Top 12 Majorca attractions

Topping any list of Majorca attractions has to be Palma Cathedral. One of the most dramatic sights in the island capital, the golden stones of La Seu (as it’s known) tower above the city by the historic walls overlooking the sea.

Palma Cathedral

Created after a 13th-century vow made by Jaime I to build a huge cathedral if he succeeded in his mission to conquer the Moors ruling the island, it’s also been called the ‘Cathedral of Light’ thanks to its 61 eye-catching stained-glass windows.

The most spectacular window of all is the central rose window, especially as the morning light streams through each day. Surviving earthquakes and the centuries, Antoni Gaudi was also partly responsible for the way the cathedral looks today, after helping to adapt the interior at the start of the 20th century.

Alcudia Old Town

Tucked away behind 14th-century walls, Alcudia Old Town has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site for good reason. Step into its pedestrianised heart and you’ll be transported back in time to the days when the medieval cobbled streets were new. Filled with bars and restaurants, there’s a weekly market to find everything from souvenirs to local produce – this is a living town as well as being one of the top Mallorca tourist attractions.

Walk the walls themselves for a fabulous view looking out over the Bay of Pollensa, as well as the narrow alleys of the old town. Then, discover the nearby ruins of Pollentia, the most important city in the Balearic Islands during the Roman period, where you can still explore the theatre, the forum and the former residential area. Some of the finds are on display in the museum in the centre of Alcudia itself, too.

Royal palace of La Almundaina in Palma de Mallorca

The official residence of the King and Queen of Spain whenever they stay in Majorca, the Royal Palace of Almudaina is one of the key landmarks of Palma alongside the neighbouring cathedral. The Alcazar, or fortified palace, dates back to the 14th century, although it was built on the site of a former Arab citadel, and on Roman settlements before that.

You can still see the Arabic baths created by the island’s former Muslim rulers, with a succession of increasingly hot rooms to bathe in, as well as the Gothic Hall, one of the earliest additions, used to receive ambassadors and celebrate major events. Then stroll through the gardens on the terraces, looking out to the sea below.

Miró's workshop, designed by Josep Lluís Sert

One of many artists drawn to the island, you can see not only Joan Miró’s work but also where he created his masterpieces as you visit the Fundació Miró Mallorca in Palma. Inside the main building, visitors can find over 6,000 works donated by the artist, from paintings to sculptures brought to life during his three decades living in Majorca.

Take a look inside the studios where he worked; one designed by Josep Lluís Sert, it allowed Miró to work on several paintings at once, while the Son Boter studio was an 18th-century home, with the artist’s charcoal graffiti still on the walls. Save time to explore the library and sculpture garden as well.

The Soller train at Palma station

The pretty train route between Palma and Soller was originally designed to transport oranges from the countryside to the capital, but these days it’s one of the most memorable Majorca attractions around.

Over 100 years old, the hour-long journey on the Tren de Soller takes you from its own special station in Palma (near the regular train station) to the gorgeous Art Deco station at Soller, with a stop at Bunyola.

Riding on the glossy wooden narrow-gauge train, you pass through 13 tunnels and over a string of bridges and viaducts, through some of Majorca’s loveliest scenery, including the Serra de Tramuntana mountains. Don’t miss the art gallery and the lovely Art Nouveau buildings in Soller itself once you arrive.

The famous Port Soller tram

If you’re already planning to visit Soller with the vintage train, team the journey with another antique mode of transport, the Port Soller tram – a 15-minute journey aboard a similarly gleaming wooden tram, linking Soller itself with the seafront area.

You’ll find lots of locations across Majorca have both a town and a separate port, dating back to the days when pirate attacks ravaged the island. The population stayed inland for safety, while fishermen would often have small houses by the coast to be near their boats, creating a separate little settlement.

Today, Port de Soller is an attractive harbour town with a pretty marina and lots of restaurants and cafes thronging the promenade. At the far end, steps leading up the hill take you to a couple of viewpoints, looking back down over the port and over to mainland Spain in the other direction.

Cuevas del Drach, Majorca

When you think of Majorca tourist attractions, you tend to think of the island’s beautiful beaches or its dramatic scenery, rather than heading underground. But Majorca has some spectacular cave systems which are well worth exploring, including the most popular Drach Caves (or Cuevas del Drach).

The path through the four connected caves descends to 25m below ground level and stretches for over a mile, with innumerable ancient stalactites hanging like icicles from the ceilings, many in an unusual fishhook shape.

