Travel Guide to Majorca (Tourist Guide)

Great experiences start with a good plan. So, here is a guide with many recommendations and useful tips for travelling to Mallorca. We offer you a complete travel and tourism guide designed by residents and connoisseurs of the island. We have prepared it with the aim of helping you to organise your trip to Mallorca. In it we have detailed some suggestions that you should take into account when travelling to Mallorca and we have included varied but concise information on access routes, accommodation, transport, geography, climate, gastronomy and activities that you can do in Mallorca that will be useful for planning your trip to the pearl of the Balearic Islands.

Travel guide to Mallorca

Majorca is a marvellous island in the Mediterranean. Its climate, its gastronomy, its geography and its culture in general make it a highly coveted destination for tourists from all over the world, so we strongly recommend that you prepare your trip to Majorca well in advance. So, here are our recommendations and tips for travelling to Mallorca if you don’t want to depend on agencies to organise your trip.

Travelling to Mallorca in summer:

Majorca has a very peculiar climate. Although it is common to find other locations in Europe with similar climatic characteristics, Mallorca is compared to the most acclaimed destinations in the Caribbean and it is not for nothing. The intensity of the sun and the stifling heat of August can be overwhelming for some people, so we recommend travelling to Mallorca (depending on your preferences, of course) in the months of May-June or late September and early October, because the weather is still good, but without the sweltering temperatures you might experience in August.

I have met many students, mainly British and German, who always travel to Mallorca during the summer months and they do so because during the months of June to August, Mallorca experiences an explosive influx of young people who invade the whole island and fill it with vigour and a lot of movement. That is to say, during these months Mallorca could also become very noisy and if you are interested in getting to know the island beyond what some agencies or Low Cost tour operators propose, it is better to avoid some areas that are extremely popular during these dates of tourist debauchery in Mallorca.

All in all, we recommend that you travel to Mallorca in the spring and early autumn months. At this time there is no extreme heat although you can still enjoy the excellent temperature on its warm beaches and turquoise coves without the crowds that you might experience in the high season months in Mallorca (June-August).

Travelling to Mallorca in winter:

Winter in Mallorca, with few exceptions, is not usually extreme. January and February are the coldest months of the season and winters are usually quite mild. On sunny days, the temperature is usually extremely pleasant and conducive to many outdoor activities. Winter can range from about 12 to 20 degrees Celsius with a low of about 6-10 degrees Celsius. There is little rainfall, but it does rain in Mallorca in winter is more frequent and persistent than in summer.

From this AllMallorca portal we recommend travelling to the island also in winter, of course, but we recommend that you stay preferably in Palma de Mallorca (its capital). From there in winter you will have better transport options and many more connections with the rest of the island. If you are interested in travelling inland to visit and get to know the beautiful villages, we recommend that you make sure you climb the Tramuntana mountain range. There you will find breathtaking views of its lush landscapes, its splendid architectural monuments (such as the monastery of Lluc) and the paradisiacal coves hidden along its coastline. In short, no matter when you travel to Mallorca. The island has enough charm to offer excellent experiences and impressive surprises that will leave you with unforgettable memories, both in summer and winter.

How to get to Mallorca?

Travel Guide to Majorca: Getting there by Ferry

Mallorca, for an island, is very well connected. You might think that its insular nature would make it a little more distant, isolated or closed off, but quite the opposite is true. To get to Mallorca you have several options. Precisely because it is an archipelago, there are basically two ways to get there: by sea, from various points on the mainland and other islands, or directly by plane. If you are planning to travel to Mallorca with your own car, it would be advisable to travel by ferry. You can book a ferry here on the AllMallorca platform.

To travel to Mallorca you have direct ferries that offer very good service and depart from the port of Barcelona, from the port of Valencia, Denia, Menorca or Ibiza with acceptable frequency. This way you can travel to Mallorca with all the facilities of driving your own car. The journey time depends on the port of departure:

Ferry crossing time to Mallorca

Depending on the port of origin, the type of boat (traditional or fast ferry) and the weather conditions, the duration of the ferry trip to Majorca may vary:

Denia-Palma: 5:15 h.
Valencia-Palma: 7:15 h.
Barcelona-Palma: 7:15 h.
Barcelona-Alcudia: 5:45 h.
Minorca (Mahón)- Palma: 6:00 h.
Menorca (Ciutadella)-Alcudia: 2:00 h.
Menorca (Mahón)-Alcudia: 3:45 h.
Ibiza-Palma: 2:15 h.
Formentera-Palma: 4:15 h.

