The Ultimate Jetset Mallorca Travel Guide

We just got back from our trip to Mallorca, Spain and I officially think Spanish Summer is my favorite summer. Think: long, relaxed days of stone villages, jaw-dropping coasts, stunning sunsets, mountain views, and endless olive trees. The beauty of the island is in the lifestyle. Mallorca is the Mediterranean done right.

We spent long lunches in tiny coves you can only reach by boat, followed by golden hours of paella and tapas. Mallorca is a favorite for clients of mine who want beauty and great food and genuine Spanish riviera character, without the scene feeling try-hard at all. Mallorca is relaxed. It’s not a scene, like the South of France, or even parts of the Amalfi Coast these days. It has a more understated, IFYKYK energy to it that I couldn’t help but fall in love with.

Here’s everything to know before you go to Mallorca: the best season to visit, how to get around, the hotels actually worth booking (and how to get the best value when you do so), the restaurants I’m still dreaming about, and the beaches and coves to build your days around. Consider this your personal travel shortcut to the best Mallorca itinerary around.

   

When to Visit Mallorca

The sweet spot is the shoulder season. Late May and June, and September into early October, is when Mallorca is at its best: warm enough for the beach and the boat, but without the July/August crowds and the high-season prices. The water is most swimmable from roughly June through end of September!

My personal pick: Early to Mid September!!! Warm water. Less crowds. Perfect Mallorca atmosphere. 

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Getting Around Mallorca

You’ll fly into Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI), which sits about 8 km from the center of Palma. It’s an easy, well-connected airport with direct flights from across Europe, and a taxi into Palma takes around 15 to 20 minutes. We flew direct on a flight from the US from Newark! It was amazing (we took a short hopper from CHS to get to Newark)

You definitely need to rent a car in Mallorca! The villages and the best hotels are spread out, and relying on taxis will cost you both money and freedom. The roads are well maintained, though the mountain stretches are winding, so if you’re prone to carsickness, keep this in mind!

Where to Stay in Mallorca

I’m very picky about hotels, and these earned their spots on the list for very different reasons. 

Belmond La Residencia, Deià (my top pick for first-timers to Mallorca)

If you only have it in you to choose one hotel, make it this one. Belmond La Residencia sits in Deià, the artists’ village that anchors this whole stretch of the Tramuntana coast, in a pair of converted manor houses surrounded by terraced gardens, olive groves, and donkeys that wander the grounds. It’s the hotel that captures everything people fall in love with about this side of the island: the village right outside the gates, the mountains behind, the sea a short drive down at Cala Deià.

It’s also home to El Olivo, set inside a restored sixteenth-century olive press, one of the most romantic dining rooms on Mallorca and a serious kitchen led by chef Pablo Aranda, with a Mediterranean tasting menu that moves out to the terrace in summer. There’s a more casual second restaurant, Café Miró, for relaxed seafood-leaning lunches. Insider note: tables at El Olivo for non-resident diners typically open about 30 days out, so plan ahead. Best for: couples, honeymooners, and first-time visitors who want the postcard version of Deià with the service and polish to match.

wearing this dress

Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor (the north-coast showstopper)

For a resort beach vacation, the storied Hotel Formentor, out on the dramatic Formentor peninsula in the north, reopened as a Four Seasons resort in 2025 after a top-to-bottom restoration, so this is the newest hotel on the island and it’s great. It has around 110 rooms and suites, all with sea or forest-facing terraces and some with private plunge pools, plus direct access to one of the most beautiful beaches. 

The vibe here feels different – you’re more at a resort than village hideaway, with full Four Seasons range across restaurants, pool, and spa. Best for: families who want a beach on property (rare in Mallorca!) and a kid-friendly resort and kids club, and travelers who want to base themselves in the north near Pollença and Cap de Formentor rather than the Deià area. The coastline here was unbelievably beautiful – so getting out on a boat is a MUST.

I personally LOVED coupling this hotel with Belmond La Residencia so you get the best of both worlds. I personally loved Belmond’s hotel rooms and overall hotel aesthetic the most, and it was a perfect base for exploring the villages and cute spots that the south has to offer, but then I really enjoyed retreating to the FS resort for some beachfront time and boat time on one of the most stunning coasts I’ve ever experienced. It was the best of both worlds. I would do 3-4+ nights at Belmond, 2-3 nights at FS. (and if you’re planning this or either hotel, be sure to reach out to me here or book through my hotel portal – password JETSETTERS  – to get free daily breakfast, $100 resort credits, a complimentary room upgrade if available and more!)

