14 Of The Best Things To Do In Mallorca

Are you thinking of visiting Mallorca? This gorgeous Spanish balearic island can often be misjudged as being a party island for the “brits abroad” crowd. And, although you can dance ‘til dawn in Magaluf, Mallorca is so much more than this one resort.

Mallorca is a gorgeous island with a historic capital city to explore, a huge variety of beaches and bays, incredible scenery with lots of hikes, and cute towns in the mountains. 

I’ve been lucky enough to visit Mallorca several times during my adult years and the island never ceases to show me something new.  

If you’re thinking of visiting for the first time, or are heading to Mallorca for a repeat visit, here are the best things to do in Mallorca. Add them to your list!

1. Train from Palma to Soller
2. Vintage Tram to Port de Soller
3. Walking Tour Of Palma
4. Visit Palma Cathedral
5. Go to Sa Calobra
6. Olive Oil Tasting
7. Beach Day At Calo des Moro
8. Drach Caves
9. Self-Guide Tapas and Wine Tour
10. Wine Tasting Experience
11. Sunset Boat Trip
12. Mountain Towns Of Mallorca
13. Hop-On, Hop Off Bus Tour of Palma
14. Bellver Castle

What Your Need To Know For Your Holiday To Mallorca

Where To Stay In Mallorca

The beauty about the island of Mallorca is that it has a huge variety of places to stay – there’s the city of Palma, small villages like Algaida, mountain towns of Soller and Valldemossa and beach destinations like Alcudia and Cala Millor. I’ve stayed in each and every one of these, enjoying a different and wonderful holiday each time. I’ve even combined two – staying in Algaida for a few days before heading to Port de Soller for a beach break.

How To Get Around Mallorca

If you’re staying in Palma, you’ll be in walking distance of everything in the city and Old Town. Buses, trains and taxis make it easy to get to other parts of the island for day trips so the city is a great base for exploring Mallorca. However if you’re based elsewhere, renting a car is your best option if you want to see the island, alternatively taxis will be readily available in the more popular tourist resorts but will just work out more expensive.

How Many Days Do I Need In Mallorca?

3 to 4 nights is perfect if you’re exploring the city of Palma, this means you can enjoy all the city’s main sights and have time for a day trip to somewhere else on the island.

7 days is ideal if you want a more relaxing holiday You could stay for 1 week in one of Mallorca’s beach resorts with day trips from your hotel as well as have a few days of chilling out by the pool or on the beach.

10-14 days is a great amount of time if you want to travel a bit slower and really see each part of Mallorca. You can enjoy a few nights in Palma, the travel up to the mountain towns of Soller, Valledemossa, Deia and Fornalutx, before enjoying a few days around Mallorca’s coastline at one or two of its beach destinations.

Here Are 14 Of The Best Things To Do In Mallorca

Get The Train From Palma to Soller

The train from Palma to Soller is one of the most wonderful day trips you can do in Mallorca. Buy a ticket from the train station, or book online ahead of time, and hop on this old mode of transport to the mountain town of Soller. 

The journey takes around an hour and along the way you’ll stop at Bunyola, make a pit stop for a view over Soller, travel over viaducts and through 13 tunnels before reaching your final destination of Soller. 

Soller is pretty town where you can easily wander around the narrow streets, stop for fresh orange juice at one of the many cafes, or people watch in the main square before heading back to Palma. If you’re just visiting Soller, I’d recommend 2-3 hours if you’re planning on enjoying lunch here. 

Return tickets cost €30.

Get The Tram From Soller to Port de Soller

An additional trip to the Palma to Soller train is the Soller to Port de Soller tram. If you’re able to get the first train from Palma and get the last train back to Palma from Soller, you’ll have more than enough time to include this on your day trip to Soller. 

The tram takes around 20 minutes and when you’re in Port de Soller, you can enjoy lunch at one of the many restaurants looking out towards the sea or spend an afternoon at the beach. It’s such a scenic area of Mallorca and is well worth the visit if you have the time.

Tickets cost €40 for a combined train and tram ticket and can be bought online 7 days in advance of travel or at the ticket office on the day.

