Best Things to Do in Majorca: A Complete Travel Guide

Majorca can be filled with amazing beach holidays a little too easily. Yes, the coves are excellent, but the largest of the Balearic Islands also hides a UNESCO-listed mountain range, a stone cathedral that rises straight from the harbour, and an underground lake where musicians perform. This blog is a catalogue of the best things to do in Majorca that go beyond the sun loungers, plus a couple of route suggestions for pulling it all together.

Majorca fits neatly into wider Spain holidays too, whether you are combining it with a mainland city or treating the island as the whole trip. For travellers looking to combine Majorca’s landscapes with its rich culture, the island is easy to explore, with plenty of sights, experiences and scenic routes to choose from.

Must Visit Attractions

Majorca is one of the must-visit destinations in Spain, especially for travellers interested in art, culture, and history. The island’s historic monuments, architecture, and cultural landmarks offer a glimpse into its rich past. Majorca’s strong appreciation for art and heritage is also reflected in the way many of its historic sites and traditions have been preserved. Here are some of the must-visit attractions in Majorca that are worth adding to your itinerary.

Palma Cathedral

La Seu, Palma’s famous Gothic cathedral, took nearly four centuries to build and stands above the old city harbour, where its stone facade can be seen from the boats coming to the port. Inside, look for the great rose window, which is said to be one of the largest of any Gothic cathedral, and the striking canopy sculpture designed by Antoni Gaudí during his early restoration work on the building in the early twentieth century.

Serra de Tramuntana

This mountain range running along Majorca’s northwest coast was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011. The mountain is recognised for the centuries-old dry stone terraces, watchtowers and irrigation channels built into its slopes by generations of farmers who cultivated olives and citrus on land that looks almost too steep to farm. 

Hiking trails wind between the peaks and the sea, and the drive along the coastal road, with its tight switchbacks and sudden sea views, ranks among the most scenic views in the Mediterranean.

Sóller

Sóller lies in a valley filled with orange and lemon groves. You can reach Sóller from Palma by a vintage wooden tram that has been running since 1912, passing through hills and tunnels at a relaxed pace. 

The town’s Art Nouveau buildings and lively central square reflect the wealth once brought by the citrus trade, making it a great stop before heading to the nearby port for lunch by the water. 

Cap de Formentor

The peninsula at Majorca’s northern tip offers some of the island’s most dramatic coastal views, with a lighthouse perched at the very end of a winding cliff road that climbs steeply from sea level up through pine forest and exposed rock. 

The viewpoint at Mirador Es Colomer, roughly halfway along the route, is worth the stop on its own for the sheer drop down to the water below.

Valldemossa

This hillside village, set among terraced hills above the west coast, is best known for its Carthusian monastery, where composer Frédéric Chopin and writer George Sand spent the winter of 1838, an episode that later inspired Sand’s memoir of their stay. 

Narrow cobbled streets lined with stone houses and pots of geraniums make Valldemossa one of the prettiest short detours on the island.

Cala d’Or

On Majorca’s southeast coast, Cala d’Or is a cluster of small, sheltered coves cut into low pine-covered cliffs, with calm, clear water better suited to swimming than the busier beaches situated further towards the northern end. 

Whitewashed buildings along the marina give the town a distinctly Ibicenco feel, and the calm water makes it a reliable choice even when the wind picks up elsewhere on the island.

Cuevas del Drach

Near Porto Cristo on the east coast, these limestone caves lead down to Lake Martel, one of the largest underground lakes in the world, where a live classical quartet performs a short concert from an illuminated boat before visitors cross the water themselves in small rowing boats guided by staff. 

The tour has run in some form since the caves opened to the public in 1922, and it remains one of the island’s most distinctive excursions, with the stalactite formations lit to dramatic effect throughout the walk down.

Unique Experiences in Majorca

Beyond the headline sights, Majorca rewards visitors who slow down. Cycling has become a popular activity in Majorca, with professional teams using its quiet inland roads for winter training. 

Hiring a bike for a morning around the Tramuntana foothills is a great way to explore rural Majorca away from the busy coastal towns. Sailing out from Port de Sóller or Puerto Portals gives a different perspective on the coastline, while wine tasting in the Binissalem region introduces grape varieties, such as Manto Negro, rarely seen outside the island and worth trying alongside a plate of local cheese. These slower-paced experiences are what turn a good trip into memorable Majorca holidays. 

Suggested Mallorca Itineraries

Majorca has a lot of places to discover, and visiting a new place without any itinerary will lead you to miss a few of the most scenic views. Here are a few simple Majorca itineraries you should go through before you prepare yours, or you can also go with these itineraries for your Majorca visit. 

1-Day Trip

With only a single day, base yourself in Palma. Start at La Seu Cathedral, wander through the old town’s narrow streets, then take a short taxi or bus ride to Valldemossa for the afternoon before returning to Palma for dinner near the harbour. This route gives you a good balance of historic sights, village charm and time to enjoy the city.

3-Day Trip

Plan the first day in Palma itself, the second exploring the Tramuntana coast through Sóller and Valldemossa, and the third heading east to Cala d’Or and the Cuevas del Drach before finishing back near Palma for a final evening. 

Travel Tips for Majorca

Majorca is one of the most scenic places to visit in Spain. Here are the travel tips you should consider before you visit Majorca:

• Hire a car: Renting a car is genuinely worthwhile in Majorca, as public transport becomes less frequent once you leave Palma and the main coastal towns. The mountain roads are also part of the experience, particularly the scenic stretch between Sóller and Valldemossa.
• Choose the right time: Visit between May and June or September and October for warm weather without the peak August crowds.
• Book restaurants ahead: If you are visiting Sóller or Deià during summer, reserve popular restaurants in advance, as the best spots fill up quickly.
• Plan your activities: Look into a mix of sightseeing, outdoor activities and guided tours before your trip so you can make the most of your time on the island.
• Get a visual feel for Majorca: Video tours and short travel clips can help you see what different stops look like and decide which places you want to prioritise.
• Enjoy the variety: Majorca can easily appeal to beach lovers, hikers, sailors and history-minded travellers, making it possible to experience several sides of the island within the same week.

Travelodeal can help build an itinerary that gives each of those interests its proper share of time, starting with a look at current Majorca holiday deals.

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