Are you planning a Mallorca road trip?
Mallorca is a beautiful island, and there’s a reason why many tourists enjoy spending their holidays here. You can relax on white beaches, find quiet and hidden bays along the coast, and you can also discover charming villages and towns.
In this post, we are going to show you what to do in Mallorca if you have around three days on the island. Mallorca is larger than most people expect, so you won’t be able to see everything in those days.
However, we are going to tell you about the highlights of Mallorca, and maybe you will decide one day that you want to come back to see more.
You can easily expand this Mallorca itinerary, by the way, by moving at a slower pace and spending more time in each place.
Also, we have collected lots of general advice about visiting Mallorca, renting a car and driving in Spain. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know!
Mallorca Road Trip Itinerary
Day 1 – Palma de Mallorca to Colonia de Sant Jordi
Start your Mallorca vacation by exploring the island’s capital.
Most visitors come to Mallorca for the beaches and villages. Palma de Mallorca is a great city, though, and I have spent a couple of days here before. Since you have limited time, try to see at least the highlights in a few hours.
The Cathedral, the King’s Gardens and the Arab Baths are the most famous stops if you have less than one day in Palma de Mallorca. We also recommend you to go for a walk around the Old Town, known as the Casco Antiguo.
In the afternoon, drive from Palma de Mallorca to Colonia de Sant Jordi. This town is famous for its beaches and seaside restaurants. If the weather is nice, you can take a quick dip in the sea before eating fresh fish or seafood for dinner.
Highlights of Palma de Mallorca
- Catedral de Mallorca: Locals call the Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma La Seu. Construction started in the 13th century, but Gaudi introduced some changes in the early 1900s when he participated in a restoration project. Due to an argument, the architect did not implement all of his suggestions, but you can still see Gaudi’s traces. The Cathedral is enormous, so you can easily spend an hour or two here. It’s also very popular, so we recommend booking skip-the-line tickets online.
- King’s Gardens: Close to the Cathedral, you can find S’Hort del Rei, the King’s Gardens. The palm trees and fountains offer a quiet break from the city. While the Gardens date back to the Arabs, the original design a thousand years ago was very different, with many fruit trees and vegetables. The current state of the gardens dates back to a redesign in the 1960s and was inspired by the Andalusian Nasrid style.
- Arab Baths: The Arab Baths are the perfect reminder that Mallorca was once part of the Arab Al Andalus Empire. They date back to the 10th century and were once part of a Nobleman’s house. Pay attention to the columns holding up the dome, as they were recycled from the Roman and Byzantine periods and all have a different style.
Highlights of Colonia de Sant Jordi
- Relax by the beach: If you walk around the Port of Sant Jordi, you’ll notice a small beach, perfect for a dip into the water if you don’t have much time. You can also walk along the coast for a while if you prefer to swim outside the city.
- Es Trenc: Es Trenc is one of Mallorca’s most famous beaches. This stretch of sand is around three kilometres long, and if the weather is good, it’s easy to spend a day or two relaxing here. If you only have 3 days in Mallorca, you don’t have much time here. It’s still worth coming for a quick look and maybe a swim in the sea.
- Salinas d’Es Trenc: At the edge of Colonia de Sant Jordi, you’ll notice huge basins and mountains of salt. What you see here is part of the Salinas d’Es Trenc, Mallorca’s salt factory. Even the Romans already mined salt here. If you have enough time, you can join a guided tour through the salt flats. Check out the schedule online before you go.
Where to stay in Colonia de Sant Jordi
If you’re travelling in high season, make sure to book your accommodation in advance or be flexible in where you want to stay. Mallorca is popular with tourists, especially in summer, so hotels can book out.
Here are some suggestions for where to stay in Colonia de Sant Jordi:
Mid-Range: A great mid-range hotel in Colonia de Sant Jordi is the Aparthotel Isla de Cabrera. With its location close to the waterfront, its swimming pool and a spa, it’s a great hotel to relax in after a day of sightseeing. Click here to see photos and read reviews!
A bit more comfort: If you’re looking for a five-star hotel with a large pool, you should check out Hotel El Coto. From the terrace, you have a fantastic view of the salt lakes. Plus, rates include breakfast, and you’re only a short walk away from the beach. Click here to book your stay!
Budget: If you’re travelling on a budget, Hostal Restaurante Playa is a great option. This hotel offers affordable rooms and receives great reviews. It’s only 50 metres from the beach, and you have a restaurant onsite. Click here to check it out!
Day 2 – Colonia de Sant Jordi to Cala Figuera
If you look at a map of Mallorca, you’ll notice that you won’t cover much distance today.