If you want to combine the train to Soller, tram to Port de Soller and a boat to visit Sa Calobra, there’s a day trip that makes it super easy to do all three! This organised trip will even pick you up if you’re staying in one of their named locations.

Read More: 5 Great Places To Eat In Port De Soller and Hotel Review | Bikini Island And Mountain Hotel in Port De Soller, Mallorca

Do A Walking Tour In Palma

A walking tour is always a great way to get your bearings in a new city. If you’re limited on time too, it’s an easy way to see the highlights! Even if you’ve visited Palma before, a walking tour might show you some places you’ve never seen. 

There are many companies that do walking tours but we did one with Mallorca Free Tour. Our guide was really knowledgeable, had a mini speaker so we didn’t miss what she was saying, and provided a really comprehensive 2 hour walk around the cathedral and Palma’s Old Town. 

Although the tour is free, it’s recommended to give the guide a tip at the end of the tour. Most guests were giving around 10 euros each but it’s whatever you can afford and feel like is a fair price.

I’ve also done a private walking tour in Palma and this was great for the group I was travelling with and we were able to personalize the tour so we could tailor it to what we were interested in. This was booked through Get your Guide and with a company called Guydeez – Theo our guide showed us some real gems around the city’s quieter streets and even made time so we could stop for a refreshing drink and snack and one of Palma’s oldest bakeries.

Visit Palma Cathedral

You can’t miss Palma Cathedral on a visit to Palma. This 14th Century building also known as Le Seu, is a landmark in the city and is unmissable if you’re arriving by sea. It’s one of Europe’s tallest Gothic structures and a tour inside will give you a unique view of the 61 stained glass windows as well as the central rose window which is most spectacular in the morning light. 

We enjoyed an audio guided tour of the Le Seu as well as access to the terraces which give incredible views across Palma and its beautiful marina. I’d highly recommend getting a ticket for the terraces if you’re able to manage the 140+ steps to the top – it allows your to see the structure of Le Seu up close as well as see many of the cathedral’s stained glass windows in detail.

The cathedral does get busy so if possible, book an early ticket so you can enjoy your visit with smaller crowds or book a skip-the-line ticket so you don’t have to queue. Adding an audio guide to your ticket also helps brings Palma Cathedral to life which is great if you’re interested in the history of this building.

Adult tickets are €9 with an optional audio tour. 

Take A Visit To Sa Calobra

The journey to Sa Calobra is an adventure in itself and there’s more on that below! However, the beach at Sa Calobra, one of Mallorca’s most remote beaches, is worth the winding roads! 

There are two beaches in Sa Calobra – one is in front of the restaurants and the other is at the end of a narrow paths around the cliffs. When you reach the end of this path, you’ll emerge from a tunnel to an opening at the end of the Torrent de Pareis. This beach is pebbly and has no facilities so come prepared with food and drinks if you’re planning on staying a while. 

Read More: A Road Trip Guide To Sa Calobra In Mallorca

Go Olive Oil Tasting

If you want a taste of a real local delicacy, why not go olive oil tasting. Finca Treurer lets you into the secrets of olive oil making in the Mallorcan countryside with a tour of the property’s gorgeous olive grove. 

Then you get to do the exciting part, an olive oil tasting! Priding themselves on ‘tree to table’ olive oil, Finca Treurer let no more than 24 hours pass between picking the olive from the tree and production of the oil. The olive oil is then stored in a temperature controlled, opaque tank, ensuring you get to taste the best and the freshest olive oil. You can even take some home with you so make sure you have room in your suitcase!

Enjoy A Beach Day At Calo des Moro

Another place to spend a beach day in Mallorca, and I think one of the prettiest beaches I’ve ever seen, is Calo des Moro. Again there are no facilities at this beach, and it’s around a 10 minute walk from the car park but trust me, it’s more than worth it for the views. The bluest of blue water is one of the first things you’ll see but explore a little further and you’ll find an additional beach – Cala s’Almunia which is equally as pretty.

My top tip would be to arrive here as early as possible as the beach, thanks to its Instagrammable qualities, does get really busy and there’s not a huge amount of space.

