Mallorca's witty north

Beautiful in the north of Mallorca

The north is a contrasting programme to what most people consider Mallorca to be. In terms of landscape, the varied part of the island above Inca stands out clearly from other regions. The north is more unspoilt, somewhat more discreet, a little more idiosyncratic and in places rougher than southern Mallorca. This is mainly due to the magnificent impressions of the Sierra de Tramuntana, which stretches out towards the sea here and creates special effects in terms of landscape and climate. The impenetrable mountain world has ultimately also prevented tourism from penetrating the north in the same way as it sometimes does in the larger holiday resorts. Nevertheless, some of the most popular holiday resorts on Mallorca are located in the north. Whether Alcúdia, Pollenca or the family destination of Can Picafort.

If you wanted to highlight three special features that characterise the north of Mallorca, they would be a rich history, the Tramuntana mountain range, which plays its trump cards especially in the northwest, and the extremely attractive double bay around Alcúdia and Pollenca, which gives the north and its visitors so many possibilities. The "tip" of Majorca has also played a pioneering role culturally. First and foremost Pollenca with its music festival, its many galleries, arts centres and museums. The British, in particular, appreciate the more sophisticated and less noisy atmosphere in the north.

Mallorca North - 4 highlights

Tip 1: Formentor Peninsula

For many, this is the most impressive headland on the whole island: cliffs, serpentines and, at the tip, Cap Formentor as the northernmost point of the island. Everyone wants to get there and, especially in summer, it can be a real tightrope act to work your way along the panoramic road the 20 kilometres from Port de Pollença. But, as most people who have been there say, the views are worth every metre.

Tip 2: The double bay

When talking about the north of Mallorca, the two large bays that give the region a special status must be mentioned in the same breath: the Bay of Pollensa and the Bay of Alcudia. The family-friendly white sandy beaches here stretch for kilometres in one direction or the other. Some sections rightly appear time and again in the lists of Mallorca's top beaches, above all Playa de Muro.

Tip 3: Campanet caves

Not as famous and large as the dragon caves, but a special natural treasure of Mallorca are the caves of Campanet, directly on the Sant Miguel mountain in the middle of the Tramuntana. A circular route leads through several tunnels and halls, the tour with multilingual guides takes around 40 minutes. The caves can be reached via the motorway from Palma to Sa Pobla, exit 37.

Tip 4: Alcudia

It is considered the oldest town in Mallorca and is certainly one of the most beautiful. The epochs of Mallorca's history have been immortalised here, the town is a mix of Roman, Moorish and Catalan culture. The historical ambience is crowned by the 14th century city wall, which can be walked on, and by many wonderful squares. Alcudia's old town is car-free and is a wonderful place for a stroll.

Mallorca's north - historically savvy

Tourism in the north of Mallorca is primarily concentrated in the two towns of Pollensa and Alcúdia and even more so in the harbours of Port Pollensa and Port Alcúdia, which are located in front of the old towns. The bay of Alcúdia has been the gateway to Mallorca throughout history - the Romans, for example, conquered the island from here. With "Pollentia", they founded the first capital of Mallorca 70 years before Christ, which unfortunately fell victim to the Vandals. The Arabs rebuilt the town further north and called it "Al-Qudya" (hill) - Alcúdia.

The old towns of Pollensa and Alcúdia still show very well the architectural style of Roman history, which characterises the north of Mallorca as the oldest region of the island. In Pollensa alone, the Roman bridge and the monastery on the Puig de Pollensa still show plenty of traces of the past. There are also manor houses, winding alleyways, white stone paths with cypress trees and other enchanting views.

365 steps to happiness

The Calvary in Pollensa is a special challenge with its 365 steps, which symbolise the days of the year. Those who make it to the top will reach a pilgrimage chapel and a vantage point with far-reaching views over Pollensa. If you have enough breath and concentration, you can look back 365 days on the way up and forward 365 days on the way down - this is said to bring good luck.

Perhaps it's because of Agatha Christie, who stayed in a hotel in the town in the 1930s, or greats such as Winston Churchill, who stayed at the legendary Hotel Formentor, that the north generally developed into a British holiday destination. Pollensa in particular was also long regarded as a town for the wealthy and creative types.

Alcúdia is said to be the oldest municipality in Mallorca. The medieval town wall and the church of Sant Jaume bear witness to an eventful and prosperous past. The town even has an excavated amphitheatre as well as a wealth of culture and history. Alcúdia is a little gem, a town worth living in and popular with holidaymakers. The beautifully restored town centre not only hides adorable boutique hotels and charming restaurants, but the pedestrian zone with its cafés and shops is also extremely attractive. Despite these many plus points, Alcúdia never feels completely overrun.