 

Grand Hotel Son Net, Puigpunyent (old world atmosphere)

Son Net is a 17th-century Mallorcan manor in the village of Puigpunyent, about 15 minutes from Palma, looking out over the valley and the village below. It has the kind of lived-in grandeur that feels like the private home of a very stylish friend who happens to own a centuries-old estate. The walls are hung with art, the bones of the building are genuinely old, and the whole place has soul.

What makes it special for me is the evenings. There’s live music some nights in the courtyard, exactly the kind of unhurried, glass-of-Mallorcan-wine-in-hand evening the island does so well. Dining is at Mar&Duix, with the Green Bar for cocktails by the fire. Best for: couples and small groups who care about character and ambiance over polished newness, and anyone who wants to be close to Palma but tucked into the hills.

Want to stay in Palma instead?

If you’d rather wake up in the city, with old-town streets and the cathedral at your doorstep, there are lovely boutique options right in the heart of Palma. Tell me your dates and budget here and I’ll match you to the right one for your trip. or feel free to search my travel booking portal for options here with access to my travel advisor preferred rates (the password is JETSETTERS)

Where to Eat and Drink in Mallorca

This is the part I get most excited about, because Mallorca’s best meals aren’t always in dining rooms, they’re on cliffs and coves and terraces with your feet practically in the sea. These are the spots worth planning around.

Sa Foradada (the boat-in paella lunch you’ll never forget)

If you do one thing on this island, make it this spot! Sa Foradada is a restaurant on the north coast near Deià that you can only reach by boat or by hiking! It is jaw-droppingly beautiful. We did the hike!! (We left the kids at the kids club – they definitely would not have been able to do it!) but we did see families who rented a boat! You can even captain your own boat if you’re comfortable, or you can also hire a skipper (from Port de Sóller) , or hike down from the Son Marroig parking lot off the Valldemossa-to-Deià road. The walk down takes around 45 mins to an hour and roughly an hour or so back up, so come hungry and wear real shoes! I wore a bikini and sneakers, with a cover up over and it was perfect. Bring water for sure.

The specialty is wood-fired paella! Book ahead, and know the restaurant runs seasonally, roughly April through October. Also, if you plan an itinerary through my travel agency (inquire here) we’ll always make sure you get the best table, and can even handle these reservations for you. 

Ca’s Patró March (the cliffside seafood shack in Cala Deià)

Built right into the rocks of the absolutely stunning Cala Deià, Ca’s Patró March is the kind of place people fly to Mallorca for. It’s simple, fresh, and entirely about the setting and the catch: grilled fish and seafood served on a terrace over the cove. 

Two things to know before you go. Bring cash – because mobile coverage down in the cove is spotty, so bring euros. And reservations are strongly recommended given how small and sought-after it is. You can reach it on a 30-to-40-minute walk down from Deià, or drive down the steep, winding access road (which is what we did, since we brought our kids). They open reservations exactly 7 days in advance, to the minute, and it’s very hard to get one – they sell out within minutes. You need a reservation, or you need to show up by 12pm and get lucky and not mind waiting (but sometimes there is a cop at the top you need to show your reservation to, so it’s best to have a reservation!) If you plan an itinerary through my travel agency (inquire here) we’ll always make sure you get the best table, and can even handle these reservations for you. 

El Olivo at Belmond La Residencia (the best special-occasion dinner – ever!)

If you’re looking for one showstopping dinner, El Olivo is it!! This gorgeous restaurant was a highlight of my entire trip. It is absolutely stunning. The restaurant is part of Belmond La Residencia in Deià, and it’s all candlelight and old stone, with a Mediterranean tasting price-fixe menu and a terrace with mountain and village views in summer. It’s a book welllllll-in-advance, mark-the-calendar kind of dinner, and exactly the sort of meal a honeymoon or a big anniversary deserves. Non-resident reservations generally open around a month ahead, so don’t leave it to the last minute. Once again, if you plan an itinerary through my travel agency (inquire here) we’ll always make sure you get the best table, and can make sure you get a reservation here if you book your hotel through us.

Nama (in Deià)

Nama is one of those places that feels like a little secret, even in a village as beloved as Deià. It’s relaxed, stylish and so good!

