What to see in Mallorca: 7 tips from Milan Bez Mapy

Mallorca is worth going back to: even after several visits, I still found places I hadn’t seen. My picks are Palma and its cathedral, the mountain town of Valldemossa, the historic train to Sóller, the Drach caves and Cap de Formentor. For a swim, head for the beaches of Es Trenc and Muro.

Quick factsby Milan Bez Mapy

Car hire

Worth it, as the buses only go to the tourist spots; I had a Fiat 500 from the airport, booked in advance

Where I stayed

Son Mercadal, an agritourism hotel inland and one of the most beautiful places I’ve stayed in Mallorca

La Seu Cathedral

Buy your ticket online in advance; I added the rooftop terraces, and the view of Palma is worth it

Drach caves

Book online in advance for a set time; no filming at the concert, and the boat ride lasts about 45 seconds

Cap de Formentor

In 2026 car access is restricted from 15 May to 18 October, 10am–10pm; bus 334 runs to the lighthouse

Es Trenc beach

I haven’t seen water this beautiful on any other European island; about half an hour’s walk from the car park

What to see in Mallorca? I’ve been to this Spanish island several times. Then, in late summer, I had enough Star Alliance miles saved up to get flights for €0. And I genuinely asked myself: ‘So what am I going to do there?’

I decided to do Mallorca differently this time and stay off the beaten track. I’d visit places I hadn’t been to, do things I’d never done and enjoy the island in a way I never had before. I’m convinced that you can keep going back to some holiday destinations and still find something new every time. You just have to look at them with fresh eyes. Do you agree?

I’ve written about Mallorca several times before, including my tips on the most beautiful beaches in Mallorca and what to do in the capital, Palma de Mallorca. This article covers a bit more ground, though. Pack your bags, we’re off to Spain.

Mallorca: practical tips before you go

How much do cheap flights to Mallorca cost?

Mallorca is one of those islands you can always find cheap flights to, whether from Vienna, Budapest, Kraków or Košice, or even from Bratislava. Just about everyone flies here, and all the time. If you find a return ticket for under €100, you’ve done well.

Where to hire a car in Mallorca

The first time I came to Mallorca, back in about 2010, I didn’t hire a car. I still saw some interesting places and lovely beaches, but personally I think you’re better off hiring a car. The buses here run very well, but they only take you where the tourists go: the main beaches and the crowds.

A car makes getting around the island easier and gives you far more freedom. Driving in Mallorca is easy, too; just watch out for cyclists. The island is famous for its top-class cycling routes, and at times there are more cyclists on the road than cars.

In Palma itself, though, you don’t need a car. You can see the centre on foot, and the A1 bus runs from the airport into the city. A car is worth it for trips into the Serra de Tramuntana and to the beaches in the north of the island. By bus, they take longer to reach, if you can reach them at all. If you only need it for day trips, hiring one for a few days is enough; you don’t need it for your whole stay.

• TIP: Where to hire a car? I hired my Fiat 500 from RecordGo at the airport, booked in advance. Mallorca is a hugely popular island, especially in high season, so it’s best to book a car as soon as you’ve bought your flights. I compare prices at the airport rental desks on Discover Cars. If you don’t have a credit card, here’s my guide to hiring a car without a credit card or a deposit.

Do I need travel insurance for Mallorca?

The question isn’t whether you need travel insurance for Mallorca, but which policy suits you best. I don’t recommend travelling without travel insurance, not even on a strawberry run from Slovakia across the border to Hungary. Medical treatment or any other mishap can cost thousands of euros, depending on where you are and what happens.

When choosing a policy, first ask yourself what you’ll be doing on holiday, because good travel insurance is made to measure. On my Mallorca trip, I was glad to be covered for medical costs, delayed baggage and flight delays.

If you like driving your own car on holiday, though, you’ll also want breakdown cover. Don’t underestimate it.

Guided day trips around Mallorca

Where to stay in Mallorca

Want to know what surprised me in Mallorca in 2024? How much accommodation prices had gone up, even though I went at the end of the season, when things start to quieten down. But as I said above, I’d decided to try something new. So instead of an all-inclusive hotel on the beach, I stayed at an agritourism hotel in the middle of the island.

