Mallorca Travel Guide: Where to Stay, Best Beach Clubs, Restaurants and Towns
Mallorca is one of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean and significantly more than its reputation as a summer package holiday destination suggests. The Serra de Tramuntana mountains — a UNESCO World Heritage site running along the northwest coast — produce some of the most dramatic scenery in the Mediterranean. The coves along the south and east coasts are as good as anywhere in Europe for swimming and snorkeling. The restaurant scene, particularly around Deià and Sóller, is genuinely world-class. And the island is large enough that the crowds clustered around Palma and the airport barely register once you're in the mountains.
For where to stay see our full Mallorca hotels guide. For families specifically see our Mallorca With Kids guide and Port de Sóller guide.
Best Towns in Mallorca
Sóller
Sóller sits in a broad valley surrounded by the Tramuntana mountains and orange groves — the most beautiful inland town on the island. The main square, Plaça de Constitució, is anchored by a Modernista church and surrounded by cafes and restaurants that fill up on market days. The vintage wooden tram that connects Sóller to the harbor at Port de Sóller is one of the iconic Mallorca experiences — narrow gauge, century old, unhurried. Worth taking at least once.
The Saturday morning market is one of the best on the island. The town itself is walkable in an hour but rewards a slower pace. Good base for hiking the surrounding mountains.
Port de Sóller
Port de Sóller occupies a perfect horseshoe-shaped bay at the end of the tram line from Sóller — one of the calmest and most sheltered ports on the northwest coast. The promenade is lined with restaurants and the beach, though not the island's most dramatic, has calm swimmable water that makes it one of the best family beach towns in Mallorca. Sunset from the lighthouse on the headland is worth the walk. For the full family breakdown see our Port de Sóller guide.
Deià
The most beautiful village in Mallorca and the one most people picture when they imagine the island at its best. Perched on the mountainside overlooking the Mediterranean, it has attracted writers and artists for over a century — Robert Graves lived here for decades and is buried in the village churchyard. The stone houses climbing the hillside, the terraced olive groves, and the view from the top of the village across the sea are as good as anything in the Mediterranean.
The beach at Cala Deià — a ten-minute walk down from the village — is a small rocky cove with extraordinarily clear water and Ca's Patro March, one of the most famous restaurants on the island, perched above it. Book ahead for both.
Belmond La Residencia — the most famous hotel in Mallorca — is here. Worth knowing about even if you're not staying.
Palma
The capital and the island's most complete city — cathedral, old town, excellent restaurants, good museums, and a harbor that comes alive in the evenings. The La Seu cathedral is one of the great Gothic churches in Europe and worth a proper visit. The old town behind it has good independent shopping and the best concentration of restaurants on the island outside the Tramuntana villages. Palma works well as a base for exploring the south and east coasts; less convenient for the mountains.
Valldemossa
A short drive from Deià, Valldemossa is famous for the Royal Carthusian Monastery where Chopin and George Sand wintered in 1838-39. The stone village climbing the hillside above the monastery is genuinely beautiful. Worth a morning visit combined with lunch before continuing along the mountain road toward Sóller.
Best Beach Clubs in Mallorca
Gran Folies Beach Club — Above the turquoise waters of Cala Llamp near Port Adriano, with multiple terraces, pools, and panoramic sea views. One of the most dramatic settings of any beach club on the island. Reserve a sunbed for the day and plan to stay for lunch — the food matches the setting. Best for a special occasion rather than a casual afternoon.
Purobeach Palma — More of a luxury pool club than a traditional beach club, with a stylish restaurant, DJ programming, and an oceanfront pool overlooking the bay. More social and more designed than Gran Folies. The right choice for sunset cocktails.
Nassau Beach Club — One of the liveliest options on the island with a strong seafood menu and a fun midday atmosphere. More accessible and less formal than the others — good for a full beach day with lunch included.
Best Restaurants in Mallorca
For the full restaurant guide see our Best Restaurants in Mallorca article.
Bens d'Avall — One of the most beautiful restaurants in the Mediterranean, let alone Mallorca. On a cliff between Sóller and Deià with panoramic sea views and a tasting menu that highlights traditional Mallorcan flavors with genuine creativity. Dinner here is a proper event — book well ahead and arrive for sunset. One of the restaurants worth planning a trip around.
Ca's Patro March — The tiny seafood restaurant above Cala Deià with one of the most famous views in Mallorca. Small, simple, fresh seafood with the cove below and the mountains behind. Reservations are essential in summer — book as far ahead as possible. Getting a table is the hard part; everything after that is easy.
Patiki Beach — A relaxed beach restaurant known for creative seasonal dishes and a genuinely laid-back atmosphere. Less of an event than Bens d'Avall, more of a good long lunch. The right choice for a slower day on the northwest coast.
Best Things to Do in Mallorca
Drive the Tramuntana mountain road — The coastal road between Valldemossa, Deià, Sóller, and beyond is one of the most scenic drives in Europe. Narrow, winding, and breathtaking throughout. Do it without a time pressure — the stops along the way are the point. Early morning before the tourist coaches arrive is the right time.
Take the historic Sóller train — The vintage wooden narrow-gauge train between Palma and Sóller has been running since 1912 and is genuinely one of the best ways to arrive in the Tramuntana. The journey through the mountains takes about an hour. Connect to the tram at Sóller for the harbor.
Explore the calas — The small turquoise coves along the south and east coasts are Mallorca's most distinctive natural feature. The most beautiful include Cala Deià on the northwest coast, Cala Llombards and Cala s'Almunia on the south coast, and Cala Tuent in the north. Most require a drive and a walk — the effort is what keeps them from being overrun.
Visit the Bellver Castle — A circular Gothic castle above Palma with sweeping views over the bay. Worth a morning combined with the cathedral before heading inland or to the coast.
Hike in the Tramuntana — The GR221 long-distance trail runs the length of the mountain range. Day sections between villages — Sóller to Deià, Valldemossa to Deià — are manageable without the full multi-day commitment and reward with views and village lunches.
Palma Cathedral (La Seu) — One of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Europe, built over 300 years on a promontory above the harbor. The interior — particularly the rose window and Gaudí's modifications — is genuinely impressive. Worth a proper visit rather than a quick exterior photo.
Getting Around Mallorca
A rental car is essential for the Tramuntana and the southeast coves — public transport between villages and beaches is limited and the island's best experiences are between the main towns. The Palma-Sóller train is the one genuinely good public transport exception. Most visitors fly into Palma airport, which has direct connections from most major European cities.
When to Visit
May, June, and September are the best months — warm enough to swim, the island at its most beautiful, and meaningfully fewer crowds than July and August. The Tramuntana is particularly beautiful in late spring when the wildflowers are out. July and August are peak season — everything needs advance booking and the popular calas fill up by midmorning. October stays warm into the month and the light is exceptional.
FAQs About Mallorca
Is Mallorca worth visiting? Yes — particularly the northwest coast around Sóller, Deià, and Port de Sóller, which is one of the most beautiful stretches of Mediterranean coastline anywhere.
What is the best town in Mallorca? Deià for romance and scenery. Port de Sóller for families and calm swimming. Palma for city life and culture. Sóller for the mountain market town experience.
Is Mallorca good for families? Yes — Port de Sóller has calm swimming and a walkable promenade, the island is easy to navigate by car, and the food culture welcomes children. See our Mallorca With Kids guide for the full picture.
Do you need a car in Mallorca? Yes for most of what makes Mallorca special — the mountain villages, the remote calas, and the restaurant drive to Bens d'Avall. Palma is walkable without one.