Mallorca without a doubt is my favorite summer destination in Europe. It’s the biggest of Balearic Islands (Spain), located on the Mediterranean Sea, only 30 minute flight from Barcelona. Mallorca is famous for its beautiful, sandy beaches surrounded by crystal clear waters, sheltered coves, rugged mountains and picturesque villages. Mallorca is sometimes called Majorca in Catalan, this island has a rich history and even has its own language - Mallorquin, Catalan dialect. This paradise island is colorful, diverse, have a great culinary scene, amazing restaurants, beautiful nature. I went to Mallorca six times and one day I plan to move there, because I love this island so much! I hope you will love this Ultimate Travel Guide to Mallorca, I share with you my favorite places, where to stay on the island, where to rent a car, where to eat and what to see. I hope you will enjoy it!

When is the best time to come to Mallorca?

The main season starts in June and ends in September - the weather at that time is the best (hot and sunny) and the water is warm. You can expect around 30 celcius degrees and 9-10 hours of sunshine a day. Summer is also the busiest time of the year, since lots of Europeans having their vacation, they visit the island with their families, kids etc. I think that the best time to visit the island is September. The water is still warm enough to swim, the crowds are gone and it’s cheaper. It’s also easier to find the parking at most of the beaches, coves and view points.

Honestly, Mallorca is a great destination all year round, but you may experience rain in winter. Once I visited Mallorca in December, it was sunny, around 20 degrees, and the island had a wonderful ambiance during Christimas time. Palma de Mallorca was full of beautiful decorations!

How to get to Mallorca?

Plane is the best way do get to Mallorca. If you plane to fly from Europe, you can check cheap European airlines such as Wizzair, Ryanair and EasyJet, the flights start at 30-40 EUR. Palma is well connected with most bigger cities in Europe. Obviously, it’s possible to fly to Mallorca from the US, even directly (but it’s more expensive than from Europe). This year, United opened a direct connection from New York to Palma which is amazing! You can check that on their website.

I always sit on the right side of the plane when coming from Europe, you can admire those type of views

How to get around Mallorca?

The easiest and the best way is by car. Don’t stay in Palma only, rent a car and explore the island to soak it all in, becase it’s full of wonderful places! You won’t regret it, I promise! I travel to Mallorca often and every time I rent a car from OFF U GO - book it here. It’s so far my favorite car rental company, they have brand new cars (also automatic) and great rates (there’s no deposit or hidden rates). The pick up and drop off are contactless, what makes the experience even better.

TIP: If you plan to visit Mallorca in the summer, remember to make a car reservation at least 4-8 weeks in advance to make sure you will get it. Summer is an absolute peak travel time, especially August.

Where to stay in Mallorca?

Palma / South of the island - the center of the island

It depends on what you’re looking for - nightlife, views or beaches. If you want to be well communicated to the rest of the island (you plan on exploring by car) I recommend staying in South of the island, close to Palma. Three times I stayed in Playa de Palma, it’s close to the airport (there’s a bus), there is a long and sandy beach, the city is located in proximity to the capital and you can easily drive to the rest of the island. I stayed in hotel Occidental Playa de Palma (book it here). I highly recommend this hotel, the food & the location were great! Below you can check the photos from my stay in 2019:

East Coast of Mallorca - beautiful beaches & coves

The east coast of Mallorca is calmer than the South, you can find there the best beaches, nice coves and lots of all inclusive resorts. I went to Cala Millor, Cala Bona and Cala d’Or, they are like small, touristy towns where you can find nice beaches, stores, restarants and other attractions. If you’re travelling with the family, this part of the island may be better than Palma, which is more a party destination. This year we stayed in hotel Barcelo Aquamarina (book it here) in Cala d’Or. The hotel is nicely located by Cala Ferrera, if you book the room with sea view, you will love those views!

Another beautiful hotel on the East Coast of Mallorca is Blau Punta Reina between Cala Romantica & Cala Mandia, I stayed there in 2020 and it has the dreamiest location. The hotel is located in a big, beautiful garden on the peninsula, between two coves. I’d definitely come back, it was an absolute dream.

