Mallorca Road Trip – 40 travel tips (for the best experience!)

Planning a Mallorca road trip? What a wonderful choice of destination!
Below are my best Mallorca travel tips to make the most of your time:

• Tips to plan your trip,
• Tips to get around Mallorca,
• Tips on accommodations and where to stay,
• Tips on the best things to do,
• The best drives in Mallorca,
• ....

All you need to plan your travels around Mallorca island! Your complete guide.

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#1 - Choose the best time to visit Mallorca for you

The traveling season in Mallorca is quite long with pleasant temperatures. 
You can even enjoy Winter in Mallorca if you don't mind a little chill (temperatures between 12 and 15°C).
You can enjoy its charm in any season... but, if there are things you prefer, some seasons are better than others. It depends on what you are looking for: 

• Crowds -
  Mallorca is a very popular destination.
  The Summer Months get crazy with full beaches and attractions.
  Even October remains a busy month. Not crazy but busy.
  So the shoulder months are quieter (April/May and October).
  But if you want peaceful, visit in Winter - you can have the roads almost to yourself!
• Weather -
  The temperatures get really hot in Summer, are very pleasant in shoulder months and are chilly in Winter.
• Swimming -
  Summer is the best times to swim in warm waters.
• Hiking / biking -
  But, if you are planning a hiking or bicycle riding trip, then avoid Summer as you may melt because of the temperatures.
• There is nothing specific to see at certain seasons  - except the harvesting of the Olives late October early November.

#2 - Plan at least 1 week but 2 are better - How long to plan to visit Mallorca

The island is bigger than one imagined. And there is much to do and visit.
If you want to road trip around the island, you need to plan enough time to visit:

• the best beaches and calas,
• the best caves,
• the best villages,
• the best viewpoints,
• the hidden gems,
• ...

I think the best length for your Mallorca trip to enjoy a little bit of everything it has to offers is 2 weeks.

Below is a map with the main driving times to give you perspective:

#3 - Plan time at the airport

#4 - Be ready for the crowds

Mallorca is a very popular destination.
The famous sights such as beaches and old villages get very crowded.
Even in October, parking at lunch time in Deia or parking at Cala Mesquida in the afternoon can be very frustrating.
You need to be aware of that. 
Plan your itinerary to arrive at popular spots early and don't stack them up all on the same day.

#5 - Plan some flexibility to adapt to the weather

Mallorca has some tall mountains. The highest point is Puig Major - 1,436 m (4711 ft).
Therefore, it stops the clouds, and you can get rain and cloudy weather.
The island is big, but not that big. Therefore, you can plan to adapt your itinerary to visit areas of the island in the best possible weather.
For example, when it was raining, I visited the inland with museums and small villages and kept the blue sky for the magnificent landscapes of Sa Calobra or Formentor.

#6 - Rent a car to see the best the island has to offer

It is possible to explore some areas without a car: There are guided tours that can take you to the most famous places: caves, cliffs, 
But Mallorca is so much more than that!
There are so many viewpoints, stunning roads and hidden gems to discover...
I really think renting a car is the best way to discover the island.

#7 - Rent a smaller car 

Overall, driving in Mallorca is not difficult, apart from a few scary mountain roads to side attractions.
The main issue is that they are often narrow: to drive inside villages, to reach some attractions...
And sadly, people renting a car are not good at judging the size of their vehicles and can't think of folding their mirrors...

To get less stressed on those roads, I recommend renting a narrow car if possible.

#8 - Compare prices

I have seen big variations of prices for car rentals on the island.
Some companies are directly at the airport, others, such as Centauro, are outside of the airport, but their shuttle is very frequent, so it is not a hassle at all. I was quite impressed by the Centauro shuttle.
Many times, I found much better prices on Discovercars.com compared to the companies direct websites! Not sure why...
Anyway, Discovercars.com is one of the best customer-rated comparison sites - you can choose the car and rental company.
Plus, they propose a full coverage option - I always take it for peace of mind! 

Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!

#11 - One accommodation or several?

Most destinations around the island are less than 1h away from Palma de Mallorca.
Therefore, it is possible to stay at only one place for your entire vacation and road trip every day.

However, in order to reduce driving times and experience 2 different sides of Mallorca, I recommend splitting your holiday in half and pick 2 accommodations are different ends of the island.

I think the best option (for those interesting in road tripping) is:

• half the trip in the North-East with accommodation around Alcudia - great to explore the Tramuntana and Formentor
• and half the trip in the South-West with accommodation around Colonia Sant-Jordi - great to explore Palma de Mallorca and the most beautiful calas

It depends on what you are looking for during your holidays.

Get an introduction about each coast in my article - why side of Mallorca is best?

#12 - Should you stay in Palma de Mallorca?

