Mallorca travel guide - vacation on the island of sun

The royal among the islands awaits you: a sunny destination in the Mediterranean with a breathtaking coastline, excellent climate, charming villages, resorts and ancient cities. You can expect a dream holiday and experiences here. The island is a scene of contrasts. There exciting and entertaining, there quiet and romantic. Mallorca is still often underestimated and reduced to sun, beach and Ballermann. But the largest Balearic island simply guards its secrets carefully and shows them to whoever wants to find them. Come and see for yourself what the island has to tell you. 

Why Mallorca of all places? What draws millions of people from all over the world to this island of 3640 square kilometres in the Mediterranean every year? Why are so many travellers looking for relaxation and diversion here of all places and so many newcomers a place to live? In short: Why is Mallorca worth a trip? We would like to give answers and let some other things speak for themselves. For us, Mallorca is a dream island. This certainly has to do with common standards such as "summer, sun, beach", but to reduce the island to these alone would not come close to doing it justice. Mallorca pulls out many stops, is changeable and always surprising. One of the main arguments for Mallorca has always been the Mediterranean way of life. Everything here is a little more relaxed and open. The island is becoming more and more international, which also gives it a new spirit.

If you leave the beautiful beaches of Mallorca behind you, the island landscape will be a revelation for you. Mallorca is a fusion of mountain and coast, of architecture and silence, tradition and modernity. Of course, for many people Mallorca is above all a bathing island. But it is also a haven of history and pleasure, of idleness and multi-activity. Before the popularity of beach holidays on Mallorca, people came here to visit the sights, to admire the galleries and monuments. Mallorca is an island gone trendy, but it has not disappeared among the masses, it has always reinvented itself. Mallorca can also party, but in reality it has never been just the Ballermann or Magaluf. In the meantime, fortunately, the island also stands in the heads of many tourists for a sunny destination with an infinite number of possibilities.

To kick off with four quick facts about Mallorca

Mallorca - the biggest one

Majorca belongs to Spain and is located about 170 kilometres from the mainland in the western Mediterranean Sea. It is the largest of the Balearic Islands. Majorica' means translated 'the bigger island'. Around 870,000 people live on Mallorca, 20 percent of whom have moved here from all over the world. The Germans form the largest group with 19,000 people.

Majorcan dialect

Different languages are spoken in Mallorca: Castilian (Castellano) is the 'normal Spanish' taught in schools around the world and is the official language in Spain. There is another national language in Mallorca, Mallorquí or Mallorcan. It is a dialect of the Catalan language spoken on the south-east coast of Spain.

Island of short distances

No matter how much the landscape of Mallorca differ, everything on the island is quite close together. Whether from north to south or from west to east - you never have to drive more than 95 kilometres to reach the other side. The pound of the island is 550 kilometres of coastline, of which around 50 kilometres are fine sandy beaches, and the Tramuntana, which is part of the World Heritage.

Grand hub on land and sea

The airport Palma de Mallorca is situated eight kilometres to the east of the island capital and is the third largest airport in Spain after Madrid and Barcelona, with more than 29 million passengers recently. The port of Palma is considered the gateway to the world. The island can be reached by boat, sailing yacht or ferry from Barcelona, Menorca, Formentera, Ibiza and València. Numerous cruise ships, such as the AIDA, also anchor in the port of Palma.

Why Mallorca is worth a trip - 10 reasons:

1. The setting

One of the main benefits of a holiday in Mallorca is its territorial location in the Mediterranean Sea. German tourists reach the holiday island and the Mediterranean climate after a relatively short flight of about two hours. Mallorca is approached by almost all German airports. Several airlines fly guests with small purses to the island. For an interesting holiday with varied activities on Mallorca there is enough money left after the travel costs.

2. The climate

There is a reason why Mallorca is called "the sun island". An average of 300 sunny days and subtropical weather invite you to stay on the island all year round and offer numerous possibilities for leisure activities. Sports such as golf, tennis, cycling and hiking are among the most popular activities on Mallorca and are possible practically all year round. At any time of the year the island offers a refuge from the temperate climate zone in Great Britain.

