A travelling itinerary exploring two of the most beautiful locations in Mallorca
Where is Mallorca
Mallorca (or Majorca) is a Balearic island owned by Spain. A stunning island filled with beaches, sunny weather, mountains and plenty of things to see and do. There is something for everyone with the party destinations such as parts of Malaga and Magaluf and the more serene locations such as Port de Soller. Other popular locations include Valldemossa, Deia and Alcudia.
How long here and what is the weather like
We took a short trip spending only 4 days in Mallorca and visited at the start of April. This was definitely enough time to get a feel for the island but we already want to revisit to see the other destinations we didn't get the chance to visit. The weather is April was low 20 degrees and as it is an island, by the coast Mallorca can be quite breezy. The Spanish were dressed in jeans and hoodies (sometimes even coats) but we found it comfortable to wear shorts, t-shirts and a hoody when it got cooler. However, you will appreciate having some warmer clothes for the cooler evenings.
If you are craving the heat and sunshine then it is best to visit during the summer months between June and August. We would recommend a week in Mallorca. This will allow you to travel to 2-3 different locations around the island and experience what each has to offer. We would recommend 10 days-2 weeks if you want a more relaxing holiday and some sunbathing time.
Palma
We flew from Newcastle International Airport and started our trip with a visit to the newly refurbished Aspire Lounge. More about the lounge coming in our next blog post.
We rented a car and picked this up from Palma de Mallorca airport before heading off to our first destination, Palma. Thankfully the journey was extremely short, only 10 minutes from the airport. Palma is the capital of Mallorca and located in the western Mediterranean. It offers the perfect balance of history, sight-seeing, fine-dining whilst being right next to the beach.
Palma - where to stay
We stayed in Portixol on the harbour which is a small and exclusive hotel situated a 30-35 minute walk from the centre of Palma. You walk straight along the beautiful, scenic promenade and the time flies before you reach the centre. The location of this hotel is perfect if you want some peace and quiet away from the busy centre of Palma.
The hotel boasts of spacious, Scandinavian/mediterranean style bedrooms, a spa with treatment rooms, a gym and sauna and a popular, gourmet restaurant overlooking the harbour where diners have been enjoying the view since 1956.
We stayed in a Mediterranean View room which had a king bed, a sofa and lounge area and plenty of room for the travel cot for our baby daughter. Included with the room are toiletries, a welcome gift in the room and a complimentary mini bar which is replenished each day during your stay. You will also receive a card on check in to claim a welcome drink from the bar. This can be a soft drink, glass of cava, wine or beer.
Breakfast at Portixol was our favourite of the trip with a buffet offering high-quality products including freshly squeezed juices and smoothies, cold meats and cheese (including traditional Mallorcan sausage), yogurt, fruit compote and cereals and an a la carte menu with a range of cooked options including poached eggs and avocado and pancakes. The dining hall overlooks the swimming pool and out on the harbour and over the sea. You could quite happily spend an hour or so having a leisurely breakfast here and sampling the beautiful food on offer.
Portixol was of such high quality and the staff could not do enough to make your stay perfect. We would definitely recommend this hotel during your stay in Palma.
Palma - what to do
We joined a free walking tour of Palma on our first day to really get our bearings and learn about the history of Palma. Unfortunately with a restless 9-month old we weren't able to stick around for the full 2 hours but we followed the remainder of the route ourselves which is posted online.
The main attractions in Palma are:
Paseo maritimo walk
Parc de la mar
Mercat de l'olivar
Palma cathedral
Royal Palace La Almudaina
S'Hort del rei
Bellver Castle
Arab baths
Food Tours Mallorca
In Palma centre we joined Food Tours Mallorca on their wine and dine tour. This is a self-guided tour around Palma centre which includes a personalised walking route with city highlights along the way, a signature small dish at 4 different restaurants where reservations are made for you and a glass of wine, beer or soft drink at each stop. The tour takes four hours but you can take it at your own pace which is a perfect activity to do with children (who we all know can be unpredictable at times!).
You will be sent the itinerary 24 hours before the tour which will show you which restaurants you will be visiting when and a map to follow including points of interest along the way. We sampled tacos, patatas bravos, barbecued meats and all sorts of delicious Spanish and mediterranean delicacies. Each restaurant were extremely welcoming and knew exactly what we should be served so all of the hassle of making a reservation and ordering was taken away from us.
