What I loved most about Mallorca is that within a single vacation, you can do such a variety of things. One day you're cycling through Palma, the next morning you're driving into the mountains, and the day after that you're out on the water. The island is compact enough to combine many activities, yet diverse enough to never feel monotonous.
Things to Do in Palma de Mallorca
Palma is more than just a place to sleep and eat. The city offers plenty to do without needing to spend the whole day in museums and churches.
Bike Tour Through Palma de Mallorca
A bike tour is, for me, the best way to get to know a new city, and it works especially well in Palma. I recommend planning this tour at the start of your visit. You'll quickly get a feel for the various neighborhoods and see places along the way that you might not reach by foot: the harbor, areas outside the historic center, and the newer parts of the city. View bike tours in Palma →
Lunch afterward? El Camino is one of my favorite spots in Palma for a good lunch after an active morning. You'll find more recommendations in my Mallorca restaurant guide.
Visit the Miró Museum in Palma
The Fundació Miró Mallorca is located just outside the busiest part of Palma. Miró painted and sculpted here for years, and you can explore his studios. It feels less like a traditional museum visit and more like a glimpse into the place where his work actually came to life. Even if you're not a huge art aficionado, the architecture, garden, and surroundings are worth visiting. You can also combine your visit with a lunch at the museum itself. Get tickets here.
Special Activities in Mallorca
Visit Ecovinyassa Near Sóller
Ecovinyassa is an organic orange and citrus orchard a few kilometers from Sóller, nestled in the heart of the Tramuntana. You can stroll among the trees, taste the fruit, and take home products you won't find elsewhere on the island.
It's not a major attraction, which is precisely what makes it charming. It fits well as a stop during a morning around Sóller. Combine it with a visit to the Sóller market or a hike.
Lunch in Sóller afterward? Chez Junior on the square is one of my favorite spots. Looking to stay nearby? SolleRooms is a small-scale accommodation right in the village.
Swim in Cova des Coloms
Cova des Coloms, also known as the Cave of the Pigeons, located in the northeast, is a unique place due to how you reach it. You can access the cave via a hiking trail and swim the last part. Prefer approaching from the water? Cova des Coloms can also be visited by boat. Once inside, you swim between rock walls in a cave that is almost hidden from the sea. View boat trip to Cova des Coloms →
Mallorca from the Water
I recommend spending at least one day or half a day on the water during a Mallorca vacation. The island looks different from the sea than it does from the road.
Rent a Boat with Bonnie Lass Charters
Bonnie Lass Charters offers an old Scottish fishing boat you can privately hire from Port de Sóller, complete with a skipper. This isn't a boat you book for a couple of hundred euros. A half-day starts around 1,000 euros, so it's for those looking for something special rather than a standard excursion.
I would choose Bonnie Lass if you want to head out on the water with your own group and are seeking something unique instead of a standard tour. You decide where to sail, a BBQ can be arranged onboard, and you have the boat entirely to yourself. View Bonnie Lass Charters →
Swim and Snorkel at Es Trenc or Cala Mondragó
Two very different options, depending on what you're seeking.
Es Trenc is one of Mallorca's most beautiful and longest beaches, with clear water and a gentle seabed. Perfect for a beach day. It gets busy in the high season.
In Cala Mondragó National Park, you'll find several coves with white beaches, clear waters, and stunning views. It's a great spot for swimming and snorkeling. It can also get busy here.
Looking to stay nearby? Can Yuca is one of the places I would recommend.
Catamaran Cruise with Tapas and Swimming
A catamaran cruise is different from Bonnie Lass's boat. You book a spot on a larger boat, there's a crew, and they provide tapas, drinks, and swim stops along the coast. More accessible in price, less private, but considerably easier to organize. View catamaran cruises in Mallorca →
Driving in Mallorca: To Cap de Formentor
Visit Cap de Formentor
Cap de Formentor is a picturesque peninsula in the north of Mallorca, about a 45-minute drive from Alcúdia. The road there is a significant part of the experience: narrow, winding, with views of the sea on both sides. There's a lighthouse at the top, paths to elevated viewpoints, and a sea cave among the rocks.
What makes Cap de Formentor special for me is the combination of landscape and the atmosphere of the island's northernmost point.
Drive yourself or take a tour? With a rental car, you can decide where to stop and how long to stay, which suits this route well. Compare car rental prices here. A day tour is an alternative if you don't have a car or prefer not to drive yourself. View this day tour to Cap de Formentor →
Hiking in Mallorca
Hike from Cúber to Biniaraix
This was one of the most beautiful active days for me in Mallorca. The route begins at the Cúber reservoir in the heart of the Tramuntana and ends in the village of Biniaraix, near Sóller. The route is about 12 kilometers long, with an 800-meter descent. Reversing the route is uphill.
What makes the hike special is the variation: you start in an open, rocky mountain landscape and slowly descend via ancient farmer paths and terraces into a green valley. Biniaraix itself is one of the prettiest small villages in the Tramuntana.
The hike is manageable for those who walk regularly and aren't afraid of elevation changes. Wear good shoes and bring plenty of water.
After the hike, you end up near Sóller. Ca'n Boqueta is my choice for a delightful lunch.
How I'd Combine Activities in Mallorca
Planning activities geographically saves a lot of driving and gives each day a logical flow. The bike tour and the Miró Museum match a stay in Palma. Ecovinyassa and the hike to Biniaraix are logical if you're in the Sóller area already. Cap de Formentor is a day trip from the northern part of the island. And beach days or time on the water are best on the east coast or from Soller.
For more on the best places to stay and hotels in each part of the island, see my guide where to stay in Mallorca.
What I especially loved about Mallorca is that you don't have to do everything to experience many different sides of the island. I'd suggest picking a few activities you really feel like doing and not trying to tick off the entire list in one holiday. That way, you have a great excuse to come back again.