Rainfall in summer is very rare in Mallorca and while the temperature can rise to 40 degrees in the interior, it remains pleasant on the coast. On the other hand, Mallorca's winters are usually short and mild. However, there are also cool and wet days in December and January. At the latest at the end of February, spring begins with the famous almond blossom, which can be used to shorten the German winter very well.

3. The Landscape

Mallorca is an island of contrasts. In the south there are long sandy beaches like the Platja de Palma or the most popular beach of the island, Es Trenc. The white beach in the natural park with turquoise water and adjacent pine forests is a bathing paradise with caribbean flair of about five kilometres in length. In the east of the island visitors will find numerous bays with popular holiday resorts such as Cala Ratjada and Cala Millor. There are large and small beaches, hidden or freely accessible, crowded with tourists or deserted. In the eastern part of the island there is also an accessible stalactite cave system with the largest underground lake in Europe.

The northwest of the island can be described as rugged. The Serra de Tramuntana is a mountain range with the Puig Major, the highest elevation of Mallorca with over 1.400 metres. The north-west of the island, and this is also due to its geography, has not been taken over by mass tourism. Nevertheless, the rough coast is for many people something like the showpiece of the island. Until today, the heartland of Mallorca still appears dreamy and secluded in wide parts. Only hesitantly the centre opens up to tourism. Characterized by agriculture and tradition, many of the villages in the center of the island are among the most authentic traces of Mallorcan life.

4. The culture

The cultural offer of the popular Mediterranean island is enormous: historical monuments such as the castles, monasteries, palaces and market places are well preserved today and reflect the history of Spain. Just in Palma alone, these include sights such as the Cathedral, Bellver Castle, the Lonja Quarter, the Museo de Mallorca, patrician houses and numerous art galleries. During the summer months there are many outdoor events, including classical music performances, various festivals, jazz evenings and ballet and dance performances in Mallorca. Activities of all kinds can therefore be easily combined.. 

5. The monuments

The map of Mallorca is peppered with the monuments that the island's history has produced, and which today invite us to marvel and discover. Starting with the cathedral in Palma, the Cap Formentor in the north-east, the world heritage of the Sierra Tramuntana Mountains, the monastery of Lluc and the legendary Tren de Sóller. The infrastructure of the island is well developed for an excursion by rental car and is usually well signposted. In addition, various excursions can be organised through local tour operators. Popular excursions on Mallorca are the visit of the dragon caves in Porto Cristo, a boat trip to the offshore islands Dragonera and Cabrera, the beach Es Trenc and a day trip to the capital Palma.

In addition, there is the possibility to visit various water parks, car safaris and aquariums. The nightlife can be seen in the tourist centres of Palma and other places on Mallorca along entire streets, where Spanish and international bars, pubs and discos line up side by side. A delightful journey of discovery around Mallorca can also be made from the seaside. We have therefore compiled a list of the best known 7 sailing areas around Mallorca: On a boat trip you will get to know the island from a different perspective.

6. Family Island

Majorca is the perfect destination for just about every situation, whether you are travelling alone, on a romantic holiday for two or with the whole family. Especially families with children will enjoy the wide range of accommodation, sights and leisure activities on offer. And all this takes place without long distances. The island is child-friendly: there are playgrounds, family beaches, family tours and, last but not least, Mallorcans who generally welcome children with open arms. There are many excursion destinations that guarantee big children's eyes, such as the Palma Aquarium, the House of Kathmandu, water or animal parks are at the top of the to-do list. Enough fresh air is guaranteed during a stay on the island, so especially outdoor activities invite you to a great trip with the whole family.

