Are you planning a trip to Mallorca, Spain for the first time and don’t know what to expect? Keep scrolling to check out my top Mallorca tips for first-timers!
This list of Mallorca tips was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
Planning an island vacation and decided to visit Mallorca?
Great choice! Mallorca (often styled as ‘Majorca’ but pronounced the same) is the largest of the Balearic Islands off the east coast of Spain. It offers lots of beautiful beaches, historic sites, and charming towns to explore.
Its many nightlife hotspots, water parks, and water sports attract everyone from couples, families, and groups of young people. It’s super important you learn as many Mallorca tips for first-timers so that you plan the vacation that suits your travel style.
Lucky for you, these essential Mallorca travel tips will help you plan the relaxing and fun beach vacation that you dream about.
Read this guide to ensure you know everything you need to before stepping off that plane so you have an unforgettable time in Mallorca!
Top Mallorca Travel Tips for First-Timers
Planning Your Mallorca Visit
Figuring out the best places to visit in Mallorca depends on who you’re traveling with and your interests.
Couples, history buffs, and families with older kids will love checking out the capital city of Palma de Mallorca. Whilst there, you can visit the Catedral-Basílica de Santa María de Mallorca, Castell de Bellver, and Royal Palace of La Almudaina along with many cool museums.
There’s no shortage of things to do in Mallorca with children of any age. Three of the top water parks are Western Water Park in Magaluf, Hidroparkin in Alcúdia, and Aqualand in El Arenal.
Opportunities to do outdoor activities like water sports, go-karting, and horse riding (check out Rancho Grande) are all over the island.
One of the best Mallorca tips for tourists is to explore the awesome cave networks. They’re fascinating and older kids will love them! There are guided tours available for Coves d’Arta, Coves del Drach, and Coves dels Hams.
Of course, let’s not forget the beaches. Some of the best beaches for families in Mallorca are Port d’Alcúdia Beach, Es Trenc Beach, and Canyamel Beach.
There’s no way you could (or should!) do all of these activities during your trip to Mallorca. Pick and choose what sounds good to you.
How Many Days in Mallorca?
The question should be, how many days can you spare? Many families in northern European countries like Germany and the UK will spend one or two weeks in Mallorca every summer for their annual vacation.
There are more than enough towns, activities, restaurants, and beaches to explore!
But if you are visiting Mallorca as part of a longer island-hopping or Euro trip, you should set aside at least four days. Two beach days, one day in Palma de Mallorca, and another day for cool activities.
There is a great assortment of boutique hotels in Mallorca as well as vacation rentals.
How To Get To Mallorca From Overseas
Palma de Mallorca Airport is a busy international airport with direct flights to major cities all over Europe with multiple airlines. If you’re traveling from further afield like the US, getting to Mallorca takes a little more effort but it’s definitely doable.
There are almost no direct flights from the US to Mallorca. Some of the common stopover cities include London, Madrid, and Barcelona.
If you’re interested in visiting any of these cities, you could extend your trip by a couple of days and explore another destination as well as Mallorca.
If you’re already planning a vacation in mainland Spain and would prefer to take a ferry, Valencia, Denia, and Barcelona are two main ferry ports with ships that sail to Mallorca. Crossings take about 7.5 hours but tickets only cost around €50 per person.
Getting Around Mallorca Without a Car
If you’re not staying in Mallorca for very long and don’t want the hassle of a rental or maybe you’re not a strong driver, don’t worry! There are lots of ways of getting around Mallorca using public transport, taxis, and other solutions.
You could rent mopeds or bicycles instead of a car. This isn’t ideal if you have young kids or need to carry a lot of luggage around but it could be a good option if you just want to take a day trip to a nearby nature reserve.
Mallorca has a surprisingly extensive bus, metro, and train network that connects all of the major cities and tourist areas. There are eight different bus lines and one metro line.
One of the top Mallorca tips concerning public transport is to use Google Maps or download the MobiPalma app to check out the latest timetables. Public transport schedules are different in winter and summer so you’ll need up-to-date information.
Uber and other similar companies are illegal in Mallorca, so taxis are your best option for private transport. There aren’t many useful taxi apps in Mallorca, so ask your accommodation for a recommendation and a card.
Alternatively, you could always book excursions with transport included.
Tips for Renting a Car in Mallorca
Driving in Mallorca is another good option to get around this gorgeous island.
Many travelers who are visiting Mallorca for a week or more rent a car because it’s so convenient when you need to buy a lot of groceries. It also makes those beach days easier as you can just load up the trunk and go!
Renting a car in Mallorca is fairly straightforward. You only need to be 18 years old and you don’t need an international driving license.
Always check the fine print and the extras that you might have to pay for, as you would renting a car anywhere.
One of the only things that might take you by surprise is the hefty deposit many car rental companies in Mallorca hold on your card – it could be as high as €1,000!
Money in Mallorca
Mallorca, like the rest of Spain, uses the euro currency. One of the best Mallorca tips for first-timers that you should know is to carry cash as well as credit or debit cards. Most hotels and restaurants will accept both but some will only take cash.
Small food trucks, market sellers, taxi drivers, and family-owned cafes are likely to only accept cash in Mallorca.
