The Spanish island of Mallorca is situated in the Mediterranean Sea and is a true paradise on earth. It definitely should be on the top of your Spain bucket list.
As the largest island in the Balearics, there are plenty of Mallorca towns, beautiful villages, and historic cities in Mallorca. From the quaint, seaside towns along the eastern Mallorcan coast to the windswept Tramuntana mountain range running through the island’s center, to the picturesque villages at its base, you will have plenty of things to do in Mallorca.
You might feel a little bit overwhelmed when planning your Mallorca itinerary. But don’t worry, I’m here to help you out!
Although there are a couple of different ways to get to Mallorca, the easiest and the fastest option is to take a flight to the Island. From Barcelona, the flight is about 30 minutes. It’s quick and affordable.
Palma de Mallorca (PMI) Airport is located close to the capital city of Mallorca, Palma.
If you’re coming from mainland Spain or another Balearic Island, you can also opt to take a ferry. Mallorca has 2 ferry ports, one in Port d’Alcúdia and one in Palma. Although this is a more scenic way to get to Mallorca, keep in mind that it takes a lot longer than flying. For instance, it takes around 8 hours to reach Mallorca from Barcelona compared to 30 minutes on the flight.
How to get around in Mallorca
Although you can technically take the bus around Mallorca, they don’t run as often. Also, the island is far too big to explore on foot or with bicycles so it’s best to rent a car.
Renting a car will also give you the most freedom to explore the island on your own time. The island is huge, so I am sure you won’t regret renting the car to explore the island and experience some of the most beautiful scenic drives that Mallorca has to offer.
Since most of the people who visit Mallorca, rent a car, there are plenty of car rental companies at the airport. You can rent a car as soon as you land. Although, I would suggest if you can rent a car online beforehand, to avoid long lines at the airport. Since a lot of the flights land at the same time, during peak season, you might have to wait for more than 2 hours in the long lines to rent the car.
There are international companies like Hertz and Sixt, and then there are smaller companies as Recordgo and Europcar. We rented the car with Recordgo and it did not disappoint. The service, as well as the car, was great. Would highly recommend them.
Most of Mallorca is pretty easy to drive around, though Palma can sometimes be challenging due to traffic. But, you definitely need a car to experience, roads on the island that will bring you past beautiful scenery.
Honestly, renting a car in Mallorca is a no-brainer.
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Where to stay
Since Mallorca is a pretty big island, there is no shortage of options when it comes to accommodation. You can stay in the little towns on the Northside of Mallorca, in Deia & Valdemossa, or on the southern side of Mallorca in or around Palma de Mallorca.
Here’s my honest recommendation. I have seen a lot of people, staying in Deia and Valdemossa. These quaint little towns are beautiful, but also secluded. So, if you prefer more of a secluded vibe, these little towns are a great option. There are a lot of hotels on this side of Mallorca, so I am sure you can find the one you love. I really loved visiting the La Residence in Deia.
We decided to stay in the capital city of Palma de Mallorca for a couple of reasons. First, like any other town in Mallorca, it was beautiful with its simplicity and beautiful small streets. Second, the town of Palma de Mallorca is not as quiet as Deia or Valdemossa, so we loved to roam around the town in different bars and shops after a full day of exploring different parts of Mallorca. Third, it is close to the airport and it’s also one of the biggest cities on the island so it’s a great place to use as a base for your Mallorca trip.
We stayed at the beautiful little boutique hotel of Cen Cera and cannot recommend it enough. The service and the staff of the hotel were amazing. If you decide to stay here, definitely look into the Junior Suite Gallery or the Cen Cera Suite. The hotel was a palace before, and the décor for sure was breathtaking.
Mallorca is a huge island, so wherever you decide to stay, you will have to drive if you want to explore the other parts of the island. From Palma de Mallorca, the towns of Deia and Valdemossa are about 30 minutes.
You could also opt to stay at Magaluf or Palma Nova on the left side of Ca’n Pastilla or S’Arenal on the right side of Palma. All of these are great options and cater to different budgets, so you should be able to find one that best fits your budget.
One tip I have is if you rent a car and decide to stay in Palma de Mallorca, ask your hotel about the overnight paid parking. Parking can be a bit tricky in Palma. But, if your hotel does not offer overnight parking, don’t worry there are parking garages, where you can leave the car overnight. We used the parking garage when in Palma for the 4 days we were there. The cost is about 25 USD/day.
As I mentioned above, Mallorca is a huge island. To explore the whole island you definitely need more than 5 full days. So don’t worry if you cannot explore the whole island, you can always go back.
Personally, I and my husband don’t like to rush on vacation. We like to explore the different parts of the island but at the same time also take a break and relax, have a drink, and enjoy the beauty of the place and the moment. We had 4 days on the island and we made the most of it.
Day 1: Cala de Moro, Cala S’alumnia, Santanyi & Palma de Mallorca
Day 2: Deia, Valdemossa
Day 3: Cap de Formentor, Alucidia
Day 4: Soller and Palma
Day 1: Calo De Moro, Cala S’Alumnia, Santanyi & Palma de Mallorca
We landed in Mallorca about 10 am in the morning, so after renting the car and checking in, we decided to head straight to the south side of the island to explore some Calas. If you have researched anything about Mallorca, you may have come across the recommendations to visit some of the best Calas. Calas are basically coves.
