The Perfect 5 Day Itinerary for Mallorca, Spain
Mallorca’s iconic blue waters crashing against a rocky cliff at Cala S’Almunia
If you’re thinking about visiting Mallorca, the time to start planning your trip is now. With no shortage of blue-green waters, rocky cliffs, hidden beaches, and incredible food (hint: PAELLA), this little Spanish island really packs a punch.
We’ve put together the perfect itinerary for five days in Mallorca, as well as essential information that will help guide you on where to stay, how to get around, and the ideal time of year to visit for what you want to do there.
At the end, we’ve included a Google Maps link of all the places we’ve mentioned in Mallorca on this itinerary!
HOW TO GET THERE
The beautiful coastline at Sa Calobra, Mallorca
HOW TO GET AROUND
(HINT: You’re going to need a car for this one)
A notoriously tricky aspect of visiting this sunny little Spanish island is figuring out how to get around. There are a million little beaches, coves, crevices, and spots to explore from one island to the other, so you'll definitely be most comfortable renting a car.
Make sure you make your car reservations WELL in advance, as cars actually sell out since it's an island and there are only a limited number of car rental stands. The easiest thing to do is to plan to rent your car right from a company at the airport, and you'll be set for your whole stay.
Although parking is tricky, there are paid parking lots around most of the island's beaches. Be prepared to circle around the lots a bit as they get packed. And BRING CASH - some lots won't take a credit card!
Crystal clear waters at Mallorca’s Calo des Moro
WHERE TO STAY
This one’s going to depend on you — if you’re the adventurous type who’s looking for a more reclusive getaway and you’re not interested in staying in a main area, you can look into staying in Deia, Valldemossa, or Pollenca.
If you want to be able to walk around main areas with plenty of shops, food, and things to do, Palma (the capital city of Mallorca) is the winner here. It’s filled with gorgeous architecture and plenty to do, and it’s an excellent home base for all your travels in Mallorca. Palma is on the southern end of the island and is driveable to most of the popular beaches and other coastline villages throughout the island. There’s also a ton of excellent hotel options, some beachside and some more into town — we highly recommend Palma as the place to stay for families!
If you’re staying longer than 5 days, consider staying in two different accommodations: one in the south of the island (like in Palma) and one in the north (Deia, Valldemossa, Soller, Pollenca, Alcudia, etc.). You’ll be able to split up your stay into the northern and southern parts of the island and shorten your daily drives from your hotel/accomodation to the different towns and beaches.
Looking out from Palma’s famous Catedral Basilica de Santa Maria de Mallorca
WHEN TO VISIT
Honestly, we cannot stand the scorching hot and soaring temperatures in the summer, nor the insane crowds. We highly recommend a trip in May or early June, as well as September. Shoulder seasons for the win — the sea will still be warm enough to swim in, but temperatures during those months should range from the 70s to the low 90s.
THE PERFECT ITINERARY
DAY 1: CALO DES MORO, CALA S’ALMUNIA, CALA LLOMBARDS
Exploring Mallorca’s Iconically Rugged Beaches
Overlooking Cala S’Almunia from its iconic craggy coastline
THE MORNING: ALL ABOUT SOME RUGGED BEACH HOPPING AT CALA S’ALMUNIA AND CALO DES MORO
Probably the most iconic beaches in Mallorca, Cala S’Almunia and Calo Des Moro are neighboring beaches with the brightest and bluest clear waters, boasting stunning hidden coves and stunning views. They are well worth an early morning visit, as they can get quite packed — we got there around 8AM and had quiet beaches to ourselves, but by the time we headed out at 1PM, both beaches were absolutely packed.
Rewarding views after climbing up some of the rocky cliffs at Cala S‘Almunia
To get to both beaches, you’ll be parking in dirt lots (they are free!) and walking up a few streets (about a 15-20 minute walk). The parking lot is located HERE.
A view of part of the walk from the parking lot to the beaches of Calo des Moro and Cala S’Almunia
There will be signage pointing you to the beaches, and you can choose which one you’d like to go to first. We’d recommend going to Cala S’Almunia first — the sunrise over the rocky crevices is stunning. To get between the beaches, you’ll walk about 8 minutes down the main road — they’re very close to each other!
Signage on the pathways to Calo des Moro
There’s a bit of hiking involved here to get down to the beaches, steep stone staircases, and some areas where you’ll be scrambling down rocks. You’ll either want hiking backpacks for the smaller kiddos, or you may want to skip hiking to these beaches if you’re not feeling particularly adventurous — they are difficult to get to and we can’t imagine trying to scramble down the rocks with kids, let alone keeping them contained in the trickier steep beach areas.
