Whereas many Mallorcan itineraries start in Palma, I choose kicking off my trip at a extra relaxed tempo in Sóller.
It’s a 35-minute drive from the airport and appears dedicated to the issues that make me pleased: a laid-back ambiance, a superbly preserved historic sq. the place households and neighbors collect within the afternoon to speak into the night time and cobblestone streets that cover eating places and conventional retailers.
I really like the honey-colored buildings, the truth that you’re by no means removed from a view of the Serra de Tramuntana, and you’ll see the solar set on this facet of the island. It is the proper introduction to Mallorca. We’ll base ourselves right here for a lot of the vacation because it gives quick access to Palma and the nice seashores and villages.
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When to reach: Mallorca is gorgeous year-round. Winter sees many coastal resorts shut, but it surely’s good for mountain climbing the Serra de Tramuntana and Serra de Llevant mountain ranges or having fun with cozy farm stays inland. The perfect time for many guests is spring or autumn when the climate is delicate and you’ll get pleasure from a wide range of actions, however I choose summer season when it is busy and vibrant and preferrred for sun-worshippers (that is me).
The best way to get from the airport: Should you’re staying in Palma, taxis and the EMT A1 bus, which runs each quarter-hour in the course of the day and each half-hour at night time, are handy choices. Throughout summer season, AEROTIB buses present direct routes to main resorts like Alcúdia, Can Picafort and Cala Bona.
The best way to get round: The general public transport system on the island is fairly good. Palma is well-connected with buses and taxis, and TIB buses hyperlink the capital with main vacationer locations throughout the island. Nevertheless, for the itinerary I’ve created, you are going to want a automotive. It is the best option to discover Mallorca’s villages and hidden seashores, which are sometimes solely accessible by automotive.
What to pack: A light-weight and cozy wardrobe is your greatest guess in summer season. Go for breathable materials that maintain you cool in the course of the day and convey alongside a number of dressier objects for eating out. Locals sometimes gown up for meals (informal stylish moderately than gussied up) so you will not see many individuals in beachwear on the desk – it is usually frowned upon. The west coast can expertise occasional showers even in summer season, so packing a lightweight rain jacket is a brilliant transfer. Moreover, water sneakers are a clever selection since lots of Mallorca’s seashores are rocky, and so they’ll save your toes from undesirable cuts and scrapes.
Day 1: Begin your journey in Sóller
The best way to spend the day: Verify into your lodge, and in the event you’ve rented a automotive, drop it off on the city’s underground public automotive park, which prices solely €6 per day. In any other case, it is virtually not possible to search out parking on the slender streets, and only a few lodges have their very own parking bays.
As soon as settled, take a pause on the canopy-draped Plaça de la Constitució and luxuriate in lunch at a restaurant there. Sant Bartomeu cathedral can also be situated right here and is properly price a search for its spectacular Modernist facade and jaw-dropping altarpiece. Afterward, saunter alongside to Carrer de sa Lluna; you will discover some old-school retailers right here promoting Mallorcan-leather crafted sneakers and conventional homewares like handstitched floral and antique-style linen napkins and tablecloths that make pretty Mallorcan mementos.
Dinner: There are not any late-night bars in Sóller, and dinner service often ends at 10:30pm, which is uncommon for Spain. Plan to move out no later than 8pm in the event you do not wish to really feel rushed. A few of my favourite eating places in Sóller, reminiscent of Ca’n Pintxo, are tucked away down facet streets. Head right here and ask to be seated at its candle-lit tables on the cobbled terrace to get pleasure from dishes just like the catch of the day, offered as a silky ceviche dish and marinated in citrus and fervour fruit juices.
On the lookout for souvenirs? Do not miss Palma de Mallorca’s greatest unbiased shops
Day 2: Port de Sóller
Morning: Be a part of the lengthy line of sweet-toothed locals accumulating their ensaïmadas (coils of flaky pastry dusted with icing sugar and typically full of jam) from Horno San Cristo. Mallorca is understood for ensaïmadas, which pair completely with a bitter espresso.
