Explore Essentials: Things to Do in Mallorca

“Mallorca is famous for its sun, sea and sand holidays, but there’s more to the largest Balearic Island than beach break goodness. From exploring underground caves to pottering about the charming Old Town, here’s our list of essential things to do in Mallorca.

Explore the Capital Palma de Mallorca
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The capital, Palma de Mallorca, is well worth exploring. One of the main highlights is the Gothic Cathedral of La Seu – stunning when viewed from both the outside and inside (where you mustn’t miss the interior work by the famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí).

Other landmarks in Palma include the 13th-century Castillo de Bellver and the Joan Miró museum (the Fundació Miró Mallorca), which is home to an impressive collection that the artist himself, along with his wife, donated.

Elsewhere, this being Mallorca, the capital city has a number of fine beaches, including the Cala Mayor with its promenade of beach bars and restaurants.

Book it: Guided Bicycle Tour of Palma’s Historic Landmarks

Go Underground at the Drach Caves
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The Drach Caves network runs for more than 2.5 miles (4km) underneath the town of Porto Cristo on the east coast of Mallorca, a spectacular subterranean world of rock formations, turquoise lakes and cathedral-like spaces that all combine for a dramatic experience.

The tour of the caves takes about an hour, and includes a boat ride on the underground Lake Martel and a musical performance that makes use of the cave system’s excellent acoustics.

Book it: Caves of Drach Full-Day Tour

Take a Ride on the Sóller Train
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The historic wooden carriages of the Sóller Train will transport you through the island scenery from Palma de Mallorca to the port of Sóller itself. The pretty train links the two destinations by crossing the Tramuntana mountains with fine views along the way.

Once in Sóller, walk down through the town to the picturesque harbour or take a stroll to Alfabia, a fascinating complex that was built during Moorish times with its landscaped gardens and orchards.

Stroll through History in Alcúdia’s Old Town
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Behind a 14th-century wall you’ll find Alcúdia’s Old Town, with its well-preserved medieval architecture, narrow streets and some of the best restaurants on the island. Make sure you check out the Church of Sant Jaume, as well as the Roman remains just outside the medieval town walls.

And, if you’re in Alcúdia in July, don’t miss the Festival of St Jaume. Taking place over nine days, expect firework displays, concerts and other cultural events.

View the Stunning Calvià Coastline from the Water
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With its mix of fine sandy beaches, rugged cliffs and hidden coves, the Calvià coastline is a beautiful part of the island close to many of the main resorts. A great way to take in the natural wonder of this stretch of Mallorca’s coast is to see it from the water, with boat tours, boat hire and kayak trips available all along its 31-mile (50km) length.

This is also a good area for scuba diving, snorkelling and coaststeering, with lots to see both above and below the surface.

Book it: Boat Excursion: Coast of Mallorca

Wander through Cacti at the Botanical Gardens
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The Botanicactus Botanical Gardens occupies a huge expanse of desert-like landscape in the south of the island and centres on the many different varieties of cacti that grow there.

As well as the spiky desert plants, you can also walk through displays of various native Mallorcan species of flora including olives and pomegranates, eucalyptus, almonds and orange-scented carob, all set within a trail of pathways around a lake.

Hike or Bike the Serra de Tramuntana
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Overlooking much of the northern coast of Mallorca, Serra de Tramuntana is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering fine views, quaint villages and plenty of historical sites to discover.

Cyclists will love the challenge of the mountain routes, as countless hairpin bends lift you high above the blue waters of the Mediterranean, while for hikers the 84-mile (135km) Tramuntana Dry Stone trail is split into eight stages along ancient mountain paths with refuges along the way.

Book it: Adventure Trekking in the Mountains Half-Day Experience

Meet the Sea Life at the Palma Aquarium
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With 55 tanks containing more than five million litres of seawater, the Palma Aquarium allows you to come face to face with over 700 different species of sea life, not only from the Mediterranean Sea but also all the oceans of the world.

As well as the tanks, including the deepest shark tank in Europe, you can also explore the tropical rooftop garden, swim in the stingray tanks or dive with sharks.

Looking for a base to explore the island? Check out our hotels in Mallorca on Expedia.”