If you have older kids, we’d steer clear as well; the beaches are not “beaches” in the sense that there are tons of rocky cliffs that a child (or adult, honestly) could easily wander off of.
Calo des Moro has limited sandy space that gets packed, and Cala S’Almunia has no sand at all, only steep rock cliffs leading down to the ocean.
Calo des Moro’s famous white-sand beach from above
For those of you heading over without smaller children, bring towels and feel free to sprawl out and soak in the sun, watching little speedboats with tours pass by. The glittering blues of the ocean on those craggy rocks make a bucket-list experience.
We personally would not have taken our kids out to these beaches, but for the more adventurous of you out there, we’re impressed. If you still want to see and experience these beaches with your kids, we recommend a boat tour so you can see the stunning cliffs and green-blue waters from the sea. Here’s our tour recommendation, and we highly recommend booking in advance:
THE AFTERNOON: A SANDY BEACH AND BLUE WATERS AT CALA LLOMBARDS
A view of Cala Llombards inset white sandy beach at midday
A short drive down the road from Calo des Moro and Cala S‘Almunia is a beach you can’t miss — Cala Llombards! Cala Llombards offers a more relaxing experience than the rocky and rugged Calo des Moro and Cala S’Almunia, and you’ll have a much easier time bringing small children to this beach. While it’s smaller, the white sand beaches are tucked into a cove surrounded by cliffs on both sides, so the views are stunning but the waters are shallow and gentle!
DINNER
If you’re looking for a good dinner nearby, less than a 15-minute drive away you’ll find a gem of a restaurant in Restaurante Voramar Cala Santanyí. You will not be disappointed in trying their black squid ink paella — and you’ll enjoy their stunning terrace views!
DAY 2: PALMA
Exploring Mallorca’s Capital City + The Palma Cathedral
A view of the sea from Palma’s cathedral
MORNING: PALMA DE MALLORCA CATHEDRAL
Palma is an absolute gem — full of incredible food, sprawling streets of shops, cafes, and music, and perched atop it all is the stunning Palma de Mallorca Cathedral, Catedral-Basílica de Santa María de Mallorca. Although Barcelona’s La Sagrada Familia is Spain’s crown jewel of cathedrals, we were absolutely blown away by the Palma Cathedral’s grand size, gorgeous archways, and architecture.
Palma’s famed Catedral-Basílica de Santa María de Mallorca
It’s a must-visit, and we highly recommend buying a ticket that allows you to head up to the rooftop. We found that very few people went all the way up, and from the rooftop we were able to appreciate the gorgeous archways up close, as well as see unbelievable views across the capital city.
Views of the capital of Palma de Mallorca and the sea from the rooftop at Palma de Mallorca’s Cathedral
You won’t forget this one — buy tickets in advance and go early to avoid the crowds! We’ve linked advance tickets that will allow you to skip the lines at Palma’s Cathedral here:
AFTERNOON: FOOD, SHOPPING, AND EXPLORING A BUSTLING CAPITAL CITY
Walking through Palma’s streets is a treat, and you’ll have an endless supply of neighborhoods to visit and food to try. The main streets for window shopping and food are Passeo del Borne and Avenida Jaime III.
LUNCH, COFFEE, AND ICE CREAM SPOTS IN PALMA
RESTAURANTE MANGOBICHE: Empanadas and baked goods are a must to try here!
A GOGÓ PIZZABAR: A hidden gem pizza restaurant with insanely fresh pizza and fresh, flavorful toppings!
LLUÍS PÉREZ PASTISSER: The Mallorcans definitely could rival the French on their pastries and this little pastry shop is proof — the almond croissants and mil hojas are excellent, and they’ve got coffee to keep you going despite the jetlag.
An ice cream break in Palma’s bustling downtown. We consumed record amounts of gelato on this trip.
OUR FAVORITE DINNER SPOTS IN PALMA:
CA’N TONI: Mallorcan classics done RIGHT in this local spot — you will love the crispy sweet sangria and the made-to-order paella, as well as their incredibly fresh seafood!
BAR ESPANYA: The tapas at this place are out of control — highlights are the sobrasada sausage and burrata. All I want in Spain are tapas and this place is the epitome of tapa goodness — make sure you make a reservation in advance because it’s extremely popular!