The best way to spend the day: Hit the seashore! Port de Sóller is a 10-minute drive away, or you may take the wood tram, which is a really cute and enjoyable option to journey. There are two seashores right here, the primary Port de Sóller seashore and Platja d’en Repic. Each have calm, clear waters and lifeguards on obligation. You possibly can hire solar loungers, lockers, and parasols for a flat day fee and also you’re surrounded by eating places and bars. I like Patiki Seaside for lunch, however I often carry bread, cheese and chorizo from the grocery store and make my very own picnic. Plus there are fruit distributors right here able to slice up a dragon fruit or crack open a coconut everytime you fancy.
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Dinner: Take pleasure in a surprising sundown on the seashore after which make your option to Ses Oliveres for a recent seafood dinner with glowing wine and exquisite views of the bay.
Here is our choose of Mallorca’s greatest seashores
Day 3: Fornalutx, Sa Calobra and Pollença
Morning: Begin your day with a scenic 15-minute drive to Fornalutx, usually hailed as one in every of Spain’s most lovely villages. The journey itself is a deal with by means of lush greenery and mild, winding roads. Have breakfast at Cafè Sa Plaça within the coronary heart of the village after which go for a stroll by means of the knotted streets, admiring the attractive window bins that adorn every dwelling. Cease on the gloriously old school Panaderia de Fornalutx to choose up some conventional Mallorcan pastries for a candy deal with on the best way to your subsequent journey.
The best way to spend the day: Proceed on the MA-10 freeway and brace your self for the exhilarating (learn: terrifying) drive to Sa Calobra seashore. The MA-10, notably because it snakes its means all the way down to Sa Calobra, is known for its hairpin turns and cliff-hugging roads. No person warned me it is generally known as “the wildest highway on the island,” so be ready. The views are saga-worthy (take it gradual), and Sa Calobra actually is a stunner. The water is so clear you may see the fish flit previous even with no snorkel. Goal to get there by mid-morning to safe a spot and calm down on the pebble seashore or take a brief stroll to Torrent de Pareis gorge.
Night: Finish your day in Pollença, a quintessentially Balearic city an hour’s drive away with wisteria-draped streets that when charmed Agatha Christie. As nightfall settles, the city’s eating places and bars come to life, with households gathering within the squares to get pleasure from ice cream and wine. Nourish your soul with dinner at Amazo, a comfortable spot providing hearty South American and Spanish fare. For a extra relaxed drive dwelling to Sóller, take the flatter and extra simple MA-13 freeway.
Day 4: Deià and Valdemossa
Morning: Should you’ve ever looked for pictures of Mallorca on Instagram, you have undoubtedly seen Deià. This charming and considerably bougie spot is understood for its creative vibe, beautiful surroundings and superstar vacation properties. It’s only a 20-minute drive from Sóller. Begin with a go to to the poet Robert Graves’ grave within the hilltop cemetery that overlooks the village. Then mosey to De Moniö for espresso, a minimalist-styled vegetarian cafe that additionally sells handmade ceramics (good souvenirs). Then, drive all the way down to Cala Deià, the place you may get pleasure from a swim and have an early lunch at Ca’s Patró March, a restaurant overlooking the water.
The best way to spend the day: Drive for quarter-hour to Valldemossa, a city declared a World Heritage Website by UNESCO, to get misplaced among the many labyrinthine streets and go to Actual Cartuja de Valldemossa, a museum devoted to the composer Frédéric Chopin and author George Sand. The constructing is an outdated monastery and former royal residence that dates again to 1310. Whether or not you have eaten or not, your lunchtime precedence ought to be La Posada, the place you may sip wine with wood-fired steaks or recent salads on the out of doors terrace overlooking Valldemossa’s sea of terracotta rooftops and olive groves.
Night: When the time is true, return to Sóller in your last night right here and luxuriate in dinner at C’an Llimona, a stunning family-run Italian restaurant that values high quality produce. The pasta is made recent day by day and is phenomenal.
