Holidaying in Mallorca
Mallorca has been close to my heart for many years now. It is the perfect holiday destination. My recent holiday to Mallorca took me to a great variety of coastal towns and gorgeous sandy beaches. It’s an area I know well and return to time and time again. That’s why I’ve put together my top places to visit in Mallorca.
Porto Cristo and Cuevas del Drach
Porto Cristo is the closest town to me on the island of Mallorca. It’s famous for it’s marina and glorious sandy beach. There are glass bottomed catamaran trips and scuba diving options available as well as a whole host of shops and restaurants. My favourite restaurant overlooks the marina and is called Quince. If you’re a fan of seafood then get the mussels, they are incredible! And at the end of the meal they will bring you around a bottle of apricot liqueur for a shot (and leave the bottle behind if you’re lucky!)
Just around the corner are the Cuevass del Drach (caves of Drach). Measuring 1200 meters long and 25 meters deep the caves are one of the islands most popular tourist attractions. It is also considered to have one of the biggest underground lakes in the world. This has got to be high up on your list of places to visit in Mallorca!
Sa Coma to Cala Millor via el Castillo
If you’re anything like me then the prospect of laying on a beach for seven days straight drives you crazy. That’s why I try and pack a few walks into my trip.
One of my favourites starts at Sa Coma. There’s a car park right next to the beach and road side parking all the way up to it as well. Then, turn immediately left before you reach the sand. There’s a ranch where you can take part in a horse riding excursion or, like me, you can walk. Follow the path and it’ll eventually take you to the look-out point on the hill. It is definitely more a look out tower than a castle, so don’t get too excited. There are many of these dotted all over the island and in fact, a map inside will show you the whereabouts of all the others. Climb the narrow stairs inside and you’ll come out onto the roof with a spectacular view. There’s a bar, toilets and a parrot to keep you entertained as well.
From here you can continue the walk all the way to Cala Millor, where we stopped for cocktails. A girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do, right? Of course, the walk back then brings this walk up to approximately 11.5km but it’s great exercise and the views are magnificent.
Walking in Parc Natural de Mondragó
As I’ve mentioned, even on holiday I like to keep active, and where better to walk than the Parc Natural de Mondragó? We parked in one of the designated car parks (for €5) as there’s little on-road parking available. It’s then only a short walk down to the beach where there are a couple of cafés selling fruit, lunches and alcoholic drinks. Top tip: don’t get 1L of sangria between two people – it’s very strong and you’ll be giggling all the way home.
If you find one of the large maps (there’s one at the car park and one at the back of the beach) it will show you 5 different walks you can do along the coast. None of the walks are very long, all under 1k so we did a few of them. They take you over the cliffs and along the coves to see the coastline from different angles. There are also a few lesser-known beaches along the way which are well worth settling with your towel if you want somewhere a little less crowded to relax.
Visiting Capdepera on Market Day
We chose to drive to Capdepera on Wednesday as that’s when they hold their weekly market. The stalls are largely made up of jewellery, clothing, bags, fresh fruit and veg, meat and cheeses, as well as locally made pottery and trinkets. The roads are closed to traffic so you have the freedom to wander around. Why not grab a café con leche at a street side cafe?
You’ll most likely need some refreshment to prepare yourself for the hike up the hill to the castle at the top of the town. Entry to the castle is €4 and you’ll be given a map and some information. Along with spectacular views and some interesting history you will find a basket weaving demonstration and a collection of rare birds including owls and falcons.
Driving to Cala Ratjada
Saturday morning is the time to visit Cala Ratjada if you want to see the market and didn’t catch it at Capdepera. Cala Ratjada is known for it’s art shops and quaint gift shops. I love the restaurant Negresco which overlooks the stunning marina. If walking is your thing you can walk a long way around the marina and along the seafront and of course, it’s beautiful.
Places to Visit on Mallorca’s East Coast
These are just a few of my top places to visit in Mallorca. Are you planning a trip soon? Have you visited before? Let me know in the comments.