What is agritourism?

Agritourism is a fairly popular type of accommodation, and I first tried it in South America. You stay out in the countryside, but with the comforts of a hotel. Agritourism hotels are usually farms or ranches where you can try the local way of life, taste local produce or play with the animals.

Every farm hotel is different, but if you’re going to Mallorca, give one a try. They’re usually inland, away from the main tourist routes, so you’ll need a car. I stayed at Son Mercadal, which I found on Booking.com, and it was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever stayed in Mallorca.

Things to do in Mallorca: Milan Bez Mapy’s picks

1. Palma de Mallorca, the capital, and its cathedral
2. The mountain town of Valldemossa
3. The town of Sóller
4. The Cuevas del Drach and their classical music concert
5. Cap de Formentor
6. Es Trenc and Muro beaches
7. Jardines de Alfabia

Palma de Mallorca and La Seu Cathedral

Palma de Mallorca, the island’s capital, is a beautiful city full of history, culture and architecture. Its biggest draw is without doubt La Seu Cathedral, one of the best-known landmarks on the island and in the whole of Spain.

La Seu is a Gothic cathedral, and work on it began in the 13th century. It’s one of the tallest Gothic cathedrals in Europe and stands right by the sea, which gives it a character all of its own. The interior is one of its finest features. It has beautiful stained glass, including the famous rose window, a huge circular window whose light creates a striking effect.

I went in the morning, with the sun shining in, and I hadn’t seen anything so beautiful in a long time. The architect Antoni Gaudí helped remodel the cathedral in the early 20th century, giving it a modernist touch. You can explore the interior, with the altar and its beautiful mosaics, as well as the outside, with great views over the city and the sea.

• TIP: Buy your cathedral tickets in advance on the official website. You can choose between entry to the cathedral or entry plus the rooftop terraces. I went for the terraces as well, to see the view over the whole of Palma from the cathedral. In my view, it’s worth it.
• TIP 2: If you come by car, there are several multi-storey car parks right in the centre of Palma. My favourite (yes, I have a favourite car park) is Aparcament Parc de la Mar, right next to the cathedral, but it tends to fill up quickly. The other option is Parking Paseo Mallorca.

In the capital, it’s also worth strolling along the main boulevard with the Leonas del Borne statues and seeing the main square, Plaza Major. If you get hungry, I had a good meal at St. Ambros Ristorante e Pizzeria. You can also take the historic train to Sóller or walk up to Castillo de Bellver. In that heat, the climb nearly finished me off.

The mountain town of Valldemossa

Valldemossa is a pretty mountain town in the Sierra de Tramuntana, about half an hour from Palma. It’s known for its atmosphere, its narrow stone lanes, traditional shuttered houses and lovely views of the surrounding hills.

Its best-known sight is the Royal Charterhouse (Real Cartuja de Valldemossa), which has a long history. In the 19th century, the composer Frédéric Chopin and the writer George Sand lived and worked here for a while. They spent a winter at the charterhouse during their stay on the island.

Valldemossa is very much a tourist town, but it’s definitely worth a visit. Just bring plenty of patience for the parking. It always takes me about half an hour to work my way round all the car parks, but something always turns up. Give it a morning, wander the lanes, have a coffee and a slice of cake, then head for the beach.

Sóller and the historic train from Palma

Sóller has much the same feel as Valldemossa. It’s a genuinely lovely town on Mallorca’s north-west coast, known for its traditional architecture, its citrus groves and its historic railway link with Palma. In fact, one of its main attractions is the historic train from Palma. The line opened in 1912 and runs through the mountains, with beautiful views of the countryside along the way. The wooden train is a real antique, and riding it is a nostalgic trip back in time.

In Sóller itself, head for Plaza Constitució, a square with cafés, restaurants and the beautiful church of Sant Bartomeu. Close to the square there’s also a modernist bank building designed by a pupil of Antoni Gaudí.

• TIP: From Sóller you can also take the tram down to the harbour at Port de Sóller, which has a nice beach and a promenade. People love it for its sunsets and its calm atmosphere. It’s ideal for unwinding after a day spent exploring the town and the area around it.