That’s okay because you can find lots of fantastic things to do in this area. Start by visiting the Sanctuary of Sant Salvador. You have an excellent view of the island from the top of this hill.
Next, it’s time to cool down at a beach. I love S’Amarador, a white beach with turquoise water. If the weather is nice, you can easily spend a few hours here.
Finally, end your day in Cala Figuera. This charming fishing village is excellent for a walk along the seaside, and you can find nice restaurants here.
Highlights of Day 2
- Sanctuary of Sant Salvador: Driving the windy road up to this monastery is well worth it for the view. From here, you can see the coastline and get a glimpse of the interior of the island. Don’t forget to climb up the small hill to the cross, and make sure to visit the church.
- S’Amarador: Some say that S’Amarador is the most beautiful beach in Mallorca. The bay with its turquoise water is well worth a visit. If the weather is nice, bring a towel so you can go for a swim. The bay is shallow, so the water warms up quickly on sunny days. Also, don’t take the fastest path from the parking lot. Instead, go for a walk through the pine forest to enjoy nature and get some great views along the way.
- Cala Figuera: The bay in Cala Figuera almost looks like a fjord, with large streams of water cutting into the land. Make sure to walk to the end of the bay to properly see the village and the fishing boats. In the evening, enjoy dinner in one of the restaurants facing the bay. Here, you can sample fresh fish or seafood or try traditional local dishes.
Where to stay in Cala Figuera
Even though you’re on a road trip across Mallorca, it’s nice to get out of the car and walk. We recommend getting a hotel in Cala Figuera, so you can park your car for the afternoon and evening.
Here are some ideas for where to stay:
Mid-Range: The newly-opened Hotel Nou Can Guillem is a great mid-range option in Cala Figuera. The rooms are nicely decorated and air-conditioned, and you can spend the evening sitting outside on your balcony. Click here to see pictures and book your stay!
Budget to Mid-Range: Cala Figuera isn’t the cheapest village in Mallorca, but if you’re on a budget, Apartaments Marina Sol i Pins sometimes offers excellent deals. The studios come with a small kitchen, and you can even access a pool. Click here to learn more!
A bit more comfort: Cala Figuera is a beautiful fishing village, but you won’t find any high-end hotels here. We highly recommend choosing one of the mid-range options. However, if you prefer luxury, you could look into Can Ferrereta, in nearby Santanyi. Here, you can relax in the spa or enjoy the sunshine by the pool. Click here to read reviews!
Day 3 – Cala Figuera to Port de Soller
Today, you’re going to drive to Port de Soller, where you finish your road trip.
If you need to, you can also return to Palma de Mallorca tonight, but if you have enough time, we recommend staying overnight in Port de Soller. The town is famous for its orange trees, cute cafes and beautiful seaside.
Along the way, make a stop in Valldemossa. This village sits on top of a hill surrounded by mountains. The monastery here is well worth a visit.
If you have enough time, you can also stop at the Jardines de Alfabia.
Highlights of Day 3:
- Valldemossa: As we already said, the highlight of Valldemossa is its monastery, called the Charterhouse. The area around it, the Sierra de Tramuntana, is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Valldemossa also features many cute streets to wander through.
- Jardines de Alfabia: These gardens are a cool and quiet oasis in the middle of the Tramuntana mountains. At their centre, you can find a manor house dating back to the 12th century. While walking around, you will see Moorish influences but also great examples of English landscaping – it’s a great place to admire the traces that different cultures left behind. You can book your tickets online to have them ready when you arrive.
- Soller and Port de Soller: Soller is a cute town just next to Port de Soller. Start here by exploring the town centre and eating orange-flavoured ice cream. From Soller, you can then take the historic tram to the waterside in Port de Soller. This bay is a great place to swim, but it’s also fantastic for going for walks along the seaside and eating fresh seafood.
Where to stay in Soller:
As Soller and Port de Soller are so close to each other that you can almost walk from one place to another (it takes around an hour on foot and is very fast by tram and by car), it doesn’t matter much where you stay. Here are some recommendations for your last night:
Mid-Range: Casa Bougainvillea is one of the best-rated hotels in Soller, with excellent reviews from other guests. Rates include breakfast which you can enjoy surrounded by plants in the courtyard. From the hotel, it’s only a 3-minute walk to the centre or a short drive to Port de Soller. Click here to check rates and availability!
A bit more comfort: If you’re looking for luxury and an infinity pool overlooking the sea, you should check out the Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel & Spa. You can find a fitness centre and a spa onsite, as well as three restaurants. Click here to see photos of the impressive pool and learn more.
Budget: Hostal Nadal is a great budget choice in the centre of Soller. The rooms are basic but clean, and there’s a great garden and terrace where you can sit for a drink. Click here to read reviews and book your stay!
