Mallorca is only pretty beaches and wild parties? Far from it! The Spanish island in the western Mediterranean is an exciting place to visit, especially for active travellers and people with an interest in culture. It has a mild climate and a varied landscape with mountains and wide plains and is easily accessible by plane. The Mediterranean landscape offers numerous walking and cycling routes for everyone to enjoy.
Activities in Mallorca
Attractions in Mallorca
Highlights
- Highlights
- Highlights
Natural Paradise Mallorca
Mallorca never ceases to surprise its visitors, and this is especially true of the island's diverse natural landscapes. The biodiversity here is extremely high and the island location ensures a number of endemic species among flora and fauna. There are now a number of protected areas, and about 20% of the island is now part of the European Union's Natura 2000 network. Mountains, oak and pine forests, wetlands, dune landscapes, beaches and bays, protected marine areas and smaller islands and rocky islets are just some of the places where visitors to the island can explore and enjoy nature in all its diversity.
Photo: Mallorcatourism
UNESCO World Heritage Serra de Tramuntana
In 2011, UNESCO accepted the cultural landscape of the Serra de Tramuntana in the northwest of Mallorca into the World Heritage List. In doing so, the international community paid tribute to the monumental man-made work of kilometres of dry stone walls and hydraulic canalisation that have transformed a rugged terrain into a habitable place while preserving its extraordinary beauty.
The unique, rugged mountain landscape with its wild gorges and panoramic peaks can best be explored on foot - a variety of hiking trails run through the area.
Video: MallorcaTourism
Between steep cliffs and Caribbean-style beaches
Parallel to the northwest coast, the Serra de Tramuntana rises to 1445 m at Puig Major. The coastline there is steep and rocky and home to the coastal town, Port de Sóller. In the inland of the island lies the plain Es Plà, which extends to the bay of Alcúdia. The wide sandy beaches around the village of Can Picafort are especially popular.
The eastern part of the island is characterized by the Serres de Levant. Palma, the capital of Mallorca and the Balearic Islands, is located in the southwest. In all island regions, vacationers can expect beautiful sandy beaches, such as Playa Es Trenc on the south coast or Playa de Muro in the northeast. The famous party mile takes only a small part of the Playa de Palma near El Arenal.
Photo: Stefan Kunze, unsplash.com
Outdoor activities in Mallorca
While some vacationers cavort at the beach and pool, others explore the island: With its watchtowers and fincas, the species-rich flora and fauna, the hillside forests with Aleppo pines and holm oaks, the partly almost alpine mountain ranges of the Serra de Tramuntana as well as the Serres de Llevant and many a hidden bay, Mallorca offers a landscape that is worth discovering while hiking, climbing and cycling.
Video: MallorcaTourism
The most popular places to visit on the island
Palma de Mallorca, as a lively island center with its historic old town, attracts mainly city travelers. The main attraction of the city is the enormous gothic cathedral La Seu. Visitors and pilgrims from all over the world are also drawn to the Santuari de Lluc. The impressive monastery complex is located at an altitude of 525 m in the Tramuntana mountains.
The mountain village of Valldemossa is also a must on the list of sightseeing trips. The history of this terraced village can be traced back to the time of Moorish rule. Cap Formentor on the northern tip of the island offers a spectacular natural spectacle.