If you enjoy trying various restaurants, then Palma de Mallorca is the best place for you.
If you don't want to rent a car, then Palma de Mallorca is a good place for you, as many day trips are offered from the capital.
If you want to visit many museums, then Palma de Mallorca is the good place for you.

Otherwise, Palma de Mallorca may not be the best choice because:

• it is noisy,
• the city center is not close to a beach,
• It means driving through the city to get anywhere else on the island.

#13 - Best areas to stay in Mallorca

Well, there is no absolute best places to stay in Mallorca. It depends on what you are looking for.
Below are some of my recommendations:

• For a choice of restaurants and a main town - see best rated accommodations in Palma
• For beach + practical location to explore - see best rated accommodations in Port d'Alcudia
• For a party area - see best rated accommodations in S'Arenal
• For a quiet in the mountains - see best rated accommodations in Valldemossa
• For a quiet, charming seaside place - see best rated accommodations in Canyamel
• For access to the best calas - see best rated accommodations in Cala d'or
• For families - see best rated accommodations in Cala Millor or in Colonia Sant Jordi

More tips on my article about where to stay in Mallorca.

#14 - Choose wisely your accommodation 

The accommodation offer on the island of Mallorca is really impressive.
You can find every type of accommodation imaginable.
However, make sure you check the noise level.
Some towns in Mallorca are party towns and there are bars, hotels and nightclubs playing loud music every evening.
If this is not what you are looking for, review the situation before booking.

At the other end of the spectrum, if you are not looking for a beach stay, consider agrotourism. Many fincas have been converted to welcome guests. They offer enjoyable experiences surrounded by Nature.

#15 - Always check the parking conditions

If you are reading this article, you are planning road trips and renting a car.
Therefore, you need to park it every evening around your accommodation.
If you are staying in a popular beach area, parking can be nightmarish. Therefore, always check the parking situation and any reviews about parking in the area (if no dedicated carpark is available).

#16 - Wake up early to see sunrises

I know that on holidays, sleeping in is a must for some.
But those sunrises on the East and North coast are splendid.
For example, along the beach of Port d'Alcudia and Platja de Muro there are many piers that make for great foreground.

#17 - Visiting early or late

Waking up early to see the sunrise also has the advantage that you can start your road trip early.
As I wrote before, some places get very busy even during the shoulder seasons.
When visiting early you won't stress about parking and you can enjoy the views better.
Good examples are:

• The magnificent Sa Calobra - the carpark is small and the road winding - it is best in the first quiet hours of the days
• The mountain villages of Fornalutx, Deia and Valldemossa
• The famous beaches and Calas
• ....

Plus, later in the day you will cross path with the bus tours of those doing day trips.

#18 - Is Mallorca safe? Be aware of scams

Mallorca is full of tourists. Therefore, sadly, you will find people trying to take advantage of that.
However, during shoulder season, I have never felt unsafe.
You just have to be aware and take precautions (as always):

• First thing is to make sure that you don't leave anything visible in the car (like in most touristic places). Don't tempt thieves.
• You also have the classic pickpockets in the popular areas of Palma de Mallorca, around the cathedral - as well as at the airport carousel
• Change taxi if he/she tells you that the meter is broken

#19 - Carry cash

Most places accept credit cards on the island.
However, there are a few cases when you will need cash: 

• A few places to visit (both on and off the beaten path)
• To pay for some parking areas 

#20 - Ma-10 Tramuntana road East - Pollenca to Soller

The Central part of the road is the most popular, between Soller and Valldemossa.
You are closer to the sea with mountain on one side and water on the other.
Highlights include:

• Soller and its port area + the famous trolley
• The village of Deia
• The village of Valldemossa
• Viewpoints, fincas and monasteries....

The West section of Ma-10 is often overlooked, but it offers some pleasant experiences too.
It is also closer to the sea with nice cliff views.
Highlights include:

• Village of Banyalbufar
• Torre del Verger
• The non-touristy town of Andratx

Another impressive road is the one going all the way through the Formentor Peninsula to the lighthouse.
The cliffs in this area are spectacular, tall and falling straight into the sea.
Access to this road is limited in Summer, and shuttles are in place. I will share more in a dedicated article.
Highlights are:

• Mirador es Colomer
• Albercrutx tower (small detour)
• Formentor beach
• Cala Murta and Cala Figuera (walking/hiking required)
• The lighthouse of Cape Formentor

The road down to Sa Calobra is probably the most photographed on the island.
From Col dels Reis, the view is quite impressive.
It twists between 2 mountain walls and leads to the most incredible place on Mallorca (see next section).

This is a short drive with one very narrow section under rocks. A popular drive.

Throughout Mallorca, there are a few monasteries perched on top hills.
There are often surrounded by flat agricultural lands.
Therefore, the drives up to those monasteries offer open views of the island.
One of the best is up to Santuari da Cura. It lies at 543m (1781ft) above sea level.

