Ah, Mallorca, you beautiful little spot in the Mediterranean. Many people probably only associate Mallorca with Bierkönig, Schinkenstraße, Megapark, drunk people, sangria from buckets, and loud music. This is indeed true, but only in parts of El Arenal, Megalluf, and Cala Ratjada. But the island has much more to offer, something we only discovered after our Mallorca trip.
For a long time, we longed for a summer break with palm trees, beaches, and the sea. A few months in advance, we spontaneously booked our plane tickets, organized accommodation, and a rental car. Before we knew it, the plane was taking off for our summer vacation. Today, we’ll tell you about the absolute highlights of our Mallorca trip. Enjoy browsing!
- Our accommodation in Sa Pobla
- Chilling at Playa de Muro
- Sunrise in the Tramuntana Mountains
- The famous road to Sa Calobra
- The Torrent de Pareis gorge
- Off to the Gorg Blau mountain lake
- The small village of Deiá…
- …and the beautiful Deià bay
- Mallorca trip – Charming town of Valldemossa
- Excursion to the Formentor peninsula
- Cala de Murta & the wild donkeys
- The golden bay of Cala d’Or
- Conclusion of the Mallorca trip
Our accommodation in Sa Pobla
We rented a room in a private apartment on Airbnb. The location didn’t really matter to us, since we were traveling with a rental car anyway. So, it didn’t bother us that our room wasn’t directly by the sea. It also suited us quite well that we were staying in Sa Pobla.
This small town in the north of the island truly welcomed us with plenty of Spanish charm. The municipality has only around 12,700 inhabitants, although it seemed to us that this town was much smaller. We really liked the charming old town with its many small streets and alleys.
We had no idea what kind of accommodation we had booked. The main thing was a room to sleep in, we thought. When we entered the apartment, we could hardly believe our eyes. Bright colors, loving details, numerous photographs, books on art and fashion.
Even cameras, miscellaneous furniture, and a balcony overlooking the city’s market square now belonged to us. Amazing! Our host was traveling in Hong Kong, which is why we were alone in the apartment for almost the entire week. We first checked into our room, put our backpacks in the corner, and grabbed our swimwear. Then we headed straight to the sea!
Click here for our Airbnb accommodation. If you don’t have an Airbnb account yet, you can create one using our invitation link. This way, you’ll receive a generous starting credit. Alternatively, we always book our accommodations on Booking.com. Here you’ll find a huge selection of accommodations in Mallorca.
Chilling at Playa de Muro
Not far from Sa Pobla is the Playa de Muro beach (between Alcudia and Can Picafort). The beach was surprisingly crowded, but the weather was also simply fantastic. Not a cloud in the sky, 30 degrees, white sand, and a turquoise sea. No wonder, then, that so many vacationers were already on the island before the peak season. At Playa de Muro, you can rent loungers with umbrellas and safes.
It costs just under €5 to €6 per day. There’s an inflatable “bouncy castle world” on the water (€10 per hour). The promenade is full of bars, restaurants, souvenir shops, kiosks, supermarkets, and other stores. The area is very touristy and certainly quite crowded during peak season. Nevertheless, we had a really nice beach day at Playa de Muro during our Mallorca trip.
Sunrise in the Tramuntana Mountains
What a day! The alarm clock rang in the middle of the night, and around 4:30 a.m. we set off for the mountains. Yes, you won’t believe it! Mallorca even has a mountain range, the Serra de Tramuntana. Here, nature has created a truly unique landscape in the northwest of the island. This mountain range drops steeply northwest toward the coast for a full 88 kilometers. The gentle foothills, on the other hand, slope into the island’s interior.
The mountains are home to beautiful lakes, wild gorges, more than 50 peaks, incredibly charming villages and towns, and stunningly beautiful bays. In 2011, the Serra de Tramuntana was declared a World Heritage Site. And anyone who has been here will understand why. If you want to experience the sunrise, you should set off early.