TOQUE DE QUEDA: Incredible tapas, outrageously good charcuterie boards, beautiful outdoor seating — the ideal evening on a Spanish island.
THE MERCHANTS STEAKHOUSE: Both the steaks and the vibes are on point here! We loved dining in their outdoor garden and especially loved their Dutchess cocktail.
DAY 3: SOLLER, PORT DE SOLLER, SA CALOBRA
Heading Northwest to Villages and Local Beaches
Riding the famous round-trip tram ride from Soller to Port de Soller. It was vintage San Francisco vibes, but better and Spanish.
MORNING: A WILD RIDE UP THE FAMOUS SA CALOBRA ROAD TO THE PICTURESQUE SA CALOBRA BEACH
Sa Calobra Road is one of the most famous in the world — its long, winding pathways have been the setting for car commercials for good reason. While the drive isn’t for the faint of heart, its jaw-dropping views will have you stopping off at all the scenic overlooks to stare in awe at Mallorca’s beautiful landscape. For us, it was a drive to REMEMBER with views we’ve never seen before all leading down to a gorgeous little rocky beach in what felt like the middle of the wild.
The scenic overlook at Mirador de Sa Calobra. This truly took our breath away.
If you’re not feeling the road trip and the winding road to Sa Calobra, you can still experience Sa Calobra beach from the water — while we were there we saw many speedboat tours pulling into the little cove, and they enjoyed a magnificent view of the beach surrounded by the rocky cliffs. We’d recommend this speedboat tour if that’s what you prefer — it leaves from Soller so it’ll make the rest of your day easy as you’ll head right back to Soller to explore for the rest of the afternoon:
If you are electing to drive it — once you get to Sa Calobra beach, park in the paid lot — CASH ONLY!!! — and head down a steep hill to the beach. If you’re bringing kids, forget the stroller and just carry them because the beach is rather rocky and you’ll need to head down some stairs to get to it anyway. Bring a bunch of towels AND water shoes to cushion your seating and your feet — the rocks are sharp! We ended up enjoying the adjacent pier since it was smooth and had beautiful views over the beach. There is also a small restaurant and a little cafe overlooking the beach, which may be a nice way to enjoy the views without the sharp rocks if you’re not feeling it.
Walking along the pier overlooking Sa Calobra beach in Mallorca. Honestly liked hanging out on the pier more than the actual beach
Views from every angle at Sa Calobra beach
Picnic on the rocky beach vibes at Sa Calobra. The rocks hurt for real bring water shoes!!
AFTERNOON: EXPLORING SOLLER AND PORT DE SOLLER AND TAKING THE FAMOUS TRAM
After a morning at Sa Calobra, your best bet is to grab some snacks from the convenience store at Sa Calobra, or a quick lunch from the restaurant (though we will say, it’s nothing to write home about) for the ride back and headed on our one-hour drive south to Soller. I definitely advise getting to Soller by 1pm at the latest — you’ll want to take the tram to Port de Soller and their little promenade tends to shut down by dusk.
Once you get to Soller, you’ll be able to park in the municipal car parks — there are a few, and from them you can walk into town. Don’t forget to pay the meters before you head out. We parked at P14 HERE.
Pulling into Port de Soller on the tram from Soller
So, once you get to Soller, head to the tram and grab a round-trip ticket to head right to Port de Soller for a few hours before dusk! Port de Soller, the beach town, offers a beach promenade vibe and starts to quiet down around dusk. You’ll want time to explore it early and hang out at the beach if you’d like. In the early evening, you can take the tram back to Soller and wander the beautiful streets of this little Spanish town.
You can find the tram schedules for the round trip between Soller and Port de Soller here.
The tram lines also tend to get long, so make sure to grab your tickets and get on line well before your scheduled leaving time. You can buy tickets at the ticket office in Soller.
Boat-watching at its finest in Port de Soller
Port de Soller isn’t huge and it’s very easily walkable — the promenade offers a backdrop to a beautiful, flat, sandy white beach with tons of boats in the marina to watch. You’ll find a wealth of restaurants, ice cream shops, cafes, and beachwear shops right on the beach promenade and it offers the perfect little afternoon to just stretch out and relax.
Nothing better than ice cream on the beach in Port de Soller. The Spanish sun was no joke and my ice cream was melting as I worked overtime to get this rather mid shot so please appreciate the efforts.
Once you’re ready to wrap up and head back to Soller, you can walk right back onto the tram and enjoy the 15-minute ride back into the town of Soller. Soller is a very walkable town and the tram stop is right in the town center.
