I wasn’t considering Mallorca as my priority travel destination. Mainly because it has always been associated with overcrowded holiday destination for Western Europeans. However, I have never imagined Mallorca is so beautiful and you can easily escape from the crowds and surround yourself with pure nature, dramatic mountains and lagoon waters with stunning cliffs!
The views along the coastline are mind-blowing. This Balearic island offers lots of attractions, after driving around the island here are best spots to visit around Mallorca, that will leave you breathless.
I rented a car to explore the whole island. That gives you so much more flexibility than traveling by a local transport (although it is still my favourite transportation). If you are limited with time, the best way to discover rewarding places is taking the ride through the unknown. 🙂 Although, if you are not planning to rent a car, you can take a ride on the Sóller train, which is a great way to discover the Mallorcan landscape.
To be honest, Palma de Mallorca – the capital of the island, didn’t impress me much. And I wouldn’t recommend staying there for too long. The only thing that brough my attention and probably the most characteristic landmark of the city is Catedral-Basílica de Santa María de Mallorca.
Magaluf – small town near Palma de Mallorca
Magaluf turned out to be fantastic town with a magnificent Magaluf beach. It’s located short drive from Palma de Mallorca south direction. It’s a resort town but at least it was pretty empty before the start of the season in April. Take a walk along the coastline to find small, lagoon beaches for amazing snorkeling adventure in green pure waters.
Mirador de Ricardo Roca.
Mirador de Ricardo Roca is a famous watchtower near the tunnel going through the rocks, located on the north-west coast, about 20 km from Palma de Mallorca: https://goo.gl/maps/6H8MyguW8hpE3Wnr7. Drive through Calvia, beautiful small town on the way to the Mirador.
Formentor peninsula – the lighthouse and viewing point!
Formentor peninsula is located in the north-west part of the island. Most of the visitors (and million cyclists!!) would be heading the lighthouse spot for overwhelming views and lunch. It may take some time to drive the curvy road leading to the top. Be prepared for cyclists grabbing the last piece of a local specialities or a tasty cake/galletas in the lighthouse restaurant 😉
Best beaches for snorkelling around Mallorca!
You can’t miss snorkeling in Mallorca. There are one of the most beautiful lagoon waters I’ve seen across the world. The shore is usually easily accessible, all you need is your snorkelling equipment and water shoes – the terrain is a bit rocky so protect your feet.
Cala del Mago – one of the most beautiful beaches is located on the south-west of the island. It’s a half an hour drive from Palma de Mallorca. There’s a lovely restaurant in the bay.
Cap de Formentor - Mallorca's most beautiful beach.
One of the best spots to visit around Mallorca is Cap de Formentor – in my opinion the most beautiful beach on the island, with crystal clear turquoise waters and fine white sand. ere is a tiny road leading from the main road down to the beach. I would definitely recommend swimming shoes, as the bottom is very rocky.
Driving along the north coast will bring more magnificent lagoon landscapes. There are many cliff restaurants with unimaginable views of the turquioise sea. This one is called Restaurant es Grau, with tables sitting over the cliff. The food wasn’t top class but we were hungry and sometimes waiting time can be a nightmare.
Dragon caves (Drach caves) in Mallorca.
Dragon caves/Drach caves are one of the biggest caves in Europe. Located on the east coast of the island: https://goo.gl/maps/Nt4XNHRo5Kv3damg6
Dragon caves are huge Mallorca’s underground treasure and one of the main tourist attractions. I have been to many caves in different parts of the world and I think they are all stunning. But at some stage the stalactites and stalagmites are everywhere looking the same. Dragon caves were formed between 11 and 5.3 million years ago. It is highly advised not to touch any of the formations, as it stops them from growing (formations grow only 1 cm per year). The guided tour is very interesting and it’s allowed to use cameras and video recorders.
One of the best spots to visit in Mallorca is Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy!
Tennis is my life passion and Rafa is my beloved athlete. His smile lasts longer than any grand slam! Rafael was born in Mallorca. He built this incredible tennis complex to open in 2016 to immediately become one of the leading sports centres in the world. Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy is a high-performance professional training centre along with a small museum. There are plenty options of tennis camps for professional and amateur tennis lovers.
Best hiking trails in Mallorca.
A great mountain massif in Mallorca offers brilliant hiking adventures. Best hiking trails in Mallorca are located in Tramuntana mountains.
Do not underestimate these mountains, some trails are very difficult and weather conditions may be totally different at a ground level. Get a good hiking map and plan your trails carefully. It gets really windy and cold in the higher sections.
Jump to my post: 10 best places to see in Lanzarote island, Spain.
