Mallorca

Mallorca

Guide Using Palma as your base and exploring different areas of the island by car along its highways is the most pleasant and convenient way to travel.

Western Route: Palma — PM-1 Highway — Andratx — C-710 Highway — Banyalbufar — PM-10 Highway — PM-12 Esporles — PM-12 Highway — Palma.

Northwestern Route: Palma — PM-111 Highway — Valldemossa — Deià — C-710 Highway — Sóller — C-711 Highway — Palma.

Northern Route: Palma — PM-27 Highway — Inca — C-713 Highway — Algaida — Return the same way — Palma.

Central and Eastern Route: Palma — C-715 Highway — Algaida — PM-313 Highway — Sineu — C-715 Highway — Manacor — C-715 Highway — Artà — C-715 Highway — Cala Rajada — C-715 Highway — Palma. Introduction Mallorca is the largest island in the Balearic Islands and home to its capital, Palma. The island features extensive mountain ranges, with Puig Major at 1,445 meters offering pristine mountain scenery. Scenic towns are scattered across the steep terrain, while its beaches enjoy sunshine year-round, making it a famous Mediterranean summer resort for nearly a century.

The island’s architecture inherits the grandeur of ancient Roman style. Well-preserved Roman walls, ancient cities, and amphitheaters indicate that the island already had thriving urban centers during Roman times.

Santiago Rusiñol, a renowned Spanish artist of the 19th century, praised Mallorca as the “Island of Calm.” In the 1950s, tourism on the island began to flourish, with an explosive increase in visitors during the 1960s, leading to the construction of various tourist facilities. However, the inland areas still retain a wealth of beautiful traditional buildings, rural landscapes, and tranquil atmospheres.

Palma: The capital of the Balearic Islands and a major transportation hub on Mallorca.

Andratx: A quiet and picturesque town where many emigrants once departed for the Americas. Highlights include the alleys of the Pantaleu district and its Gothic church.

Estellencs: A cliffside town featuring steep streets and charming little bays.

Banyalbufar: Terraced fields on the mountainside present a peaceful agrarian scene. From the Mirador des Amaney viewpoint, you can enjoy panoramic views of Mallorca’s northwest coast.

Esporles: The nearby Esporles Estate was originally a monastery, later became a noble residence, and is now a folklore museum showcasing items related to rural life on Mallorca.

Valldemossa: A 19th-century haven for artists who drew inspiration from the town’s scenery and lifestyle, including George Sand, Chopin, Rubén Darío, Unamuno, and Azorín. Notable sights include a monastery, the parish church, and numerous charming farmhouses.

Sóller: A town nestled in a valley, close to the island’s highest peak, Puig Major. It boasts many 18th–19th-century palaces, and the main façade of the parish church shows clear Gaudí influences. You can also take a historic tram to visit Port de Sóller.

Inca: The bustling market held every Thursday is especially lively, with the second Thursday in November being the most popular, attracting visitors from all over the island. Highlights include the Baroque-style Santa Maria church, the cloisters of San Francisco church, the façade of the Santo Domingo monastery, and the ancient Chapel of Santa Magdalena.

Pollença: A town surrounded by mountains. It features a beautiful parish church and monastery, with lovely cloisters, altars, and organs inside the monastery. Five kilometers away, the beach at Port de Pollença is small but offers complete high-end tourist facilities.

Alcúdia: Home to the ruins of a Roman city, including an amphitheater, city walls, and gates. The parish church has two notable altarpieces in Gothic and Baroque styles, both highly valuable. The Albufera Natural Park near Port d’Alcúdia is one of the island’s main wetlands.

Algaida: Visitors can hike up Mount Randa for stunning views, where the Hermitage of Sant Honorat sits atop the mountain, once home to a medieval theologian and philosopher. The village of Randa and a 15th-century chapel are also worth visiting.

Sineu: An elegant town in central Mallorca, home to the majestic Santa Maria church and many stately mansions.

Manacor: The island’s industrial center, known for producing locally distinctive furniture, imitation pearl jewelry, and olive wood carvings.

Artà: Boasts a wealth of archaeological sites, and the Artà Museum is not to be missed. The Feast of Saint Anthony on January 17th is famous for bonfires, decorated horse parades, and festive celebrations.

Cala Rajada: An ancient fishing village and one of the first areas on Mallorca to open to tourism. The Palau March is the town’s most important attraction. Transportation Air: Palma de Mallorca’s Son Sant Joan International Airport, the capital, has direct flights to major European cities and is one of Europe’s most important tourist airports. The airport is 8 km from the city center, with bus connections available.

Sea: Mediterranean shipping companies operate regular routes between Palma and destinations such as Barcelona, Menorca, Ibiza, and Valencia.

Rail: Mallorca has two railway lines: one is the Inca Railway, which connects most towns on the island; the other is a private railway linking Palma and Port de Sóller.

Road: Mallorca has three toll-free highways, and ordinary roads are also in good condition, making it ideal for renting a car to drive around the island.

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