Cuevas del Drach: the caves with a classical music concert

The Cuevas del Drach are one of Mallorca’s most popular natural wonders. These impressive limestone caves are known for their vast underground chambers, dramatic stalactites and stalagmites and, above all, Lago Martel, one of the largest underground lakes in the world.

One of the highlights is the classical music concert. Afterwards there’s a short boat ride on the lake, which makes the whole visit feel more authentic. The Cuevas del Drach offer not just the beauty of an underground world but also a cultural experience that brings nature and music together.

I really enjoyed it, but don’t forget to buy your ticket online in advance, for a specific time slot. You’re not allowed to film the concert, and the boat ride actually lasts about 45 seconds. Still, whoever came up with the idea of a concert in a cave was a genius. Make sure the caves are on your itinerary, especially if the weather turns bad while you’re in Mallorca. Some people still call them the Dragon Caves, and I have no idea why.

Cap de Formentor

Cap de Formentor is the northernmost point of Mallorca and one of the best-known places on the island. This rocky headland, reaching out into the Mediterranean, is famous for its sheer cliffs, beautiful views and dramatic scenery. The way to Cap de Formentor follows narrow, winding mountain roads, with several viewpoints along the route where you can take in panoramic views of the coast.

In summer, though, car access is restricted. In 2026 the restriction applies from 15 May to 18 October, daily from 10am to 10pm. By car you can only get as far as the car park at Formentor beach, if it has space, and bus 334 runs to the lighthouse. One of the best-known stops along the way is the Mirador des Colomer viewpoint, with great views of the turquoise sea and the cliffs around it. Another landmark is the Formentor lighthouse, right at the tip of the headland. It’s a popular spot for watching the sunset, when the light reflects off the rocky cliffs and the sea.

There are also some hidden beaches nearby, such as Playa de Formentor, known for its white sand and crystal-clear water. It’s an ideal place to rest after a day of exploring.

Es Trenc and Muro beaches

Es Trenc and Muro are probably the two best-known beaches in Mallorca. I’ve listed more beaches further down, but these two deserve a special mention, and you should visit both. Es Trenc is also called the Caribbean of Europe. It’s a long beach on the island’s south coast, near Campos.

I’ve never seen water as beautiful as this on any other European island. Parking is the catch at Es Trenc: park here and walk to the beach, which takes about half an hour. The alternative is this car park, which is closer, but it’s permanently full and the road to it is a disaster. Muro has a big car park here.

Jardines de Alfabia

The Jardines de Alfabia are historic gardens and an estate in the Sierra de Tramuntana, near the small town of Bunyola. The place is a blend of architecture, garden design and history, mixing Arab, Gothic and Baroque styles.

The gardens are a legacy of the island’s Moorish past and are known for their peaceful setting, lush greenery and exotic plants. You’ll see fountains, ponds, palm trees, citrus trees, flower beds and climbing plants. One of the main attractions is a path lined with little water jets, which are pleasantly refreshing on hot summer days.

The Alfabia manor itself is a historic villa that was once home to important noble families. Inside, old artefacts, furniture and art document life in Mallorca over the centuries. You can look round the beautifully decorated rooms and learn more about the history of the place. Stop off here on your way to Sóller.

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Mallorca beaches worth visiting

I’ve covered the most beautiful beaches in Mallorca in a separate article, but here they are again in a quick list.

1. Playa Sa Calobra
2. Playa Formentor
3. Es Trenc
4. Playa Muro
5. Playa Cala Pi
6. Playa El Mago

Where to eat in Mallorca: two restaurants with character

I haven’t tried them all, but of the ones I’ve been to, these two stand out:

1. L’Escrivania in Porreres: the owner of the agritourism hotel where I stayed recommended it to me. Order their local speciality, coca mallorquina, which is a bit like tapas, only very good. My favourites were the ones with figs, caramelised onion and gorgonzola.
2. Restaurant Santuari de Cura: a restaurant in a monastery. I was unlucky enough to get dreadful service, but the monastery itself is a superb setting, especially at sunset. Book a table and hope for professional service. The food was good, though.

You might also like my tips on what to see in Málaga.

Happy travels!