7 exciting things to do in Majorca

Ross Clarke

Ross Clarke

A favourite holiday haunt for royalty and film stars, sun-seeking tourists and hedonistic partygoers, Majorca* has been attracting those who want to truly relax for decades.

Relaxing and exciting Majorca
Relaxing and exciting Majorca © Anna Lurye - Adobe Stock Image

But there's much more to this Balearic island than first meets the eye. Whether you're looking for wine tasting, hiking, architecture or those simply stunning beaches, our pick of things to do in Majorca has you covered.

Getting to Majorca: as a much-loved holiday destination, Majorca is super accessible from airports across the UK. Don't miss current offers from TUI*, which promises great value holidays for all budgets and group sizes from numerous departure points.

Ride the Sóller train

It might be 110 years old, but the Ferrocarril de Sóller is still one of the most wonderful ways to traverse the island.

The historic train starts in central Palma and leaves the city and its conurbations to emerge into the bright Majorcan countryside, winding its way north to the small town of Sóller, where it stops at the original art deco station.

Boarding the train to Sóller, Majorca
Boarding the train to Sóller, Majorca © Mikael F - Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

There are some stops en route but the best thing to do is grab a window seat and simply take in the hour-long nostalgic trundle, once a transport route for citrus fruit from the farms and orchards to the capital.

When you reach Sóller, hop on the equally impressive tram, which will take you down to the Port of Sóller, an up-market seaside cove.

Explore the Serra de Tramuntana mountains

Lace up your hiking boots and tread the well-worn Ruta de Pedra en Sec. This historic 90 km walking route takes you through the mountain range from Port d'Andratx in the south to Pollença in the north.

Best done in stages, the path is characterised (and named after) the dry-stone wall and paths that were used to construct it.

Site of the old Trappist monastery at the start of the Ruta de Pedra
Site of the old Trappist monastery at the start of the Ruta de Pedra © Julen - Adobe Stock Image

Pass through iconic villages such as Deià, home to all kinds of artists over the years, from the author Robert Graves to Mick Jagger. There are plenty of shady spots on the Camino but it is still probably wise to do this out of the mid-summer sun; spring and autumn are the peak times.

Discover the sights & delights of Palma

While everyone knows the airport Palma, few make it to the city itself, choosing to head straight for Majorca's swathes of sandy coast. But Palma itself is packed with experiences.

Start your city sightseeing at the imposing Palma Cathedral (Catedral-Basílica de Santa María de Mallorca to give it its proper name, or La Seu as the locals call it).

14th-century Palma Cathedral, Majorca
14th-century Palma Cathedral, Majorca © Wolfgang Jargstorff - Adobe Stock Image

Originally the site of a mosque under Moorish rule, the 14th-century Gothic-style cathedral is hard not to miss or be impressed by.

Once you've had your ecclesiastical fill, head into the city's streets which range from tiny, cobbled alleyways to sprawling boulevards with high-end shops and stellar dining spots such as Andana by award-winning chef Maca de Castro.

Here on a Tuesday? Head to the Sa Gerreria district and take part in La Ruta Martiana, a tapas route where you can hop from bar to bar and get a pintxo and a drink for around €3.

Head to the beach

There's no denying that a trip to Majorca isn't complete without visiting at least one of its fabulous beaches that total some 50 km.

Try heading up to the north of the island where you'll find the Platja de Alcúdia, the largest beach in the Balearics, that features plenty of fine white sand, clear shallow waters and lots of facilities, making it ideal for families. Stop by the old town of Alcúdia where there's a large twice-weekly market and photo-worthy streets.

Platja de Alcúdia, Majorca
Platja de Alcúdia, Majorca © Vulcanus - Adobe Stock Image

Find yourself down south? Make tracks for Es Trenc, a 2 km stretch of unspoilt sand near Colonia San Jordi. The area was saved from being developed in 2008 and is now protected, but that does mean facilities are scarce and you must remember to take everything with you.

Take a tour of Majorca's vineyards

The island might not be the first place that comes to mind for wine, but there have been winemakers here since Roman times, and the islands are having somewhat of a renaissance thanks to around 100 small producers making some award-winning wines.

The island has two Designation of Origin (DO) badges for wine, Binissalem and Pla i Llevant.

The first is focused on the wineries in the island's centre around the villages of Binissalem and Santa María del Camí; the latter around the eastern region of Manacor and Felanitx.

Most of the vineyards such as Bodegas Angel and Pere Seda allow visits but it's advisable to book ahead. Alternatively, try a tour with Mallorca Wine Tours.

See the works of Joan Miró

Born in Barcelona in 1893, Joan Miró was a painter and sculptor who moved to Majorca in the 1950s and adopted it as his second home, setting up his studios and life there, until he passed away at the age of 90.

The Miró Mallorca Fundació was founded in 1981 to showcase his large body of work to the public, and it is now a dedicated museum and centre for some 6,000 paintings, sculptures and more. Book one of the guided tours to learn all about the artist, his process and his paintings.

Explore the Caves of Drach

The first record of these fascinating caves with a subterranean lake is in a letter from 1338 from the governor of the island to the mayor of Manacor.

But it wasn't until the late 1800s that the caves were fully explored and then a further 40 years until the caves were open to visitors.

Paddling the subterranean lake in the Caves of Drach
Paddling the subterranean lake in the Caves of Drach © Mikko Muinonen - Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

With incredible stalactites, turquoise waters and curious rock formations, the caves are one of the island's most beloved attractions. An hour-long tour takes you 25m below ground level and through 1,200 metres of caves and includes a classical music concert and a boat trip across the subterranean Lake Martel.

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Ross Clarke

Ross Clarke

Ross Clarke is a Welsh travel, food and wine writer, specialising in his homeland, the Canary Islands and mainland Spain. As well as writing regularly for The Times, BBC Travel and National Geographic Traveller, Ross is a lecturer in journalism at Cardiff University and publishes a regular newsletter, "The Welsh Kitchen".

Posted on Friday 29th April 2022 in: Beach Europe Excursions Summer Winter sun

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