Things to Do in Mallorca

Playa de Muro is a beautiful six-kilometer-long sandy beach with turquoise water in northern Mallorca; it is one of the island’s newest resort destinations. It is a “Blue Flag” beach, meaning that it meets certain criteria in regards to the water quality, safety and services. Although quieter than neighbor beach Alcudia, Playa de Muro is less sheltered and can experience bigger waves during high winds. Playa de Muro is very popular with families thanks to its warm shallow waters; because of this, water-sport enthusiasts abound, be it for water-skiing, jet skiing, scuba diving, pedal boating or paragliding. There is also a wooden jetty for boats, and boat trips around the coast are offered.

The westernmost portion of the beach, near Alcudia, is lined with resort hotels and holiday apartments, which all have premium access to the beach. Note that it is possible for non-guests to rent loungers and parasols upon request; this is also where most of the restaurants, cafés, and bars are located. Further east is the two-kilometer long Es Brac area, very similar in shape and style but overally quieter. At the eastern end of Playa de Muro is Es Comu, where the unspoiled and non-serviced beaches are located. This is the true natural side of Mallorca, with plenty sand dunes, pine trees, and juniper bushes. This portion is not accessible from the street; there are two distinct entry points, in Casetes des Capellans and in Es Brac.

Impossible to miss in the heart of Palma’s Old Town, Plaza Mayor is the Mallorcan capital’s largest square and a lively meeting place at any time of day. Constructed in the 19th century on a storied piece of land, today the sprawling rectangular plaza serves as a shopping and dining hotspot for locals and visitors alike.

Dating back to the 10th century, the Palma Arab Baths (Baños Árabes) are among Palma’s most fascinating archaeological sites and some of the last remaining relics of the Muslim era in the Balearic Islands. It is believed that parts of the baths are the only remnants of the Arab city of Medina Mayurqa.

A Gothic-style church at the heart of Palma’s Old Town, the Basilica de Sant Francesc is one of the island’s most spectacular sights and historically significant structures. The basilica dates back to the 13th century when it was founded as a monastery. It has been known as one of the most famous churches on Palma since the Middle Ages.

The current sandstone facade was reconstructed in the 17th century after the original was struck by lightning. Its Baroque style is more typical of the Majorcan style. The inside of the basilica is just as impressive as its exterior, with high vaulted ceilings in classic Catalan Gothic style and ornate altar. Tombs and chapels line its walls, leading to its stunning medieval cloister filled with citrus and palm trees.

The statue outside the church is of Franciscan monk Junipero Serra. If his name sounds familiar, it might be because he went on to found the major cities in California - Los Angeles and San Francisco, among others. The church is considered a major landmark of Palma and is included in most all tours of the city.

Arguably the most beautiful beach on the Balearic island of Mallorca – and certainly its most unspoiled – the three-km (1.75-mile) stretch of Es Trenc is found on the southwest coast near the resort of Colonia Sant Jordi. Thanks to the soft, sugar-like golden sand and the pristine, shallow water, this is a favorite beach for families; there are sunbeds and parasols to hire as well as lifeguards on duty in the summer months. Facilities also include several bars and restaurants along the beach, including the popular chiringuito (casual beach restaurant) of S’Embat in the purpose-built enclave of Ses Covettes, where several areas of the beach are given over to nudity. Despite its length, Es Trenc becomes very crowded in high summer, but a quiet spot can always be found. The beach also gets packed with wind surfers when the sea breezes start blowing. In winter it is often completely deserted apart from the migrating birds stopping over among the dunes, marshy wetlands and pine scrub backing the beach, which are protected as an Área Natural de Especial Interés (Natural Area of Special Interest).

The island of Mallorca is home to more than 200 caves and the Cuevas del Ham, or Caves of Hams, are one of the most popular to visit. Located along an underground river called the Sea of Venice, these caves are notable for their spiral and hook-shaped stalactites. Many travelers visit these caves during a multi-destination day trip.

Lovers of modern and contemporary art (or casual travelers looking for insight into the Spanish art scene) will find one of Spain’s most important and comprehensive collections at the Es Baluard Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Palma. Opened in 2004, the museum maintains a collection of more than 500 pieces, with a heavy emphasis on artists working in the Balearic Islands since the early twentieth century.

