Located in the heart of the Mediterranean, Majorca (Mallorca) is a gorgeous island and a fabulous holiday destination with rugged mountains, stunning beaches, interesting local culture and history and a whole plethora of things to see and do. No wonder travellers from all over the world flock down here to this particular island to get their share of unspoiled natural beauty. Majorca is one of the Balearic Islands (the largest one) with La Palma de Majorca being the capital city. Best known as ‘The Jewel of the Mediterranean’, get ready to be blown away and fall in love. We welcome you to the land of sun-riped oranges, olive vineyards, almond groves, mountain villages and a breathtaking coastline… Here’s our personalized guide on things to do in Majorca (going far beyond the “resort side” of the island!):
1. Best things to do in Majorca: Explore the historical capital city of La Palma de Majorca
Be sure not to skip this! You may have come to see the beaches and go hiking or cycling high up in the mountains, but La Palma is a sprawling, gorgeous city with a great history and magnificent architecture dating back to the 11th century. Our favourite neighbourhood in La Palma City is Santa Cataline. Picturesque narrow streets, fabulous cafes and restaurants, museums, markets, beaches and nightlife, it’s really worth your time exploring this ancient island city instead of lazing around on the beach! Old-time charm, trendy cafes and fine-dining restaurants go hand in hand in La Palma City. Must-visits include the Gothic “La Seu” Cathedral-Basilica de Santa Maria (one of the most amazing cathedrals in all of Europe dating back to 1229 when the construction began), The Palacio Real de La Almudaina ( a fortified palace built in the 11th century), Mercat de Santa Cataline (a huge indoor market), Es Baluard Contemporary Art Museum located in an old military fortress and Castell de Bellver (a 14th-century circular castle). Also, go have ice cream at Ca’n Joan de S’Aigo, who have been around since the 18th century and they know ice cream, alright!
2. Don’t forget to visit the authentic fishermen’s town of Cala Figuera
Cala Figuera doesn’t have a beach but it does have a wonderfully authentic atmosphere and turquoise water at the port where fishermen are doing what they’ve been doing for centuries. As if time stood still, this town is a gem! Eat at La Petite Iglesia, a charming restaurant owned by a lovely French couple. The ribs are said to be really, really good! Santanyi is a lovely square with fabulous cafes and restaurants and it makes a perfect pit-stop for lunch and coffee.
3. Go on a lovely sunset catamaran cruise
Whether you want to be out at sea to catch the most breathtaking sunset, you want to enjoy a starlit dinner in a unique setting or you want to go swimming and snorkelling on a wonderful catamaran day trip, it is all possible around the island of Majorca. You can book a private catamaran for a half-day, full-day or sunset tour. On the boat, you get to enjoy food and drinks, awe-inspiring views and wonderful dives into the sea, be it just for a cool-down or to explore the underwater world.
4. Check out the beaches in Mondrago Natural Park
Mondrago Natural Park is a wonderful place famed for its beautiful white sandy beaches fringed by sand dunes and pine forests. It is a real natural park without hotels or resorts around and it is busy with locals. Bring your swimwear and get ready for a full day of relaxing with loved ones. There are some beach shacks around selling food and drinks if you get hungry or thirsty. You can only get to Mondrago Natural Park with your own car or bike as there is no public transport which is also what makes this place less visited, keeping its natural beauty.
Related: Exploring the best beaches in Majorca
5. Hike to the prettiest beach on the island: Calo des Moro
This is an absolutely stunning beach, maybe the prettiest beach on the island. It takes a little hike to get there but the hike is beautiful and inspirational, great for those who like to combine relaxation with activity. Put in a little effort, and you will be rewarded with a dream beach you will never want to leave. If you enjoy the hike, do the surrounding cliffs as well, its very rewarding and almost liberating to be surrounded by such stunning, unspoiled, raw and rugged nature. Hard to describe, you just need to see it for yourself. Calo des Moro is like a secluded cove and a paradise for those who like to go swimming and soaking in the sun.
6. Conquer the most dangerous road to Sa Calobra: the most beautiful drive in Mallorca
Road to Sa Calobra is a steep, winding 13-kilometre mountain road with hairpin turns, a 360-degree curve and 720 elevation gain. It is considered to be one of the most dangerous roads in all of Spain as there are no guardrails whatsoever, not making it a suitable ride for the faint-hearted. However, no matter how dangerous, it is a stunning drive, taking your breath away and blowing your mind with incredible views. Where does this treacherous mountain road lead? Well, it leads to bay and port village of Sa Calobra, where you can relax and catch your breath.