In Soller, you’ll find a wealth of shops, winding streets to window-shop on, and restaurants all walking distance from the tram. Make sure to make a stop at the beautiful Iglésia de Sant Bartomeu de Sóller, the iconic church next to the tram stop.
The tram pulling away from the facade of Saint Bartholomew Church in Soller. It’s the right edge of the church lol I didn’t get the iconic video with the church but it’s like riiiiiight there
The pedestrian square surrounding Saint Bartholomew Church in Soller. Now you see the full church’s facade - beautiful!
Soller seems to have quite the reputation for very clean, very fresh food and many spots seemed to offer delicious and healthy options. If you’re looking for an light snack/early dinner, we highly recommend RE Organic Restaurant (yes, weird name but don’t judge it based on that lol), where we enjoyed iced coffee, smoothies, and snacks in their stunning outdoor garden that felt like an oasis.
The hidden oasis at RE Organic Restaurant’s lush garden seating. The name is still killing me ugh
Andddd the perfect end to your day — gelato at Ca’n Pau — which is not to be missed!
Creamy gelato in the heart of Soller at Ca’n Pau. More gelato. Always.
DAY 4: SANTA PONSA, PLATJA ES TRENC
Boat Rides, White Sand Beaches, and Cafes on the South Coast
This one is by far the most family-friendly day and beaches we’ve got — both Santa Ponsa and Platja Es Trenc are more traditional sandy beaches with some beach amenities, and we loved both. What does make them special are the gorgeously blue waters and tons of boat- and yacht-watching to fill your sunny Spanish afternoon.
Spoiler alert: you’re going to want to rent a boat in Santa Ponsa
MORNING: CLASSIC BEACH TIME AT PLATJA ES TRENC
This flat, sandy beach is by far the most traditional in Mallorca, and it’s huge. The beachfront sprawls across a huge portion of the southern coastline and boasts insanely calm waters. There are sandwich shops and some basic amenities at the beach, which is nice — but beware, it gets packed fast. We spent a perfect morning swimming, taking in the boats, and grabbing snacks from the beach bar, Beachbar (well-named). Beachbar is not going to change your life, but it works for what it is — if you have high standards for your beach snacks, we recommend picking them up from elsewhere and bringing them with you in the morning.
Parking at Platja es Trenc is easy — it’s paid with CASH to an attendant, and there is a huge lot where you can find a spot and walk to the beach — we’ve linked the parking lot location HERE.
This photo accurately demonstrates what I mean by “traditional beach vibes” at Platja es Trenc
AFTERNOON: BOATING AND SEASIDE DINING IN SANTA PONSA
Now, the star of your day is going to be renting a boat at Santa Ponsa — the boats are small and don’t go fast, so you don’t need a license to drive your own. It’s baby/child-friendly as long as you have a person who is able to watch the kids on the boat while the other person drives, since you are the ones driving it! Of course, use your judgment regarding your kids’ ages, independence, and ability to keep them safe on the boat while someone in your party is actually operating the boat.
However, driving the boat is easy and they’ll give you instructions on how to do it before your ride — you’ll enjoy cruising along the coastline and taking a dip if you’d like, and it was a glorious afternoon and one of our favorites in Mallorca!
OUR RECOMMENDED SANTA PONSA BOAT RENTALS ARE BELOW:
I shed a tear when the waiter presented us with this seafood paella at Las Olas in Santa Ponsa
DAY 5: VALLDEMOSSA, DEIA
Hillside Exploration in the Northwest
Views from Valldemossa, Mallorca — truly spectacular and full of charm at every turn!
Oh, the charm of Deia and Valldemossa and their rolling hills. We fell in love from the moment we parked — this was classic Spanish countryside charm and everything about it felt so rustic, vintage, and authentic.
THE MORNING: VALLDEMOSSA
This is the town to head over to for cafés, nice long walks with beautiful views, and really beautiful countryside views.
Getting There And Parking: It’s about a 30-minute drive from Palma, so plan to be up early and head over to get some good parking. The best thing to do with a car is to park in one of the paid lots on the outskirts of town and just walk into town — HERE is the Google Maps link to one of the main lots that will be able to accommodate you, but it fills up early, so plan to be there early! There are also alternative and overflow lots across the street.