Patiki Beach (the easy beach-day lunch in Port de Sóller)

Down at the far end of Platja d’en Repic in Port de Sóller, Patiki Beach is a laid-back, farm-to-table beach shack built for long, barefoot lunches. The menu leans on local produce and sharing plates, the kind of meal where you order too much, linger over a cold drink, and look out at the bay and the mountains behind it. It’s the perfect anchor for a beach or boat day on the Sóller side.

A perfect night in Palma (La Paloma, then Bar Abaco)

For dinner in the city, La Paloma is a lovely choice, the kind of buzzy, candlelit spot you want for a great night out in Palma. Then do what people in the know do and walk it off with a nightcap at Bar Abaco, one of the most theatrical bars you’ll ever set foot in: a seventeenth-century mansion in the La Lonja old town, dripping with antiques, fresh flowers, and fruit, with classical music and serious-but-pricey cocktails. The drinks aren’t cheap and that’s not really the point. You go for the spectacle of the place, and there’s nothing else like it.

Sweet stops worth the calories

Two I’d point you to: Ammu for proper Sicilian cannoli, filled to order, and Gelati Mossa for gelato in the town center when you need something cold and a place to people-watch. And if you’re crossing the island between southern beaches, Cassai Gran in Ses Salines is a good-vibes café for a relaxed lunch or an afternoon snack.

The Best Beaches and Coves in Mallorca

The south and southeast hide some of the island’s most beautiful swimming spots, and the trick to all of them is the same: go early. These coves are small, the parking fills, and by midday in summer they’re shoulder to shoulder.

Caló del Moro is the famous one, a tiny, impossibly photogenic cove near Santanyí with turquoise water. It’s stunning and it’s no secret, so arrive early if you want room to put your towel down.

Cala Llombards is my pick if you want the beauty with a bit more ease. It’s a gorgeous cove where you can rent sun loungers (they take cards), and there’s a beach shack for food and drinks. Aim to arrive by around 8 to 10 a.m. for a good spot and parking near the sand. There’s additional free public parking up the hill in town if the lower lot is full.

Sa Foradada was a huge highlight of our trip – you can rent a boat in Port of Soller and either captain yourself over there or rent a captained boat, and you can grab lunch at Sa Foradada! (Make a reservation ahead of time) you also can do the hike if you don’t want to boat! It’s tough but it’s great to feel active on vacation!! 1 hour each way, and bring water!!!! it’s steep! but so fun and we loved it!

Es Trenc (you’ll also see it as Platja des Trenc) is the opposite vibe: a long, wild, natural beach in the south with no rows of loungers, so bring everything you need for the day. Parking is paid and inexpensive, and late afternoon is a lovely time to go, when the sun has softened.

If you’re staying at FS Formentor in the North, or doing a boat day up the Tramuntana coast, there are a ton of clear-water coves along the way. The water up there is glassy and gorgeous, and you’ll be glad you got out of the boat!!!

Boat Days, the Sóller Train, and the Must-Dos

A few experiences are worth building whole days around.

A boat day is, for me, the quintessential way to experience Mallorca. It’s worth it every time. Renting a boat for the day, whether you captain it yourself or hire a skipper, opens up coves and that legendary Sa Foradada lunch you simply can’t reach from land. If you’re setting out from Port de Sóller, Sollermar is a well-regarded local agency to book through. Map a swim stop or two, time your lunch reservation, and you’ve got a perfect day.

The Tren de Sóller, the vintage wooden train that has run between Palma and Sóller since 1912, is a genuinely charming ride through the mountains and orange groves. Tickets are inexpensive, somewhere in the ballpark of €25 one-way, though I’d verify current pricing before you go since fares change.

Palma is great to explore if you want to see it, but also don’t feel bad if you skip it! It’s the busier more ‘city’ part of Mallorca. The cathedral, La Seu, is worth it for the sheer scale and its enormous rose window, and the old town around Carrer de Sant Feliu is full of beautiful art galleries to wander around.

The inland villages and markets are magical. Deia is a must. Valldemossa is a cluster of honey-colored stone houses less than 30 minutes from Palma, and Deià itself is the artists’ village that anchors the coast. For a slower, less touristy stroll, Ses Salines in the south has pretty walking streets lined with cafés and shops. And if your timing lines up, the weekly market in the town of Sineu is one of the island’s best for artisan crafts and local food, just go early before the crowds (markets shift their days, so double-check the schedule for your dates).

Cap de Formentor, out on the northern tip, delivers cliffs, pines, and the kind of lookout views that make your jaw drop! Not for super weary drivers, the winding roads can be scary, but it’s worth it.

Our 5-night Mallorca Itinerary (as a family with toddlers!)