Practical Information
Best time to visit Mallorca
While you can visit Mallorca all year long, the best time is in spring or autumn.
From March to May, you can expect decent weather, but the hotels won’t fill up with summer tourists yet. The same applies to September to mid-November, when the crowds have already left, but you still have great weather.
In summer, make sure to book your hotels in advance. Mallorca is popular with tourists from all over Europe, and the best accommodation tends to book out early.
Winter, on the other hand, is a great time to escape the crowds. The weather isn’t warm enough to go for a swim, but with some luck, you will still catch some sunny days with 15ºC (59 Fahrenheit).
How to rent a car in Mallorca
When renting your car in Mallorca, you have two options.
You can either arrange your car spontaneously or reserve it in advance.
Unless you’re very flexible or travelling off-season, we highly recommend booking a rental car before arriving on the island. You might have heard of the shortage of rental cars worldwide, caused mainly by the pandemic and disturbed supply chains. Therefore, reserve a car as soon as possible.
A great place to pick up your rental car is at the airport of Palma de Mallorca. If you prefer, you could also catch a taxi to Palma de Mallorca and get your vehicle there.
When renting a car, make sure that you use a website like rentalcars.com, where you can compare prices from different companies. That way, you can get the best offer.
Driving in Mallorca
How long does it take to drive around Mallorca?
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that Mallorca is a small island.
It might not look like it, but if you want to go around the island, the longest route is 312 kilometres. That means it’ll take you five to six hours.
The three days we suggest in our itinerary only cover the southern part of Mallorca. We think it’s a good compromise between seeing as much of the island as possible and not spending all of your days in a car.
If you have more time, you can easily expand this itinerary by exploring some of the places in more depth or venturing further north.
What do I need to drive in Mallorca?
When you plan your Mallorca road trip, make sure to pack some essential documents.
You will need a valid driver’s license and your ID or passport. In addition, inside your rental car, you always need to have the original vehicle registration document and proof of insurance. Your insurance has to cover at least 3rd party damage, although we recommend covering the rental car as well.
That way, you don’t have to worry in case of accidents.
Some credit cards come with rental car insurance, or you can book your insurance at the same time as your car. We like to watch out for special packages that combine everything, so we don’t have to worry about the details.
Is driving in Mallorca difficult?
The most challenging part about driving around Mallorca is figuring out where you want to go and what you want to see.
Besides that, the island has a mixture of larger and smaller roads. In the mountains, the streets can sometimes get narrow with sharp turns. Be patient and go up and down slowly.
Always watch out for cyclists. Mallorca is extremely popular with cyclists, and you’ll see many bicycles on the roads. Unfortunately, some streets are so narrow that it’s hard to pass the cyclists. Be especially careful in the mountains, as sometimes, bikes can come down the roads at high speed.
What side of the road does Spain drive on?
In Spain, you drive on the right side of the road. That means that your rental car will have its steering wheel on the left side of the vehicle.
If you’re coming from a country where you usually drive on the left side of the road, don’t worry. Making the switch is much less scary than you think. Take it easy in the beginning; you will get used to driving on the right side very quickly.
What are the speed limits in Spain?
When driving a car around Mallorca, you need to remember a few speed limits.
On Mallorca, you can find three motorways. The network of highways is limited, but if you happen to be on one, you need to respect a speed limit of 120km/h.
On regular interurban roads in between cities, you can drive at 90km/h.
In cities, the speed limits are a bit more complicated and depend on the size of your road. If you’re driving on a street with two lanes in each direction, you can go at 50km/h. On roads with one lane per direction, you need to slow down to 30km/h.
And finally, if you’re sharing a road with pedestrians, the speed limit is 20km/h.
Do you need a car in Mallorca?
If you like the above itinerary but don’t want to drive around Mallorca, don’t worry. You don’t necessarily need a car to get around.
Public transport connects the main towns and villages in Mallorca, You can look up the extensive bus network online, which is helpful for planning your trip.
Unfortunately, even though you can reach many places by bus, getting around will be slower than with a car. That means you either have to skip some of the stops we mentioned above or will need to stay on the island for more than three days.
If you’re going around by public transport, by the way, make sure to look into the historic train that connects Palma de Mallorca and Soller. It takes you through the mountains, from where you have great views, and is also a perfect option if you want to visit Soller on a day trip from Palma.
We hope that you now have an idea of how to plan your Mallorca road trip and have plenty of inspiration for your trip. Three days are not much, but you can still see a large part of the island in that time.
If you like road trips, make sure to also check out our Germany road trip itinerary! We also have a post about the best travel apps and resources that you should check out before your trip.
Until your next adventure!
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