So! You’re headed to Mallorca, the largest of the Balearic Islands off the Mediterranean coast of Spain. For a week? A weekend? There’s never enough time! However long you’re visiting this beautiful island, here’s a 13 incredible things to experience while in Mallorca to make sure you get the most out of your time!
#1. Visit a castle
There are castles and fortresses lining the island of Mallorca and it’s worth adding a couple to your list!
Bellver castle is the first circular castle built in Europe dating back to 1311. It’s conveniently located in Palma, so it’s easy to add to your list as you fly in or out of Mallorca.
Some castles, like Castell de Alaró you can just drive or walk to on your own schedule but some castles you need reservations! We didn’t realize this and tried to drive to Castell del Rey and had to turn around at the gated road. Next time!
#2. A day at Cap de Formentor
Located on the northern-most point of Mallorca, this entire area has breathtaking vistas with dramatic cliffs as the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range meets the Balearic Sea.
There’s enough here to spend an entire day: a historic watchtower, post-card mediterranean beaches, hiking trails, and a lighthouse at the end of the road.
Pro tip – Arrive early!! This road (closed to passenger cars October-April) is utter mayhem. So is trying to find parking. Go early, you can thank me later.
#3. Eat a persimmon off a tree
I’d never had one before Mallorca and I fell in love with them! This juicy, sweet fruit is rich in vitamin C so I’d try to have one in the morning and in the evening as my daily vitamin punch.
The skin is edible so I’d pick them right off a tree when soft to the touch and eat them like an apple. Some people peel them, but most vitamins and minerals are concentrated in the peel, so dig in!
When I arrived home, I saw persimmons in the local grocery store and painfully paid $3 for one, excited to re-live the mediterranean glory days. It was so disappointing and bitter! Not the same, fresh is always best.
They are also called “caqui” in Spanish and “kaki” is the botanical name.
#4. Watch sunset from Puig de Maria
I thought we had too late of a start hiking up to this ancient monastery, but it ended up being the perfect time to go!
The crowds were headed down as we hiked up, the lighting while hiking up during “the golden hour” was magical, and it’s not everyday you can watch such a striking sunset while the fortress behind you glows pink in the sunset light.
The hike is short and it’s mostly a road, we were down to the car before it got dark – about 15-20 minutes at our brisk pace.
#5. Tour a cave
Have you ever been in a cave? There are a handful of cave tours in Mallorca to choose from!
The Drach Caves are one of the largest in the world, Hams Caves with it’s unique tree-shaped formations and light and music shows, and Arta Caves with stunning stalactite and stalagmite formations – just to name a few.
#6. Eat Paella
A flavorful rice dish originating from Valencia, you can find this tasty dish wherever you go – sometimes the vendors will fry it up right there in the street and it attracts quite the crowd!
Paella is the word for “frying pan” in Valencian/Catalan language, and the pans they use to whip up this one-pot dish are the largest I’ve ever seen.
This short-grained rice is cooked with vegetables, chicken and/or seafood and seasoned with saffron and sometimes whole branches of rosemary. Luckily, some restaurants have vegetarian versions so I was able to try it!
#7. Drive into the Serra de Tramuntana mountains
This rugged mountain range runs southwest to northeast and is a protected as a nature reserve. Puig Major is the largest peak in the Balearic Islands and stands tall at 1,436 meters (4,711 feet).
The drive is breathtaking. There are hikes along the way or stop in at Lluc, a monastery site worth seeing in the heart of the mountains.
Go early, the roads are chaotic. Watching the sun rise over the valley is worth the early bird start.
#8. Visit a market
Many towns will have a farmer’s market in their main square one or two days of the week. You’ll find the freshest fruits and veggies as well as beautiful local arts and crafts.
Grab a fresh orange while you’re there and if you can’t find a fresh persimmon to pick off a tree, here’s your chance to try one!
#9. Explore the beaches
If you’ve never seen the mediterranean (this was my first time) it’s enchanting! The water is so brilliant that it appears to glow and many beaches on the north and east side of Mallorca are lined with dramatic limestone cliffs jutting up out of the sea.
The beaches on the south side of the island are sandier, but don’t skip the rocky beaches further north just because they aren’t soft white sand – I found those to be more intriguing due to their rugged beauty!
#10. Visit Mondragó Natural Park
On the south side of Mallorca, this beautiful protected area stretches over 1,893 acres.
There are walking paths to explore as well as 3 white-sand coves to choose from:
Cala Mondragó being the closest to the parking lot complete with a restaurant and bar and is the busiest cove of them all, S’Amarador is a little further walk and with no facilities, and Caló Des Burgit is the furthest and quietest beach – but don’t expect solitude by any means.
Bird watchers will enjoy the avian activity here, it’s part of the Western European migratory route and a protected wildlife zone.
#11. Walk the Calvari stairs
Take a scenic walk up 365 ancient stairs from Pollença square to Calvario chapel, a small chapel and café on top of the hill.
There’s a long bench to rest at when you arrive to the top while you soak in the views overlooking Pollença, Puig de Maria across the valley, and the Tramuntana mountains as they touch the sea.
It’s a lot of stairs but it’s worth the effort! If you think it’s hard work walking up the stairs, imagine all the work that went in to build the stairs by hand!
#12. See a grotto
I didn’t even know that’s what these were called until I went to Mallorca. Live, travel, learn! It’s remarkable and picturesque.
This was taken at Cala Varques; a popular tourist spot with a white sand beach tucked in a protected cove. The brilliant turquoise water begs for swimming and snorkling, there’s spots for cliff jumping (3 feet off the water was all I could muster), and over water bouldering if that’s your jam. A little something for everyone.
#13 Jump into the Mediterranean
I know, it goes without saying. The water was lukewarm but refreshing and is very salty! It was fun just being in such brilliant blue water.
If you’re jumping off rocks, remember that in some areas it can be tricky crawling yourself back up off the rocks and out of the water. Water shoes were very helpful in some areas where the rocks were sharp, so just remember to pack those just in case!
Did you like my article? Leave me a comment! 🙂
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