7. The variety

Even after the fifth and sixth holidays, Mallorca can still be rediscovered. The landscape changes by region, sometimes also the weather and depending on the season the island always shows a different picture. In winter it appears lush green, in summer dry and barren, and when you arrive at the end of January, the island is almost a sea of white-pink flowers during the almond blossom. The cultural and tourist offers are as varied as the landscape. It is almost impossible to know each of the innumerable sides of this island already.

There is always something new to discover - exciting museums, traditional markets, historical monasteries, spectacular caves. The island capital Palma alone, with its wide range of cultural and culinary delights, is so diverse that a single visit is not enough to capture all its beauty. Again and again you will discover new winding alleys, new shops to shop in, new architectural masterpieces to admire or new restaurants and bars to feast in. 

8. Mallorca to suit every budget

Mallorca can offer luxury, but also low budget. Affordable holidays are still possible on the island. Travel, accommodation, activities, food - everything can, but does not have to be expensive. Mallorca is generally considered a holiday destination in the medium price range. The competition among the airlines and the attractiveness of the island lead to good conditions already at the arrival. This continues with the accommodation. The palette ranges from smart 5-star accommodation, boutique hotels, rustic fincas in the countryside to practical hostels, package hotels, individually bookable holiday apartments or traditional family owned businesses.

9. The food

Nowhere does Mallorca taste as good as on the island itself - which is one of the reasons why many people like to come back again and again. The Mediterranean cuisine with fish, vegetables is definitely an argument to visit Mallorca and taste the specialities. The Spanish cuisine is versatile and relies mainly on local products.

10. The beaches

Of course, if you want, you can spend every day of your holiday in Mallorca on a different beach or in a different small bay - even if you come every year. The variety and richness of the coastline is Mallorca's calling card and it's worth looking from one side of the island to the other. In addition, there are the partly very well-kept beaches with good infrastructure also for water sports and the mostly very good water quality.

Majorca became the favourite island not only for Germans

There was something like soft tourism long before Mallorca became the most important holiday destination in the Mediterranean. Especially celebrities and affluent people were brought to the island by sea in the 19th century. One of the most famous visitors at that time was the composer Chopin, who spent the winter on Mallorca with his partner George Sand in 1838. Not everything they experienced was flattering for the island. Nevertheless, both wrote benevolently about the island and with their visit they promoted the most important excursion destination in the west of the island to this day: Lluc Monastery.

The first hotel on Mallorca was opened officially only in 1903 and in 1905, the Tourist Board was founded with the aim of promoting tourism and, above all, to make the island more accessible. The next stage of expansion in the 1960s, which mainly consisted of developing the coast, finally brought the breakthrough. The island took off and, with brief interruptions, experienced an unprecedented boom that continues to this day.

Although around 100,000 visitors were recorded in the Balearic Islands around 1950, the figures literally went through the roof in 1970: 1,850,000 people spent their holidays on Mallorca in this year alone. In the 80ies, nearly 3 million sun-seekers visited the island every year. Even then, the Germans were already way ahead in the statistics, closely followed by the British, who fought with the Germans for every deck chair. Majorca was and still is easily accessible for the "Alemanes" and a holiday on the beach is affordable. More and more people could afford the quick break in the sun.

The love of the Germans for "their" island blossomed in a very bizarre way. In 1993 the German press speculated - with a wink - about the expansion of the German territory. Mallorca was to become the 17th federal state. The Spanish took the proposal with composure and humour. At the turn of the millennium, the eight million mark was finally broken for the first time. Palma Airport counted more than 23 million passengers in 2014. In total, more than 200 million tourists have visited Mallorca since the tourism association was founded in 1905, about one third of them from Germany.

The boom has consequences and effects for Mallorca on different levels - the tourism industry is the backbone of the island. Majorcans and residents also see the rush as a burden. The popularity of the island has made life expensive even for locals, housing for normal earners is becoming scarce, property prices are among the highest in Spain, and the natural environment has suffered from huge construction projects. Locals and residents are now demanding a limit on the number of visitors. Also the party tourism, for which Majorca was famous for many decades, should be pushed back. Mallorca's image is to change.