoreline due to the coral in the sand.
We recommend visiting Cala Romantica for a beach morning or afternoon. You can hire a sun lounger for the day or take a towel and lie on the sand. There’s also a selection of bars and restaurants to grab lunch.
Cala Saint Vincenc
We stumbled upon the small beach town of Cala Saint Vincenc whilst exploring the Alcudia area, and we’re very glad we did. It’s a tiny town to the north-east of Mallorca, right next to the protected Formentor National Park. It’s the perfect escape for those that prefer small, scenic beach coves over the large beach promenades found in Alcudia and Port de Pollenca.
Visit the town to see the three beautiful coves, Cala Clara, Cala Carbo and Cala Molins. All bays are great for swimming and there are plenty of scenic viewpoints, walks and cafes for those that don’t fancy relaxing on the beach.
Cap de Formentor
We’ve already talked about Mallorca’s magnificent coastline and hidden beach coves. To see some of the most dramatic coastal scenery, drive to ‘land’s end’, Cap de Formentor. The northern-most point on the island, Formentor is a series of winding cliffside roads, tiny beaches that are difficult to access, and several viewpoints.
The best way to see this area is by hiring a car or joining a guided tour. If visiting in the summer months, you’ll need to join a tour as hire car access is restricted. It’s one of the best places to visit in Mallorca for those that appreciate adventure and remote beaches away from the tourist trail.
Capdepera Castle
Next up is another one of Mallorca’s iconic historic sites. Capdepera Castle is the shining star of the town of Capdepera. Built during the 14th century, this hilltop castle dominates the town’s skyline. It once held 125 houses within its walls, but these days it’s a major tourist attraction. Entry to Capdepera Castle costs only a few euros per person.
It’s a well-preserved castle with some excellent views of the countryside, turrets and walls that you can climb, and several museum exhibits.
Fornalutx
Fornalutx is one of the island’s traditional mountain villages. Hidden away in the hillside of Tramuntana National Park, this charming village is a nice place to explore on foot for a couple of hours. Its narrow alleyways, sandstone buildings and traditional, old town atmosphere make it unlike many of the other places in our guide. Fornalutx feels very quiet and peaceful.
Wander the streets, take some nice photos and stop in one of the mountain-view restaurants for a refreshing drink.
Mallorca Shopping Outlets
For those that enjoy some retail therapy on holiday, we highly recommend Mallorca Shopping Outlets. This large, well-maintained outlet centre is the best place for brand-shopping on the island. It has a good collection of global fashion brands, plus some bars and restaurants for when you want to take a break.
We recommend visiting Mallorca Shopping Outlets on an evening. It’s an open area so it can get quite hot if you visit during the day. We don’t usually include shopping outlets in our travel guides but were particularly impressed with the shops and deals here, so we just had to feature it.
Tramuntana National Park
Mallorca may be an island known for its beaches, but it also has mountainous terrain. Tramuntana National Park stretches across the entire north of the island, featuring winding roads, vast forests of pine trees and some epic viewpoints. It’s also home to traditional Mallorcan villages. Tramuntana is very popular destination for cyclists. Year-round, you’ll see cyclists tirelessly challenging themselves on the steep mountain roads.
The best way to see Tramuntana National Park is to hire a car. Spend a day driving through the park stopping at the many viewpoints, villages and artificial dam lakes. It’s one of the best places to visit in Mallorca for nature lovers.
Sa Calobra
Sa Calobra is a tiny town and beach cove in Tramuntana National Park. It’s famously known for its winding mountain road, which features sharp hairpin turns and epic views as you drive down the mountainside into town. The road and surrounding scenery is the most visually stunning place we visited in Mallorca!
Once you reach the end of the winding road, you’ll have to walk through a cave to get to Sa Calobra’s hidden gem, a sheltered beach cove known as Torrent de Pareis. Unfortunately, this area isn’t the unknown paradise it was once and is now very popular, it’s still well worth a visit.
Palma
You can’t visit Mallorca without exploring its vibrant capital city, Palma. It’s the cosmopolitan, beating heart of the island, feeling much like Barcelona or another Spanish coastal city. Palma is also a popular cruise port. Every day, crowds of tourists descend on the capital for a day of sightseeing.
