With its rugged coastline, sandy beaches and clear sapphire waters, Majorca is one of the jewels of the Mediterranean. Away from the coastline’s sheltered coves and dreamy sunsets, you’ll find the agricultural heartland and the Tramuntana mountains – a Unesco World Heritage site blossoming with orange, lemon and almond trees.
The capital, Palma, boasts cultural attractions and chic boutiques aplenty – while the coastal and inland villages offer charm and authenticity. Surprisingly, Majorca wasn’t always such an idyll, with a tempestuous history that has witnessed countless assaults from the Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals and Moors. All the same, that rich combination of cultures has created the cosmopolitan, welcoming, and open society of islanders today.
Enjoying a mild climate for most of the year, Majorca is ideal for relaxing beach holidays, outdoor sports, and gastronomic getaways.
Explore our interactive map below for all the local highlights, and scroll down for our suggested day-by-day summary of the best things to see and do. For further Majorca inspiration, see our guides to the island’s best hotels, restaurants, beaches, nightlife and things to do.
The perfect one-week holiday in Majorca
The joy of Majorca as a holiday destination is that it’s relatively small – 100km from west to east and 75km from north to south – so it’s easy to explore several areas during a one-week stay.
Starting in the less known southeast, consider spending a couple of nights at showstopping Son Julia in LLucmajor, Fontsanta with its unique natural thermal springs or art retreat Es Revellar in Campos. Another gem is luxurious Can Ferrereta in Santanyi. All offer a practical base for visiting sights such as Artestruz, home to endearing ostriches in Campos, Botanicactus, the botanical garden in Ses Salines, which has 15,000 plant specimens, and the ancient salt pans of Es Trenc.
The underground lake at the Drach Caves in Porto Cristo is highly recommended
Credit: trabantos
A sail to the national park of Cabrera or a visit to the underground lake at the Drach Caves in Porto Cristo is highly recommended. Unspoilt beaches abound here such as Playa Es Caragol in Ses Salines and tranquil Cala Varques near Porto Cristo. Enjoy affordable tasting menus at Tomeu Caldentey Cuiner in Sa Coma, home to Majorca’s first Michelin starred chef. For shopping, pop by lively Ses Salines, or the Saturday market in Santanyi where on summer nights you can enjoy cocktails at welcoming Sa Cova. Find more of the best things to do on the island in our guide.
Now it’s time to head to the picturesque and mountainous northwest, starting in the pretty town of Valldemossa. Choice hotels include rural hideaway, Hotel Valldemossa, and in the village of Deia, deluxe five-star Belmond La Residencia or popular Es Molí. In Soller, opt for good value hotels such as Soller Plaza or in the port, more luxurious Jumeirah Port Soller and Esplendido. In Valldemossa a visit to Celda de Chopin – the atmospheric Carthusian monastery where Frederic Chopin and his lover George Sand spent the winter of 1839 – is essential.
Take the historic Soller train through musty, cool tunnels and over bridges into Palma
Credit: This content is subject to copyright./Roetting+Pollex
Your next stop – on the outskirts of the village of Deià – is La Casa de Robert Graves, erstwhile home of the eponymous English poet from 1932 until 1985. Practically opposite, take the steep and winding road to iconic Cala Deia where Graves used to take a briny dip. For an idyllic lunch with mesmeric sea views, try Bens d’Avall, and for a late night tipple with the in-crowd, head to laid-back Sa Fonda in the centre of Deia.
In Soller, tour the tranquil Moorish Jardins d’Alfàbia that include a spectacular pergola with 72 columns and 24 stone hydras. In the town, take the historic Soller train through musty, cool tunnels and over bridges into Palma. It offers a one-hour thrilling ride in the heart of the Tramuntanas. Soller’s bustling market is a must on Saturdays where you can enjoy a fresh orange juice on the main plaça at Café Soller.
The 15th-century Castell d’Alaró clings to a hilltop in the Sierra de Tramuntana
Credit: Daniel Tomlinson
The island’s northern villages and towns are often overlooked yet are thoroughly worth exploration especially for hiking and bike tours. Good value hotels include Finca Son Arnau in Selva and Finca Son Beneït – which possesses 100 hectares of forestland – in Binibona. Further north in Pollença town is simple L’Hostal offering exceptional value and exclusive boutique, Can Aulí. For unadulterated luxury, book into Son Brull, while in Pollença port visitors are spoilt for choice with excellent offerings in La Goleta and historic Illa D’Or.
