Mallorca, marked
A guide to Mallorca, Spain, organized by region – with the best places to stay, eat, and explore in each corner of the island.
Mallorca is one of those places that feels almost impossibly beautiful the first time you visit: stone villages in the mountains, water so clear it barely looks real, and dinners you’ll still be thinking about long after the trip ends.
What people often underestimate is the scale. The island is bigger than it looks, and drives – especially through the mountains – can be slow, winding, and longer than you expect. The smartest way to plan a trip is to choose one area as your base, then explore the rest on day trips.
These are the parts of the island I’d focus on – with my picks for where to stay, eat, what to do, and a few local tips. I’ve starred (⭐) my favorites in each area – the places I’d prioritize if you were visiting just for the day.
Where to focus your time
Choose one homebase and build from there.
The Tramuntana (Deià, Sóller, Valldemossa): For mountain scenery, village-hopping, and destination dinners.
The Southeast (Santanyí): For beach days and long lunches by the water.
Palma (the capital city): For shopping, restaurants, and a more polished hotel scene.
The North (Pollença, Alcúdia): For a quieter, countryside version of Mallorca.
Even if you stay in one place, Mallorca works well as a day-trip island: mountains in the morning, sea in the afternoon, dinner somewhere new at night.
The Tramuntana
The most cinematic part of Mallorca.
Deià, Sóller, and Valldemossa sit among dramatic cliffs, winding roads, and villages that feel almost unchanged by time. I’d argue you can’t visit Mallorca without seeing this corner of the island – it’s one of the most extraordinary places I’ve ever stayed.