Mallorca is a Balearic island located near the Spanish coast. While most people connect these Mediterranean islands with Ibiza and partying, they offer much more than that!
Because of this, we were a little anxious when we found a low-cost flight to Mallorca. Caleb and I, Taylor, are in our thirties and don’t want to party all night. We want beautiful meals, drinks, romance, and discovery, you know? But, because we enjoy Spain, we boarded the plane!
The “too long didn’t read” section is this: after four days on the island, we were pleasantly surprised by how much we loved it and can certainly say that Mallorca is 100% worth visiting! There are so many activities to do and places to discover in Mallorca, whether you are a couple that enjoys lying on the beach or going around beautiful mountain villages!
Here are all the reasons we think Mallorca should be on your list of “places to visit” as a couple!
15 Reasons Why You Should Visit Mallorca
Lovely beaches
They say the Caribbean has the most beautiful beaches in the world, but we’d die on the hill of “Mallorca has the best beaches” if it existed in real life.
The beaches are very beautiful, with their white, silky sand that does not grow heated and the water. The water, my gosh. You have never seen something that blue in your entire life. Even people who think beaches are boring (like us) will become believers after sitting on the soft sand and gazing out at the beautiful sea.
Fun fact: Algae cannot thrive in the blue water due to the low nutrition supply.
When combined with slightly warm sea water, you get the perfect combination for kick-booty beaches.
It’s so romantic.
We honestly don’t think we’ve ever been anywhere more romantic than Mallorca, which was unexpected, and we didn’t expect to want to spend so much time there! Aside from relaxing on the beach, there are so many beautiful tiny mountain towns to explore that feel like a dream.
There are beautiful flowers around every corner, cosy small wine bars with superb Spanish wine, and little tapas places where you can bunker down and share amazing Mallorcan cuisine.
Don’t even get us started on one of the most romantic activities for couples: watching the sunset with a glass of wine on a warm night! ROMANCE, SAY WHAT.
Whether that is warm
Mallorca is for you if you’re a normal, live, breathing human who despises being cold. As a Mediterranean island, you receive a lot of sun and have pleasant winters. Even when it’s fairly hot, there’s always that cool sea wind to keep you cool.
If you want a bit more adventure on the side of cooler temps, you may travel to the mountains to get away from the heat of Palma.
2 IMPORTANT POINTS: While there are choices for getting away, Mallorca is EXTREMELY hot and humid throughout the summer, with temperatures ranging from 80.6°F to 91.4°F. In the winter, temperatures fluctuate between 57.2°F to 62.6°F, making swimming impractical.
If you are a couple that dislikes hot weather or enjoys swimming, keep this in mind when you plan your trip!
Beautiful Mountains and Landscapes
Sure, the turquoise-blue Mediterranean Sea is beautiful, but that’s not all Mallorca has to offer. Mallorca also has the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range, which is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
You will walk through dense and magnificent green trees and sand-coloured stones that climb far above the wonderfully blue lake that serves as a backdrop in the mountain range.
We planned to stop every 5 minutes while driving down the MA-10, one of the most dangerous routes on the island with breathtaking scenery.
There are also fantastic treks and hundreds of stunning locations to see along the way throughout the mountain range.
Car or bus access is simple.
We wanted to be able to give you true, real-world information on whether or not you need a vehicle in Mallorca, so we spent several days driving about the island with a rental car and several days without, getting around by bus. We are delighted to report that both options are quite convenient for navigating about the island.
While the mountain roads are winding, they connect all of the little settlements, making travel quite convenient.
The bus system is also incredibly well-designed, with all of the little settlements served by the main bus lines. The bus system is fairly simple to use, so even if you’re in a foreign country, you can move around easily.
Beautiful Small Towns
Mallorca’s little villages were by far our favourite and most surprising part of the island. The Serra Tramuntana Range and the island’s shoreline region are home to various gorgeous and fascinating little villages to lose yourself in, complete with cobblestone alleys and brownstone buildings. Whether you go in the summer or the middle of winter, there will always be another breathtaking view, winery, or gelato store to explore.
The towns have an antique feel to them and offer some unique experiences, such as riding a 20th-century vintage train from Palma to Soller or attending a Paella lesson in a local one-room home in Banyalbufar.
The communities below are must-sees:
- Deía
- Valldemossa
- Soller (don’t miss the April orange celebration!)
- Santanyí
- Banyalbufar
- Fornalutx
Palma City Life
We’ve spoken a lot about Mallorca’s peaceful beaches and picturesque towns, but the island also features a bustling capital city, Palma de Mallorca.
