Majorca – How To Choose The Right Resort And Top Things to Do
Family resorts, party zones, authentic villages and a vibrant capital, my handy guide will help you choose the best Majorca resorts to stay in, and the top things to do when you get there.
Majorca has been one of the top holiday destinations for many years and was one of the original package holiday destinations for Europeans. Young people flocked to Santa Ponsa and Magaluf while families loved the more relaxed resorts of Alcudia and Puerto Pollensa. Fast forward 50 years and Majorca’s resorts are just as popular today.
About Majorca:
Majorca, or Mallorca in Spanish, is the largest of the Balearic Islands and boasts 300 days of sunshine! Its 262 beaches may get all the headlines, but Majorca’s real beauty lies in its magnificent mountains, pretty villages and show-stopping capital.
Where to stay in Majorca:
Whether you want to stay in some of Majorca’s pretty villages or prefer one of the bustling seaside resorts, my Majorca guide will help you decide which resort to choose for the best Majorca holiday.
The best resorts in Majorca for couples, families and friends
North Coast: Alcudia, Puerto Pollensa, C’an Picafort, Playa de Muro
Puerto Pollensa, Alcudia, Can Picafort and Playa de Muro are the main resorts that stretch across the north of the island. My personal favourite is Puerto Pollensa. It is almost picture perfect with a long sandy beach, a mountain backdrop, and a pretty old town to sweeten the deal.
It was once an old fishing village, and while it now boasts a chic marina, it still retains its authentic charm. There are great restaurants here, and a great choice of self catering and hotel accommodation to suit anyone looking for a relaxing holiday in nice surroundings.
The neighbouring resort of Alcudia has a magnificent 12km long beach and an old walled town. It is one of the most popular family resorts in Majorca, and there is a large choice of accommodation options here. While Alcudiia doesn’t attract a rowdy crowd, it lacks the authenticity that Pollensa has, possibly due to the numerous fast food outlets and disco bars that line its streets.
Nearby C’an Picafort and Playa de Muro are pretty quiet resorts that are less developed than Alcudia. The former has a large promenade and a more modern feel, while Playa de Muro is an accessible beach destination and is popular with elderly and infirm.
Read: 20 Wheelchair accessible holidays recommended by wheelchair users.
TUI and Love Holidays offer a wide range of package holidays to Majorca. You can also contact your local travel agent or book flights and hotels separately.
Search TUI Love Holidays Booking.comEast Coast: Cala D’or, Cala Millor, Cala Bona, Sa Coma
The east coast of Majorca is one of the best areas for family holidays in Majorca. Cala D’or, Cala Millor, Cala Bona, and Sa Coma are also popular couples looking for a relaxed vibe.
Cala D’or would be my personal favourite along this coast. It is a great choice for families and couples, with a beautiful cove beach and a stunning marina that’s perfect for al fresco dining. It is a large resort and offers a wide selection of bars and restaurants, with a little nightlife for good measure.
Cala Millor is another large resort with a long sandy beach and plenty of great shops and nightlife. The smaller resorts of Cala Bona and Sa Coma are more family orientated with nightlife centered around hotels and family resorts.
TUI and Love Holidays offer a wide range of package holidays to Majorca. You can also contact your local travel agent or book flights and hotels separately.
Search TUI Love Holidays Booking.comSouth West Coast: Santa Ponsa, Magaluf, Palma Nova
Santa Ponsa, Palma Nova and Magaluf are renowned for having great nightlife and tend to attract mostly young people during July and August. They are also very popular with couples and families who are looking for a lively holiday at that time.
During low season – May, September and October, you will find a more mixed crowd here, as some of the other parts of the island can be too quiet for some tastes.
All three resorts are lively with a great choice of bars and restaurants and long sandy beaches to satisfy adults and children alike. Santa Ponsa is particularly popular with Irish people and there are plenty of bars playing Irish music throughout the resort.
TUI and Love Holidays offer a wide range of package holidays Majorca’s lively resorts. You can also contact your local travel agent or book flights and hotels separately.
Search TUI Love Holidays Booking.comNorth West Coast: Soller, Deià
If you are looking for more authentic resorts in Majorca, you should try Soller or Deia on the west coast. This is Majorca at its best. They are located along the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range and the drive to get to these resorts is worth the trip alone.
Deià is a pretty hilltop village that is arguably home to the best hotel in Majorca – La Residencia. It is a celebrity hot spot that has housed celebrities and royalty throughout the years.
Soller offers the best of both worlds, and is one of the best resorts in Majorca for couples. It has a port town as well as a seaside resort, and you can take a historic tram between the two.
TUI and Love Holidays offer a wide range of package holidays to Majorca. You can also contact your local travel agent or book flights and hotels separately.
