Although I travel pretty much permanently and am on the road non-stop, always drifting from place to place - a lifestyle I am grateful to have with full-time remote work - it is rare that I find myself actually on holidays with no plans and no responsibilities. The last time I took annual leave from work was back in October to visit the Azores and Madeira in Portugal, so an extended vacation was much overdue.
Most recently having been based in Barcelona, and in my never-ending mission to see as much of the world as possible, the first of three destinations I'm visiting on this holiday is Mallorca, one of the Balearic islands - the others being Menorca, where I'm off to next, Ibiza and Formentera which I visited for the Easter long weekend earlier this year.
Late May is really the ideal time for a trip to Mallorca, where the weather is still agreeable and the island, while busy, is not yet teeming with summer holidaymakers. I spent just under a week here, based out of the capital of Palma, spending my days exploring the island.
How to Get to Mallorca
The airport on Mallorca is just outside the city of Palma and is well-serviced by airlines across Europe. I arrived with Air Europa from Barcelona, just a forty-five minute hop across the Mediterranean. From Palma Airport, the A1 bus line runs straight into downtown Palma, providing easy acess to your accommodations.
Where to Stay on Mallorca
You can either choose to base yourself out of Palma (as I did) and travel each day out to your destination, or you can pick from any number of idyllic cities and towns around the island to add to your itinerary.
As a budget backpacker who loves hostels more than anywhere, I always stay in hostels while on my vacations. The Boc Hostel Palma (also marked as Hostel Fleming on Google Maps) was a wonderful place to stay for the week. It's big, clean and provides all the best parts of a good hostel: free wifi, big kitchens, free bins for people who want to leave stuff behind for the next person, and a really nice social atmosphere in the outdoor garden and rooftop terrace. Highly recommend!
How to Get Around Mallorca
The island doesn't feel so much like one as it is really huge, taking a good couple of hours to cross it in either direction. Luckily, the island is exceptionally serviced by public transit, so while you may wish to rent a car to have the freedom and flexibility, there are loads of buses and even an extensive train route that go to many of the places you're likely going to want to visit!
To use the bus, all you need to do is tap in and tap out with your debit or credit card and it charges the distance you've traveled. It literally couldn't be easier.
Things to See on Mallorca
I was hugely surprised by how incredible the mountainous landscape of Mallorca is; it was not what I expected at all. Jagged peaks surround the little villages and every drive offers breathtaking views as you explore the island. Here's everywhere I went in my week on Mallorca:
1. Sóller
Sóller is quite a touristy little town out in the western side of Mallorca. Home, most famously, to a little wooden tram that bustles right through the central plaza next to the cathedral, you'll find plenty of cafes and boutique shops here to wander.
2. Fornalutx
Take an easy hike from Sóller alongside incredible mountain scenery to reach the idyllic little village of Fornalutx, considered one of the prettiest in Mallorca.
3. Deià
One of Mallorca's fanciest little villages, with a handful of boutique shops and cafes, the crowning glory of this spot is the Belmond La Residencia, where you can spend a cool €2000 per night to stay in style. The view from the Mirador on the bridge is good enough for me, though!
4. Catedral-Basílica de Santa María de Mallorca
Palma, Mallorca's capital, has some cute parts but is extremely touristy and unfortunately has become quite tacky in areas. The main streets are worth a little wander though to get your bearings and the cathedral is a grand statement on the Palma horizon, overlooking the bay.
5. Sant Elm
Nestled into the southwestern tip of Mallorca, this tiny little beachtown is full of cute little boutiques, waterfront restaurants and a white-sand-blue-water beach perfect for a hot dip after hiking on Sa Dragonera (see #6!).
6. Sa Dragonera
From Sant Elm, a small boat - La Margarita - ferries passengers for €15 cash each to Sa Dragonera and back. There are no inhabitants on Sa Dragonera, just four wonderful hiking trails across various bits of the island. The best hike (in my opinion) is the 9km return loop that takes you straight up to the top of the island to Mirador Del Far Vell for panoramic views back to Mallorca.
7. Cala Pi
Perhaps I'm biased with my limited Mallorcan beaches visited, but I can quite easily declare Cala Pi on Mallorca's southern coast one of the island's prettiest.
8. Caló des Borgit
Out on the eastern coast of Mallorca is an exceptionally beautiful natural reserve, Mondragó Natural Park, near the town of Santanyí. Come out here for the day to enjoy the stunning 1,893-acre natural park's nature, including grasslands, forests, dunes and pristine coves with bright blue water.
9. Cala Mondragó
The main beach in Mondragó Natural Park (see #8) is the same as the name - Cala Mondragó - where I spent most of my day, book in hand under the sun and enjoying the incredible ocean.
CHECK OUT MY VLOG OF MALLORCA HERE!
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Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
