Madeline Lu

View Original

Travel Guide for Mallorca, Spain

We kicked off our summer vacation in Europe with first stopping in Mallorca, Spain. To visit this island properly has been long on my bucket list and so excited to finally tick it off. We stayed for just over a week there and the experience was beyond amazing. After receiving so many positive feedback and request on my Instagram, I decided to put this travel guide together and share all we knew and experienced. Hope this will inspire you to visit this island and have the best time just like we did.

See this content in the original post

How to get to Mallorca

It is actually quite quick, easy, usually cheap to fly to Mallorca from any major European cities, such as London, Paris, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Berlin, Munich, and so on. The airlines you might heard of are Ryanair, Easyjet, Eurowings, and etc. Bear in mind that most of these budget airlines are very strict with luggage allowances. Most of them allow one piece hand luggage/carry-on for free and you must pay for any check-in luggages. Even the hand luggage, they are very picky with the size. They will not allow you to carry on board any luggages or bags are bigger than their standards. I find the carry-on from Away is the most suitable luggage for this kind of travel. I had never encountered any problems when I travel with mine.

Getting around in Mallorca

I highly recommend renting a car to when you are on Mallorca. It will give you a lot more freedom to explore the island to its fullest. Book in advance to secure a car. Another tip, unless you are traveling with a big group, I would suggest to rent a small car since a lot of roads in Mallorca are very narrow, esp. those lead to the beach. You can definitely get around with a van, but it will be tricky sometimes to maneuver. We rent a Mini Cooper SUV, which was super fun to drive and easy to park.

How many nights in Mallorca

I’d suggest at least for three to five nights. We did for eight nights and really enjoyed taking our time slow to explore the island.

Where to stay in Mallorca

Belmond La Residencia

Situated in the charming town of Deia, Belmond La Residencia is one of the best resorts on the island. With two manor houses date back to 16th century, and a collection of villas on the hill, you can expect to see fantastic view to the Tramuntana mountain range and old town Deia after you get up from your bed. Both the interior and exterior are beautiful with Moroccan and Tropical vibes. All the restaurants here are incredible with delicious food and great service. You will definitely have an amazing time here. For more info, check out my blogpost on the resort here.

See this content in the original post

Castell Son Claret

Based in the UNESCO protected mountains of Tramuntana, Castell Son Claret is a true hidden gem of the island. Serene, peaceful, relaxing, and beautiful are some of the best ways to describe this amazing property, which has cozy rooms with the most comfy beddings, lush garden, and the most delicious food. Zaranda, the only two star-Michelin restaurant on the island can be a true experience of its own already. It will be an unforgettable stay for you, I am sure.

See this content in the original post

What to see and where to eat

Below are the three regions that we explored, which I think are the best areas in Mallorca to see during a short period time.

See this content in the original post

Santanyi Region

What to do

  1. Beaches: there is no doubts that Santanyi region has some of the island’s most stunning beaches. Here are some of our favorites.

  • Calo des Moro

    You must not miss this gem as it’s seriously one of the most beautiful places on the island. The beach is very small (in fact, we didn’t even see the beach because of the high tide) and doesn’t get very packed in the afternoon, so be there early (before 10 am) to secure a spot. To get there does take some efforts. From the parking space to the beach is about 20 mins walk (at least), which include passing the residential areas, then walking along the narrow path along coast, and then hiking down to the beach. There is a short stretch of the path that you need to very careful, so keep the kids close to you. You can bring the small children and babies as well, but try to leave the stroller behind as it does’t get very tricky to push it through. Try to pack light, but bring your own water, snacks, and a garbage bag (for the trash afterwards). We did not see it ourselves, but we heard that there are jellyfish in the water, so swim with caution.

  • Cala s’Almunia
    Walking distance from Calo Des Moro. This little corner is a perfect spot to do some sunbathing on the rocks for the afternoon.

  • Cala Llombards
    This is one of our favorite places on the island as it’s the most accessible beach with easy parking and facilities (bathroom, sun loungers, life guards, restaurant (amazing food, but reserve early to get a table). It is beautiful and charming with soft sand beaches and rustic fisherman houses nearby. The kids jumped off the rocks and swam for hours. It is the most family and group friendly beach.

  • Torent de Cala Pi

    We actually didn’t make it to this beach, but heard nothing but good about this place. If you have time, highly recommend you to check it out. Let me know!

  • Cala Santanyi

    The 130-metre long beach is made up of fine, white sand and the waters are clear and calm, perfect for families as well as for good snorkelling. It is a Blue Flag beach, marking its cleanliness and high environmental standards.

2. Visit Botanicactus S.L.

We didn’t visit this place ourselves, since we chose to spend another day on the beach instead. From the pictures I have seen, the place is very cute and photogenic. Mind you, it can get very hot in summer there.

