Mallorca in 4 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

Mallorca is part of the Balearic Islands of Spain and is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Europe. Beaches, coves, islets, mountain ranges, caves, Roman ruins, natural parks and villages full of charm await you on this island bathed by the waters of the Mediterranean.

In this article I will tell you about the best things to do in Mallorca during your 4-day stay, so you can get to know everything the island has to offer. From cultural and nightlife in the city of Palma to the practice of sports such as scuba diving or snorkeling in the calm Mediterranean waters.

If you visit Mallorca you cannot miss its beautiful coves and unspoiled beaches, where you can relax in its crystal clear turquoise waters and enjoy a beautiful view.

I recommend you to arrive first and very early to Caló des Moro, since it is a very popular bay surrounded by cliffs that usually gets quite crowded. Then you can walk to Cala S'Almunia, where people usually go to sunbathe on the ramps of an old fishermen's shelter.

In the afternoon you can visit Cala Llombards for water sports such as diving or snorkeling in its crystal clear waters and see what the seabed has to offer.

Cala des Moro and Cala S'Almunia are virgin coves, so they do not have any services, so I recommend that you take your water and food, as well as a hat and sunscreen to enjoy them to the fullest.

Caló des Moro

Cala des Moro is a small bay of turquoise waters, very chosen by tourists. It has white sands and waters so crystal clear that you can see the bottom of the ocean. It is located in the southeast of the island of Mallorca, next to Cala Llombards, in the municipality of Santanyí.

In this cove you can swim without problems, since its waters are very calm. It is surrounded by beautiful cliffs covered with rocks, pine trees and different kinds of bushes. Visiting the coves is one of the best things to do in September in Mallorca.

I recommend you to arrive early, as it is a small cove and it fills up quickly.

• How to get there by car: From Palma you can get there in an hour by taking the Ma-19 road to Santanyí and then the Ma-6100 and continue about 7 km to Cala Llombards. From the free parking there you have to walk about 25 minutes to Caló des Moro, following the indicated path.
• Arriving by public transport: with bus lines 501 and 517 it will take you about two hours to reach Cala Lombards. From there you have to walk 1 km to Cap des Moró.
• Location: next to the Spanish town of Cala Llombards, municipality of Santanyí, southeast of the island Mallorca.
• Recommendations: The path is somewhat difficult for children. You have to go down some stairs, and the ground is dirt and quite rocky.

S'Almunia Cove

Just 100 meters from Caló des Moro, taking a dirt road and rocks, is the Cala S'Almunia, a cove with crystal clear waters with beautiful colors ranging from blue to turquoise and white sand.

It is a cove surrounded by cliffs, where the water reaches about 4-5 meters deep. There is no sand between the sea and the coast, so the ramps built by fishermen are used for sunbathing, which are smooth and more comfortable than the rocks.

This cove was inhabited by former fishermen, so you can see in the surroundings houses built on the rocks. As Caló des Moro, it can get quite crowded, as it is very appreciated by those who are looking for tranquility.

• Location: in the municipality of Santanyí. In the south east of the island Mallorca.
• Recommendations: from the parking lot you can only get there on foot following the signs. To get there you must go down about 100 steep steps, which is somewhat complicated for children. You should wear comfortable walking shoes.

Llombards Cove

Cala Llombards is a bay of turquoise and crystalline waters that you cannot miss if you are interested in discovering the beautiful coves of Mallorca. Nearby is the natural monument Es Pontàs, which consists of a natural arch over the Mediterranean, which you can see from a viewpoint.

This cove does have services, unlike Caló des Moro and Cala S'Almunia, so you will find showers, as well as umbrellas and hammocks that you can rent. There are also many restaurants with a beautiful view of the surroundings where you can have lunch or dinner.

In high season, from June to September, it is guarded by lifeguards. It is one of the most recommended coves for a day trip in Mallorca with children due to the amenities it offers.

I recommend you to take advantage of its calm and crystal clear waters to snorkel or dive, and enjoy the wonderful flora and fauna of the seabed, one of the best activities you can do in Mallorca.

• How to get there from Cala S'Almunia: you must go back to the parking lot of Cala Llombards which is next to the beach and follow very simple indications to get to the cove. The distance is about 1.5 km.

