A first-time guide to Mallorca

23.12.2024 - 16:43 / lonelyplanet.com

Dec 22, 2024 • 10 min read

Alexis Averbuck is the author of the upcoming edition of Lonely Planet's Mallorca guidebook. Here she shares the latest tips from this Balearic island.

Mallorca is a perennial holiday favorite, bouncing around in people’s imaginations or in travel stories. But with its reputation come the usual clichés – beaches, parties, and sun-soaked getaways. Yet, the reality of this Spanish island, the queen of the Balearics, is refreshingly rich and diverse. It’s a place that invites you to delve deeper, embracing the island’s varied history and radiant culture along with fantastic azure coves, delicious meals using the island’s abundant ingredients and resplendent works of art and architecture in its towns and villages. 

Mallorca’s thrilling range of landscapes – which include the UNESCO-recognized Serra de Tramuntana mountain range – mild climate and many experienced outfitters create an ideal outdoor destination. Walk mountain trails and spend the night in a serene hermitage. Scale limestone cliffs, go canyoning and cliff jumping. Cycle through sprawling vineyards. Spot wildlife in natural parks. Snorkel and dive, or bask in the sun before lunching on the seafront.

Curious what you can expect? Read on to find out more before your first visit to this timeless island.

The summer months – especially July and August – are the island’s busiest, when Mallorca becomes a vibrant playground for visitors from across Europe. Expect warm seas, clear skies, but when the temperatures soar so do the room rates. It’s also the peak fiesta time. High-spirited festivals and parades include music festivals like the Festival Chopin in Valldemossa at the Carthusian Monastery where Chopin stayed.

If you're seeking a more tranquil experience, visit during the shoulder seasons – from Easter to early June or in September and October. These months offer mild weather, fewer crowds, and an ideal climate for hiking, mountain biking, and canyoning. October is usually the wettest month, though, so bring rain gear. Festivals include the Festes de la Verema, which celebrates the grape harvest. For an unforgettable cultural experience, don’t miss the Semana Santa (Easter Week) processions, particularly the moving Davallament (Descent from the Cross) in Pollença.

Palma is fantastic year-round, but in winter, outside of the capital, many restaurants and tourist-oriented hotels close, however you'll have the island's trails, beaches and sights to yourself.

Mallorca is brimming with lovely villages and encircled by gorgeous beaches and calas (coves), all calling for go-slow exploration. Sure, you could bomb in for a long weekend, basing yourself in either Palma or at one of the beaches, depending on your interests. During that