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Mallorca – what to see and experience? Editor’s picks for top activities and cheap flights

Many people primarily associate Mallorca with its white sandy beaches and turquoise sea. It is a favourite destination of the Spanish royal family, a fact of which the Mallorcans take great pride. Recently, it was voted the second most popular island in Europe by the travel website TripAdvisor. However, Mallorca offers much more than a few holiday resorts. In addition, we regularly offer super cheap flights and accommodation to this destination, not only during the summer season but throughout the entire year.

From where? With whom? When? Tips on flights to Mallorca

  • From where? Some of the biggest international airports such as London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Amsterdam Schiphol, Frankfurt Airport, Barcelona–El Prat Airport, and Istanbul Airport offer direct flights.
  • With whom? Low-cost carriers Ryanair and Wizz Air fly to Mallorca. Some of the popular airlines that operate flights to Mallorca include also Ryanair, EasyJet, Vueling, Iberia, Air Europa, and British Airways.
  1. London Heathrow (LHR) to Palma de Mallorca (PMI) – Direct flights are available from airlines such as British Airways and EasyJet.
  2. Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Palma de Mallorca (PMI) – Direct flights are available from airlines such as Air France and EasyJet.
  3. Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) to Palma de Mallorca (PMI) – Direct flights are available from airlines such as KLM and Transavia.
  4. Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to Palma de Mallorca (PMI) – Direct flights are available from airlines such as Lufthansa and Condor.
  5. Barcelona–El Prat Airport (BCN) to Palma de Mallorca (PMI) – Direct flights are available from airlines such as Vueling and Ryanair.
  6. Istanbul Airport (IST) to Palma de Mallorca (PMI) – Direct flights are available from airlines such as Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines.

  • When? You don’t just have to go to Mallorca in the summer, during the main tourist season, but also in the spring or autumn. In fact, it has something to offer all year round.
  • What’s included? The flight there and back, all taxes, hand luggage. Most airlines only offer hand luggage on the cheapest fares. If you’re travelling during the summer months, you probably won’t need more.

Cheap flights to Mallorca

Accommodation in Mallorca

However, as in any big city, you can stay in Mallorca at great prices. Check prices and book a hotel with Pelican. Find accommodation tips on this handy map:

What do I need to enter Mallorca?

Nothing except an ID card or passport. Spain (including Mallorca) has abolished the obligation to show a COVID passport when entering the country as of 2 June 2022. It is thus no longer compulsory to provide proof of vaccination, negative test or proof of recovery from coronavirus.

Mallorca: what to see? Here are 5 interesting things from the island

  • The island of Mallorca has inspired generations of artists, especially writers and musicians, who have sought their muse here. The Polish piano composer Frederik Chopin spent the winter of 1838-1839 in Valldemossa, Mallorca, completing his preludes. He was kept company by the writer George Sand, who was so inspired by Mallorca that she wrote a work about it called Winter in Mallorca.
  • Agatha Christie also visited the island in the early 20th century, staying mainly in Palma, the island’s capital, and Port de Pollenca in the north. The first of the stories in her collection Trouble in Pollensa Bay and Other Stories is set in this place.
  • The tennis player Rafael Nadal, a native of Manacor, is also a native of Mallorca. In 2016, he opened a tennis academy here for talented and promising tennis players. Tourists can also try playing tennis there.
  • In Mallorca, wheat flour was apparently used for the first time in the world for a sweet dessert, not just for baking bread! They call it ensaïmada – a sweet pastry in the shape of a spiral, the oldest recipe for which dates back to the 17th century.
  • There are more than 200 different caves in Mallorca, only a small number of them, currently five, are open to the public. The most beautiful, at least in my opinion, are the Cuevas del Drach, the Dragon Caves.

How to get from the airport to the city centre?

Mallorca has only one commercial airport, Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI). It’s not far to the centre, about eight kilometres. You may be interested to know that this is Spain’s third largest airport after those of Madrid and Barcelona. There are friendly taxi drivers happy to take you from the airport to the city, you can rent a car and drive across Mallorca on your own, or simply take a bus like most tourists. Here are some tips.

From Palma de Mallorca Airport by car to the centre of Palma:

From Palma de Mallorca Airport, take a bus to the centre of Palma:

The cheapest alternative is the bus. The ticket costs about 5€ per person and the journey takes about 30 minutes. Buses leave about every 15 minutes, dropping you off right in the centre of town at Plaça d’Espanya. There you will also find all the other main bus and train terminals.

  • EMT buses (Empresa Municipal de Transports Urbans de Palma de Mallorca) BUY TICKET

From Palma de Mallorca Airport take a taxi to the centre of Palma:

The price for a 20-minute taxi ride to the city centre will cost you around 25€.

Transportation in Mallorca

The most comfortable way to discover the island and all its beauties is definitely by car. Of course, public transport is also an option. Buses connect most towns and villages. All buses leave from Plaça d’Espanya station. Taxis can stop on the street or you can call for a service, prices are reasonable.