Set amid some of Palma de Mallorca’s most historical structures, including the Sant Pere Bastion (sixteenth century) and the Aljub reservoir (seventeenth century), the museum building is much more modernist, made from concrete and glass, yet manages to fit in harmoniously with its surroundings.

Located on the western coast of the island, and about a 15-minute drive from Palma, Aqualand El Arenal is exactly where you’ll want to go to take your island adventure to the next level. The water park offers all sorts of hot-weather relief in the form of adrenaline-inducing slides, themed pool areas, and relaxing river cruises.

The park very much has something for everyone, too, satisfying those who seek thrills as much as those who just want to chill out. Attractions include wild slides of all types, from free-fall to twisty-turny, side-by-side races, and a tornado-style chute. Meanwhile, there are more tame activities such as the surf beach with its big waves, the Jacuzzi, and milder slides that are more suitable for little kids.

One of Mallorca’s biggest outdoor weekly markets, Inca Market takes over the island’s leather-making town of Inca every Thursday. Offering more than 100 stalls, the market is a great place for snapping up traditional local leatherware, handicrafts, delicacies, and fresh produce.

On Mallorca’s northwest coast, the Torrent de Pareis River wriggles its way through the Tramuntana Mountain Range, leaving massive limestone-carved canyons in its path. At the river’s end, it breaks through a rugged coastline that is home to the neighboring village of Sa Calobra, as well as a slew of small beaches.

It’s the hidden beach at the mouth of the Torrent de Pareis that most come for, though. Not accessible by car, the pebbly shoreline can only be reached via boat or by foot from the port of Sa Calobra after walking along the cliffs and through a set of tunnels.

The journey to the village of Sa Calobra, and the Canyon de la Calobra, is quite possibly as impressive as the destination itself; reaching the village by car requires traversing a switchback- and vista-filled road. Meanwhile, arrival by boat allows for unparalleled views of the steep cliffs as they plunge

into the sea.

Get to know Mallorca beyond its beaches during a visit to the old stone city of Valldemossa, located high in the Tamuntana Mountains, or to La Granja, a former convent surrounded by gardens. Many visitors climb winding roads up into the mountains via bus, taxi, or rental car during a day trip to see these popular sites.

Descend 36 meters underground for a guided subterranean exploration at the Genova Caves (Cuevas de Genova). The caves, which are hidden under a restaurant, offer beautiful rock formations as well as pools of water, corridors, and columns and are enhanced with a variety of colorful lights in an audiovisual show.

The largest aquarium in Mallorca with over 55 tanks and more than 700 different marine species, Palma Aquarium is a sight to behold. Ocean habitats and ecosystems from around the world have been recreated from the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans as well as the local Mediterranean Sea. Promoting eco-friendly practices and respect for marine life, the aquarium was built as a tribute to nature and remains unparalleled in many respects.

Visitors have the chance to see the largest shark tank in Europe (at 28 feet deep) as well as the largest live coral collection on the continent. The jellyfish and black-tip reef shark exhibits are remarkable. Some of the aquariums most magnificent marine species include octopuses, sea horses, grouper fish, wrasses, crabs, rays, and eels. Other exhibits include an interactive touch pool, an outside play area for children, a Mediterranean garden, and a tropical jungle, the largest of its kind in Spain.

The Wild West transforms into a water playground at Mallorca’s Western Water Park. Located—appropriately—on the western side of the island, this is where you’ll find a paradise of splash-worthy activities suitable for family members of all ages.

For the adventurous water-lovers in your brood, Western Water Park offers over 10 different rides. For example, there are the Multipistas with six side-by-side slides that make for a steep slithery race to the pool finish. Then, don’t miss the Tornado, on which two people can slosh down its channel together before plunging into the water. Meanwhile, those that are height-averse can get soaked in the wave pool or go on an adventure down the Wild River.

The littlest of kids can get their fix, too, at Children’s Paradise. It is there that you’ll find a tike-sized pool and playground designed for younger folk, as well as a mini water park for the little ones, complete with smaller slides.

Once you and the family have had your fill of playing in the sun, relax in the warm Jacuzzi baths, or check out one of the diving exhibitions featuring professional divers.