Mallorca 10 day Itinerary

I put together the 10 day itinerary to Mallorca which features the best beaches & coves to visit, villages to see, sunset view points, best restaurants & bars and way more. You need to rent a car to fully explore all those spots. I hope you enjoy all the receommendations & pictures!

Day 1 - South Coast of Mallorca - Cala Pi - Es Trenc - Ses Salines

We started the day by visiting Cala Pi in the morning, before it gets crowded. It’s a nice place for pictures, but the beach is pretty small and tends to be busy. After Cala Pi, we went to Es Trenc (Ses Covetes), it’s my favorite beach in Mallorca. It’s long, sandy and peaeful. The water has a dreamy color! Remember to arrive early in the morning to find a parking spot in Ses Covetes.

After soaking up the sun, we had lunch in favorite restaurant & bar in Mallorca - Cassai Grand Cafe in Ses Salines. The place looks lovely and they have great food. Don’t forget to try their home-made ice tea and crème brûlée, so yummy!

Across the street from Cassai, there are some nice stores with artisanal products from Mallorca. Ses Salines is a cute town and it’s worth exploring. After eating delicious lunch, we headed to the cactus garden located nearby. I’m a cacti lover and Botanicactus was a dream place to visit! This botanical garden is located in Ses Salines. The ticket cost 11 EUR and you can pay cash only.

Day 2 - South-East Coast of Mallorca - Calo des Moro - Cala s’Almunia

One of the most picturesque coves (calas) in Mallorca, located close to each other. You need to go early, because it gets crowded quickly. To get there, you to hike for about 20 min from the parking lot, which fills up early in the morning. I visited in August and we arrived at 8.30 am in the morning, there were already a few cars. Cala des Moro & Cala s’Almunia are not easily accesible, I wouldn’t recommend to older people & families with small kids.

The first cala you will get to is Cala des Moro, it’s a slippery climb down to get down the beach. To get to Cala s’Almunia it’s a 5 min walk from Cala des Moro. Cala s’Almunia is really picturesque and it’s surrounded by fishermen houses. There isn’t any beach, just rocks, but the places itself is beautiful.

Day 3 - East Coast of Mallorca - Cala Llombards - Cala Mondrago - Cala Romantica

Cala Llombards

Another two beautiful calas in Mallorca, located close to each other, Cala Llombards & Cala Mondrago. Cala Llombards is located in town with the same name. It gets crowded early in the morning, the parking is so tiny. You need to arrive around 8-9 am to have the beach for yourself and enjoy it. There are some picturesque fishermen houses on the left from the beach.

Cala Mondrago

Cala Mondrago is located inside a natural park, it’s a beautiful place with crystal clear waters and many coves. Cala Mondrago gets crowded early in the morning, arrive early to grab a parking spot. There are nice, wooden walkways to explore the place, it’s absolytely gorgeous!

Cala Romantica

This is my favorite cove in Mallorca, with a beautiful, sandy beach, not too crowded because it’s mostly known by locals. It has the clearest water I’ve seen in Mallorca and there are some nice, white cliffs. If you go there you will love that spot! Two sunbeds and umbrella cost around 12 EUR. Near Cala Romantica, there is a nice hotel - Blau Punta Reina which I recommended earlier in this post. We stayed there once and it was great, the views from rooms are amazing.

Day 4 - West Coast of Mallorca - Deia & Valldemossa

Deia is a small and picturesque village located in Serra de Tramuntana mountains. The town is gorgeous, it’s surrounded by the mountains. There are a few nice restaurants, boutique hotels, local stores and galleries. Deia is an upscale destination, quite expensive and fancy, it ha a great vibe. You can visit Cala Deia, a small rocky cove with impressive views.

Valldemossa is the most picturesque town in Mallorca, located only 10 min drive from Deia. It’s famous for its cobbled alleys and stone houses. The Polish composer Frédéric Chopin and his lover, the French writer George Sand, spent the winter staying in the monastery. The Spanish saint and patron of Mallorca, Santa Catalina was born in Valldemossa. When strolling around the streets, you can spot many houses having the tiles of the same style, representing Santa Catalina.

