The Spanish island of Mallorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands archipelago and is incredibly rich in history and culture. The Romans, Byzantines, Moors and Catalans all settled here in the past. The spoken language today is Mallorqui (a dialect of Catalan), which sounds like a mix of Spanish, Italian and French. Mallorca’s tourism is incredibly diverse and the Island caters to all different types of holiday makers, from international jet-set, to sports enthusiasts as well as families and of course clubbers.
Getting around
Mallorca is a big Island and if you are more of the explorer type rather than the beach resort type then you should definitely think of renting a car. There are a lot of different car rental companies and you can find really good deals online if you book in advance. It might be worth getting your own excess insurance from a specialist online provider as this can lead to a significant saving.
Port d’Andratx
The port is one of the prettiest in Mallorca and I strongly suggest having a stroll through the streets of this lovely “fishing” village. The surrounding area has some meandering roads up the hills that give some incredible views of the port and the bay. A casual sit down at a tapas bar to enjoy the calming view of the water is highly recommendable or even an ice cream as you stroll along the promenade is an enjoyable experience. You may go to the fishing market to explore the daily catch and can even see the boats offloading the fresh fish if you´re lucky.
Beach
Some beaches in Mallorca are really rocky. Nevertheless, there are a lot of small sandy beach gems that you can find. Personally, I was struck by the turquoise water and almost white sandy beach of the Cala Grand and Cala Esmeralda in the Cala d’Or region. Also the architecture of the surrounding villas which are majestically sitting on cliffs is simply stunning. The only downturn is that Cala d’Or is very touristy and quite busy during the hot summer months. If you want the same kind of sandy beach then Cala Pi might be perfect for you. It is less busy and the water is incredibly shallow, making it perfect for families. Also sailors truly love this spot. When you are in Cala Pi then you should definitely reserve a table at La Paleta which has a lovely garden. The restaurant is quite rustic, playing lounge music and the kitchen offers a creative twist on classical food.
Palma de Mallorca
The cathedral of Palma de Mallorca is obviously a must visit. It is quite impressive and artistically unique. In general, the city is quite historic and one can find a lot of hidden gems when strolling through the streets. It’s not surprising that the Spanish royal family spends their summers here and reside in the Marivent Palace, the official summer residence. From the port in Palma you can catch the ferry to Menorca, Ibiza and Barcelona. Stay tuned for the Ibiza Travel Tips blog.
Santuari de Cura
You can enjoy one of the most impressive Island views on a quiet mountain top monastery called Santuari de Cura. You should be prepared to drive a steep serpentine like road up the mountain passing by many enthusiastic cyclists. Once you reached the peak you will be stunned by the view and landscape (the Santuari is after all an UNESCO world heritage site). We enjoyed a coffee on the terrace under arcades looking over the Island.
Culinary Experience
If you are in Spain then there is no way around having proper seafood paella. We found a lovely place just in the centre of Palma called Restaurante Peix Vermell. The paella was served in a big pan on a separate table and was simply delicious.
We hope you found our Mallorca Travel Tips useful, let us know in the comments if you visited one of our suggested places. And if you want your next travel companion to be one of our watch rings then you should head over to our online shop.
Hi, beautiful blog about sights in Menorca Island & ring watch too. Thanks!