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

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

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

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

I recommend arriving early in the morning at Caló des Moro, as it is a very popular bay surrounded by cliffs that tends to get quite crowded. Then you can walk to Cala S'Almunia, where people usually go to sunbathe on the ramps of an old fishermen's refuge.

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

Cala des Moro and Cala S'Almunia are unspoilt coves and therefore have no services, so I recommend that you take your water and food with you, as well as a hat and sunscreen to enjoy them to the full.

Caló des Moro

Cala des Moro is a small bay with turquoise waters, very popular with 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 any problems, as 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 that you arrive early, as it is a small cove and 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 for about 7 km to Cala Llombards. From the free car park there you have to walk about 25 minutes to Caló des Moro, following the signposted path.
• Getting there 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, in the southeast of the island of Majorca.
• Recommendations: The path is somewhat difficult for children. You have to go down some stairs, and the ground is earthy and quite rocky.

S'Almunia cove

Just 100 metres from Caló des Moro, taking a dirt and rocky path, is Cala S'Almunia, a cove with crystal-clear waters, beautiful colours ranging from blue to turquoise and white sand.

It is a cove surrounded by cliffs, where the water reaches a depth of 4-5 metres. There is no sand between the sea and the coast, so the ramps built by the 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 small houses built on the rocks in the surrounding area. Like Caló des Moro, it can get quite crowded, as it is much appreciated by those in search of tranquillity.

• Location: in the municipality of Santanyí. In the south-east of the island of Mallorca.
• Recommendations: From the car park you can only get there on foot by following the signs. To get there you have to go down some 100 steep steps, which is somewhat difficult for children. You should wear comfortable walking shoes.

Llombards Cove

Cala Llombards is a bay with turquoise, crystal-clear waters that you cannot miss if you are interested in discovering Mallorca's beautiful coves. 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 beach umbrellas and sun loungers 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 facilities it offers.

I recommend that you 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 Cala Llombards car park next to the beach and follow the very simple indications to get to the cove. The distance is approximately 1.5 km.

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

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

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

Mondragó Natural Park

The Mondragó Natural Park 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 wide 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.

The vegetation is abundant with carob, almond and fig trees, and many types 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 discovering its biodiversity.

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

• Opening hours: All day. The Information Centre is open from 9am to 4pm.
• Location: Carretera Mondragó, s/n
• Entrance fee: free of charge. Parking costs between €2 and €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 Mondragó Natural Park. It is a 200-metre-long unspoilt beach surrounded by woods, which ensures shade on the hottest days.

It has an easily accessible walkway, which is why visiting it is one of the best things to do with children in Mallorca.

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

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

• 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 explore the Old Town, where there are many art galleries, bars and craft shops.

A highly recommended way to get around 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. You can also visit the cultural centre located in the Plaza Mayor.

In the afternoon you can cool off on the beautiful Cala Major beach and then take advantage of the great gastronomic offer in the area.

Old Town and Plaza Mayor

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

In the centre 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 centre, and you will find numerous bars, restaurants and craft shops.

Cathedral of Mallorca

In the Plaza Mayor you will also find 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 you take a tour to see the views from the terrace of the flying buttresses, the main rose window, the bell tower and the city skyline.

• Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 10am to 5.15pm, and Saturdays from 10am to 2.15pm. Closed on Sundays.
• Location: plaza de la Seu, s/n, 07001 Palma, Illes Balears, Spain
• Admission fee: from €20 for guided tours.

Bellver Castle

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

It also offers one of the best views of the city. It was built in the 14th century and is characterised 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 kilometres west of the Old Town.
• Entrance fee: around 4€.
• How to get there: By car, take Carrer de Camilo José Cela to the Castle car park. By bus with lines 4, 20 and 46, and you will have to walk up to the castle in 20 to 30 minutes.

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 to with the family, as it is classified with the blue flag, which means that its waters are not dangerous. It has 200 metres of fine white sand and clear turquoise water.

It has services such as beach umbrellas, deck chairs 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 enjoy fresh seafood for lunch.

• Location: Avenida de Joan Miró 276, Palma 07015, Balearic Islands.
• Admission fee: free of charge. Parking usually costs approximately €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 on 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 Caves of Drach and the Majorca pearl factory, and have lunch in one of the town's restaurants.

In the afternoon you can take a trip to the town 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 on virtual reality platforms.

Drach Caves, Porto Cristo and Pearl Shop Mallorca

The Drach Caves are one of the must-see attractions in Mallorca. They are 1,700 metres long and reach a depth of 25 metres. Inside there are several lakes, including the Martel, one of the largest underground lakes in the world

The tour of the caves consists of a live concert and a boat trip on the lake or a walk across the bridge. It lasts about an hour. The ambient temperature in the caves is 21 degrees all year round.

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

• Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 10am to 3pm.
• Location: The town of Porto Cristo is in the municipality of Manacor, in the eastern part of Mallorca.
• Entry 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 dating back to the 13th century. It is a charming little fishing village with low houses and many restaurants for local food.

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

If you are interested in visiting these places with a specialised guide, you can choose a tour that includes the Caves of Drach, Porto Cristo and Pearl Shop Mallorca. These tours start at 9 a.m. and last between 5 and 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 articles 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 Professional Tennis Players. 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 light and sound shows, and the interactive room, where you can practice a sport (tennis, rowing, formula 1, among others) with advanced technology and virtual reality platforms.

• Opening 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
• Ticket price: around 18€.