On your second day on the island of Mallorca, one of the most interesting places you can visit is the Natural Park of Mondragó, where you can stay all day enjoying the scenery and taking advantage of the beaches of Cala Mondragó and S'Amarador.

I recommend that you dedicate the morning to visit the Natural Park of Mondragó and after lunch go to the cove of the same name.

Later. you can go to the virgin beach S'Amarador, and marvel at its beautiful natural scenery.

Mondragó Natural Park

The Natural Park of Mondragó is located in the municipality of Santanyí, in the area known as Marines de Llevant. It has 96 public hectares and 766 private hectares, and was declared a natural park in 1992.

In this park you will find many trails to explore its diversity of landscapes: from rain-fed plantations to forests, garrigues and wetlands. It is inhabited by a great variety of animal species, such as the Mediterranean tortoise, the garrigue and water snake, the frog, and more than 70 species of birds, such as the turtle dove and the kestrel.

Among the vegetation there are abundant carob, almond and fig trees, and many kinds of shrubs such as rosemary and lavender. Visiting this park is one of the best things to do in Mallorca, especially if you are interested in learning about its biodiversity.

100 meters from the park is Cala Mondragó, one of the most famous coves in Mallorca, with beautiful turquoise crystal clear waters. It is a virgin cove 75 meters long, where you can rent a sun lounger and umbrellas.

• Opening hours: All day. The Information Center is open from 9 am to 4 pm.
• Location: Carretera Mondragó, s/n
• Entrance fee: free. Parking costs between 2€ to 5€ approximately.
• How to get there: From the village of Santanyí take the Ma-19 road and then follow the signs to the park.

S'Amarador beach is located in the Natural Park of Mondragó. It is an unspoiled beach of 200 meters long surrounded by forests, which ensures shade on the hottest days.

It has an easy access walkway so visiting it is one of the best things to do with children in Mallorca.

Its sand is white and its crystal clear waters are turquoise with shades of green and blue. There you can rent umbrellas, deck chairs and sun loungers; and there are also showers and a bar where you can have lunch.

From the Natural Park of Mondragó you only have to walk 500 meters to get to S'Amarador beach, bordering the coast along the Ctra A.Blanca-C. Mondragó. If you go by car you can take this same road or the Ma-19 road, but this route is longer.

• Location: Balearic Sea, 07690, Balearic Islands, Spain
• Entrance fee: free of charge. Parking costs from 2€ to 5€.

On your third day on the island of Mallorca I recommend that you visit the popular city of Palma. There you can tour its Old Town, where there are many art galleries, bars and craft stores.

A highly recommended way to tour the city is to use the Hop on Hop off bus that will take you to the most important attractions of the city. You can also take one of the bike tours of Mallorca in this city.

In the Old Town you will be able to see emblematic buildings such as the Cathedral of Mallorca, the Royal Palace of Almudaina and the Bellver Castle. In addition, you can visit the cultural center located in the Plaza Mayor.

In the afternoon you can refresh yourself in the beautiful Cala Major Beach and then take advantage of the great gastronomic offer of the area.

Old Town and Plaza Mayor

The Old Town of Palma is an area characterized by its ancient buildings of Catholic, Arab and Roman origin.

In the center of the Old Town is the Plaza Mayor, which was inaugurated at the end of the 19th century. Today it is a cultural and social center, and you will find numerous bars, restaurants and craft stores.

Cathedral of Mallorca

In the Plaza Mayor is also the Cathedral of Mallorca, which was built between 1229 and 1346. It is also known as La Seu and its episcopal palace houses the Museum of Sacred Art.

This temple has a Levantine Gothic style in which the Renaissance and Roman walls that were built to protect the city stand out. I recommend that you take a tour to see the views from the terrace of the flying buttresses, the rose window, the bell tower and the skyline of the city.

• Hours: Monday to Friday from 10 am to 5:15 pm, and Saturdays from 10 am to 2:15 pm. Closed on Sundays.
• Location: plaza de la Seu, s/n, 07001 Palma, Illes Balears, Spain
• Entrance fee: from 20€ for guided tours.

Bellver Castle

The Bellver Castle, located on top of a hill, is a medieval castle unique in Spain for its circular shape with 4 towers oriented to the cardinal points.