Carry enough cash on you for the day and leave the rest in a safe place back in your accommodation.
Dining in Mallorca Tips
Thanks to the huge influx of western European tourists in the summer season, many of the restaurants in the tourist areas of Mallorca serve only crowd-pleasing international dishes.
You’ll see a lot of burgers and fries, pizzas, and chicken on the menus.
This might make your kids happy, but if you want to sample some local Mallorcan cuisine then head into Palma de Mallorca for a wide variety of restaurants.
Tipping in Mallorca is 100% voluntary and you should only feel obliged to tip if you enjoyed your meal and the service was good. Anything from 5-15% or a euro or two per person is acceptable.
If you pay for your meal using a credit card, there might not be an option to add a tip. Always have some cash on you so you can leave a tip with the bill.
Avoid Beaches With Red Flags
During the summer months, there will be a lifeguard on every beach with zones marked in the sea where it is safe to swim. If you see a beach with a red flag displayed by the lifeguard’s tower, that means you can’t swim in those waters.
It doesn’t mean that the water on this beach is always unsafe, just that it’s not safe that day. This could be due to strong weather conditions or a recent spill of a harmful substance in the sea.
Green flags mean it’s completely safe to swim in the sea and yellow flags mean it is safe under certain conditions.
Prepare for Topless Beach Goers
If you’re from the US, you know that 99.9% of beaches do not allow women to be topless.
You might get a surprise when you visit a beach in Mallorca for the first time because there’s no such rule here! And you will see women without bikini tops sunbathing and swimming in the sea.
Of course, most women do wear full swimsuits so you should definitely not feel compelled to do the same. Just something to be aware of so you know that it’s perfectly normal and you haven’t accidentally wandered onto a nudist beach!
Get a Travel Adapter
Mallorca, like the rest of the Balearic Islands, uses the type F plug. This is different from the rest of Spain and most other European countries which use the Type C plug.
Type F and type C are very similar as they both have two rounded prongs, the only difference is that Type F has two earth clips on the side.
Travel adapters that can cater to both types simultaneously are widely available, just make sure both are listed on the one you purchase. Invest in one that includes voltage conversion too as the electrical sockets in Mallorca will probably have different voltage from what you have at home!
Safety and Awareness in Mallorca
It’s surprising, but the crime rate in the Balearic Islands is higher than the overall national average for Spain. Palma de Mallorca is the third most dangerous city for tourists after Bilbao and Barcelona.
However, this doesn’t mean that Mallorca and its capital city are excessively dangerous. When comparing Spain’s crime rates with other western European countries, it’s lower than average and the risk of violent or dangerous crimes is very low.
One of the main concerns for tourists in Mallorca is pickpocketing and scams. Stay alert, particularly when traveling on public transport, in busy areas, and in Palma de Mallorca.
First-Time Travel to Mallorca FAQs
Is Mallorca worth visiting?
In a word, yes! Mallorca is definitely worth visiting. It’s an unrivaled beach destination with over 262 public beaches for all types of tourists.
It has cute villages with white-washed walls and cobblestone streets, a bustling capital city, and a rugged, mountainous landscape. Being the largest out of all the Balearic Islands, there’s more than enough space for everyone itching to take a trip to Mallorca.
Which side of Mallorca is best?
Mallorca can be split up into five sections: north, south, east, west, and inland.
Mallorca’s west coast offers mountains, small villages, and cliffside hiking trails. In the east, you’ll find beach coves, caves, and ruins perfect for water sports enthusiasts. Inland Mallorca is the least-touristed with lots of farms and villages.
The south coast of Mallorca, where you’ll find the capital of Palma de Mallorca, offers nightlife and long stretches of beaches. North Mallorca has the most coastal resorts, attractions, and a little bit of everything.
Mallorca’s north and south sides are the best places to stay in Mallorca for most travelers!
When is the best time to visit Mallorca?
Mallorca has a Mediterranean subtropical climate with mild winters and hot, sunny summers. It’s windy year-round but this is usually welcomed by both locals and tourists during the hottest parts of the year!
Unlike the cities in Spain, Mallorca is a very seasonal vacation destination with many of the resorts, restaurants, and attractions closing for the winter. Most of the top things to do in Mallorca revolve around the beaches so warm weather is a must.
The best time to visit Mallorca is during the peak summer season from June to September.
Yes, traveling to Mallorca during this time is more expensive and busier than any other time of year. But as long as you book your flights and accommodation in advance, you might be able to find good deals.
Plus, visiting Mallorca during the busy season is far better than visiting during the low season and having nothing to do!
Mallorca Tips for First-Timers Wrap Up
The Balearic Islands in Spain are a fantastic place to visit on a beach vacation and Mallorca offers something for everyone. But as you can see, there are some pieces of Mallorca travel advice that are essential to know beforehand!
Now you know all the top Mallorca travel tips for first-timers, you will be more prepared and more likely to enjoy and remember your Mallorca trip for all the right reasons.
Looking for more Spain travel resources? Check out my Madrid travel tips, things to do in Barcelona with kids, Barcelona travel tips, day trips from Madrid by train, things to do in Madrid with kids, Barcelona day trips by train, best day trips from Benidorm, how to plan a trip to Spain, and hidden gems in Spain!
