The Balearic Islands have something for everyone. Whether you want to dance the night away at the trendy international clubs of Ibiza or explore the Biosphere Reserve of Menorca, it’s well worth leaving the Spanish mainland to explore these gems.
After falling in love with the old-world charm of Valldemossa and exploring the UNESCO treasures of Deià, Mallorca officially became one of my favorite Mediterranean escapes.
From romantic coves to surfing hotspots, you can choose your own adventure on the sun-soaked shores of Mallorca. Of course, hunting down the best beaches in this European paradise was no easy job, but someone had to do it!
Here’s my region by region guide to the best beaches in Mallorca!
Tips for Visiting Beaches in Mallorca
Go Early
Find your place in the sun before the crowd arrives!
This is especially important during July and August when you can barely find an empty spot to lay a towel by mid-day on the most popular beaches. Plan for early nights and early rising. Trust me, it’s worth it.
Research the Journey
While the hidden coves and dramatic seaside cliffs are what make the beaches of Mallorca so stunning, the logistics can be tricky.
Resist the temptation to pack too much beach-hopping into one day and take it slow. Research driving directions and parking options. While there are hundreds of beaches dotting the islands, many of them are difficult, time-consuming, and downright dangerous to access.
BYO-Everything
Many of the most beautiful beaches in Mallorca are nearly deserted. Plan to bring your own water, snacks, and everything else you might need for a day out.
Bring an Extra Plastic Bag
Bring a plastic bag with you to collect any and all rubbish. There are often no garbage cans at the beaches and, of course, you’ll want to leave them as pristine as you found them, so plan to pack it all back up to take with you.
Use Reef-Safe Sunscreen
It’s crucial to protect the delicate underwater ecosystem. Wondering how to choose the right sunblock? Keep on reading here in my guide to eco-friendly sunscreen picks.
Wear Sturdy Footwear
Tuck the flip-flops into your bag and bring rough-and-ready shoes for navigating the sometimes difficult terrain that you’ll find on the way to the beach.
Respect the Local Communities
Living in paradise can be rough when you’ve got to share your tiny island with millions of tourists. Be kind to the locals and considerate of their space. Park in designated areas, even if it costs you a couple of euros.
Be Considerate of Others
And show some love to your fellow tourists! Some of these beaches are very small so be aware of how much space you are taking. Leave the oversize parasol at home and use headphones rather than blasting your fave new song on repeat on a Bluetooth speaker.
Best Beaches in Northern Mallorca
Playa de Formentor
Called the Meeting Point of the Winds, countless poems and paintings have been inspired by this postcard-perfect place. At the very tip of the island, you’ll find the iconic lighthouse called Majorcan Finisterre or the Land’s End of Majorca.
Cap de Formentor is home to one of the most popular beaches on the island, Playa de Formentor. There are regular buses running from here to Pollença or you can park just near the beach so it’s easy to get there.
On arrival, you’ll find all of the essential amenities including spots to eat and water sport equipment rentals.
Cala Barques
In the small beach town of Cala San Vicente, you can soak in the sun at this sandy family-friendly beach.
The waters are calm and it’s easy to access the beach. While it gets packed in the summer, it is one of the wider beaches so there’s usually plenty of space to spread out.
Playa de Alcúdia
Best Beaches in Northeast Mallorca
Playa de Alcúdia
The biggest beach of all the Balearic islands, the endless white sands of Playa de Alcúdia make it one of the most impressive shorelines in Europe.
One of the crown jewels of Spain, this place has all of the bells and whistles so you can easily spend the entire day here. Rent everything from sunbeds to boats here, then go to one of the nearby beach restaurants or bars.
Cala Moltó
Park near Cala Agulla, then follow the signs through the 15-minute path down to the beach. Also known as Es Guyó, this rocky beach has a small strip of sand tucked between the rock cliffs.
Cala Moltó beach fills up quickly, especially during the summer, and is a popular pick with nudists. Arrive early and bring all of the essentials as there are no amenities here.
Cala Torta
Follow the bumpy unpaved road down to Cala Torta and you’ll be met with vibrant turquoise seas and dream snorkeling spots. Bring your snorkeling gears (there are no facilities here beyond a small cafe) and head down to the far left side of the beach.
Planning Tip: This island is so much more than just beaches! Check out my complete itinerary to Mallorca.
Have Lunch at Ca’s Patró March Located Right Next to the Beach
Best Beaches in Northwest Mallorca
Cala Deià
Near the quaint mountain village of Deià, you’ll find this small rocky beach. While it’s not ideal for laying out and sunbathing, it’s the perfect place for a long walk along the shore.
Wander between the cliffs and soak in the beauty of the local flora and fauna besides the sparkling blue sea.
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Playa de Cala Galiota
Cassai Beach House Next to Playa de Cala Galiota
Best Beaches in Southern Mallorca
Playa de Cala Galiota
This rocky cove beach is near Colònia de Sant Jordi is where the locals come to relax in the late afternoon.
Arrive early and have the place to yourself then follow one of the winding hiking paths through the hills. Like many places around here, there are no facilities but you can grab essentials in Colònia de Sant Jordi.
Cala Llamp
Another gorgeous rocky beach, you can take in a sweeping view of the mountains from here. Bring your snorkeling gear, and rent a sunbed when you arrive.
When you’re ready for a bit to eat or just a couple of cocktails by the sea, head over to Beach Club Gran Folies.
