Mallorca, the Balearic dream, the idyllic island of everyone’s bucket list, the Mediterranean treasure. We could continue saying nice things about this pearl on the sea, as the list is kind of endless. Regardless of all the over-crowded, and spoiled holiday resorts, Mallorca is still breathtakingly beautiful! We tried to summarise the must-see sites and the unmissable spots for you, so let’s see the perfect weekend itinerary on the island of Mallorca.
The origin of the name of the island: Mallorca
The name of Mallorca derives from Classical Latin: “insula maior” – meaning: “larger island”. Later, in Medieval Latin, this became “Maiorica” – meaning “the larger one”, in comparison to “Menorca” – meaning “the smaller one”.
What to see on the island of Mallorca
We had 3 nights to spend on the island, so we wanted to plan the most reasonable, but still enjoyable round trip. We have landed at Palma airport on a Friday afternoon and our return flight departed from the same place on Monday morning. In between we had a rented car that we used to explore the island.
Alaró
This village has a strategic location if you don’t want to spend your evening in an over-priced Palma based hotel. Additionally, it is not far from Palma, and you can start your round trip freshly in the morning without the hassle of getting out from the busy capital. Besides that Alaró has not much to offer, but on weekends it’s worth to walk around and check the local goods offered on their pop-up market.
Valldemossa
Valldemossa, since it’s very close to Alaró, should be a must-have spot on your itinerary. The charm, the living beauty, all the cobblestoned, little, narrow streets, the view on the valley and cuteness of the place will definitely convince you that it’s worth to come here.
Not to mention that the Polish composer and pianist Frédéric Chopin, at that time in a relationship with French writer Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin (pseudonym: George Sand), resided in Valldemossa in the winter of 1838–39. Apparently, Chopin’s health had already deteriorated and his doctor recommended that he go to the Balearic Islands to recuperate, where he still spent a rather miserable winter. Nonetheless, his time in Mallorca was a productive period for Chopin. His imprints on the place, his old villa & garden are still visitable.
Deià
You won’t be able to resist stopping in Deià, even if you haven’t planned it. Once you arrive there, the valley, the countless number of lemon trees and the terracotta coloured houses will make you stop and wander around a bit. Deià is one of the prettiest villages on the island with incredible views out to the Mediterranean below and on the mountains, hence Deià has long been a magnet for famous artists, writers and other creative people.
Port de Sóller
The lovely Port de Sóller in north west Mallorca is a picturesque, small village. It has become well known and popular particularly due to its historic tram. This tram connects the coastal village with the town of Sóller. Port de Sóller has a large bay with protected harbour and scenic surroundings. As an old fishing harbour, it is also a great place to eat fish and seafood and the well-equipped marina is the perfect starting point for yacht and sailing trips to neighbouring bays.
Pollença
The town ofPollença or Pollensa, has several places of interest to visit, including the Roman bridge, signposted ‘Pont Roma’, which is still in use, and the Puig de Pollensa – a small mountain topped by a monastery, just outside the town.
Having been conquered time and time again through the centuries, the town bears signs of a rich history. More recently, in the early part of the last century a colony of artists, writers and musicians discovered the inspiring beauty of the area, settling in, and Pollensa has been a major draw for tasteful visitors ever since.
Alcúdia
You cannot miss visiting and exploring the old town of Alcúdia. The Moors got there in the 9th century and stayed for 300 years. They gave the name to this ancient hilltop city “Al-Qudya” which actually means “hill” in Arabic. The Moors were defeated by King James I in 1298. But it was King James II who designed the 14th-century quadrangular shaped ramparts. The 6m high walls are still intact and they make for a lovely stroll giving views over roof tops and private terraces. Its 1.5 km length is dotted with 26 towers and two gates – Porta de Xara and Porta de Mallorca – which have been declared National Monuments.
Are you interested in the best ramparts of the world? Check it here!
Cala Romántica
Cala Romántica is a lonely place out of season, hardly you can find anyone besides you. It’s indeed a very romantic place, a tiny cala with symmetrically organised umbrellas. It’s a common place for dog owners to walk around. In season though, the beach is usually completely full. So it’s worth visiting not in full bloom as well.
Cala d’Or
The ‘Golden Bay’ – is a popular beach area on the southeast coast of Mallorca, south of Portocolom and neighbouring the coastal town of Portopetro. Cala d’Or is a holiday resort well suited to families, couples and yacht-owners. The region is largely characterised by numerous small scenic coves and sandy beaches. In addition to the eponymous Cala d’Or beach, there are many more worth exploring. In the heart of Cala d’Or you find a well-equipped marina and the Cala d’Or Yacht Club, most of which is open to the public. The quays are lined with restaurants, bars, supermarkets and banks. Cala d’Or is one of the larger and more luxurious marinas on the island. Definitely a great place to stop and explore the town and its surroundings.