Day 1: Arrived in the morning into Deià. We checked in by 9am and fought our jet lag with a beautiful breakfast and then a gorgeous day by the pool. We did dinner on property (delicious!) and honestly had a wonderful perfect first day!

Day 2: We did another resort day for most of the day La Residencia is absolute perfection, and we didn’t want to over plan! we popped out to the village of Deia in the afternoon, we went to the spa, we did a lot of pool time, and we did a donkey meet n’ greet with the kids club.

Ca’s Patró March  We did not have a reservation, so we knew we’d have to get there early, we had to be there by 12 to try to get in! We took our rental car (the hotel has a shuttle but it doesn’t start until 1245, and we wouldnt be able to get in if we went that late). We parked and walked down to the gorgeous restaurant and beach. So beautiful!!! We waited about 45 mins for a table, and enjoyed the rocky beach and water!! Lunch was fabulous, casual, no fuss, and absolutely breathtakingly stunning!!!

The rest of the afternoon we spent by the pool, got dressed up, took some family photos, and then the nanny took the kids to bed while for dinner this night we did a date night at El Olivo and it was a huuuuge highlight of the trip!!!! Can’t recommend enough.

Day 3: Sa Foradada We enjoyed breakfast and a slow morning by the pool before having the kids go to the kids club for painting and bracelet making and we headed to a big hike and lunch date! Sa Foradada was absolutely unreal. You hike about an hour each way (not an easy hike, but felt great to do!!!!) and there’s an amazing place to swim at the bottom, as well as the restaurant!! We split a bottle of rosé and you have to get the paella here!! SO GOOD!!! Then hiked back up – it was about 4-5 hours total with our long lunch, swimming, and hiking. It was amazing.

Dinner this night we did pizza in the room! kept it easy. You could also do dinner in the village at Nama!

Day 4: Deia -> Formentor We spent most of the day enjoying La Residencia, before checking out and heading to our other hotel, Four Seasons Formentor! The drive was about an hour and a half and we stopped into Soller to see another village on our way. We also checked out the town Port de Pollença  by Formentor which was SO cute and classssic Mediterranean seaside port town. I loved it. Then we climbed the mountain to Formentor and soaked in some incredible views!!! The drive would be scary for me to do, but Kenny handled it like a champ! It’s only about 15 minutes of some windy roads. Then we arrived! Formentor is a completely different feeling than Deia and La Residencia. It almost felt like we were on a lake?! Like Lake Tahoe vibes. It was stunning, but completely different. More modern Four Seasons feeling  (just built last year!) vs. La Residencia’s old world charm. They both have so much to offer. We did dinner at the beach restaurant this night (so beautiful!) and enjoyed fresh seafood and delicious cocktails!!!! The food and drink here were soooo good.

Day 5: boat day in Formentor!
If you come to Four Seasons Mallorca, you must must MUST do the boat tour through the hotel. It was unreal. Easily one of my favorite days of all time. I can’t recommend it enough!!!!!!! 

 

Day 6: Formentor beach day -> airport in the afternoon! We then spent a few nights in Barcelona! On a future trip, I desperately want to do Menorca!!!!

 

Another Sample 5-Day Mallorca Itinerary

This is how I’d shape a first trip if you’re basing yourself in or near Deià, which is my favorite home base for the Tramuntana. Mallorca is bigger than people expect and drives add up, so this keeps things relaxed rather than cramming the whole island into five days. Treat it as a starting point, and I’ll tailor the real thing to your dates, hotel, and pace.

Day 1: Settle into Deià. Check in, then ease into island time. Wander the village, have a relaxed first dinner, and end the night with a drink at Sa Fonda to feel the local rhythm. No agenda, that’s the point.

Day 2: The boat day and Sa Foradada. The big one. Set out by boat (rent your own or hire a skipper), swim in a clear-water cove or two along the coast, and time your lunch reservation at Sa Foradada for the wood-fired paella. Back on land, a slow afternoon and an easy dinner.

Day 3: Sóller and the vintage train. Take the Tren de Sóller through the mountains and orange groves, poke around the town of Sóller, then head to Port de Sóller for a beach afternoon and a long, barefoot lunch or early dinner at Patiki Beach.

Day 4: Palma. Drive in for the day. See La Seu cathedral, wander the galleries and shops around Carrer de Sant Feliu, and stay for a great dinner at La Paloma followed by a nightcap at the wonderfully over-the-top Bar Abaco.

