The Spanish island of Mallorca has become well known for its stunning beaches, limestone mountains, and popular nightlife in the capital city of Palma. Spring and early fall are the best times to visit because you will get the benefit of great weather without hordes of tourists, but really, anytime is a good time to visit this beautiful Mediterranean island.
In this blog post, I’m sharing my tips on how to spend three days in Mallorca!
How To Get To Mallorca
Mallorca is a quick, two-hour flight from London and most major cities in Europe, making it a popular weekend destination. You’ll fly into Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI), which is the third-largest airport in Spain.
If you are flying from the US, I recommend flying into Barcelona first and spending a few days there exploring the city (see my Barcelona Guide), before popping over to Mallorca. Plan your Mallorca itinerary to spend at least three days on the island.
What To See & Things To Do In Mallorca
In the summertime, I suggest spending at least some of your trip lounging in the sun at one of Mallorca’s many gorgeous beaches. The East side of the island is said to have the most beautiful beaches and fun little beach clubs.
Since my friend and I visited in the winter month of November, (though still 70F+ most days!), we spent our time exploring the island by car.
Mallorca Tours
There is so much to do and see in Mallorca! Below I outline my three-day Mallorca itinerary but before we get to that here are some ideas for fun guided tours you can take if you prefer to go that route. Enjoy!
- Scuba Diving In A Nature Preserve – Learn the art of diving in a beautiful setting on Mallorca, surrounded by qualified instructors.
- Jet Ski Tour – Take a fun 50-minute jet ski tour around the beautiful Bay of Alcudia and Coll Baix.
- Mallorca Hot Air Balloon Ride – Take an hour-long hot air balloon flight where you will enjoy stunning views of Mallorca Island.
- North Coast Catamaran Cruise – Enjoy a five-hour catamaran cruise of the north coast of Mallorca where you will stop to explore caves, kayak, and snorkel. This tour also includes lunch and drinks.
- Dolphin Small Group Cruise – Enjoy an unforgettable three-hour sunrise cruise with a small group of 12 people. Experience the calm of the sea at dawn and watch the dolphins play.
3 Day Mallorca Itinerary
DAY 1: OLD TOWN
On our first day in Mallorca, we spent hours walking around old town Palma. I loved the Catedral de Mallorca. We did a self-guided tour, which was just €7, and then explored the rest of old town on foot.
There are gorgeous little winding roads everywhere and several cool shopping streets in old town. I could have spent at least another full day just wandering around the city, soaking in the culture and beautiful architecture.
We didn’t end up making it to Beller Castle, but I heard that it has an amazing view of the city that is worth exploring.
DAY 2: CAP DE FORMENTOR
On our first adventure out of the city, we rented a car and headed north to Formentor. Getting out of the Palma was a little scary because the streets in old town are small and windy, but once you are on the main roads, it is a breeze driving around Mallorca.
It is very easy to find the main towns that you’ll want to visit with just a simple map that your hotel will provide.
Cap De Formentor, on the northern tip of the island, is breathtaking, and there is a lookout, jetting over a cliff, where you can take a million photos and soak in the coastline.
It only takes about 35 minutes to get to Cap De Formentor from Palma so I recommend continuing on and driving to the lighthouse. The Formentor Lighthouse itself is nothing to write home about, but the drive along the ocean is gorgeous and reminds me of driving Highway 1 up to Big Sur, California.
Just be sure to drive slow and look out for bikers, as the roads are windy and small! After the lighthouse, head to Formentor Beach, a beautiful, pristine beach lined with pine trees, where you can swim and lay out in warmer months.
DAY 3: VALLDEMOSSA, DEIA & SOLLER
On our last day in Mallorca, we decided to explore the West side of the island. We drove to the mountain town of Valldemossa, which is only about 20 minutes from Palma.
Valldemossa is so charming with its tiny cobblestone streets and pretty, old buildings built into the mountainside. This was by far my favorite town on Mallorca!
Our next stop, just 10 minutes down the road was Deia, a gorgeous, mountain town that also has ocean views! In the summertime, be sure to stop by the Belmond La Residencia for cocktails at their poolside restaurant & bar.
The town of Soller is just 15 minutes passed Deia and also worth a visit. If you go, make sure you see Port de Soller. We didn’t know about the port so we missed the best part of the city!
Where To Eat & Drink In Palma
Can Cera Gastro Bar, is a great Mediterranean restaurant in the Can Cera Boutique Hotel. The atmosphere is upscale and the food was excellent (the burrata salad with basil pesto dressing was amazing)!
If you are looking for upscale Spanish cuisine, try La Bodeguilla.
They have delicious Spanish tapas; everything on the menu was great, but I loved the cheese plate (it’s only listed on the desert list for some reason so you have to ask for it), and the seafood paella was fabulous. They also have an excellent selection of wines.
Café La Lonja is a great place to grab Spanish tapas and drinks for lunch. This place has a cool vibe, good food and cocktails, and a nice outdoor seating area right across from the harbor.
And for the best burger in Europe, you have to try California Burger Bar! My friend, Mark, opened California Burger Bar in May of 2014, and since, people have been flocking to Palma just to try these famous burgers.