Search TUI Love Holidays Booking.comPalma, Puerto Portals:
The vibrant city of Palma is a super city break destination and I would recommend staying here if you are travelling to Majorca for a short break. It is a modern city with stunning architecture, excellent shopping and one of the most impressive marinas in Europe.
However, its show-stopping Cathedral and pretty old town is the beating heart of this city – see more in my top things to do in Majorca below.
The nearby resort of Puerto Portals has been home to celebrities for some time now. It has a sophisticated marina as well as plenty of designer shops so it feels more upmarket than some of its neighbours. It is very close to Palma Nova so many choose to stay here but take a taxi to Palma Nova for a lively night scene.
TUI and Love Holidays offer a wide range of package holidays to Majorca. You can also contact your local travel agent or book flights and hotels separately.
Search TUI Love Holidays Booking.comTop 5 Things to Do in Majorca
1. Visit Majorca’s Exclusive North West Coast:
Majorca’s north west coast is Majorca at its best, and is a complete contrast to the bustling holiday resorts that Majorca is famous for. The Serra de Tramuntana mountain range – which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, is located on this side of the island. The contrast of the lush green mountains and hilltop villages makes it the most scenic part of Majorca.
The village of Valldemossa is one of the prettiest villages in Majorca and a must visit. It is lined with cobbled stone streets and souvenir shops, and offers stunning views over the Tramuntana mountains. It is only 30 minutes from Palma so it does attract a lot of day trippers, but even during the busy summer months it is worth a visit.
The hilltop village of Deià is another must visit in Majorca. It is a smaller, less commercialised version of Valldemossa and is a pleasure to explore. Many celebrities have houses here including Michael Douglas and you will find numerous Hollywood A listers holidaying here during the summer months.
Don’t overlook the port town of Soller too. Catch the vintage train from Palma to the main town of Solller and take the historic tram to the port. There are some great seaside restaurants in Soller, which are ideal for lunch if you are visiting the area on a day trip.
This great value tour takes in Valldemossa and Soller and is ideal if you don’t want to hire a car:
View tour here2. Seek Out Majorca’s Best Beaches
Majorca has 262 beaches, but some of its idyllic coves are not easily accessible by public transport. Unless you like hiking in the heat, I suggest hiring a car or booking an excursion or boat trip to visit some of the best beaches in Majorca, such as Sa Calobra Beach, Cala Pi, and Es Calo des Moro.
We hired a car and found an amazing seafood restaurant in Cas Patro March, a rocky cove at the end of Cala Deià. Without a car we would have had to walk an hour from the town centre – and the same uphill on the way back. The setting and seafood were divine, but it does get extremely busy, so make sure you book in advance – bookings open online 10 days in advance. .
While Majorca’s stunning coves get most of the attention, you will also find wide sandy beaches, such as the 7km beach in Es Trenc, which also happens to be backed by sand dunes.
3. Spend A Day In Palma
Palma can easily be visited on a day trip from any of Majorca’s holiday resorts. Dating back to the 13th-century it has influences from the Moors and Romans and is packed with architectural masterpieces.
Palma’s old town is a pleasure to explore – there are chic boutiques, and superb restaurants around every corner.
However, if you are visiting Palma, make sure to take time to go inside its stunning Cathedral. You will find remarkable frescos, as well as stained glass windows and canopy that was placed there by none other than Gaudi.
Palma is easily reached by public transport from most resorts, and these tours are a great way to make sure you see all the highlights:
4. Visit The Caves Of Drach
Visiting caves wouldn’t normally be on my top things to do list in a hot climate, but the Caves of Drach are not like any other caves! There are four interconnecting natural caves here, over 4km in length with a 115 metre lake hidden inside – it is one of the largest subterranean lakes in the world.
The caves are beautifully lit up creating a magical atmosphere and the one-hour tour concludes with a classical concert at the end in an underground amphitheatre. An orchestra rows out on a boat playing music for 15 minutes – these shows started in 1935!
The Caves of Drach are located near the town of Manacor and the pretty fishing village of Porto Cristo, so you can extend your stay and make it full day trip, or book this guided tour below:
View tour here5. Catch The Sunset At Cap Formentor
Cap Formentor is a peninsula on Majorca’s north coast. The winding road hugs the cliffs here and driving it is not for the faint hearted, but it does offer some of the best panoramic views on the island.
There is a lighthouse and a bar at the end and it is one of the best places in Majorca to watch the sunset, or catch the sunrise. If you don’t fancy driving, check out this sunset cruise:
View CruiseI hope my guide to the best resorts in Majorca will help you plan a trip there soon. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, resort facilities are subject to change. Some of the links in this post contain affiliate links where I receive a small commission if a booking is made, but at no additional cost to you.
