Things To Do in Mallorca

The last destination of our summer trip that I’m recapping is actually the first one we visited – Mallorca! I’ve been dying to visit the Balearic Islands for years, and this year we finally made it to Mallorca and Ibiza. To be honest, I debated whether it was worth going to both since they’re so close and similar. If you’re asking yourself the same question, I would say absolutely YES, both are worth visiting as they are so different and special in their own unique ways. As tempting as it is to cram a million destinations into an overseas trip, the older I get, the more I appreciate taking things slowly.

My travel preferences have definitely changed over the years, and I’m so much more about stopping to smell the roses than I was in the past. Mallorca was such an incredibly beautiful island that I highly recommend visiting if you haven’t yet. It’s an easy flight from Spain or other parts of Europe and just absolutely stunning. During the week it didn’t feel so crowded, but on the weekend it started to feel more chaotic. Luckily, we got out then!

There are so many different sides to the island, it really has it all! It just depends on what you’re looking for. We stayed in Palma, and despite my initial hesitations, I ended up being extremely happy we stayed in the old town. However, if you’re looking for something more secluded or romantic, the coasts and northern part of the island may suit you better.

We had almost a full week on the island, and here are the things I would recommend most from our time on the island.

Things to do in Mallorca

+ Beaches

Beach days are the best days on Mallorca! The island is filled with calas, or coves that are just waiting for you to discover them. They get incredibly busy in the summer because of high season, but some of them are so beautiful it’s worth making the trek anyway! The further away from Palma you get, the quieter and more secluded the calas will be. Calo des Moro was the most stunning beach, but very packed. Be sure to get there early, or go slightly off season.

The northeastern side of the island has beautiful, quiet coves.  Cala Ratjada, Cala Millor, and Cala Murta were highly recommend. I personally loved the northwestern side of the island. Must sees include Cala Tuent, Sa Calobra, and Cala Deia. If you’re looking for a more private and tailored experience, I really recommend checking out Mezzo Magic private boat tours – just be sure to book way in advance.

If you want to earn your meal, be sure to hike down to Ca’s Patro March for some of the best sangria and paella on the island. You can only reach the restaurant by boat or by hiking down. So, I tricked my boyfriend into walking 10 miles one day by promising him the best paella ever!

+ Explore the island via car

Although we made Palma our home base, a rental car came in extremely handy as it allowed us to explore the car and take several day trips. Note – the default car rental has a stick shift, so if you don’t know how to drive a stick, be sure to request a manual car. We drove up to Deia and Soller, stopping along the way for wine and tapas. The countryside is absolutely breathtaking, and feels much more tranquil and private than Palma. If I were to visit Mallorca again, I would consider staying in Deia or Soller.

+ Dining

I’ve always loved Spanish cuisine, but I was very pleasantly surprised by the food in Mallorca! There are several Michelin starred restaurants on the island. We dined at Zaranda (which is located at the most stunning castle, Castell Son Claret deep in the countryside). It was honestly one of the best meals I’ve ever had.

Our favorite tapas restaurant in Palma was Tast Club. We went several evenings in a row to enjoy a nightcap and small bites.

If you’re staying in Palma, be sure to walk slightly west and grab a drink or dinner in Santa Catalina. The prices are cheaper and the vibe is much younger and hipper. We loved walking around after the sun went down and exploring the neighborhood.

That’s not all there is to do in Mallorca. There’s shopping, plenty of casual restaurants, beach clubs, and more. We saw so many families, couples, groups of friends on holiday, bachelorette parties – there really is something on the island for everyone!

Have you been to Mallorca? What would you recommend? xx