The fries are also delicious, the cocktails are served stiff, in large glasses, the bar has hip decor, and they play old school gangster rap!
There are lots of cool bars in old town Mallorca but another one of my favorites is Bar Abaco, an old-world Mallorcan manor house.
Grab your cocktails at the bar and then head upstairs to explore the sitting rooms, kitchen, and terrace where you can enjoy your drinks in a unique, intimate setting. Saludos!
Where To Stay In Mallorca
Nestled in the heart of old town Palma, Boutique Hotel Calatrava is in the perfect location to explore the city on foot, and it’s also across from a beautiful bay that has a jogging path running along the water!
Hotel Calatrava is a 5-star hotel with world-class charm. This is where I stayed during my trip.
I love everything about this hotel, but my favorite amenity is the rooftop terrace overlooking the city and sea, where you can enjoy breakfast each morning, and champagne sunsets in the evening.
You can read my full review of Boutique Hotel Calatrava for more information.
Here are five other well-rated hotels to stay at in Mallorca:
- Hotel Cappuccino Palma – Uniquely decorated rooms, rooftop pool, and terrace with amazing views!
- Grupotel Parc Natural & Spa – This luxury hotel is surrounded by the stunning S’Albufera Nature Reserve and offers magnificent views over the Bay of Alcudia.
- Jumeirah Port Solher Hotel & Spa – Set on a cliff overlooking this sea, this luxury hotel is the perfect Mallorca escape.
- Caprice Alcudia Port – Chic and affordable, in the entertainment district near the beach.
- La Residencia, Belmond Hotel – Arguably the nicest hotel on the island, set in the picturesque villa of Deia.
What To Pack For A Trip To Mallorca
We hope that this article has inspired you to visit Mallorca. If you have any questions about the destination or have your own travel tips to share please leave these in the comments below.
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We Are Travel Girls Co-Founder Vanessa Rivers
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Olivia says
I love Mallorca! I’ve only ever been on family vacations there as my Stepfather loves it! So glad you managed to find all these spots too.
Did you make it to Cala Deia Beach? It’s such a stunning spot and great for snorkelling. Though I believe it has become much busier over the past year as it was featured in The Night Manager, hopefully this hasn’t ruined it!
We Are Travel Girls says
Hi Olivia! I did not have a chance to visit Cala Deia Beach during my trip but I am going back to Mallorca in September for a wedding so I will for sure check it out! I also hope it will not be too crowded. Thanks for the suggestion! X, Vanessa
Jennifer says
Wow! Mallorca is stunning. I would love to visit there someday. The food looks delicious too. :)
We Are Travel Girls says
Thanks for reading Jennifer! Let us know if you travel there we would love to see your pics!
Anonymous says
Thank u girls for visiting us at Cali burger always great to see yah have a few drinks and intalectual convo ;) haaaaa cheers
We Are Travel Girls says
Can’t wait to come back for another one of those amazing Burgers!!!
Polyana says
Mallorca looks so beautiful. Can’t wait to visit. Thanks for sharing this xx
Becky van Dijk says
Thank you for reading Polyana! Do share your pics with us if you go! #wearetravelgirls
Tilly Horseman says
You’ve brought back many fabulous memories from my 2 weeks in Mallorca. So much to see and do there, I could easily spend a month exploring the island! The north of the island is definitely the area to visit. Especially the Torrent de Parais and Sa Calobra… oooo….I want to go back now! Someone please take me! ?
We Are Travel Girls says
Pleased to hear this post brought back some great memories! Thanks for reading and sharing your own tips. XO, Becky
Suren says
This was great. Thank you very much for the insights. Heading to Mallorca for the Easter weekend, can’t wait.
We Are Travel Girls says
Thanks for reading Suren, glad you found this article helpful for your own trip. Enjoy! Becky, Founder – We Are Travel Girls
we are leaving traces says
Hey,
great travel report! Mallorca is such a beautiful island. There are still a lot of tourists that only come for the party and cheap all inclusive hotels, but Mallorca has so much more to offer. We have been to Mallorca a couple of times and just came back a few weeks ago. This time we finally wrote our own report. Maybe you are interested in reading about our experiences as well :)
https://weareleavingtraces.com/2018/02/20/mallorca-spain/
Safe travels :)
We Are Travel Girls says
Thanks for reading and sharing your own tips!
Greg says
Great article ! Beautiful pictures.From my side will recomend rent a boat and enjoy Mallorca from the seaside!
We have been using https://mallorcaboathire.eu/ – amazing feelings, amazing day and fun ?
Best wishes
Greg
From Julie with Love says
Thanks for the great post!
I’m heading to Valdemossa and Deia this weekend.
Will soon blog about it on http://www.fromjuliewithlove.com
Follow me too please
Chris Vasilopoulos says
Isn’t this one of the most fantastic places ever? Lots of things to do for everyone’s bucket list for Mallorca. Tons of beaches.
Nick Jonas says
Thanks for sharing beautiful memories. Mallorca is one of the most popular holiday destinations with a perfect combination of historical landmarks as well as spectacular beaches. I knew a bit more about Mallorca through your article.