Go hiking or biking in the Tramuntanas with a stop at LLuc monastery. The Sunday market in Pollença town followed by a coffee at Dodo Café is popular, as is exploring the large Thursday street market in Inca. Majorcan crafts such as Ikat cushion covers can be found at Teixets Vicens in Pollença or Riera in Lloseta. Here too you can enjoy dinner at either up-and-coming Es Garum restaurant (LLoseta +34 871 806 700) or pop by family restaurant Ca N’Ignasi in Inca. Find more of the best restaurants on the island in our guide.
Where to stay
Best for a romantic seaside escape
For the ultimate romantic getaway in an idyllic seaside location, it would be hard to trump luxurious Can Simoneta (doubles from €350 (£300) per night) perched on cliffs overlooking the Bay of Canyamel. Meanwhile, former military fort, Cap Rocat (doubles from €350 (£300) per night), offers exclusivity, peace and pampering in Palma Bay.
Find more of the best boutique hotels in Majorca in our guide.
Cap Rocat is one of the island’s most romantic settings
Credit: www.burger-precht.com/Uschi Burger-Precht
Best for a blissful bucolic retreat
Two rural boltholes that offer exceptional peace and good value are historic Finca Can Beneit in Binibona (doubles from €150 (£128) per night) set in 70 hectares of lush forestland and Fontsanta (doubles from €235 (£200) per night) in Campos, which has the only natural thermal spring in the Baleares.
Best for luxury
When it comes to inland historic townhouse hotels, deluxe sanctuary Can Ferrereta (doubles from €335 (£287) per night) in Santanyi and smart Can Auli (doubles from €170 (£145) per night) in Pollença rule the roost. Both offer privacy, comfort, and warm and personalised service.
Find more of the best luxury hotels in Majorca in our guide.
What to bring home
Majorcans are renowned for their handicrafts, in particular clay siurells: small white figurines with green and red stripes, which also serve as whistles. The most enduring siurell-making family business is Siurelleria Ca Madó Bet.
Majorca’s roba de llengues, a cotton fabric with distinctive Ikat flame design, is fashioned into many products. There are three main purveyors: Riera, Bujosa and Teixits Vicens offer factory visits and products.
Roba de llengues, a cotton fabric with distinctive flame design, is a specialty of Majorca
When to go
Fortunately Majorca enjoys mild temperatures all year round, but micro-climates exist in different areas of the island. For example, it can be raining in the North West while it’s sunny in Palma. For outdoor pursuits, the ideal time to visit is in the spring or late autumn when the feverish summer heat has abated.
During July and August Majorca is extremely hot and crowded. The island’s festivals include Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians) – a fun re-enactment of a famous battle between locals and Turkish pirates – which takes place in Sóller in May. A different version is performed in Pollença in August. Sóller’s popular Fira de la Taronja (orange festival) falls in April, bringing citrus-inspired menus to many restaurants and fruit displays to the town square. In late August, the Nit de Foc – night of fire – sees locals dressed as devils drum and dance amid firework displays in Sóller, Palma and beyond.
Know before you go
Essential information
Tourist board information: 00 34 971 17 39 90; infomallorca.net
Emergency fire and ambulance: 112
Emergency national police: 091
Emergency municipal police: 092
British Consulate: Carrer dels Caputxins, 4, Palma, 0034 933 66 62 00; gov.uk
Local laws and etiquette
Majorcans are very laid back but frown on anti-social behaviour – such as drinking alcohol in public, or wearing skimpy attire away from beach resorts.
Although Majorcans speak Castilian Spanish, they are proud of their own language, Mallorquin, a dialect of Catalan. Road signs and public notices will often be written in Mallorquin.
Tipping is at a client’s discretion, but 10 per cent is considered acceptable.
Mainly due to the warm weather, Majorcans tend to dine late: around 2pm for lunch, and 9pm (or later) for evening dinner.
There is a reasonable bus and train network which connects most parts of the island, but during the summer buses are often very busy – so get in the queue as early as possible. For timetables, contact TIB 00 34 971 17 77 77; tib.org.
Normally Majorcans – male and female – will shake hands at a first meeting but some might offer women kisses on both cheeks. Men often hug male friends in public.
The Basics
Flight time: Two hours
Currency: Euros (€)
Internationals dialling code: 00 34
Time difference: GMT + 1
Author bio
Since settling in Sóller 22 years ago, Anna has written seven travel titles and three crime novels based in Majorca, offering a brilliant excuse to explore the island. You’ll most likely find her climbing a Tramuntana peak or running on the beach.