Travel Guide to Majorca: Arriving by Plane

The largest number of tourists in Mallorca travel by air. Palma de Mallorca Airport is the third most important airport in terms of passenger volume in Spain. Palma de Mallorca Airport closed July 2024, for example, with 4,597,872 passengers, 5% more than in the same month of the previous year. According to operational data provided by AENA (Spanish Airports and Air Navigation), the airport can handle 66 movements per hour, which means almost 1,600 movements in an operational period of 24 hours. That’s an insane number of flights, so this won’t be a problem at all. Always bear in mind that the closer you get to the date of your visit, the more expensive the flight tickets will be… but you already know that.

Well, trips to Mallorca are usually made mostly by plane. If this is your case and you are planning to travel to Mallorca by plane, on this same AllMallorca platform we offer you the excellent Skyscanner flight search engine; a tracker that will guarantee you the best prices for direct flights to Mallorca from all cities in Spain and the rest of Europe.

Fun fact: According to Trabber.co.uk: The cheapest day of the week to fly to Palma de Mallorca is Friday.

How many days should I stay in Mallorca?

Ufff, this is a tricky one. Mallorca is a small island, but with many places to visit. If you want to get a really realistic idea of the island, you would have to visit several places. It would be advisable to travel to Mallorca for at least a week or ten days. This way you can move around and visit the essential places without exhausting yourself too much. The good thing about Mallorca is that it offers unforgettable experiences for all tastes. If you are travelling with little time, you should still concentrate on the area where you are staying so that you don’t get separated from the rest of the island.

If you travel to the island with enough time and you are one of those people who enjoy the sea and water sports, be sure to visit the northern part of Mallorca. If you are one of those who like to walk and hike in the early mornings through the wildest landscapes, we recommend you to visit the villages of the Tramuntana mountain range on the western fringe of the island as soon as possible. If you appreciate the pristine, the untamed and the infinite blue, we reserve for you the southern part of Mallorca, its limpid coves and its paradisiacal and infinite beaches.

Where to stay in Mallorca? best areas:

We begin this section of our Mallorca travel guide by acknowledging that the idea of accommodation or lodging is always a subjective subject. Many tourists travel to Mallorca throughout the year, so Mallorca is an island with a great diversity of hotels across the length and breadth of the island. So, below we will offer you different accommodation options in different areas in Mallorca and you will be able to choose one or the other according to your interest and your needs or preferences.

Where to stay in Mallorca? Best areas to travel with your family:

If you are travelling as a family or as a couple and you are looking for a quiet area where you can relax, we recommend the northern area of Majorca: Alcudia, Playa de Muro or Can Picafort. All safe and comfortable places, but above all with a wide range of things to see and activities to do in Mallorca: attractions, excursions and entertainment. There you have markets such as the one in Can Picafort, or the majestic Cap de Formentor and two hundred and twenty metres above sea level, on the very edge of the island of Mallorca you have the lighthouse of Formentor. In the north of Mallorca you will also find the Albufera de Mallorca, the largest and most important wetland in the Balearic Islands.

Travel guide to the north of Mallorca:

Travel Guide to Majorca: The Costa de Llevant (in the north-east of the island) is in general a beautiful place, very quiet. It is a bit far away from Palma and the airport, but if you want to relax with your family, this is an option that you should not miss. The north of Mallorca offers, in short, unspoilt nature, long beaches of fine white sand, coves with harbours, traditional markets (street markets) and many other places of interest that you can enjoy during your trip to Mallorca.

Travel guide to the south of Majorca:

Travel guide to Majorca: In the south of the island you have the colony of Sant Jordi, a Mallorcan locality very much in demand for its cultural relevance. Few places in Mallorca preserve the spirit of the Mediterranean fishing villages as well as Colonia Sant Jordi. You will notice the enigmatic and eloquent silence that, together with the sea breeze, enriches the best setting for a sunset stroll along the coast. We don’t know why it has this nostalgic and familiar effect, but Colonia de Sant Jordi has a special charm that evokes our childhood. Visit it and let us know what you think about it.