The hustle and bustle

Things are different in modern Puerto Pollensa, which is much more tourist orientated with restaurants, bars and clubs by the sea. This also applies to Puerto Alcúdia. In both harbour towns, you have every conceivable opportunity to spend your holiday and leisure time on, in and by the sea. Many boat trips start here. Whether it's glass-bottom boat trips, adventurous excursions with speedboats and motorboats or panoramic tours along the fascinating, rocky coasts. This is where what makes the landscape of the north so bewilderingly beautiful happens: the Sierra de Tramuntana meets the Mediterranean. In addition, the winds off Pollensa are particularly favourable for sailing.

The juxtaposition of Mallorcan history and modern tourism is particularly evident in Can Picafort in the north of Mallorca. It was once wealthy families who had their summer residences built here, giving the small fishing village a sophisticated feel. Today, the village has the entire tourist infrastructure, including numerous holiday hotels, guesthouses and flats. Families particularly appreciate the more than 1 kilometre long sandy beach, which is directly adjacent and offers perfect conditions for holidays with children.

Mallorca North - adventure and beach holidays

The bay of Alcudia

• Long before the bathing season starts on Mallorca and the beaches fill up with holidaymakers, hikers and cyclists are out and about in the north of the island. The coast and the mountains can be criss-crossed from here on many interesting routes.
• The north coast is an absolute insider tip for snorkelling or diving, as the rocky formations under water provide plenty of variety and beautiful sights. Not forgetting the partly natural sandy beaches. Son Serra de Marina in particular stands out here as a less frequented dream beach, which is also an attractive destination for nudists and dog owners.
• Despite all the chic, there is no shortage of adventure in the north of Mallorca. Near Alcudia is the famous Hidropark, a water park with 40,000m², play areas, slides, wave pools, mini golf, restaurants and a barbecue area. The park promises fun for all ages and cooling off, especially in summer.
• Paintball in Sa Pablo is just as colourful but much drier: equipped with a barbecue area and cafeteria, the playing area offers a variety of obstacles, both natural and artificial. Grab a marker and some of the colourful little paintballs and show your family and friends who's the best tactician!

Mallorca North - 4 special excursion tips

1. La Victoria - the small peninsula is largely a nature reserve and is primarily a destination for hikers, mountaineers and individual tourists, who discover less frequented bathing bays, wander through pine forests and let their gaze wander along the steep rocky coast. The Ermita de La Victoria is a former monastery located 140 metres above sea level on this tranquil spot. With Mal Pas and Bonaire, you can also see two exceptionally pretty villa villages here.
2. Cala de Sant Vicente - four bays with crystal-clear water are part of the landscape of Cala de Sant Vicenç (a good 5 kilometres from Port Pollensa). When you are there, you can also visit the prehistoric caves of l'Alzineret, which were created around 1600 BC (Bronze Age). Of the 40 caves that were once known, unfortunately only 7 remain. The visit is free of charge. The caves can be reached via a small climb in the village.
3. Fonts Ufanes - When it rains heavily on the island, a unique natural spectacle can take place in the forest near Campanet: water gushes out of the ground and flows like a torrent between trees and rocks. This is a hydrogeological phenomenon that occurs when the aquifer under Finca Gabellí Petit overflows. The water then shoots out of the ground spontaneously. The Fonts Ufanes have been a natural monument for several years. It is a 20-minute walk from the car park at the Sant Miquel pilgrimage church to the springs, which are located in the middle of the holm oak forest.
4th S'Albufera - In the surrounding area, you should definitely visit the S'Albufera Nature Park. It is the largest wetland area in the Balearic Islands, with an impressive dune belt and marvellous nature experiences for the whole family. Be sure to take binoculars with you and watch. Despite the dryness typical of the Balearic Islands, this area is under water for most of the year, resulting in an impressive variety of flora and fauna.

Story(s) from the north - Hotel Formentor

The world on Formentor

Mallorca and its celebrities are a story - but nowhere else on the island have glitz and glamour, tradition and nobility come together like at the Hotel Formentor. Opened after 1929 by Argentinian millionaire Adan Diehl, the property became world famous thanks to the guests who came and went at Cala Pi de la Posada. Actors and aesthetes, monarchs and Nobel Prize winners all came here to unwind. Winston Churchill chose the retreat with its extensive gardens for painting and writing, while Grace Kelly and Prince Rainer spent the night in the noble grand hotel after their wedding. Charly Chaplin is said to have strolled straight to the beach in his bathrobe. The hotel can only be reached by land via the narrow winding road that used to be used by the motorcades travelling to Cap Formentor in summer. If necessary, this access road could and can be closed and Hotel Formentor often became an island on the island in this way. Particularly when international leaders were discussing the global political situation in its hallowed halls.