7. Go sea caving
Majorca has got incredible caves to explore including the famous caves of Drach and Arta. Cova de Coloms is a special kind of cave as it is a sea cave where you can go sea caving. After a 40-minute walk, you need to swim 300 metres around the coastline and hen duck underwater to enter this amazing cave. Discover underground lakes and see the stunning rock formations. No previous experience is required as the cave is quite big, not making you feel claustrophobic, and it’s a great adventure even for families with kids.
8. Eat seafood and ice cream at Port de Soller
Port de Soler is a small, quaint town on the edge of Serra de Tramuntana. It is still very authentic and traditional as it was very hard to access for decades. With the building of a tunnel in the 1990ties, this town grew into a resort town where you can now munch on the best seafood, freshly caught on the day topped off with homemade artisan ice cream at for example the famous Sa Fabrica de Gelats. The lands around Soller are extremely fertile. There is no other place on the island where there grow this many oranges, lemons and limes. It’s also a great town to go shopping for unique gifts and souvenirs and Plaça Constitució is a lovely plaza dotted with (more) ice cream salons, cafes and typical Spanish houses. You can get to Soller riding an antique train from La Palma and once you are in town, you can hop on the vintage tram to the port. Great fun!
9. Hike to the peak of Puig de Massanella
Not the highest peak but the third-highest on the island of Majorca and it is also the most accessible and striking one. Puig de Massanella lies in Serra de Tramuntana mountain range peaking at 1,364 metres. Get ready for a spectacular 360-degrees summit panorama like you’ve never seen before.
10. Kayaking in Sa Dragonera
Sa Dragonera is a national park consisting of 3 small uninhabited islands off the west coast of Majorca and the park is best explored by sea kayak if you ask us. Spot lizards and other ‘dragon’-like creatures, enjoy the tranquillity only uninhabited islands can exude and get struck by the stunning views all around. Once in a while, jump in the water for a cool-down. Kayaking in Sa Dragonera is a great fun and wonderful island activity. Sa Dragonera is also a great place for snorkelling and scuba diving.
11. Stay in a private villa
Instead of a hotel vacation, make it a private villa holiday. Why? Well, what you get is a ‘home’, a luxury home with a private swimming pool and no shared facilities whatsoever. How wonderful is that? Not just a cramped hotel room but a house with a living room, separate bedrooms and a kitchen where you can cook-up something familiar for the kids or craft your own cocktails to sip by the poolside without spending a fortune. Once you’ve stayed in a Majorca villa, you’ll never go back!
12. See the incredible Es Pontas Rock Arch
Es Pontas translates to ‘the big bridge’ but what it really is is an incredible natural rock arch and viewpoint, similar to the collapsed Azure Window in Malta. This natural wonder is located near Cala Figuera so be sure to stop by when in the neighbourhood and bring your camera!
13. Hot Balloon ride over the island
Perhaps the most spectacular (and romantic!) way to see the island of Majorca is by air and not just from a plane or anything like that but from a hot air balloon. Wouldn’t that be a magical, unique and unforgettable experience? A hot balloon ride takes around 2 hours and the best time to go is around sunset or sunrise (if you’re an early bird).
14. Do sunset gazing at Cap de Pera Lighthouse
A winding road to get there but a beautiful one and the breathtaking sunset views and ambience are most rewarding. There are lots of small beaches and lovely hiking trails in the area and you get to take the most breathtaking sunset photos. The lighthouse of Cap de Pera is responsible for watching over the Menorca Canal from the Mallorcan side and on clear days you can see the nearby islands rising in the distant horizon.
15. Go dolphin watching
Always wanted to see some of the most beloved and smart sea creatures swim in the ocean, careless and free? In Majorca, you can go on a sunrise dolphin watching boat trip and you can be sure to spot some in the wild. The sunrise views of the sea and the sky are breathtakingly beautiful and it’s also in these early hours of the day, that the dolphins are the most active. The dolphin watching tour takes around 3 hours.
Related article: Best Family Activities in Majorca
Written by Stephanie from Villa Finder