It also offers one of the best views of the city. It was built in the 14th century and is characterized by its Gothic style.

The castle also houses the History Museum, where you can learn about the evolution of Palma since its origins.

• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm and closed on Mondays.
• Location: Carrer de Camilo José Cela, s/n 07014, Palma, 3 kilometers west of the Old Town.
• Entrance fee: about 4€.
• How to get there: by car taking Camilo José Cela street up to the Castle parking lot. By bus with lines 4, 20 and 46, and you will have to walk 20 to 30 minutes up to the castle.

Cala Major Beach

Cala Major Beach is located in the city of Palma de Mallorca, just 13 minutes by car from the Cathedral of Mallorca. It is one of the oldest seaside resorts in Mallorca.

It is one of the best beaches to go with the family, as it is classified with the blue flag, which means that its waters are not dangerous. It occupies 200 meters of fine white sand and the water is clear turquoise.

It has services such as umbrellas, sunbeds and showers for visitors. Public parking is available at Carrer Prolongación Gaviota 292, a 3 minute walk from the beach.

Cala Major Beach is surrounded by beautiful cliffs and is located a short distance from the town, so there are many restaurants nearby where you can have fresh seafood for lunch.

• Location: Avenida de Joan Miró 276, Palma 07015, Balearic Islands.
• Entrance fee: free of charge. Parking usually costs around 5€.
• How to get there: You can get there in 13 minutes by car from the Cathedral of Mallorca taking the Ma-20 road, or by public transport with lines 4, 46 and 104.

On your fourth day you can go to the eastern part of the island and visit Porto Cristo, where you can visit the Drach Caves and the Majorca pearl factory, and have lunch in one of the restaurants of the city.

In the afternoon you can make a trip to the city of Manacor to visit the Rafa Nadal Xperience Museum, where you can see trophies and objects of the tennis player surrounded by high technology and practice some sport in virtual reality platforms.

Caves of Drach, Porto Cristo and Pearl Shop Mallorca

The Drach Caves are one of the attractions you cannot miss in Mallorca. They are 1700 meters long and reach a depth of 25 meters. Inside there are several lakes, including the Martel, one of the largest subway lakes in the world

The tour of the caves consists of a live concert and a boat trip on the lake or on foot across the bridge. It lasts approximately one hour. In the caves the ambient temperature is 21 degrees all year round.

I recommend that you book your entrance to the caves in advance so you can get in without any problems. I recommend that you go early, so you can take advantage of the opportunity to tour the town of Porto Cristo and Pearl Shop.

• Hours: Monday to Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm.
• Location: The town of Porto Cristo is located in the municipality of Manacor, in the eastern part of Mallorca.
• Entrance fee: From 16 € for adults and 9 € for children.

Porto Cristo

Porto Cristo is a town in the municipality of Manacor, also known as Puerto de Manacor. The town is home to buildings from the thirteenth century. It is a charming little fishing village with low houses and many restaurants to taste local food.

Porto Cristo is also known for its pearl industry. That is why you cannot miss a visit to Pearl Shop Mallorca, a pearl factory that is famous for making its jewelry with glass pearls, preserving the naturalness and originality in the designs. It is located 50 minutes away from the Caves of Drach.

If you are interested in visiting these places with a specialized guide, you can choose a tour that includes the Caves of Drach as well as Porto Cristo and Pearl Shop Mallorca. These tours start at 9 a.m. and last from 5 to 6 hours.

Rafa Nadal Xperience Museum in Manacor

The Nadal Museum is located in the municipality of Manacor, 12 km from Porto Cristo. There you will be able to see trophies, costumes and other objects of the tennis player and also different items that were donated by other sports stars.

Nadal is one of the best tennis players in the history of Spain and has numerous trophies that have consecrated him in the ranking of the Association of Tennis Professionals. I recommend that you book your tickets in advance for the Rafa Nadal Museum Xperience.

Inside the museum there are two important rooms, the exhibition hall, where you can see incredible sound and light shows, and the interactive room, where you can practice a sport (tennis, rowing, formula 1, among others) with advanced technology and virtual reality platforms.

• Hours: Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 6:30 pm and Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm.
• Location: Ctra. Cales de Mallorca s/n, Km 1,2, 07500 Manacor
• Entrance fee: around 18€.