Mallorca is a popular summer-holiday destination with beautiful beaches, but there is also a different side of Mallorca – small cute towns, beautiful nature, historical landmarks, great food, amazing art heritage and, of course the vibrant Palma. This Mallorca itinerary will show that other side of the island in low season, without the tourists. So, read further to find out when is the best time to visit Mallorca, how to put your itinerary together and what to do and see during your stay on the island.
Contents
Best time to visit Mallorca
When is the best time to visit the Balearic Island of Mallorca? It all depends on what type of a traveller you are and why you want to travel to Mallorca. If you want to go there for the beaches and the night life, then you should choose the period between late spring and early autumn. If you are travelling with kids, then the summer holidays will be the perfect time to visit the island.
But if you are like me and you don’t care about beaches, night life and you don’t travel with kids in tow, then the best time to visit Mallorca will be off-season – late autumn, winter and early spring. With average temperature in the winter months still in the double digits (10-12 °C / 50-53 °F) and lots of sunshine, Mallorca will be the perfect winter escape, if you are living in the northern hemisphere.
Is it worth visiting Mallorca in winter?
Absolutely! I’ve visited Mallorca in late November – early December and weather-wise it couldn’t have been more perfect. I have to admit that there was some rain involved and the locals were telling me that it had been the wettest winter for the last 25 years, and I was thinking these are just a few drops and the sun afterwards would just make it up. But yes, I was coming from the Netherlands, where winters are mostly grey, dark and rainy.
So why visit Mallorca in winter? What can you expect from Mallorca off-season?
- Mild weather with lots of sunshine
- Less tourists, no crowds
- Cheaper airfares (but less frequent)
- You help the local tourism economy with generating income for them in low season
How to get to Mallorca
Mallorca’s international airport (PMI) is just a few kilometers outside of Palma – the capital of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands, and the largest city on the island of Mallorca (Majorca). There are direct flights to Palma from some European countries, but the best way to reach the island is via Barcelona on the mainland. There are also frequent flights from other Spanish cities. The flight between Barcelona and Palma is just under an hour. When I was flying via Barcelona I had an hour and a half before my connecting flight and it was more than enough.
Once at the airport you can further choose to use the convenient public transport to get to Palma or you can rent a car and drive to your destination, or even get a taxi, if you are staying in Palma. When I arrived in Palma I used the bus to get to the city and a taxi when I was leaving.
How to put together a 4-day itinerary in Mallorca
When visiting a place for a long weekend or for a midweek, I highly recommend that you stay at one place and explore the area on day trips. It makes no sense to move each day to a new place, loosing precious time in checking in and out and packing and unpacking. Using one place as a base will maximize on your time at the destination.
So, this 4-day Mallorca itinerary is based on choosing Palma as a base and including one or two day trips out of Palma. With its 3640 sq. km Mallorca is not overwhelming, although 4 days aren’t enough to see the whole island, especially if you enjoy slow travel.
My advice is: visit less places and enjoy your time. Don’t try to tick off all attractions on Mallorca in 4 days, but rather return on another occasion and explore different parts and places on the island.
This 4-day itinerary in Mallorca is suitable for travellers who enjoy architecture, city life, museums, good food, small cute places and beautiful views.
One of the most important things I have considered when I put up together this 4-day itinerary in Mallorca, is the opening times of the various attractions. You would ask why… Well, most likely you’ll be taking this itinerary over a long weekend, flying in on Friday and flying out on Monday. Most of the attractions in Palma, for example, are closed on Mondays and a bunch of them on Sunday, especially in low season, so you really need to plan well in advance.
How to spend 4 days in Mallorca
So this is my 4-day Mallorca itinerary from Friday to Monday. If you are staying midweek or otherwise, you can always mix and match it. Just remember that the attractions I have included on Day 4 are the only ones that are open on Mondays.
On the map below you can find all places included on this itinerary color-coded per day. So, download the map and you are ready to go.