Day 5: Valldemossa and a special last dinner. Spend the morning in pretty Valldemossa, then take it slow back in Deià. Make your final night the dress-up one with a tasting menu at El Olivo. (If you’d rather chase beaches, the southeast coves like Caló del Moro and Cala Llombards are stunning, just know they’re roughly an hour-plus drive from Deià, so they work best as a dedicated early-start day or if you shift your base south.)

Want the north in the mix too? Add two nights at Four Seasons Formentor or Son Brull near Pollença, and fold in Cap de Formentor and a quieter stretch of coast.

Mallorca Travel FAQ

How many days do you need in Mallorca? I think five to seven nights is the sweet spot. I would do 3-4 nights in the South, and 2-3 nights in the North at Formentor for the perfect mix.

Is Mallorca good for families or better for couples? Both, depending on where you base yourself. The Tramuntana hotels like Belmond La Residencia and Castell Son Claret skew romantic and grown-up, which makes them ideal for couples and honeymooners, however, we saw lots of families at Belmond in June!!! It was actually great for children. For families, a beachfront resort like Four Seasons Formentor in the north is a super easy fit for families with kids of all ages, with a beach right there and a fabulous family pool, as well as a great kids club. 

Do you need a car in Mallorca? For the kind of trip in this guide, yes! The best villages, hotels, and coves are spread across the island, and a rental car gives you the freedom to chase them.

When is the best time to visit Mallorca? Late May, June and September to early October for the best mix of weather, warm water, and fewer crowds. July and August are beautiful but hot, busy, and pricey, but still amazing!

Is Sa Foradada hard to get to? It takes a little effort, which is part of the appeal. You reach it by boat or by a hike of about an hour down (and around an hour 15 back up) from the Son Marroig estate. Book ahead for the restaurant so you get the best table, and note it’s a seasonal, roughly April-to-October restaurant.

Which hotel is better Four Seasons Mallorca or Belmond La Residencia?

They are so different! We LOVED doing both in the same trip since they are so different and have so much each to offer. If I HAD to choose, we liked Belmond La Residencia best for any first-timer coming to Mallorca – it feels quintessential “Mallorca”, and gives you access to explore! Four Seasons, on the other hand is off in its own world in the North, and it’s stunning, but not where I would base if I wanted to adventure around Mallorca – it’s a resort vacation, with the beach, the pool, the gorgeous coast all right there, so perfect for coupling with one other hotel so you get a little resorting, a little adventuring! 

When I come back (and trust me, we will definitely be back!), I would still go to both if that tells you anything! 

How to Plan a Mallorca Trip

Mallorca is one of those islands that rewards knowing exactly where to go and who to call for the best of the best tables, etc, and that’s exactly what I do for you as a luxury travel advisor, I can get you into the hotels in this guide with VIP perks you won’t get booking on your own, things like complimentary breakfast, resort credits, room upgrades when available, VIP recognition on property, and early check-in or late checkout when available. I also offer full itinerary planning, where we work through itinerary planning and restaurant reservations to local recommendations and daily support on the ground in Mallorca. This comes at a fee and you can inquire here for more information on our packages.

The difference between a good trip and an unforgettable one is often just the details, and the details are my whole job as your Mallorca travel agent!

Fill out this inquiry form here and I’ll help you plan your trip, or you can go directly to my travel portal and see my exclusive travel advisor rates and book yourself with all of my perks included! The password is always JETSETTERS (save this page to your bookmarks for future trips!)

What to Pack for Mallorca

Mallorca is casual-chic, not flashy. You’ll feel most at home in linen, summer colors and prints, easy dresses, and good sandals, with one or two slightly dressier looks for a night at El Olivo or drinks at Bar Abaco. A few things travelers forget that genuinely matter here:

Comfortable shoes you can actually walk and scramble in. The coves and the Sa Foradada hike are rocky, and the village streets are cobbled, so save the delicate heels for dinner. Reef-friendly water shoes are a smart add if you’re sensitive about pebbly cove beaches. Bring cash in euros, because some of the best spots (Ca’s Patró March, beach shacks, parking) are cash only and tucked into areas with patchy signal. Pack your own beach towel and a bit of shade if you’re headed to the wilder beaches like Es Trenc, where there are no loungers to rent. And throw in a light layer for the evenings, especially up in the Tramuntana and in shoulder season, when the temperature drops once the sun goes down.

If you’re doing a boat day, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, and a cover-up like this one are the holy trinity. The sun on the water is no joke.