Mallorca is an excellent place to explore by car, with its salty air, sandy beaches, and warm sun rays on the windscreen!
There is so much to see on this Balearic island, from the stunning coastline beaches and towns to the lovely mountain villages, spectacular lookouts, and old historical buildings, that it may be difficult to plan how to see everything. Do not fear, we have you covered!
Based on our personal road trip adventure when we visited Mallorca, we’ve produced a list of the 21 best places to see in Mallorca by car in this post. These were our favorite sites to visit with our rental car, as well as some expert tips to help you make the most of your vacation.
Once you’ve reviewed the list, you may get our advice on how many days to spend in Mallorca and then pick which areas appeal to you as a couple. From there, you may plan a road trip to Mallorca to see all of the attractions of your holiday! Let’s get started with a little video of some of the highlights I prepared for you, Taylor.
21 Places to Visit by Car in Mallorca
1. Palma
You will most likely use Palma as a home base during your stay in Mallorca, therefore you will be visiting in some manner. If you opt to base yourself in one of the calmer, more romantic villages, such as Banyalbufar (which we strongly recommend), you should still find time to explore Palma.
Palma de Mallorca is the island’s capital, as well as its largest and most populous city. We recommend parking in the city center and walking about Palma to visit the main attractions. It’s easier to park once and walk because parking in Palma is a headache, and driving between them will cost you a lot of time.
Palma becomes quite congested and touristy, especially during the summer, so expect to be surrounded by people! Palma, on the other hand, boasts excellent restaurants, several pubs, shopping, and much more! During your visit, you should look into the following.
- The Gothic Roman Catholic Cathedral of Santa Maria de Palma is situated in the middle of the old town. It’s difficult to miss since it’s so big! It’s also rather gorgeous!
- The Spanish monarch and queen continue to reside at the Royal Palace of La Almudaina, which was established in the 14th century.
- Passeig Del Born – A gorgeous and elegant avenue dotted with high-end brand companies! Ideal for a couple wishing to shop and buy Spanish souvenirs!
- Palma de Mallorca’s port is one of the most active in the Mediterranean, and it is home to the Playa de Palma! You might spend time relaxing on the beach or strolling the boardwalk while eating gelato from Gelato Boutique Paseo Martimo, which we found to be wonderful.
- La Rambla is a paved avenue that connects the Teatre Principal with the crossroads of Calle de los Olmos, Va Roma, and Calle Barón de Pinopar. Because it is seldom known by visitors, it makes for a wonderful city walk!
- Pandora S’Estació – Oh, we loved this tiny bakery near Plaça Espana! They have the greatest ensamadas, and a chunk of the floor is made of glass, allowing you to see them being prepared. This station serves as both a destination for visitors and a dining establishment.
2. Castell De Bellver
This gorgeous castle is on the outskirts of Palma, so you’ll need to drive there and climb the hill to get to the top!
The caste was built in Gothic style in the 14th century to house rulers. If you want to go inside, you must buy a ticket, unless you come on a Sunday when the castle is free.
3. Santa Catalina Island
Santa Catalina is gradually becoming Palma’s most popular neighborhood. You could walk there because it’s just around 25 minutes from the city center, or you could utilize it as a pit break on your route somewhere.
In any case, you’ll find a wonderful, artsy neighborhood brimming with vibrant restaurants and little cafés. It also contains the Mercado of Santa Catalina.
Check out Caller Fabrica, which offers various restaurants, and Caller Annibal, which has a variety of beautiful cafés!
You should also see the windmills, which are around 5 minutes from the Mercat area.
4. Alcudia
Alcdia, another northern town, is a one-of-a-kind blend of historical significance and a modern beach resort. The medieval walls that surround the village are what define it!
It’s an excellent place to explore the little alleyways lined with Roman ruins, museums, and tasty restaurants, or to unwind on the gorgeous sandy beaches. In April, it also holds an excellent Cuttlefish and Nautical Festival!
5. Valldemossa
You can’t search for places to visit without coming across Valldemossa. This beautiful village is nestled on the Serra de Tramuntana mountainside and surrounded by breathtaking slopes!
There are two large parking spaces, so park your car and explore the area for a while. The Royal Carthusian Monastery and Jardins Rei Joan Carles are two of the area’s top attractions.
It’s also great for not arranging anything and just meandering about the village together. There are a lot of little streets to explore!
6. Deiá
Deiá is another charming little village. It is quite similar to Valldemossa, with the exception that parking is more difficult to come by, so plan accordingly. It is also quite popular with visitors, thus traffic may become crowded!
Deiá is well-known among prominent artists and authors, therefore there are plenty of art galleries and companies to explore. There’s also El Olivio, a restaurant with one of the most beautiful settings we’ve ever seen. Tourists can’t make reservations, and getting in is difficult!
7. Sa Foradada Viewpoint
This advice comes with a caveat: while the sunset view is breathtaking, it is also one of the most crowded places we’ve ever seen, as illustrated below.
If you happen to be in the Deiá region during sunset, Mirador Sa Foradad is only a 10-minute drive away and well worth a visit if you arrive at least an hour before dusk. Chill Out Sa Foradada is a restaurant where you may dine and drink wine while admiring the sunset. However, it may become so busy that arriving late and being unable to find a seat is unpleasant.
8. Sóller and Port of Sóller
Sóller is a charming village set in the “Valley of Oranges,” known for its excellent oranges! The hamlet has the same sandstone-colored cottages with green shutters and a profusion of charming streets to explore.