A stroll through Valldemossa’s streets
MORNING BAKERIES AND COFFEE FIXES IN VALLDEMOSSA
FORN I PASTISSERIA CA’N MOLINAS: This is the perfect spot to order your pastries at the counter and then just grab a table and enjoy some traditional Spanish pastries to start off your day — we highly recommend the Coca de Patata pastry and chocolate caliente (they have the best hot chocolate!)
WHAT TO SEE IN VALLDEMOSSA
CARTHUSIAN MONASTERY: This beautiful monastery includes a museum and was the home to the famous composer Chopin — the interior and grounds are incredibly beautiful and so inspiring, well worth the tour! You’ll need to grab an entrance ticket to the monastery and we recommend doing it ahead of time — you can purchase your tickets HERE:
VIA BLANQUERNA: the main street for strolling, shopping, and browsing
ESGLESIA DE SANT BARTOMEU: A stunning church perched on Valldemossa’s hillside with a beautifully ornate interior, on beautiful grounds. Well worth the stroll over.
Sun-drenched charm
CARRER UETAM: a smaller, quainter street for strolling, but full of charm.
Every turn was beautiful in Valldemossa
WHERE TO GRAB LUNCH IN VALLDEMOSSA
QuitaPenas Valldemossa: All i ever want in Spain is tapas, and this place DELIVERS. Don’t let the small menu fool you, they serve classic, incredible tapas that are full of flavor in a casual, rustic-y feeling environment. Not to mention the beautiful views and upstairs terrace! 10/10!
Es Taller Valldemossa: This place takes farm-to-table dining seriously. With a seriously fresh and light but very tasty menu full of locally-grown veggies and incredibly flavorful tapas, you’ll have one of the most refreshing and enjoyable lunches at this quaint little spot. The angus with fig demi-glaze was one of our favorite dishes, and dessert cannot e skipped here — do not miss their pear and ginger tart!
Farm-to-table dining at Es Taller in Valldemossa
THE AFTERNOON: DEÍA
Deia feels like you’ve combined countryside charm with a gorgeously rugged beachy coast, and it’s perfect. It definitely has more of an upscale feel than Valldemossa, so replace a little bit of that rustic charm with some glitz.
Getting to Deía and Parking: Deía is a quick 15-20 minute drive from Valldemossa, so it’s the perfect afternoon stop on your western Mallorca countryside tour. You can park in the lot HERE, but keep in mind that Deía is notoriously tricky to park at. If you plan to visit the beach at Cala Deía, the parking lots in the village are about a 1.75 mile walk down to the beach. There is also beach parking at Cala Deía you can go to, but it is very limited.
Where to Eat in Deía
First thing’s first: you’ll want to reserve dinner in advance. Deía is home to some very popular and very famous dinner views, and if you don’t want to miss out, make a reservation in advance! These are some of the top spots and favorites:
EL OLIVO AT THE BELMOND: fancy, fancy but so beautiful and so good. This is going to be the trickiest spot to get into, but if you can manage getting a table you’ll be rewarded with some seriously beautiful views, immaculate vibes and some gooooood Mediterranean food.
CAFÉ MIRRO: If you want to enjoy the views but can’t get a reservation at El Olivo, grab some refreshing drinks and more casual food and enjoy the very famous views at this beautiful spot.
CA’S PATRO MARCH: No doubt you’ve seen their insane tables on the water over the beach all over Instagram, but this spot is worth it if you can get in. Fresh seafood and an unforgettable experience over the water make this one of the unfortunately, well-overhyped Instagram spots.
SA FONDA: This is the casual option but it’s a GOOD one. Food, drinks, views. Coffees, cocktails, mocktails, really fun vibes and sometimes live music. This spot’s a favorite for us and is definitely a good one for larger groups and people who want to enjoy a great restaurant without all the drama of difficult-to-get reservations and social media hype!
What to Do in Deía
CALA DEÍA: Even if you don’t feel like taking a late-afternoon dip, just seeing the beautiful waters at Deía’s very famous little beach is worth it. This one’s a rocky one and there are very few accommodations, so be prepared.
CAMI DELS PINTORS HIKE: A beautiful hike set above Cala Deía that isn’t too challenging but is VERY rewarding — bring sneakers and expect very beautiful views of the bluest beach waters. It’s another way to experience Cala Deía without the crowds, from above.
WALK CARRER RAMON LLULL: The views you’ll get strolling this iconic street will take your breath away at every turn — olive groves, florals, and hillside beauty. We recommend grabbing a coffee and a pastry and just taking it in for a lowkey late afternoon in Deía.