The caves also hide one of the largest underground lakes in the world, the translucent turquoise Lake Martel, where the hour-long visit ends with a 10-minute concert of live music and a light show, before a boat trip over the water (or there’s a bridge if you prefer) to take you back to the daylight world.

There’s a separate set of three caves nearby called the Hams Caves (Cuevas dels Hams) with its own underground lake and a chance to learn how the caverns were formed.

The village of Deia, Majorca

A contender for the title of loveliest village on the island (against some stiff competition), tiny Deia has become one of the most unusual attractions in Majorca. Clinging to the steep mountainside, it’s said that there’s not even enough ground to lie flat – and traditionally people were even buried standing up.

These days, strolling the narrow hilly streets of this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the biggest draws, ambling past dusty pink and ochre houses, looking out to the sea below, and enjoying the feeling of peace.

It also won over author Robert Graves, who first moved to Deia in 1929 in search of tranquillity and spent most of his life on the island. Buried in the tiny graveyard, you can also visit his home, with an exhibition on his life and work inside.

Pollensa's Calvari steps

Another of the island’s most charming towns, Pollensa (or Pollenca) is the perfect place to wander, spotting honey-coloured medieval buildings in the old town, strolling the winding streets and relaxing under the trees in shady squares. But if you’re ready for a challenge, Pollensa is also famous for its 365 Calvari steps, leading from the old town to an 18th century chapel.

Even if you’re not interested in visiting the chapel itself, the views back down are as breath-taking as the climb. There’s history to discover too, from the Roman bridge across the river, to lingering reminders of the Knights Templar, who were given Pollensa by Jaime I after helping expel the Moorish rulers from the island – their palace remains near the Font des Galles fountain.

Save some time to visit nearby Puerto Pollensa too, with cafes along the waterfront and boat trips to the Formentor Lighthouse.

Pollensa is in the north of the island – check out our Tourist Mallorca Map to see distances from Palma and the second city, Manacor.

Majorca has nearly 100 wineries

One of the less well-known Majorca attractions for most visitors is its wine. But the island has nearly 100 wineries, including the family-owned Bodega Ribas dating back to 1711, with many of the best found around Binissalem.

The tradition of winemaking goes back to Roman times - in 121BC, philosopher Pliny the Elder, mentioned Majorcan wines as some of the best in the Empire. After disease wiped out the island’s vines centuries ago, wine production restarted in earnest more recently, and Binissalem received a DO designation (Denominacion de Origen) in 1991.

You’ll find wine tours aplenty, as well as wine cellars to visit in the town itself. Look out for Bodegas Jose L Ferrer, which is one of the most famous on the island.

Es Trenc beach, one of Majorca's best beaches

There are 262 beaches across the island, and this gorgeous coastline is easily one of the biggest Mallorca tourist attractions if you’re booking a trip. So, picking the best beach on Majorca isn’t the easiest task.

But if you only visit one beach on the island (and it would be a shame not to see a few more), Es Trenc is unmissable. With gleaming white sand stretching for just over a mile, and vibrant turquoise blue waters, you could easily imagine yourself thousands of miles away in the Caribbean.

Backed by sand dunes, the whole beach is part of the Es Trenc-Salobrar de Campos protected area, rich with birdlife on the migration routes between Europe and Africa, which also includes the nearby salt lagoons, where some of the best salt in the Balearics is still produced.

Cap de Formentor, northern Majorca

Not far from Pollensa, on Majorca’s northern tip, the Cap de Formentor is home to some of the island’s most wild and dramatic scenery. The point where the Tramuntana mountains meet the Mediterranean, the peninsula here stretches for around 12 miles, ending with the windswept white lighthouse, isolated at the furthest end.

It’s a wonderful place to spot birds, including shrieking clouds of seabirds and Eleonora’s falcons, which nest here during the winter. Outside the summer months, you can drive along the road to the point, but from June 1-September 30, only public transport, residents and certain authorised vehicles can access the road, although cyclists are always welcome.

Stop at the Mirador de Mal Pas viewpoint or the little watchtower along the way, while you can also look back up at views of the mountains from the little Platja de Formentor cove. And like so many Majorca attractions, this spectacular spot is an entirely natural treasure.

We offer escorted tours to Majorca as well as hotel stays, so it’s never been easier to discover the island’s highlights for yourself. Grab your sunhat and book Saga Majorca holidays here.