It was the perfect way to spend the afternoon in Palma and we ended the afternoon feeling very full, merry and relaxed! Book your wine and dine tour here.
Palma - where to eat
There are a number of fine-dining restaurants in Mallorca offering some of the highest quality, Michelin star food in the world. However, if you are more like us and are searching for some more mid-range restaurants then here are some recommendations.
Santa Catalina - tapas in old town (20 min walk from cathedral)
La Nueva Burgeresa - handmade burgers (17 min walk from cathedral)
Isaan Thai - traditional thai food (16 min walk from cathedral)
Madeleine de Proust - bakery for pastries (16 min walk from cathedral)
Assaona - beautiful terrace and beach views (11 min walk from Portixol to West)
Petit C'an Punta Por - beach bar vibe (8 min walk from Portixol to East)
Wine Tasting
On the way from Palma to Port de Soller we stopped for a wine tasting experience at Macia Batle. The winery is a 24 minute drive North from Palma. The winery opened in 1856 and still remains within the same family. They produce white, rose, red and even orange wines and work with local artists to design some of the labels for their bottles.
Our guide showed us around the inside of the winery showing the fermentation tanks, the bottling process and the wine cellar with hundreds of barrels and bottles where the wine is stored. It was then onto the tasting where our 4 wine tasting turned into a 7 wine tasting including a taste of Vermut at the end! We also got to sample green and black olive oils and flavoured vinegars - all which you can purchase from the shop on site. We couldn't resist the black olive oil and took some home with us.
You can enjoy your wine tasting outside in the sunshine and this makes for the perfect leisurely afternoon. You will not be rushed out and can enjoy the tasting experience at your pace. A perfect activity solo, in a couple, as a group of friends or even with a baby like we did.
Port de Soller
Port de Soller is the port village of the popular town of Soller. This remote and picturesque location can be found on the North West of Mallorca. It is particularly popular for its historic tram, large bay and seafood.
Port de Soller - Where to stay
In Port de Soller we stayed in the best hotel in the village without a doubt, Hotel Esplendido. Esplendido is the sister hotel to Portixol and you can be sure to receive the exact same high standard of service, facilities and accommodation here. From the hotel you have the most perfect view of the bay which encases Port de Soller and incredible views of the Tramuntana mountains in the distance. Not only this, you will frequently see the historic tram pass right past the hotel.
There are a number of room types to choose from suites to rooms with a sea view and rooms with a garden terrace. You are offered the same benefits as Portixol such as a mini bar included with your room rate and a welcome drink you can claim from the bar. Esplendido has two outdoor pools, one heated which as a shallow pool for children to play in and one infinity pool with the most beautiful panoramic views of the bay below. There is also a spa over over 18 access only and yoga and pilates classes every morning at 8am and 9am starting from 35 euros per person.
There are two options for breakfast. On the first floor you will find the buffet breakfast with fresh Mallorcan produce and delicious freshly squeezed orange juice and other products made from the Balearic fruit such as orange honey. You can also have cooked options here such as eggs and bacon. In the restaurant on the ground floor you can enjoy the a la carte breakfast with a huge range of options. We opted for some filled bagels with scrambled eggs, avocado, cream cheese and smoked salmon. They were delicious!
The restaurant on site is Davant de la Mar which uses local produce to create delicious, high-quality dishes. There are a range of options from club sandwiches to meat and fish fillets. We chose a selection of tapas dishes and it was recommended that we order 2-3 dishes per person. We chose calamari, patatas bravas, grilled cauliflower, crab croquette, greek salad and more. It was all extremely well cooked and we thoroughly enjoyed our meal. You can sit outside and enjoy your food in the sunshine with views over the sea and the tram passing every now and then.
Port de Soller - What to do
Take the tram from Port de Soller to Soller
Hike from Soller through Fornalutx and Biniaraix and back (this is a circular loop and takes around 2 hours) - find the trail here
Walk along the promenade and stop at one of the many sea front bars for a drink
Walk up to Torre Picada watertower
Take a day trip to Deia and Valldemossa - 40 minutes from Port de Soller
Port de Soller - Where to eat
Davant de la mar - at Hotel Esplendido for high quality food with great views
Neni - tapas with views (fairly pricey)
Ses Oliveres - traditional Mediterranean menu but not many options
Es Passeig - tapas with a terrace area overlooking the bay
We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Mallorca but there is so much to see and do 4 nights was not long enough! We will definitely be back to explore more and share more about our trips here.