Mallorca has plenty of them and they are all beautiful. It’s absolutely stunning. The water is unlike anything you may have seen before.
So, the first day since the weather was perfect, we decided to head straight to the Calo De Moro, along with its neighboring Cala S’Alumnai, and the little town of Santanyi. Santanyi is a historic rural town famous for its gold stone architecture. It is a perfect town to spend the afternoon having lunch and then heading to one of the Calas after.
We absolutely loved Cala De Moro as well as Cala S’Alumnia.
Santanyi was about 40 minutes from Palma de Mallorca. So, after spending most of our day in Santanyi and the Calas we came back to Palma de Mallorca in the evening.
We spent our evening in Palma de Mallorca exploring the Royal Palace of La Almudaina and roaming around the streets of Passeig del born (a lot of shops lined up along the beautiful trees), Placa de Cort (This historic plaza in the city is most well known for being host to the Ancient Olive Tree) & Placa Major(another square lined up with shops, restaurants, and bars).
We had a nice dinner at 13% ( Tapas place with delicious vegetarian options ) and later called it a night at one of the bars in Placa Major.
Another tip I have when it comes to dinner is, make sure you make reservations at the restaurants you want to dine at. You will notice that people in Spain start their day really late and have dinner after 9 pm. If you don’t have a reservation, you won’t be able to have dinner at the restaurant because most of the time, it will be fully booked out. So, ask your hotel to make a reservation for you or make one for yourself.
Day 2: Deia, Valdemossa & Cala Deia
Today we explored the villages around Mallorca! Day 1 was pretty jam-packed so this day we decided to keep a lot more relaxed.
Valdemossa:
Valldemossa is located on a hilltop and surrounded by beautiful rolling hills, Valldemossa is a quiet and picturesque village boasting many amazing shops, cafes, restaurants, and art galleries.
Valldemossa is a 30-minute drive from Palma. You can find 2 large car parks in the villages so leave your car behind and start exploring the village on foot.
We explored the town without much of a plan because the town is so small, that you will definitely stumble upon the must-see attractions. One of the top attractions in Valldemossa is the Royal Carthusian Monastery, along with the Jardins Rei Joan Carles garden, which is a lovely garden area to stroll around is also located next to the Monastery.
We spent about 2 hours in Valldemossa, had lunch at one of the restaurants in this little village as well, which was really nice.
Deia:
Next, we headed to the little town of Deiá, another picturesque village that is only a 15 to 20-minute drive from Valdemossa. Deiá has always been popular among famous artists and writers as well as celebrities, it was also home to the famous English poet, Robert Graves.
The main road leading up to Deiá can be very busy during the day and parking is not that easy to come by in the village, so you might need some extra time for traffic and parking.
We explored Deia, had a drink at the courtyard in La Residencia, and then headed to one of the most picturesque, places in Mallorca, the Cala Deia beach. Cala Deia has a parking lot, where you can park your car, and from there it is about 15 minutes of a hike. It is totally worth it. The water & the views are worth the little hike. It is a rocky beach but is a nice way to spend the afternoon by the water. You can go for a swim or relax and have lunch or a couple of afternoon drinks at the shack in Cala Deia. It was one of our favorite days in Mallorca.
The views of the village up in the mountains, and the stunning turquoise water of Cala Deia made this day a truly memorable one for us.
After spending our afternoon in Cala Deia, we made it to Palma at about 7 pm, got ready for dinner, and ended our day roaming around Palma de Mallorca, having our favorite pistachio gelato and some wine.
Day 3: Cap de Formentor & Alucidia
Cap de Formentor (lighthouse) is about a 1-hour drive from Palma de Mallorca. Cap de Formentor is located at the east tip of Mallorca, Spain. Don’t let the drive discourage you. The views along the drive are truly breathtaking. Even if you only have a day in Mallorca, do not miss this viewpoint. You won’t regret it since Cap de Formentor, is truly one of the most breathtaking viewpoints on the island.
To be honest, the viewpoints that are on the way to the lighthouse, are way better than the lighthouse itself.
Port de Pollenca
This small town is on the way to Cap De Formentor and is incredibly picturesque and is most well known for being a popular resort town. It’s filled with great restaurants, shops, and excellent beaches. We had lunch at one of the restaurants in this town before heading out to Cap de Formentor.
Mirador es Colomer
Next up on the road to the lighthouse, is this viewpoint of Mirador es Colomer. From Port de Pollenca, it takes a quick 10-minute drive along Ma-2210 to Mirador es Colomer. This is one of the best viewpoints you won’t want to miss out on. The viewpoint is perched up on a high cliff and looks out to the ocean and there are tons of beautiful rugged cliffs around, which only add to the view. It’s truly stunning.