Read More: 7 Of The Best Beaches In Mallorca To See This Summer

Visit The Drach Caves

The Drach Caves, almost 1200 metres long and 25 metres underground, are definitely one of the best things to do in Mallorca. They’re especially great on a hot day as the caves temperature ranges between 17 ºC to 21 ºC. A tour will take you down to Lake Martell, one of the largest underground lakes in the world and will end with a beautiful concert which really showcases the acoustics of Drach Caves.

Ticket prices are from €9 for children and from €16 for adults.

Enjoy A Self Guided Tapas And Wine Tour In Palma

One way to really get into Mallorca’s tapas scene is to enjoy a tapas and wine tour in Palma. The best thing about this tour is that it’s self-guided so you can take it at your own pace, enjoying leisurely food and drink with friends or family. 

You’ll enjoy tapas dishes, along with wine, sangria or beer, at five different restaurants where you can try out padron peppers, ham and cheese croquettes, Spanish tortilla and much more! It’s worth doing this as early as possible in your trip and you can always go back to places if you really like them!

Have A Wine Tasting Experience

Fancy yourself as a bit of a wine aficionado? Then why not go on a wine tasting experience at one of Mallorca’s most wonderful vineyards? Learn about the history of Mallorcan wine and sample four of Son Juliana’s most delicious varieties. You also get to enjoy a tour of the vineyard and enjoy some local food to complement your drinks.

If you want to visit two of Mallorca’s finest wineries with a guide, then you can do just that and enjoy a full day of wine tasting that include a picnic or leisurely lunch with the Tramuntana Mountains in the background.

Take A Sunset Boat Trip

Enjoy a view of Palma from the sea on a sunset boat trip. This is a great way to spend the evening if you’re staying in the city – not only do you get to enjoy a few hours out of the city but you’ll anchor up in one of Mallorca’s gorgeous bays for a few hours of food and swimming in the sea.

Jorge and crew will prepare a delicious tapas feast while you get to enjoy a refreshing dip in the Mediterranean Sea – there’s even a stand up paddleboard if you fancy a go. Back on board, dig into your meal with a glass of cava as the coast of Mallorca glows in golden hour. This sunset boat trip was just the most wonderful experience, made even more special by the fact that we had the boat to ourselves. This activity is perfect if you’re on holiday with a group of friends or celebrating a special occasion with family.

Visit Valldemossa, Fornalutx and Deia The Towns In The Tramuntana Mountains

One thing about Mallorca that you might not be aware of are its pretty mountain towns. Valledemossa, Fornalutx and Deia and three of the main places that are worth a visit in the Tramuntana Mountains. If you want to visit all three in one day, you’re best to hire a car but keep in mind that parking can be difficult in each place due to limited spaces. With that in mind, it’s worth visiting as early as possible to see each place before the crowds.

Alternatively, you can do day trips where you can combine Valledemossa with Deia and Soller – perfect if you don’t have your own transport.

However you see these mountain towns in the Tramuntana Mountains, take your camera as their stone buildings, quiet streets and hilly scenery make for some great photo opportunities!

Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour

If you’re only spending a short time in Palma, maybe if you’re visiting on a cruise or in Palma on a day trip, a Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour is a great way to see all the main sights of Mallorca’s capital city. With 24 hours to hop around places like Poble Espanyol, Placa del Mercat and Bellver Castle, there’s plenty of time to experience the highlights of Palma. 

Not only do you get a tour around Palma, you also get to learn about the city’s sights along the way with an included audio guide on the 18 stop route.

Bellver Castle

Perched on top of a hill overlooking Palma is Bellver Castle. Around 3km from Palma city centre, you can walk up here or, if you’re enjoying the Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Tour, the bus will drop you outside the entrance making it super easy to visit!

Built in the 14th century, this is Spain’s only round castle and gives you 360 degree views of Palma’s coastline and city, and the Tramuntana Mountains. Over the years, it’s been used as a royal summer residence and even a prison up until 1915. Today though, it’s a well preserved castle with moat and drawbridge, three defence towers and a free-standing keep. Inside you’ll find two-tiers to wander around or even enjoy a concert form on a warm summer evening.

These are 14 of the best things to do in Mallorca. Let me know if there’s anything else that needs to be added to the list or if you try out any of the above!