Palma
Palma de Mallorca doesn’t really need an introduction, most likely if you are planning your trip to the island, this is the first spot to get familiar with. You land here, you depart from here, and the majority of all the cultural sites, historically relevant places, religious buildings and gastronomically really interesting spots are merged in the capital.
If you focus on the most relevant sightseeing points you don’t need more than 5-6 hours to visit the must haves. Starting with one of the most obvious landmarks, like La Seu cathedral, which looms above the city walls, and admire the shimmering Parc de Mar Lake below. Don’t miss the re-design of St Peter’s Chapel by artist Miguel Barceló, before heading to neighbouring Almudaina Palace. Don’t miss out on Plaça Mayor and Plaça d’Espanya when wandering around on all the pedestrian streets. And you can just drive a few kilometres from the city centre to Bellver Castle, which sits aloft a peaceful wooded hill overlooking the Bay of Palma. Dating from the 14th century, it is the only circular castle in Spain and one of few in Europe.
Ca’n Pastilla
You cannot leave Mallorca without watching the sunset at least once. Luckily on the western coast of the island there are plenty of spots to admire the sunset and if you have followed our itinerary, by the end of your third afternoon, early evening you can manage to get here. Just follow the sun on the promenade of Ca’n Pastilla, choose one among the best terraces or just sit on the rocks and admire all the shades of orange, pink & red colours.
What to eat on the island of Mallorca
In 2005, there were over 2,400 restaurants on the island of Mallorca according to the Mallorcan Tourist Board, ranging from small bars to full restaurants. Olives and almonds are typical of the Mallorcan diet. Among the foods that are typical from Mallorca are sobrassada, arròs brut (saffron rice cooked with chicken, pork and vegetables), and the sweet pastry ensaïmada.
Ensaïmada
The first written references to the Mallorcian ensaïmada date back to the 17th century. At that time, although wheat flour was mainly used for making bread, there is evidence that this typical pastry product was made for festivals and celebrations.
The ensaïmada de Mallorca is made with strong flour, water, sugar, eggs, mother dough and a kind of reduced lard named saïm. The handmade character of the product makes it difficult to give an exact formula, so scales have been established defining the proportion of each ingredient, giving rise to an excellent quality traditional product. In Mallorca and Ibiza there is a sweet called greixonera made with ensaïmada pieces left over from the day before.
Exploring Mallorca – The best roundtrip in 2021
Best activities on the island of Mallorca
Where to stay on the island of Mallorca
Mallorca can offer many beautiful hotels, luxurious apartments, and the good thing is that these places out of the season are pretty much affordable. Here comes our favourites ones, where we have stayed. Feel free to use our discount code (generated within the link if you click on it) or our search bar below!
Alaró
Alcúdia
Ca’n Pastilla
How to move around on the island of Mallorca
By train
Four train lines run from Plaça d’Espanya in Palma de Mallorca. One heads north to Sóller and is a panoramic excursion in an antique wooden train. It’s one of Palma’s most popular day trips. It costs 7 EUR per journey between Sóller & Port de Sóller, and 25 EUR between Sóller & Palma.
The other three lines head inland to Inca, where one terminates and the others serve Sa Pobla and Manacor. Prices are generally cheaper than buses and departures are frequent throughout the day.
By taxi
Uber and other car based driving systems are illegal in Mallorca, so you must relay on officially registered Mallorca taxis. Night or day, the taxis in Mallorca are open for business, so travellers can be sure to get their early morning flight home or get a ride after a late night out.
By car
The easiest is to rent a car at the airport in Palma. Then you don’t need to worry about your transportation around the island. Having your own car gives you the most freedom to explore the island on your time. Buses are an option, too, but they often limit the service, especially on weekends.
More about the Balearic Islands
Mallorca or Majorca is the largest island in the Balearic Islands, which are part of Spain and located in the Mediterranean. The capital of the island, Palma, is also the capital of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. The Balearic Islands have been an autonomous region of Spain since 1983. There are two small islands off the coast of Mallorca: Cabrera (southeast of Palma) and Dragonera (west of Palma). Like the other Balearic Islands of Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera, the island is an extremely popular holiday destination, particularly for tourists from Germany and the United Kingdom. The international airport, Palma de Mallorca Airport, was one of the busiest in Spain before Covid-19; it was used by 28 million passengers in 2017, with use increasing every year since 2012.
Enjoy our discounts in the place
Dear Traveller, hope you liked the latest article from Besides the Obvious! If you would not like to miss any of our travel stories, destination ideas, vacation plans, holiday inspirations, do not forget to subscribe here!
One Reply to “The perfect weekend itinerary on the island of Mallorca”