Plaça Constitució, Sóller’s main plaza, is crowded with restaurants and cafes. However, because the bulk of them are somewhat “touristy,” we recommend eating outside of the plaza. Honestly, we just got ice cream for lunch since we had the best ice cream we’d ever had at Mr. McCoys Island Ices, which is just outside the center. They use fresh fruit and offer distinctive flavors like Mallorcan orange and saffron or Mallorcan lemon and bergamot. I die.
9. Fornalutx
Another picturesque and historic village in the Tramuntana Mountain Range, overlooking the Sóller Valley. This is frequently referred to as the “prettiest village in Spain,” and it’s a delightful place to spend an hour or two roaming about.
10. Jardines de Alfabia
This wonderful garden showcases the Arab influence on Mallorca throughout the years. There are several tropical plants and flowers on the grounds, as well as beautiful, peaceful walkways, a tiny home museum, and a small café. It’s a lovely place to spend a few hours wandering, and stopping for some fresh cake is a great thing to do with your partner!
11. Banyalbufar
Most visitors travel to Valldemossa, Deiá, and Sóller, but they skip Banyalbufar, which is a huge mistake. It’s another charming small West Coast community of only 500 people, nestled deeper into the hill than others. This offers amazing views of both the mountain range and the Mediterranean Sea. It has stunning old terraced hillsides that go down to the sea!
12. Ses Salines
Ses Salines translates to “salt source,” and it is a little inland town on Mallorca’s south coast known for its salt business. This tiny town receives few visitors, yet it is home to numerous outstanding restaurants and cafés, as well as being adjacent to the famous Es Trenc beach.
13. Es Pontás Mirador
This is THE best area in Mallorca to see the sunset and one of the top places to visit by vehicle. Es Pontás is a natural rock formation in the water that has a hole in the center. It also offers a rope swing for visitors to play on and a cliff jumping area.
To get to the mirador, park in a very small parking lot and proceed down to where it says “residents only” (don’t worry, you’re OK!). The descent is steep and rugged, so don’t be like me and wear sandals—I have scars to prove it!
14. Santanyi
Another wonderful village near Es Pontás that seems bohemian and secluded. There isn’t much to see here, but who wouldn’t want to visit as many wonderful tiny Mallorcan towns as possible?
15. Torre Nova (New Tower)
We discovered this while searching for Es Pontás! This ancient observation trip, dating back to 1577, is now a popular hiking destination. However, we found the view of the Mediterranean to be stunning, and this position is completely private!
To get there, use Google Maps to find a parking area near Sa Torre Nova and then follow the road indicated for residents only. You’ll notice it quickly!
16. Cala Santanyi
This was our favorite beach. It is tucked into a shelter surrounded by rocks and trees, making the lake look even more blue! When we came in October, it was also incredibly tranquil, and it looked like local Spanish were vacationing there, rather than a swarm of tourists (you know, the ones that pronounce “Majorca” instead of “Mallorca”). This may not be true during the busy summer months!
17. Cala Figuera
This charming beach village with white-painted homes dates back to the fourteenth century. It’s a great place to wander the streets and eat, and it has a different vibe than the little mountain villages, which is a welcome change of pace.
18. ort de Pollenca
This charming little town in the north of Mallorca is best known as a resort town, with crystal-clear waters, beautiful beaches, and a plethora of appealing eateries and cafés!
If you can there in time for sunrise, this is an excellent place to visit in the morning!
19. Port d’Andratx
Andratx is not on many people’s lists of places to visit in Mallorca, and we don’t know why! This charming fishing village is renowned as one of the most affluent vacation destinations on the island, and it is surrounded by yachts. It is even said that celebrities own the cities seen on the slopes!
20. Cap de Formentor With Lighthouse
Cap De Formentor is located on Mallorca’s northern shore and translates as “end of Formentor.” The steep road that goes here is breathtaking, and it ends with a lighthouse that is well-known for its sunsets!
NOTE: Accessing the lighthouse during the summer is difficult because the road is closed between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. You should plan to arrive early and wait so that you are first in the queue when it opens at 7 p.m.
21. Mirador Es Colomer
This viewpoint, positioned on the way to the Cap de Formentor lighthouse above, is a popular spot for viewing sunsets. The viewpoint is perched high on a rock and provides panoramic views of the Serra Tramuntana and the sea! Stunning!
And it’s romantic if you arrive after everyone else!
Itinerary for a Recommended Road Trip
While this post is not intended to be a detailed itinerary because we have one planned for our week in Mallorca, it will help you plan your days.
Based on our own driving experiences in these areas, here are some suggestions for “doable” places to see in one day. You may then decide how many days you wish to spend on a Mallorca road trip:
- 1 day – Palma de Mallorca, Santa Catalina, and Castell Belver
- 1 day trip to Valldemossa, Banyalbufar, and Port D’Andratx.
- 1 day – Sóller and the Port of Sóller, Jardines de Alfabia, Fornalutx, Deiá, and Mirador Sa Foradada.
- One-day excursion to Cala Figuera, Santany, Cala Santanyi, Torre Nova (New Tower), Mirador Es Pontás, and Ses Salines.
- A one-day journey to Port de Pollenca, Alcudia, Mirador es Colomer, and Cap de Formentor.
These days are quite busy! If you don’t have 5 days, choose which of the following categories interests you the most and make your bucket list plan.
Conclusion
While there are several attractions to see on the gorgeous island, you now know all of the 21 best places to visit in Mallorca by car, as well as why having a car is essential for getting the most out of the island! You may spend your days seeing the island’s numerous sides, and our guide will ensure that you experience the highlights of each location to make the most of your Spanish vacation!
We hope you find this information useful when you visit Mallorca, and we’d love to hear about your favorite locations to visit once you arrive!