There were hardly any cars on the roads, and the sun was still almost two hours away. We drove along the winding road in complete darkness and couldn’t quite see where we were. Only when it slowly got lighter were we able to enjoy the indescribable beauty of the mountains with our own eyes. But be careful: There are wild donkeys and mountain goats on the roads!
The famous road to Sa Calobra
One of our absolute highlights in the mountains is certainly the famous road to the bay and the village of Sa Calobra. The drive along the winding road is not easy and requires patience and driving skills. You overcome an elevation gain of almost 700 meters, but you also enjoy breathtaking views along the way. Fortunately, we only encountered a handful of cars.
The road is quite narrow, so we could hardly imagine that there would be countless tour buses chugging down it. According to online reports, the many buses, cars, and cyclists only arrive around 9 or 10 a.m. Luckily, we had read about this and were already in the bay by 7 a.m.
The Torrent de Pareis Gorge
If you follow the road, you will eventually reach a paid parking lot. It was still out of service at the time we were there, so we were able to park for free in front of the restaurant. We then continued on foot to the Torrent de Pareis gorge. A small tunnel led us directly to our destination. Apart from three young people in sleeping bags, there wasn’t a soul around. The impressive gorge, the roaring sea, and the chirping birds formed a spectacular backdrop.
We sat down right at the front by the water, got out our blankets, and our breakfast. The morning couldn’t have been better. First the sunrise in the mountains, then the winding road, and finally breakfast by the sea in the gorge – amazing! By the way, Platja de sa Calobra and Cala Tuent are also located in this area.
Off to the Gorg Blau mountain lake
One highlight followed the next. On our way through the mountains, we discovered the beautiful Gorg Blau lake. We saw the lake on Google Maps, but we never imagined we would find such a stunning setting. A hike through this wild nature along the lakes (Gorg Blau & Embalse de Cúber) certainly feels like a trip to Scandinavia or Canada.
We couldn’t believe what we saw there. Unbelievable! Climbers also hike from here to Puig Major, the island’s highest mountain. These reservoirs serve as water reservoirs for the island’s capital, Palma. But reservoir or not – the mountain panorama and the colors are simply breathtaking!
The small village of Deiá…
Now we’ll tell you about one of our favorite places on the island. From Sa Calobra, we headed back along the winding road and continued through the beautiful mountain landscape. We then reached the small, beautiful village of Deiá. It is located in the northwest of the island, idyllically surrounded by the forested peaks of the Tramuntana Mountains.
This picturesque landscape almost took our breath away. It was once the ideal retreat for Pablo Picasso, Robert Graves, and even Steven Hawking. Deiá is also known as an oasis for artists. This is easy to understand once you’re there.
Today, around 700 residents live here in the narrow, charming, and winding streets. A short stop is definitely worth it. The tour takes just under 30 minutes and can be concluded with a delicious ice cream or coffee. The old parish church also sits enthroned on top of the hill, offering a magnificent view of Deià. There are a few parking spaces, which are subject to a fee (get a ticket from the machine).
…and the beautiful Deià Bay
From Deià, it’s only a few minutes to the sea. Parking spaces just before the bay are limited and subject to a fee. Here, you have to buy a ticket from the machine (€1-2 is sufficient). A little higher up, you can also park your car on the side of the road for free. This secluded, small cove captured our hearts.
The beach consists almost entirely of pebbles, which is why we had to dig a small towel storage area. But you can also find great spots to sunbathe on the surrounding rocks. The colors of the water are simply indescribable!
The cool water is super refreshing and crystal-clear. The backdrop of majestic surroundings with mountains and stone houses was simply perfect. Like a small, tropical cove in paradise. There are two restaurants on site, serving high-quality food (fish, paella, tapas, etc.) and promising a stunning view. In the larger restaurant, you can even use the restroom for free. There are no loungers, parasols, or water sports available. But in our opinion, you don’t need them here.
Mallorca Travel – Charming Town of Valldemossa
There are even more highlights in the mountains. At an altitude of over 400 meters lies the beautiful town of Valldemossa. We particularly liked the pretty streets of the old town, the lovely shops, and cafés. Despite the many tourists, the town still retains a certain dreamy charm. Some streets even seem a bit sleepy. The town itself also has museums and some beautiful historical buildings.