Travel guide to Mallorca (party areas and nightlife):

If you are travelling to Mallorca in search of partying, extreme fun and high voltage atmosphere, then I recommend El Arenal beach, Can Pastilla and Cala d’Or, in the southeast of the island. Here the offer of low-cost hotels and restaurants is very varied and, above all, that: very, very cheap. This area is frequented by travellers of all ages and families with children, but the predominant profile is that of the young tourist, who is into nightlife and partying. Do you feel identified? Well, read on, there’s more…

Travel guide to Palma de Mallorca (Best areas in Palma de Mallorca):

The centre of Palma de Mallorca’s nightlife is the Paseo Marítimo. Especially the last stretch of Palma’s promenade near the harbour. Here you will find everything from venues with live music and traditional Spanish dances to venues that prefer electronic beats and international music hits. Mallorca offers numerous options for those looking for an unforgettable nightlife experience.

Mallorca’s nightlife (wherever you go) has a unique character. The island has managed to fuse traditional Spanish elements with the most techno trends. There is a fun atmosphere here, where there is always room and space to find something just right for you. When night falls in this Mediterranean paradise, Mallorca becomes a hive of excitement and passion. You won’t be short of movement. In Mallorca, the party is always guaranteed.

Activity Guide in the North of Mallorca

What to see and visit in the north of Mallorca?

In the north of Mallorca you will find authentic gems in towns and villages such as Alcudia, Pollensa, Can Picafort, Sóller and Puerto de Sóller, Playa de Muro or Cabo Formentor (with a spectacular view of the sunset).

Activities Guide in the Serra Tramuntana

What to see and visit in the Serra de Tramuntana?

If you prefer the mountains and hiking, be sure to visit the magical villages of the Serra Tramuntana (declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO): Valldemossa and its historic charm, Deià, Banyalbufar, Sóller, Fornalutx… The Serra Tramuntana offers a magical blend of geography, culture and history. It is the pride of every resident, who would like to have it always in view from their bedroom windows.

The village of Fornalutx is considered by many to be the most beautiful village in Mallorca and one of the most impressive in Spain. You’ll also find it in the heart of the Tramuntana mountains, with winding streets, narrow stone staircases and pots of colourful flowers everywhere.

Activities in the south of Majorca

What to see and visit in the south of Majorca?

In the south of Majorca you will find landscapes that will remain imprinted on your retina. You will visit places that you will never be able to get out of your heart again. Here you can enjoy some of the best beaches in Majorca, such as Cala Santanyí or Cala Llombards, two coves in the south of Majorca ideal for relaxing and enjoying the crystal-clear waters and soaking up the Mediterranean sun. Cala Figuera is another ancestral fishing port that you should not exclude from your itinerary in Mallorca… it will bewitch you. In the south of the island you also have the Natural Park of Mondragó, a protected area with beautiful and peaceful trails that you can walk through in the midst of an exuberant biodiversity. If you visit the south of Mallorca, you can’t leave out of your itinerary unspoilt beaches such as Es Trenc and markets such as Santanyí.

Book a hotel in Mallorca in advance:

Compared to the demand, especially in high season (June-August), the offer of hotels, hostels, holiday rentals, guesthouses, hostels, camp sites… in Mallorca is rather limited. Therefore, we always recommend our readers, our clients and our friends to book their accommodation in Mallorca well in advance. Waiting for the dates close to the planned trip can lead to many bitter experiences. This is, without a doubt, one of the best pieces of advice we can give you for travelling to Mallorca.

Public Transport in Majorca: Getting around in Majorca

It is normal that when travelling to an unfamiliar destination we worry about the transport conditions in that location. This is a very popular topic, so we will try to offer you as many details as possible about transport conditions in Mallorca. Well, we must start by reminding you that the nerve centre of intercity public transport in Mallorca is the Plaza de España in the city of Palma. This is where the Intermodal station is located, from where practically the entire network of buses, trains and metro in Mallorca extends.

Public transport in Mallorca: Buses and coaches.