Before anything else, you need fuel to explore.
In every town you can find great tapas restaurant, with a good mix of vegetables, meat, cheeses...
Some are traditional (such as the picture above) others create original tapas recipes.
I think you should taste as much as possible.

This is a very popular spot, but I think it is still worth it.
This was my favorite place on the island.
I visited early morning, before the crowds but with the sun high enough above the mountains (1h30 to 2h after sunrise).
And the place was just perfect.
From the carpark, it is a short walk along the coast and through 2 tunnels to discover the hidden beach and the bottom of a canyon.
The access to the sea is so narrow with mountains all around.
Plus, I was lucky to get great reflections on the river.

Maybe what I love the most about Mallorca is that locals have set up viewpoints in may places.
It is absolutely fantastic to be driving on a road with magnificent views and finding a spot to park and take the time to enjoy it. It is not in every country.
Those viewpoints are called Miradors.
Above is a fantastic example. It is Mirador es Colomer. It overlooks the impressive Formentor Cape.

Check out 21 of the best views in Mallorca.

All around Mallorca, the water has cut coves called Calas.
Some of them are long, very narrow and wild, like snakes of waters.
Other have enchanting beaches and hotels nearby...
Most are worth a stop with turquoise waters and lush vegetation.
In the picture above, you can see Cala Beltran. It is accessible only via a short hike.

See my article about the best calas in Mallorca.

The Tramuntana mountains are home to several historical villages which have been able to maintain their charm.
The stone houses are well-maintained, and plants add to the picture perfect look.
Some of the most famous include:

• Fornalutx (photo above)
• Deia
• Valldemossa

#31 - Walk along one of the long sandy beaches

Mallorca has had a long history.
It is famous for 2 types of site:

• The archaeological sites from the Talayotic culture (Bronze age) where walls and towers were built out of large stones - best sites include Ses Paisses, Son Fornes and Capocorp Vell
• The main towns of the Roman occupation: Pollenca, Alcudia and Palma

I think you should visit at least one of the Talayot sites and the walled town of Alcudia.

Mallorca is an island, so off course, there are some great boat trips to enjoy the cliffs and more.

I recommend:

• A boat trip to see the cliffs of Formentor (photo above) - see options
• A boat trip to Cabrera island and blue caves - see options
• and more... see options

In Mallorca, there are several monasteries and castles built on top of hills.
They offer fascinating buildings, historical stories and splendid views of their surroundings.

Some of my favorite include:

• Castell de Bellver - the round castle of Palma de Mallorca (picture above)
• Capdepera Castle
• Arta Monastery
• Santuari de la Cura
• Santuari de Sant Salvador

In Mallorca, you can also go underground.
It is written that the island is home to over 200 caves.
Today, 5 karst caves are open to visitors.

The most famous are Drach cave and Hams' cave but my favorite are Campanet Caves and Arta Caves.
Learn more in my article about the best caves in Mallorca.

With the amount of tourists around Mallorca every year, there are no real secret places.
It is very difficult to be all alone in one place, especially if no hiking is required.
However, there are still a few gems that remain lesser known or overlooked.
One of my favorite is the sea arch of Sa Cova Foradada in the picture above.
This place is incredible, but I am not sure it will stay "hidden" without any signs to find it...

See my list of 12 secret places to discover in Mallorca.

I am not a big fan of cities, but the old town of Palma de Mallorca should not be missed.
The cathedral is impressive and iconic with the water feature at the front.
You can also enjoy the Royal Palace, la Llotja and the Arab Baths.

#38 - What to pack for Mallorca

The list of things to pack is quite typical, but remember that the island is not tropical. There is a variation in weather.

Plus, one hour you can be by the beach at 25°C (77°F) and 1h later you can be at up in the mountains, where temperatures drop...
The best options is to bring layers.

You can refer to my overall travel checklists that include packing lists.

Just don't forget:

• Swimsuit to enjoy the incredible natural pools
• Sunscreen - you can easily burn there!
• Sunglasses
• Binoculars to see all the amazing summits - check out my article to help you choose your binoculars
• Adapter, if you are not using 2 round 220V plugs
• ...

#39 - Bring the right camera gear for Mallorca

Nothing really special for a trip to Mallorca.
You should consider water protection if you go on a boat tour.
I personally just bought a camera that is entirely sealed, which is quite a relief.
And I use a lense with a wide range to take landscapes and also zoom in on animals or details.
I have:

• Olympus EM1 MarkIII
• 12-100 IS lens
• Extra Batteries
• A camera clip to relieve my neck and carry the camera on the strap of my backpack - I love soooooooo much!!!!! It works with all cameras.

#40 - Learn a few words of Spanish

Locals always appreciate when people try speaking a few words of their language:

• Hello - Hola
• Bye - Adios
• Please - Por favor
• Thank you - Gracias
• Excuse me - Disculpe