When you’ve finished resting at the beach or seeing the mountains, head to the city centre and sit outside on a patio in the warm evening with a bottle of wine, taking in the sounds, views, and scents! Don’t worry, the water in Palma is safe to drink, so prepare those ice cubes!
Palma also has fantastic shopping. There are various designer boutiques as well as locally owned establishments that provide unique clothes and local goods. Parts of it resemble New York on the beach!
Fantastic Food And Drinks
The city boasts amazing bars and restaurants! Everywhere you look, there is a sophisticated restaurant serving a variety of foods, as well as small, romantic cocktail bars for a nightcap, as long as you are of legal drinking age!
Mallorca has numerous Michelin-starred restaurants, notably El Olivio in Dea, which is one of the most exquisite we’ve ever seen.
Some must-try Mallorcan cuisine include:
- Sobrassada is a spreadable, chorizo-like sausage that we LOVE. Seriously, we discuss it all the time.
- Tumbet is the Mallorcan counterpart to ratatouille.
- Ensamada – A simple, spiral-shaped pig fat pastry. It does not taste like pork, but it is light, fluffy, and wonderful! Our favourites were at Panaderia S’Estacio in Palma, where you can watch the bakers work through a portion of the glass floor!
Lovely Accommodations
Even if we feel that “a room is just a room,” it’s always a pleasure to stay in a romantic, stunning hotel or Airbnb. You’ll find magnificent hotels covered in flowers and made of old stone, as well as adorable old Mallorcan-style flats like the one we slept in!
A Culture that is alive and well
When people ask, “Is Mallorca worth visiting?” You should know that Mallorca is overflowing with culture! It has a general “artsy” vibe, and as you wander down the old alleyways, you’ll come across museums and art galleries like the Frédéric Chopin and George Sand Museum in Valldemossa or the Pilar and Joan Miro Foundation.
Other markets are l’Olivar near the train station and Santa Catalina in the upscale neighbourhood of the same name!
Breathtaking sunsets
The sun sinking over the Mediterranean, with the mountain range and stunning rock cliffs (and rock formations in some areas!) in the background, is both breathtaking and romantic. We observed some of the most gorgeous sunsets we’d ever seen.
Santanyi, a village on the south-eastern tip, is a must-see for its breathtaking sunsets and fascinating rock formations! Port d’Andratx also has a beautiful sunset and lots of restaurants to have a glass of wine while viewing it.
A Long History
Mallorca is more than just a beach resort; it has an intriguing history! Mallorca was ruled by the Romans and Arabs until being seized by King Jaume I of Aragon in the 13th century. You can witness the impact of all these civilizations as you stroll through the streets, walls, buildings, and architecture, such as the Cathedral.
Unusual Activities
It’s tempting to think that lounging by the beach is the only thing to do in Mallorca. That’s one of the reasons we were afraid to attend in the first place: we’d get weary of sunbathing quickly!
While you could spend your whole vacation laying on the beach, Mallorca also has some unique things to offer, like catamaran tours, hiking, scuba diving, snorkelling, cycling, vineyard exploring, and, our personal favourite, paella-making!
A Good All-Year Destination
One of the nicest things about Mallorca is that you can go at any time of year and have a great time with beautiful weather. There is no poor time to visit Mallorca, so you may plan a trip around your schedule, holidays, and so on.
You Can Make Do With English
Throughout our travels, we never used Google Translate. While older Mallorcans may not speak English, everyone we met in the tourism industry (restaurants, hotels, etc.) did. This greatly simplified our trip arrangements.
Try to learn at least a few Spanish words so you look to be making an effort!
A Drawback to Visiting Mallorca
It should be obvious by now that we feel the answer to the question “Is Mallorca worth visiting?” is an unambiguous YES.
However, we want to be honest with you, so you know what to anticipate. Mallorca is a popular travel location. “Oh, okay, this isn’t so bad,” we thought as we wandered down some of the back roads. Then you turn onto a major street, and people are everywhere.
We’ve been almost everywhere in Spain, and it doesn’t take much effort to gain a feel of the country’s authenticity. This is not the case in Mallorca, which may explain why you find ‘tourists go home’ signs on numerous Mallorcan apartment balconies.
This is less of a problem if you remain in one.
Conclusion
Mallorca certainly surprised us! We were lucky to visit Mallorca during the shoulder season, in October, and had a terrific vacation that we will remember forever. This may change if you have to visit during the busy summer months since we recognise that not everyone can travel whenever they wish.
Even if you must, we believe that Mallorca, with its blend of relaxing beach time, mountains, and delicious food, is well worth visiting and should be put on your bucket list! So, are you planning to visit this island soon?