3. Visit the market in Santanyi on Wednesdays and Saturdays

One of the biggest markets on Mallorca. The market in Santanyi opens twice a week, where you can get fresh produce, flowers, textiles, clothing, and crafts made by local artists. If you have time, it is definitely worth spending a couple of hours there. The town of Santanyi is very charming, too. I love its green and dusty blue window shutters.

Where to Eat

  1. Es Moli

    We loved the ambience of the restaurant, especially in the beautiful garden in the back. They serve traditional Spanish food, Tapas and etc. It does get very busy in the evenings, so call in advance to reserve a table. The food is good, but slightly pricey. They will bring bread and olives up front, but these are not complimentary. They charge per head for these. So if you don’t want them, be sure to tell them up front to avoid any surprises in the end.

2. Downtown Santanyí

There are a great selection of restaurants in downtown. We didn’t go there ourselves, but they all looked very inviting and the atmosphere there is nice in the evenings.

Deia, Soller and Valldemossa Region

What to Do

  • Visit Deia, Valldemossa and Soller villages

    All of these three villages are incredibly beautiful and charming. I suggest spend at least one hour or two winding through each village. Take your time to walk around, get some ice creams, have some coffee, and just soak in and enjoy.

See this content in the original post
  • Beach day at Cala Deia

    Yes, it does take some efforts to get to this stunning beach, but it is so worthy it. It is a pebble/stone beach, but the colors of the sea is just stunning and you can do rock jumping too. There is also one of our favorite restaurant on the island right at the shore - Ca’s Petro March, See below. Again, the best chance to get a parking spot there is before 11 am. After that, you will struggle to find a place to park and you have to walk for a quite distance to get to the beach. Also watch out for sign to find the right spot to park, if you do decide to park along the road. Do not park at where is yellow/white line. The police does patrol there everyday and will write you a big parking fine. Not the kind of surprise you want to have after a fun day at the beach.

  • Coast Drive on the Ma-10 from Deiá to Estellencs
    You will see some of the best high cliffs and ocean views on this route. The road can get very narrow and windy, so drive safely. Stay in your lane and drive carefully and with caution.

Where to Eat

  • Ca’s Petro March

    Definitely one of the most beautiful restaurant on the island. By “beautiful”, I mean the incredible ocean view. Sit right above the water at Cala Deia Beach, the restaurant has amazing food, esp. sea food. The place is incredibly popular for lunch. Do make sure you make a reservation before you go there. Their phone number is: +34 971 63 91 37.

  • Cafe Miro

    Situated in the beautiful Belmond La Residencia, this place serve amazing Tapas and has a great view to the old town Deia. You can also enjoy some afternoon tea here after sometime on the beach.

  • El Olivo

    Another incredible restaurant from Belmond La Residencia. This is a more formal and romantic dining space. It has beautiful indoor and outdoor settings. If you visit in summer, highly recommend to experience a dinner outside in the garden during sunset! You can thank me later.

  • NENI Mallorca

    Located at the Port of Söller, this newly opened restaurant has been incredibly popular thanks to its amazing ocean view, beautiful interior, and delicious food. Definitely not to miss would be their hummus. One of the best in the world!

  • Restaurant Nama

    An Asian restaurant serves delicious Thai dishes that made with local and organic ingredients. There are vegan and vegetarian options. Based in the middle to old town Deia. The balcony tables have an amazing hillside view.

See this content in the original post

Estellencs, Andratx and Calvia Region

What to do

Beaches:

  • Cala Estellencs

    Absolutely awesome place for spending free time. Not much tourist and rich seaworld. There are a lot of jellyfishes, so be careful.

  • Cala Cap Falcó

    Tiny little sandy beach with clear water. Great for families with young children as the water is very shallow. Relatively each to park nearby and walk to.

  • Visiting Palma

    Only 30 minutes drive to the capital of Mallorca. There are a lot of cute cafes and shops for visiting.

Where to eat

  • Olivera

    Located in the Castell Son Claret, the restaurant has a beautiful outdoor sitting and the Tapas is very good. Even if you don't stay here, I highly recommend you come here for lunch and check out the hotel property. Absolutely beautiful!

  • Zaranda

    Also located in the Castell Son Claret, this is the only two star Michelin restaurant on the island. In summer, they set the tables up in the middle of the manor house, which dates back to 16th century. Magical setting.

  • Mesón Ca’n Torrat

    A traditional restaurant known for the best suckling pig. We didn’t make it there ourselves, but the reviews are very good. Make reservation before hand.

Of course, there are more places to be explored on the magical island of Mallorca. I shall update this guide once I have more interesting places to share. Hope this will get you excited about your visit and be helpful for you to navigate the island. Have a fantastic trip!