You can see the many sites of Palma in a full day trip. Go shopping on Paseo del Borne, a ‘golden mile’ of designer and high street stores. Alternatively, browse the old monuments, buildings and gift shops of the old town or soak in the atmosphere at Palma’s market, Mercat De S’olivar. Other Palma attractions you can’t miss include Bellver Castle and the iconic Cathedral of Mallorca. It’s currently rated the number one place to visit on the island.
Port de Pollença
Port de Pollença is one of the top places to visit in Mallorca for a scenic harbourside stroll, lunch with a view, or to sample some delicious and affordable local food. Unlike other tourist towns, Port de Pollença feels laid back and quiet. It boasts one of the most picturesque promenades in Mallorca, stretching from a small marina to a long sandy beach.
We found Port de Pollença to have an excellent collection of bars, restaurants and cafes. Prices seem more affordable than neighbouring tourist towns and many eateries feel authentic. It was one of our favourite destinations!
Santyani Market
Mallorcan markets take place throughout the week in towns and villages around the island. We highly recommend visiting at least one market during your visit! The town of Santyani is where you’ll find one of the largest and most diverse markets. Every Friday, tourists and locals flock to the small town to browse its collection of hundreds of stalls.
Wine, clothing, handmade gifts, food, drink and homeware are just some of the things you can find if you visit Santyani on market day. There’s an upbeat atmosphere with live music and some nice cafes and restaurants for when you get hungry.
Other Mallorcan markets that are worth checking out include:
- Mercat De S’olivar – Palma
- Setmanal Market
- C’an Picafort Market
- Inca Street Market
Sóller Town Centre
Outside of Palma, the northern town of Sóller is probably the most popular place to visit in Mallorca. Every day, crowds of tourists descend on this tiny mountain village to explore its charming old centre. Colourful, narrow streets, a bustling square with a gothic church and two botanical gardens are the top sites to see in Sóller. You’ll also find some excellent café and restaurant options.
The journey to Sóller is just as exciting as the town itself. You can drive or get the bus there, but the most unique transport option is to take a 100+ year-old train from Palma on a scenic journey through the mountainside. Sóller is a very popular day-trip option so we recommend arriving as early as possible.
Port de Sóller
A short drive or train ride from Sóller Town Centre, the port and seaside area of Sóller is well worth the extra trip. Unlike the rustic, traditional centre, Port de Sóller is a vibrant promenade of restaurants, cafes and ice cream stands. It feels much like a high-end resort-town in the south of Spain or France.
Port de Sóller has a good collection of sandy beaches, a picturesque marina and a lighthouse viewpoint. It’s the perfect place to wind down after a morning of sightseeing in town. As the bay is sheltered, it’s a good spot for swimming, and the water is a bright turquoise colour.
Alfabia Gardens
We always love exploring botanical gardens, so as soon as we heard about Mallorca’s very own Alfabia Gardens, we just had to visit. This small but beautiful garden area can be visited for an entrance fee of 9 euros. It’s home to a collection of neatly manicured hedges, tropical plants, flower gardens and water features. It also has a picturesque café that overlooks a pond.
We thoroughly enjoyed wandering around Alfabia Gardens and highly recommend checking it out whilst on a day trip to the Soller area.
Sanctuary of Sant Salvador
The Sanctuary of Sant Salvador is home to Mallorca’s most epic viewpoint. Perched on top of a steep hill to the south-east of the island, the sanctuary is a 14th century monastery that’s free to visit. It sits 509 metres above sea level. To get there, you’ll need to drive up a series of winding mountain roads until you reach the summit.
Once you arrive at the top of the hill, you’ll find a small chapel with a gothic altarpiece, a shrine, and the most impressive part of the monastery, a 7-metre copper monument of Christ the King. There are several viewpoints and walking trails on top of the mountain, which are the highlight of any visit. You have 360 panoramic views of the countryside.
Thanks for reading our guide on the best places to visit in Mallorca. You’ll quickly discover that it’s a very large island with a lot to see and do. To see all of the recommendations on our list, we recommend booking a split stay. Spend a few days in different corners of the island to minimise your travel time.
If you have any questions about any of the places we’ve featured, be sure to post a comment below.
BY SUSIE
Author bio:I’m a passionate traveller that loves a sunny beach holiday, but also appreciate the cultural side to a trip and checking out undiscovered destinations. I’m the go-to Toucan Traveller for great holiday stories, cool photos and foodie recommendations.