Day 5: Palma
Morning: Earlier than leaving Sóller for Palma, go to Ecovinyassa, a surprising citrus orchard only a 10-minute drive away, the place the air is full of the perfume of oranges and lemons. They provide excursions on weekdays (besides Tuesdays) from 10am, the place you may pattern freshly picked fruit, discover the attractive grounds, and luxuriate in recent juice and a lightweight snack beneath the shade of the citrus bushes—a languid and wonderful option to spend the morning.
The best way to spend the day: Transfer on to Palma, Mallorca’s vibrant, art-filled capital. I like to remain in Santa Catalina. That is the house of each second Palma inventive so look forward to finding reside music, dog-friendly bars and a few form of candy deal with on each avenue nook. As soon as you have checked in to your lodge, discover the historic Previous City, visiting the magnificent La Seu Cathedral, and shopping idea shops reminiscent of Rialto Residing and La Pecera and smaller spots like Mimbrería Vidal to search out that “oh this? I picked it up in Mallorca” piece.
Dinner: Seize a seat close to the open-plan kitchen at Vandal in Santa Catalina the place the menu reads like a map of the world with influences from South America, Asia and Europe. It is loud, so not the place for an intimate dinner, but it surely’s enjoyable. Spring for the plump and sweetly flavored beef bao and burrata with fried zucchini flower. After, hunt down the blink-and-you’ll miss it jazz-infused speakeasy Door 13. You will want a password to enter, which is often shared on its social media.
Want extra information? Here is our first-timer’s information to Palma
Day 6: Cala Pi and Santanyí
Morning: Get up early, seize some snacks and recent fruit from a close-by grocery store (Spanish supermarkets are elite) and prepare for an additional seashore day.
The best way to spend the day: Begin the day at Cala Pi, a 45-minute drive from Palma. It is a conventional Mallorcan seashore that I fell head over heels in love with – quiet and secluded (within the morning, no less than) with no amenities. Carry towels, snorkels and snacks (therefore the grocery store run earlier than leaving). Keep in mind it’s important to stroll down some fairly steep stairs to achieve it. Within the afternoon, you possibly can drive half-hour to the white-sand Caribbean-esque seashore of Platja des Trenc or 40 minutes to Santanyí, a small, slow-paced city the place even the air feels light. There’s a gorgeous seashore right here too and a market on Wednesdays and Saturdays (till 2pm).
Dinner: Stick round in Santanyí as a result of it appears to be like particularly fairly throughout golden hour. Take pleasure in recent paella at one of many casual seashore golf equipment for dinner or truffle pasta within the courtyard of Es Cantonet. It is a couple of 45-minute drive again to Palma.
Day 7: Palma
Morning: Do not depart with out visiting the Santa Catalina market. It has just about all of the recent produce you may consider, and you’ll choose up native honey, marmalade, melt-in-the-mouth hams and Mallorcan wines to take dwelling. Whereas there, go to Can Frau for an early tapas lunch. It is an amazing place to dine alone as they’ve a protracted counter that wraps across the bar. It additionally serves among the greatest paella in Palma.
The best way to spend the day: Proceed to discover Palma’s charming neighborhoods or get pleasure from a calming seashore day at Portixol, a former fishing village now a stylish seaside suburb of Palma. Finish your journey with one thing just a little bit totally different by paying a go to to one in every of Mallorca’s glassware retailers or warehouses. The island boasts a wealthy glassmaking custom, and its oldest model, Gordiola Glass Firm, has been round since 1719. Whereas there’s a store in Palma, a visit to the workshop in Algaida is much extra thrilling. Right here you may witness the artwork of handblown glassmaking within the museum – the €8 entry payment is properly price it – and peruse and store varied merchandise.
Dinner: In Palma, go to La Rosa Vermuteria and Colmado, a vermouth bar with essentially the most charming bartenders and an amazing collection of vermouth, beer and wine. Get the cheeseboard for dinner earlier than heading to the airport. Adios!
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