Mallorca: what to see and experience – editors’ tips

Beaches! Yes, you’re going to Mallorca for the sun and the sea, aren’t you? The best-rated beach is the one with white sand and azure blue water – Playa de Muro. There are 262 in total on the island, so you’ll be spoilt for choice. Be surprised when you see these names on a sign on your way around the island – Calla Agulla, Portals Vells, Formentor or Son Serra de Marina and Cala Estellencs. These are beautiful places and bays that are well worth a visit.

All senses wide open

One of the most impressive sites on the island is Le Seu Cathedral, with some of the largest stained glass windows in the world. It is located in the island’s capital, Palma. The Gothic cathedral stands on the site of a former Arab mosque. Palma is home to many extraordinary architectural gems, such as Can Casasayas and the Menorquina Guesthouse.

The two buildings were designed simultaneously in 1908 and 1909, separated only by a narrow street. The façade and interior of the buildings are strongly influenced by modernist and art nouveau styles. If you read Gaudí’s handwriting in them, then you are reading correctly. This Catalan architect has his fingers in the parabolic arches of the windows and doors, as well as in the undulating style of both buildings.

The Plaza del Toros – the bullring in the northern part of Palma on Gasper Bennassar Street, named after the famous architect responsible for the design of this arena, is another architectural gem of the island. In not so distant times, exactly 11 620 people sat in the arena to watch the bullfights. Today it is used for concerts, festivals and sporting events. Thank goodness!

Choose the greenery

The back of the island is the Serra de Tramuntana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site almost 90 km long. This part of the landscape is dominated by ancient dry stone terraces, walls and natural sculptures, humbled by centuries-old olive trees, as well as towns and villages that are worth visiting for their cultural and historical monuments. The Dry Stone Route (GR221), stretching from Andratx to Pollença, offers tourists an authentic experience of a slightly different Mallorca. Old cobbled paths that once linked mountain communities will take you through the mountains.

There are many spectacular cave systems on the island, the most famous being the aforementioned Cuevas del Drach in Porto Cristo. These caves were first explored at the end of the 19th century and contain one of the largest underground lakes in the world. The systems cover an area of up to 1,200 metres. Various cave formations, the turquoise waters of the Diana Baths and a boat trip await you there.

A bit further away from the centre

One of the most popular places, especially for its antiquity, is the town of Alcudia on the north coast of the island. Behind the medieval walls are dozens of narrow sidewalks filled with cafes and restaurants overlooking 13th-century houses. The town has one of Spain’s most famous urban markets, open Tuesday to Sunday, where you’ll find everything from apples to shoes. The walled city also has a beautiful beach where you can relax after a stroll through the old town.

We also recommend you visit Banyalbufar, one of the most authentic towns in the southwestern part of the island, founded in the 10th century by Arabs. Olives and vines are still grown here in abundance along the rows of stone walls beneath the hills. Walking through the quiet, narrow streets of Banyalbufar village is said to be like stepping back in time. If you get hungry, the best local restaurant is Cuina de Banyalbufar – a family-run business and specialist in Mediterranean cuisine. There are a number of cycling routes from the village, one of the most popular ones leading to Port des Canonge.

For fun

Mallorca is home to one of the most famous theme parks in Europe – Jungle Park. It prides itself on being the largest in the Balearic Islands. On nine hectares of pine forest in Santa Ponsa, just 500 metres from the beach, obstacles await you, especially climbing trees at different heights over bridges, ropes or wires.

If, on the other hand, you’re after the fun of bars and dancing in the evenings, then head to Magaluf, the most famous clubbing town in Mallorca. Rumour has it that a lot of Scandinavian and British tourists go there.

What to taste in Mallorca

The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of food and Mallorca are ensaimadas, crispy sweet pastries or the sobrasada, a typical Mallorcan sausage, unavailable to vegetarians and vegans. In Mallorca, other sausages will jump out at you from shop windows everywhere, they call them butifarras, or skinny little snails called caracas. Perhaps the simplest, yet delicious and quick dish to fill you up is homemade bread with tomato sauce or olive oil.

Similarly simple is, especially popular in summer, Trampó. It consists of tomatoes, green peppers and onions with olive oil and salt. Trampó is healthy, tasty and refreshing. It is also put on pizza!

Frito Mallorquin is also a traditional dish in Mallorca. This high-temperature cooked lamb with vegetables can be found in any local restaurant or buffet. What are the ingredients? Most often onions, potatoes, fennel, artichokes, red peppers, garlic, peas and olive oil. There are many options

Weather in Mallorca

The climate of Mallorca, the largest of the Balearic Islands, is Mediterranean, with mild winters and hot, sunny summers that are a little humid but tempered by sea breezes.

Useful mobile apps in Mallorca

Mallorca RunAway 

This is said to be the most complete guide to travel, entertainment and services in Mallorca. It will help you discover the island with more than 800 places of interest highlighted. You don’t even need to be online and you don’t pay any additional fees to use it!

You can create your own travel itineraries, save places as favourites or share them on your social networks. You’ve probably already figured out that Google Maps is all you need to do all of this. However, users of the app love the filters that make it easier to search and finally choose a place based on different criteria, such as popularity, style, price or distance.

Photo source: Shutterstock, Dreamstime, Unsplash.com
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