Hikers come to this area to explore the diverse Tramuntana mountain range. High above Valldemossa towers the most visited peak of the range – the Puig des Teix. Hikers start at the bus stop in Valldemossa and walk uphill for almost 16 kilometers. When you reach the destination at 1064 meters, you will be rewarded with breathtaking views. This route takes just under 4.5 hours and ends back at the bus stop.
Excursion to the Formentor Peninsula
During our Mallorca trip, we naturally also made a detour to the Formentor Peninsula. We drove our rental car along the beautiful panoramic road to the first viewpoint. Cap Formentor is the northernmost point of the Balearic island and therefore a popular tourist destination. We didn’t drive all the way to the lighthouse, but only to the first viewpoint.
The impressive cliffs and the associated bays make this area unique. The “Mirador de Mal Pas” viewpoint has a large viewing terrace. Here we enjoyed the wonderful view of the jagged cliffs and the sea. On the other side of the road, another road leads up the mountain to an old watchtower. From there you can see the entire peninsula.
Attention: The access to Cap Formentor is closed between July 9, 2018, and August 31, 2018. This is due to the large influx of visitors. Private cars and motorcycles are not allowed on the road between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. This applies to the area from Playa de Formentor to the lighthouse. However, buses number 353 run from Port de Pollensa to this destination (ticket: €1.55).
Cala de Murta & the wild donkeys
There are some great bays on the Cape Peninsula. We had already spotted one of them from the plane. It was immediately clear: We wanted to explore this bay. And that’s exactly what we did. We parked the car on the side of the road in front of the signs for “Cala de Murta” and “Cala Figuera.”
First, we walked for 10 minutes along the path towards Cala Figuera to at least take a photo of the bay. Most visitors, of course, go there, as the path isn’t too far. However, we wanted to go to Cala de Murta and took the 2-kilometer walk. The shady path is easy to follow; only wild donkeys and goats like to stand in the middle of the path.
Arriving at the bay, we were once again completely surprised. There were maybe eight other visitors with us. Unfortunately, the beach here is only pebbles, but we personally don’t find it particularly wild. You’ll also find large, smooth rocks where you can relax. The sea was, as always, crystal clear and simply beautiful. The entrance to the water is very rocky, so you should be very careful here. It’s generally a good idea to bring water shoes with you to Mallorca. The swimming and snorkeling in Cala de Murta are simply fantastic. Also, keep in mind: There are no facilities or restrooms on site.
The golden bay of Cala d’Or
We also visited the east and south of the island (Es Trenc, Cala Varques, Santanyi, Cala Llombarts, Colonia de St. Jordi, and many more). The southeast of the island has many beautiful bays, such as Cala d’Or. The white houses in this area are particularly notable, bearing a certain resemblance to Ibiza.
The beach and the bay are stunning, but unfortunately extremely crowded. So we set off and hiked along the cliffs on the left side. There we discovered some wonderful places all to ourselves. Here we even jumped from the rocks into the crystal-clear water and let the sun shine on our stomachs, away from the crowds. Highly recommended!
Conclusion of the Mallorca trip
Our Mallorca vacation couldn’t have been better. Within 7 days, we covered almost 800 kilometers by rental car and discovered beautiful places. We visited the north, east, southeast, and west.
We skipped the south and southwest for now due to time constraints. We definitely want to return again (probably many more times) and perhaps hike through the mountains in autumn or spring. Mallorca blew us away, and we highly recommend a customized vacation!
Here you can find the list of places we visited: Cala Torta, Alcudia, Pollenca, Formentor, Cala de Murta & Cala Figuera, Serra de Tramuntana, Sa Calobra, Deià village and Cala Deià, Valldemossa, Sa Pobla, Santanyi and Cala Santanyi, Cala Gat, Capdepera lighthouse, Port de Soller, Arta, Cala d’Or, Es Trenc, Cala Varques, Cala Llombarts, and Colonia St. Jordi.