Es Caragol
The southernmost beach in Mallorca, this place is a bit of a hike but well worth it. Park by the lighthouse of Ses Salines then trek the beautiful 30-minute path beside the sea until you reach the turquoise seas.
Before you go, be sure to bring anything and everything you might need. There are no facilities here, and you won’t really want to leave and come back for anything.
Es Trenc
Part of the protected area of Es Trenc-Salobrar de Campos, this 10 km (6 miles) long beach runs from Colònia de Sant Jordi to Sa Ràpita. Thanks to the calm shallow water, this area is popular with families.
While it’s an easy walk, note that you’ll have to walk about 20 minutes to get from the paid parking lot to the beach of Es Trenc.
Cala Pi
Tucked away amongst the lush forest, you’ll need to take a steep staircase down here. When you arrive you’ll find a wide sandy beach with a cute little beach hut and sunbeds for rent.
While you’d need to slowly make your way down the staircases, this is a popular family spot with kid-friendly and calm shores.
Portitxol
This pristine beach between Punta Negra and Cabo Negro is a nature lover’s dream. Wander the sandy shore to take in the lush vegetation and quaint fishermen’s houses.
From here, you’ll get a prime view of the island of Portixol. If you have time, take a boat out and go diving.
Magaluf
A world away from the desert beaches dotting this island, you’ll find the ultra-popular tourist resort of Magaluf. Known as the party capital of the island, this is the place to go when you want to dance the night away.
Caló des Moro
Best Beaches in Southeast Mallorca
The southeast is home to my favorite beaches on the island.
Staying down here, we made a beeline for the beach first thing in the morning and spent the entire day here. If you’re in Mallorca for the beaches this is a good place to base yourself. And, once you’re there, I’d highly recommend getting an early start, especially during the ultra-busy summertime, to beat the crowds.
Caló des Moro
This beach is popular and it’s easy to see why. Arrive as early as you can and plan for a wait. To prevent overcrowding, they regulate how many people can enter at one time. We arrive in primetime during August and waited an hour to get in (and it was worth it!).
We started our beach day on the hidden cove of Caló des Moro next to Cala s’Almunia beach.
While the turquoise shores are postcard-perfect, it gets absolutely packed. I’d recommend going just after breakfast to beat the crowd.
When you arrive, you’ll see signs for a parking lot that is for both Caló des Moro and Cala s’Almunia. Once you have parked your car, you’ll take a 15 minutes hike along the coastline until you arrive at Caló des Moro.
Just follow the signs until you see that neon turquoise water.
Cala Màrmols
This secluded spot is a hidden gem, but you’ll definitely need to plan some time to get there.
It’s a popular spot for sailboats to dock or you can take the five-kilometer (three-mile) walk from Cap de Ses Salines lighthouse. It’s a beautiful hike but be sure to plan ahead. Wear proper footwear and bring plenty of water along with anything else you might need for the day.
Playa de Cala Llombards
Our final beach of the day was Playa de Cala Llombards. It’s a lovely little bay that is perfect for families and kids.
It was plenty big and had a beautiful sandy beach. This was the only beach that had chairs for rent as well as bathrooms and a restaurant on-site, so you can have lunch and a glass of sangria and enjoy yourself for the entire day.
It was only €15 for two chairs and an umbrella for the day.
S’Almonia
A beautiful but rugged beach, this is a large but rocky beach so it’s not ideal for lying out.
Instead, I’d recommend coming here for hiking. Soak in the beach vistas then take one of the winding trails through the picturesque fishing village.
There are great walking paths and around every bend, the view is more beautiful than the last. If you have time, take the trail down to the beach at S’Almonia. It’s a tiny but much-loved fishing village with just a handful of families and a swimming bay. If you’re feeling adventurous, go cliff jumping.
We couldn’t tear ourselves away from the gorgeous S’Almonia and ended up spending most of our day here.
The crowd ebbs and flows, and this is one of the reasons people love it. If you are planning to stay awhile, bring a picnic and a couple of bottles of water. While there are a couple of makeshift snack stalls selling sandwiches and chips, there are no shops or restaurants.
Cala Santanyí
This wide sandy beach is easy to access and has all of the bells and whistles. You can park near the shore then rent sunbeds, umbrellas, and sports gear. There’s a nearby supermarket and a couple of small restaurant options.
If you have time plan at least a few hours here to soak in the sun then go snorkeling just beyond the shore.
Cala Mondragó
Near the popular Cala d’Or beach resort, you’ll find the crystal clear shores of this popular beach.
Another easy to access beach with all of the essential facilities, this is a popular spot for local families and tourists of all ages. Arrive early to ensure to enjoy it before it’s packed.
Playa des Carbó
Arrive early and plan plenty of time to get to this unspoiled slice of heaven.
Take a 40-minute trek along the winding footpath until you find the lush white sand beaches of this idyllic beach. While you will want to bring plenty of water and, ideally avoid going at the hottest time of day, this is an easy-to-cross path.
Inspired to continue your Spanish sojourn? Grab my 10 Places to Visit in Spain (That Aren’t Barcelona) guide for a look at some of the most underrated destinations.
This is great place to visit. Is there any restriction in the middle of pandemic now?
Hi Scott! There are some restrictions right now as they limit the amount of folks for some of the beaches (I’m mainly referring to ones that are difficult to access). That said, I’m not sure if it’s always like that or just because of Covid.