Best time to visit Mallorca
Late spring (May and June) and early autumn (September and October) are generally the sweet spots. The weather is usually warm, the sea is often swimmable by early summer and still mild in September, and crowds are thinner than in high summer. July and August are the hottest and busiest months, with higher prices and crowded beaches and roads. Winter is quiet and mild, but some resort-area businesses close, and the sea is too cold for most swimmers. Spring is also a good time for walking in the mountains. Our guide to the best travel destinations for hiking has more ideas for trail trips.
Getting to Mallorca and getting around
Most visitors fly into Palma de Mallorca Airport, which is a short distance from the city center. Buses and taxis connect the airport with Palma. Ferries also run from the mainland, which can suit travelers bringing their own vehicle.
With a car
Many visitors rent a car, because it makes hidden beaches and mountain villages much easier to reach. Tips:
- Book early for summer, when cars and especially automatics can sell out.
- Choose a small car, as village streets and mountain roads can be narrow.
- Roads in the Serra de Tramuntana have many bends. Allow extra time and drive carefully.
- Parking at popular beaches fills up early in summer. Arriving in the morning helps.
- Do not leave valuables visible in a parked car, especially at remote beaches.
- In Palma and larger towns, paid street parking often uses zones. Apps are common for payment, and our guide to travel in Spain by car explains the basic parking system.
Without a car
Public transport is better around Palma and between some main towns than in the countryside. Buses link Palma with many places, and the historic wooden train between Palma and Soller is a popular scenic option. If you stay in one resort or in Palma, you can do without a car. Expect to rely on buses, taxis and organized trips for anything more remote.
Where to base yourself
- Palma: good for culture, food and nightlife, with the cathedral, old town and a range of restaurants. It is also a handy hub for buses.
- Soller and the northwest: for mountain scenery, the train, and walking.
- Alcudia and the north: long, family-friendly beaches and a walled old town.
- The east and southeast: small coves, quieter resorts and cave attractions.
Many visitors split a longer stay between two bases. A week to ten days gives room for both beaches and the mountains without rushing.
Beaches and coves
Mallorca has both wide sandy beaches and small rocky coves. The small coves (calas) are scenic, but they can fill up quickly and have little parking or shade, so go early and bring water. Some well-known coves have limited access, so check current conditions before heading out. Sandy, shallow beaches in the north and east tend to suit families with young children. See top family travel destinations for more ideas.
Mountains and villages
The Serra de Tramuntana mountain range along the northwest coast is a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape. It is popular for hiking, cycling and scenic drives. Villages such as Valldemossa, Deia and Fornalutx are frequently recommended for their stone houses and scenery. They get busy in the middle of the day in summer, so early mornings or evenings are more relaxed. Cycling is very popular in spring and autumn, so expect cyclists on the roads.
Palma
The city’s Gothic cathedral and the Almudaina Palace sit by the waterfront and are the best-known sights. The old town is good for wandering, with courtyards, shops and tapas bars. Plan a day or two here rather than treating it only as an airport stop.
Food and drink
Local specialties include ensaimada, a spiral pastry, and sobrasada, a spreadable cured sausage. Seafood and rice dishes are common along the coast. Restaurants in busy resort areas may be pricier than those in inland villages, and booking ahead is wise in summer for popular places.
Costs and money
The currency is the euro. Mallorca can be expensive in peak summer, particularly for accommodation, so booking early or traveling in the shoulder seasons can help your budget. The Balearic Islands charge a tourist tax on stays, which is usually collected by your accommodation, so check the current rules.
Practical tips
- Visitors from outside the EU should check passport and entry requirements before travel.
- Sun protection matters, even outside peak summer.
- Avoid driving the mountain roads in poor weather if you are not comfortable with them.
- If you are comparing islands, see how Mallorca differs from its neighbor in our guide to Ibiza for beginners.