TIP: When driving from Deia to Valldemossa, I suggest you to stop at an amazing viewpoint (off the main road), where you can admire sunset and enjoy pretty views. Here’s the location - click

Day 5 - West Coast of Mallorca - Soller & Port de Soller

Soller is one of the most beautiful towns in Mallorca, it’s located 3 km away from Port de Soller and you can visit both towns in one day. They are connected with a historic tramway, and it’s such a great experience to take that ride. The Soller train goes every few minutes, you can purchase the tickets on board (one ticket costs 8 EUR). I recommend leaving your car in Soller and going towards Port de Soller. Port de Soller is full of cobblestone houses, lemon trees, palm trees and restaurants. You can also find there cute boutiques with artisanal baskets.

Day 6 - North Coast of Mallorca - Cap de Formentor

Formentor is northernmost point of Mallorca, where the top end of the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range meets the Mediterranean. This is the most gorgeous place in Mallorca with dramatic views and rugged coastline. The best time to visit this part of the island is either sunrise or sunset, the light is amazing at that time. I recommend doing a full day road trip, there are many beautiful places and stops. Here are the must-see spots in Formentor:

Cala Figuera (nice cove with clear blue water, 15 min hike is required)
Mirador es Colomer (viewpoint known for the dramatic views, my favorite sunset spot)
Playa de Formentor (beautiful beach with nice views)
Cap the Formentor (the northermost point with the lighthouse at the end of the windy road)

Day 7 - Alcudia Old Town

The old town of Alcudia is a true gem & jewel of Mallorca, most of the tourist don’t visit this place. When people hear Alcudia, they think about all the all inclusive resorts located next to Port de Alcudia. The center of Alcudia is surrounded by the old walls, you can explore some parts of them. Alcudia Old Town is full of cobbled streets, cute houses with bougainvillea, nice restaurants & boutique stores. It’s actually a great place to shop!

Day 8 - Arta - Puig de Sant Salvador

Arta is a beautiful and traditional Mallorquin town, located in a large valley in the northeast Mallorca. This place is mostly known by locals, it’s not as popular as other villages, but it’s definitely worth your visit. Arta is well known for the production of pottery and basket weaving. It’s full of cobbled, narrow streets. The main attraction of Arta is Santuari de Sant Salvador located on top of the mountain, offering the stunning views over the valley.

Puig de Sant Salvador

This sanctuary located on top of the mountain was built it mid-14th century and restored in 18th century. Puig de Sant Salvador offers gorgrous, panoramic views over Mallorca. It’s also possible to hike to the top of the mountain, since there is a trail, but I don’t re commend doing that in the summer due to hot weather. We went there to watch the sunset and it was absolutely magical! This place is known by locals only.

Day 9 - Sa Calobra & Fornalutx

Fornalutx is a hidden gem in Mallorca, it’s a small but absolutely charming town nestled high up the Tramuntana mountains. You can admire there traditional Mallorquin stone buildings and walk around the narrow streets. You should visit this town on your way to Sa Calobra, it’s so lovely!

The road to Sa Calobra goes through Serra de Tramuntana mountains and it’s one of most spectacular panoramic roads in the world. Driving through that road was hard, but the views were absolutely amazing. We watched the sunset from Nus de Sa Corbata viewpoint and it was absolutely magical. The road ends at Torrent de Parreis, there is a beach surrounded by steep mountains, but we didn’t have time to make it. I recommend you going to Sa Calobra Beach first and then end the day by watching sunset.

Day 10 - Palma de Mallorca & Port d’Andratx

Palma is the capital of Mallorca and the main city in the island. Most of the tourist skip this part, because they think it’s just like a big city. Nonetheless, it’s a beautiful and vibrant city with amazing history and architectury. Here are the highlights of Palma de Mallorca:

Wander the streets in Palma Old Town
Visit the Cathedral of Palma and walk around it in the park
Watch sunset at Bellvere Castle

TIP: If you plan on going to Palma by car, I suggest you parking at Aparcament Parc de la Mar - SMAP, it’s close to the Cathedral and to the Palma Old Town.

When going to Palma, you should also visit Port d’Andratx, this town is absolutely magical an picturesque with many great restaurants and bars.

I hope you guye loved this post and you find it useful! If yes, don’t forget to follow along my adventures on Instagram (@sarowly) and pin this post on Pinterest.

The Ultimate Travel Guide to Mallorca - 10 day itinerary