Day 1 in Mallorca – discover Palma Old Town
Depending on when you will arrive on Mallorca, take the bus from the airport and head first to your hotel to check in. If you arrive way before the check-in time, you can always leave your luggage at the hotel, go and explore the city and come back later to check in.
The city centre of Palma is very compact and by getting lost in the streets you can pretty much cover the whole of it in a half day. So, my advice is spend your first day in Palma by wandering the streets and taking in the charm of this beautiful city.
Take a walk along the iconic Passeig des Born and continue afterwards on La Rambla. At Carrer de la Unió, stop to visit the free Can Balaguer – a house-museum that shows Palma’s urban lifestyle in the period 1600-1951. On the way, try to spot the beautiful Art-Nouveau architecture: Gran Hotel, Forn des Teatre, and Can Casasayas and take a short walk in the Jardín de La Misericordia.
Afterwards make your way to Plaça d’Espanya and then head to Plaça Major crisscrossing between Carrer de San Miguel and Carrer de la Missió. Once at Plaça Major, just keep walking in south direction getting lost in the tiny medieval streets until you end up at the Cathedral. Just across the entrance of the Cathedral is the entrance of the Royal Palace of Almudaina, that I highly recommend you to visit.
From the stairs at the Cathedral there’s this beautiful view to the harbour. If it’s already towards sunset, walk down to Passeig Dalt Murada and continue to the right until you reach the large avenue. Then walk along Parc de la Mar for the most amazing views of the Cathedral. At sunset the cathedral looks as if its made out of gold.
Day 2 in Mallorca – discover Miró and Santa Catalina
First thing in the morning, get the bus to see Joan Miró‘s house and studios. Lines 4, 20 or 46 stop nearby. Palma breathes Miró and you can see everywhere in the city signs of this great artist. The exhibition at the Fundació Miró Mallorca Museum contains 6000 works of the artist.
After visiting the museum, hop on bus line 4 or 20 back to the city centre and get off at bus stop 97. Yep, day 2 in Palma involves a lot of bus-riding. After a short walk you will reach the Bellver Castle (Castell de Bellver). At the castle enjoy the breathtaking views and visit the museum.
After the castle get on the bus again towards the city centre and get off at the Santa Catalina neighbourhood. This area is quite often overlooked by the tourists as there aren’t any attractions here. In Santa Catalina, stop for a visit at the market hall, stroll along the streets and eventually you’ll reach El Jonquet. This small neighbourhood with its cobblestone streets feels like a village. Well, it used to be a fishermen village, before it was incorporated in the city. From the windmills, there’s a lovely view to the harbour and the Cathedral.
Depending on how much time you have left, you can visit the Es Baluard Museum of Contemporary Art at the end of the day. The museum is just a short walk from El Jonquet. Es Baluard was a former bastion turned into a museum for contemporary art. From the roof of the bastion and the towers you’ll be having one of the most amazing views of the city.
Day 3 in Mallorca – explore the island
Day 3 from this itinerary in Mallorca is all about getting out of Palma and discovering the island. If you feel like, you can rent a car for one day and explore as much as possible of the island. I don’t advise you however to rent a car for your stay in Palma. Another option will be to use the public transport which is quite convenient.
Check out this post to find out some lovely places which you can visit as a day trip out of Palma.
I can highly recommend visiting the small charming city of Pollença (Pollensa in Spanish). You can easily spend a whole day there. Don’t miss to visit the lovely church at Plaça Major and walk the Road of the Cross to Calvari Hill for some stunning views. Depending on which day you’ll be in Pollença, you can also visit the local museum (it’s closed on Sundays and Mondays).
Another option for a day trip is taking the wooden train to Sóller and then the vintage tram to Port de Sóller.
If you don’t want to take care of the logistics yourself, you can book a day tour in Mallorca out of Palma. Here’s a small selection of some of the best tours:
Day 4 in Mallorca – discover the layers of history
The last day of your stay in Mallorca is dedicated to the medieval heart of Palma. I have chosen to leave it for the last day, as if you are visiting Palma on a long weekend, only a limited number of sites and museums is open on Monday. Of course, if your last day in Mallorca is not a Monday, you can always change this itinerary.