As far as public bus transport is concerned, Mallorca has a bus and coach transport system managed by two different companies: the Municipal Transport Company (EMT), which covers routes and journeys exclusively in the city of Palma de Mallorca and some neighbouring areas, and the buses and coaches of the Interurban Public Transport company of Mallorca (TIB, managed by the Transport Consortium of Mallorca, CTM) that link the capital with the different towns and cities of the island.

Public transport in Mallorca: The train in Mallorca

As far as public transport by train in Mallorca is concerned, there are three lines operating all year round with three different destinations: the T1 to Inca, the T2 to Sa Pobla and the T3 to Manacor. Operated by Serveis Ferroviaris de Mallorca (SFM), the island’s railway services have been expanding and reopening formerly closed routes. Today it is fully electrified and highly modernised. In the future, there are plans to extend the Palma-Manacor lines to Artá and to recover the Palma-Felanich line, among other options that have yet to materialise. But beyond the futuristic aspects of this issue, the reality of Mallorca’s rail transport system today is what we have just told you about.

Public transport in Mallorca: The Train of Soller:

Mallorca also has a vintage train (which is used more as a tourist attraction). Inaugurated in 1912, the Soller Train sums up the founding spirit of the most primitive Mallorca and, as its name suggests, it runs from Palma de Mallorca to the village of Soller. Once in this village you can take the tram that will take you to the Port of Sóller, on the west coast of the island. This is another destination that you should not exclude from your itinerary in Mallorca. This train has its departure point at a station located in Palma de Mallorca, just behind the Intermodal station, the main base or headquarters of Mallorca’s railway system. The Sóller train is a tourist attraction and on this AllMallorca website you can book your ticket for this and other excursions in Mallorca.

Public transport in Mallorca: The metro in Mallorca

As far as public transport by metro in Mallorca is concerned, the island has basically two lines, the M1 and M2 (each with 9 and 10 stations or stops respectively), which are also operated all year round by the Serveis Ferroviaris de Mallorca (SFM), but it hardly exceeds the area around Palma.

In other words, there are different ways of getting around the island, but the problem lies precisely in the circuits and routes offered by these different means of public transport (bus, train and metro). We would like to tell you something else, but the truth is that these public transport routes are clearly very limited and insufficient to get to many places on the island that you should not exclude from your tourist guide or travel guide to Mallorca, so the next question you will probably ask yourself is: should I hire a car in Mallorca?

Should I rent a car in Mallorca?

At this point, we admit that yes, it is necessary to rent or hire a car in Mallorca. Because, if you want to tour the island and visit, for example, the hidden coves, the most famous hiking routes on the island, if you want to reach the most beautiful and intricate places in the area, yes or yes you will need to move around in a vehicle at your disposal. Depending on your interests, a car may be the best option for getting around Mallorca.

The roads in Mallorca are very good and are perfectly asphalted, illuminated and signposted. Driving on them poses no major risks, except if you are climbing the Tramuntana. You can hire a car in advance, of course, and pick it up at Palma de Mallorca airport on arrival and return it at the airport itself. In fact, hiring a car in Mallorca could even be the cheapest option. Imagine the costs of travelling by taxi to reach some areas of the island that are not accessible by public transport. In addition, the reservation of a rented car can be cancelled up to 48 hours in advance. If you don’t intend to lie around the hotel pool like a marmot, you’ll definitely need a rental car to get around the island.

Let’s start by stating the obvious: in Mallorca during the summer it can be a bit tricky to find a rental car. If you are planning to travel to Mallorca and once there rent a car at the airport or at the hotel, we suggest you reconsider your intention and consider renting a car online well in advance.

To rent a car in Mallorca I recommend you to do it at Rental cars. We here at AllMallorca have their own search engine which offers you many options to rent a car in Mallorca. You can filter your searches and organise them to find the lowest price on the market. We think it is a good option. In fact, if you rent referred from our booking wall, you won’t pay extra (it will be the same) but you will help us to maintain this portal to continue adding content that can be of help to other visitors to the island like you. Thanks.

And so much for this mini-guide to travel to Mallorca. If you have any questions, or any other topic that we haven’t covered in this post, you can leave us a comment and we will be happy to answer you. We wish you a happy trip to Mallorca, the pearl of the Mediterranean.