Cala Figuera:
Yes, you guessed it right, one more Cala. Cala Figuera is a bit of a hike down a secluded beach, which is about 10 minutes of a drive from Mirador es Colomer.
To get to Cala Figuera, it’s a 30-minute hike. Nothing comes easy in Mallorca. The hike is not super difficult but it is not super easy as well. The path is not paved and there is vegetation around you, so it makes it a bit challenging.
But, if you are up for a little workout, you will find yourself immersed in some stunning views. We had to do it. We spent 2 hours of our afternoon at this beautiful beach. The weather was perfect. Make sure you have your water bottles and snacks ready because there are no restaurants at this beach once you hike down. You will also see some goats on your way, they are wild so don’t feed them.
Platja de Formentor
If you are not up for a hike, don’t worry, instead of Cala Figuera, you can head to this stunning beach of Platja de Formentor. From Mirador es Colomer, it takes a mere 10-minute drive to get to Platja de Formentor, one of the most beautiful beaches you’ll see on the island.
It’s important to know that the road leading to Platja de Formentor can get incredibly busy. Generally, if you don’t find a parking spot at the parking lot near Platja de Formentor, you’ll have no choice but to turn back and skip visiting the beach.
That’s why it’s important to start your day early. Parking costs 18 USD for a day (there are no hourly options). The water is incredibly blue and crystal clear and the white sandy beach is surrounded by beautiful green mountains.
Cap de Formentor:
Finally, after spending the time at the viewpoints and the beach we made our way to the lighthouse for sunset. Getting to Cap de Formentor is a little bit tricky because the road is closed to car traffic between 10 am and 7 pm during the summer months. I recommend spending the afternoon at the beach and then going up to Cap de Formentor in the evening for sunset.
Another tip I have for you is, to start your day early and plan your timings accordingly since parking can sometimes be tricky near Cap de Formentor and the other viewpoints that I have mentioned. For instance, there is only one road leading up to Cap de Formentor which gets insanely busy immediately after it opens at 7 pm. On top of that, parking spots are quite limited on the top so if you don’t want to spend a lot of time stuck in traffic and then search for a parking spot, be there at 7 pm or a little earlier.
It’s a 30-minute drive from the parking lot at Platja de Formentor. You should totally catch the sunset at the lighthouse which will be an unforgettable experience!
After sunset, we headed back to Palma de Mallorca and spent the night there relaxing having some pasta at …
Day 4: Palma de Mallorca and Soller
Day 3 was quite adventurous for us, so we decided to take it easy on our last day. You know on your last day, you usually start getting the vacation withdrawals? so we wanted to take it easy.
We began our day by exploring the Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma and the Palma food market. If you are a vegetarian like me, the market does offer some veggie options.
We decided to explore Palma during the first half of the day roaming around the little streets, shopped around, and had yet another snack – pastries, granola, and coffee, at Mise En Place. It was truly delicious.
Soller:
Later, we decided to check out Soller. Soller is a small town just 20 minutes from Deia. Sóller is located in a beautiful valley often referred to as the “valley of oranges” or the “valley of gold”.
You might ask, why didn’t we visit Sóller the same day as Valdemossa and Deia? , since its next to Deia?, we totally could have. But, as I said at the beginning of this post, we like to enjoy the place and the moment, rather than rushing to different places to check it off the list.
If we would have visited Sóller the same day as Deia and Valdemossa, we would not have been able to take in the beauty of Cala Deia. We preferred to spend our afternoon in Cala Deia and enjoy the beach rather than rushing to Sóller. You can totally do the little villages in one day if you like. You may have to skip Cala Deia if you decide to do so unless you start your day super early.
Anyways, Sóller is made up of narrow streets lined with traditional townhouses with beautiful green shutters. Make sure to visit Plaça Constitució, the main square of Sóller where you will find countless great cafes and restaurants.
The town is made up of narrow streets lined with traditional townhouses with beautiful green shutters. Make sure to visit Plaça Constitució, the main square of Sóller where you will find great cafes and restaurants.
Later, we made our way to the Port de Sóller. This beautiful port is a village of its own and is surrounded by beautiful blue water.
We took a scenic ride on the historical tram to Port de Soller. This vintage train is a great tourist attraction in itself which offers an incredible view where you can admire the beautiful mountains, olive trees, and orange groves on the way. We spent a couple of hours in Soller and Port de Soller.
We ended our final day by having a relaxing night in Palma.
I wanted to provide you with the list of some of my favorite Calas (beaches):
- Cala De Moro
- Cala S’Alumunia
- Petite Cala
- Cala Santanyi
- Cala Deia
- Cap Formentor-Cala Figuera
Now you know exactly how to spend 4 days in Mallorca!. Mallorca is huge. It’s nearly impossible to do everything the island has to offer in 4 days and you will for sure need more than 5 full days excluding travel to explore the entire island. But, that’s the reason that I want to visit this beautiful island again. Mallorca is stunning and it’s so much more than just a simple beach destination.
If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment, send me an email or DM me on Instagram, I always love helping you out! Do you know any other great places in Mallorca that I should visit the next time I go? Let me know in the comments!