Straight after breakfast head to the Cathedral of Mallorca. You’ve already had the opportunity the see this majestic building from quite a few angles, so now it’s time to explore the inside of La Seu (this is how the Cathedral is nicknamed). The construction of the cathedral started in the 13th century but the building wasn’t finished until 1630. In the 20th century it underwent many renovations, and famous artists like Gaudí left their mark on the interior.
After visiting the Cathedral get lost in the tiny medieval streets following the signs to the Arab Baths (Banys Àrabs). On the way, stop at the Bishop’s Garden (El Jardí del Bisbe), located behind the cathedral, and spend some time at the local Museum of Mallorca. After the museum, keep following the signs until you arrive at the Arab Baths.
The Arab Baths date back to the time when Palma and the whole island of Mallorca were part of the Moorish Emirate of Córdoba (10th – 13th century). The Arab Baths come together with a lovely garden which was part of the adjacent Can Fontirroig manor house. The garden isn’t very big but it’s for sure one of the most romantic places in Palma de Mallorca!
This neighbourhood in Palma is very quiet and looks a bit sleepy. You’ll find there the Convent of Santa Clara (Monasterio de Sta Clara) and the lovely Basilica of Saint Francis (Basílica de Sant Francesc). Keep wandering the streets towards Plaça de Cort. At this lovely square you’ll find Palma’s Town Hall, the famous 600-year old olive tree, and the beautiful Can Corbella in Neo-Mudejar style. At the ground floor of Can Corbella is located one of the most beautiful bakeries in the city – Fornet de la Soca.
If you still have time on your last day in Palma, you can visit the Fundación Juan March Museum of Contemporary Art. The collection of the museum is absolutely worth the visit. It includes works of Miquel Barceló, Luis Feito, Joan Ponç, Fernando Zóbel, Salvador Dalí, and Soledad Sevilla among others. The museum is free of charge. Even if you don’t have time on your last day, try to visit this museum on one of the other days (the museum is closed on Sundays) and you won’t be disappointed.
Where to stay in Palma de Mallorca
If you are like me, doing a ton of research before you choose a place to stay, then finding accommodation in Palma will be overwhelming, especially if you are a first-timer and you don’t know the city.
So, let me help you get on the right track. It all starts with what you want, when you’ll be travelling and what’s your budget.
When I was searching for a place to stay in Palma, this is what I was looking for:
- in the Old Town so that I could walk everywhere,
- in a lively environment, as I was travelling solo and wanted to feel safe,
- in the mid-range in terms of pricing,
- having a bit of a character,
- a sea-view or a beautiful view would be a bonus but not a deal-breaker.
The hotel that ticked all the boxes for me was the 4-star Hotel Almudaina on Av. de Jaume III. Jaume III is one of the liveliest avenues in Palma, a true shopping arcade with lots of shops and department stores. The Cathedral of Palma is just a 10-minutes walk, the Es Baluard Museum of Contemporary Art – a 5-minute walk, and Plaça d’Espanya – a 15-minutes walk.
The room I stayed in was really comfortable with a modern appeal, and it came with a tiny balcony with a beautiful view of the avenue. The staff of the hotel was nice and helpful. I also enjoyed the breakfast, a combination of continental and typical Majorcan breakfast, with great variety of options. The hotel had a luggage room, so on the last day of my trip I could check out in the morning, leave my luggage at the hotel, and further explore the city without carrying a suitcase around, and catch my late-afternoon flight back home.
The most striking feature of Hotel Almudaina however is its SkyArea. Located on the top floor, it offers amazing vistas of the Cathedral, Palma’s rooftops and the Mediterranean. The SkyArea features a lounge bar, a sunny terrace and a restaurant, and it’s the perfect place to enjoy a drink at the setting sun or have a lunch or dinner with an amazing view.
