Updated April 2020
After my last monster post about non-resorty things to do in Mallorca, I thought maybe I should offer some lighter Mallorca reading as well. Because yeah, yeah, it’s great to explore new places and all that, but really what I mostly wanted to do on Mallorca was head to the beach!
I definitely expected all the beaches on Mallorca to be super crowded and full of sun loungers and restaurants, so I was pleasantly surprised to find so many little secluded beaches.
In fact, most of the beaches I went to on Mallorca were pretty quiet. I do think coming in mid-May was a really good call, as even by the end of my two weeks on the island places were beginning to get a lot busier. And it was helpful having a car to get off the beaten path a bit.
Plus the weather in Mallorca in May was so perfect – it was hot enough to go swimming (and the water was warm enough!) but not so hot that I couldn’t bear being in the sun. In fact, I think I spent more time on the beach during this vacation than I have like, maybe ever. I think I now understand why so many Norwegians head to Spain for some sun after dark Norwegian winters.
And while during my two weeks in Mallorca I went to a lot of beaches, a few stuck out as clear favorites. So here are my personal picks for the best beaches in Mallorca.
Oh and if you don’t want to just look at the sea from the beach, there are tons of boat cruises around Mallorca you can do. My friends did this sunset catamaran cruise that sounds amazing, and it’s definitely on my to-do list for next time!
Cala Formentor Beach in Northern Mallorca
Cala Formentor (Playa de Formentor) was my favorite beach in Mallorca, though that might partly be because I visited really late in the day when there were no other people and the evening light was just so pretty.
I also loved all the boats hanging around here – something about it just made it feel so “European holiday,” if you know what I mean. The water also seemed to be a lot warmer at Cala Formentor, which was a plus in May.
Cala Formentor is in northern Mallorca, so after visiting this beach you could then drive up to Cap de Pera Lighthouse to see the sunset. The drive up to the lighthouse was one of my favorite drives in Mallorca so by visiting Cala Formentor I got two favorites in one trip!
For tours in Formentor, check here and for nearby Airbns, like this house only a 10-minute drive away, check here.
Es Calo des Moro Beach in Southern Mallorca
This must be the most beautiful beach in Mallorca – or at least the most beautiful beach I saw while in Mallorca!
A private foundation owns and cares for this beach, so it’s beautifully maintained and you won’t see any hotels or beach bars here. You do have to climb down a lot of rocks to get here – or if you’re like Dan and me you’ll get lost and end up maneuvering down a cliffside – but I think the extra effort to get here makes it even more special.
The beach itself is really small, so I imagine in the summertime it could get a lot more crowded than when I visited in mid-May, but there’s also a neighboring beach called Cala S’Almonia just a few minutes’ walk from Calo des Moro beach.
Cala S’Almonia isn’t quite as beautiful, but it’s a lot more spacious, so if Calo des Moro is crowded you could always set up your towel there instead.
For Airbnbs nearby, like this spacious apartment, check here.
S’Amarador Beach in Southeastern Mallorca
S’Amarador is in Mondrago Natural Park, which means it’s surrounded by natural sand dunes, forests, and rocky coves instead of resorts. There are actually three beaches here, S’Amarador, Cala Mondrago, and the smaller Cala d’en Borgit, but S’Amarador was my favorite.
S’Amarador is a pretty big beach, and since it’s only accessible by car it wasn’t too busy when I went. But it was still lively, and I loved that we could also walk to the other beaches from here. In fact, on my birthday we drove across the island from Sóller just to hang out here!
For Airbnbs, like this house with a sea view, check here.
Cala Mesquida Beach in Northeastern Mallorca
This was one of my favorite beaches in Mallorca, and one of the few that Dan and I visited twice. I love that the beach is so long – it stretches 300 meters – and the water is shallow pretty far out, which made it perfect for playing some knee-deep paddle ball.
There is a small resort on one side of the beach and a beach bar near the entrance, but the other side of the beach is protected due to its importance to bird life, so that side is made up of natural sand dunes and pine trees.
I feel like even in the height of summer this would be a really nice beach to spend the day at, as it’s so big you’d still easily be able to find a quiet spot.
For Airbnbs, like this gorgeous villa, check here.
image via Morfheos (modified)
Sa Calobra Beach in Western Mallorca
Okay so I already wrote about the drive to Sa Calobra, which with its breathtaking drops and many hairpins was probably the highlight of visiting Sa Calobra, but Sa Calobra beach was also really nice!
The setting down there is beautiful, and you have to walk through a long tunnel in the mountainside to get to the beach. The beach has small stones instead of sand, but the water is so amazingly clear that I think it’s worth it!
This might actually have been the prettiest place I went swimming in Mallorca, as there were lots of fish and the surrounding cliffs made for some dramatic views.
Ahh, I’m getting nostalgic just writing about it!
For tours near Sa Calobra, check here, and for Airbnbs, like this idyllic home, check here.
I took this photo really late in the day when there was just a bit of sun left – though the water was still in the sunshine.
Cala Pi Beach in Southern Mallorca
Cala Pi (Playa de Cala Pi on maps) was one of the busier beaches I went to, but I loved its setting in between tall cliffs and it just had a really nice vibe. There’s a beach shack where you can get drinks and snacks, and the beach itself while quite narrow does stretch back pretty far so there’s a lot of room to spread out on the sand.
The view as you walk down the steps to this beach is also amazing.
For tours near Cala Pi, check here, and for Airbnbs, like this charming house, check here.
Cala Banyalbufar Beach in Western Mallorca
I didn’t actually swim at Cala Banyalbufar, but Dan and I did stop here to admire the pretty views! The water at this beach looked so inviting (almost too inviting, as I was on my way to catch a flight!) and the surrounding views with terraced vineyards dropping into the see were just so beautiful.
For tours near Cala Banyalbufar, check here, and for Airbnbs, like this cosy studio, check here.
Where to stay in Mallorca
I stayed in 4 different hotels in Mallorca, non of which were resorts but all of which were near some of my favorite beaches.
Cala Figuera
Cala Figuera in southeastern Mallorca was my favorite place I stayed in Mallorca, nearby Calo des Moro and S’Amarador (and all the Mondrago Natural Park beaches). I stayed at Hostal Can Jordi, which had an amazing view over the water and was also such good value – it was the cheapest place I stayed on Mallorca yet one of the nicest. Check current rates and availability here
Colonia de Sant Pere
Colonia de Sant Pere in northeastern Mallorca is a quiet coastal town near Cala Mesquida and Cala Formentor, two of my favorite beaches on Mallorca. Here I stayed at Hotel Solimar, which had a lovely garden and pool and an amazing breakfast. Check current rates and availability here
Sóller
I spent 4 nights in Sóller, which while with its location in northwestern Mallorca isn’t close to many sandy beaches, it is nearby two of my favorites: Sa Calobra and Cala Banyalbufar. Plus the drives from Sóller to other parts of the island were so beautiful that it actually made for a nice base from which to reach different beaches on the island. In Sóller I stayed at this lovely little Airbnb.
Palma
I actually really loved staying in Palma, Mallorca’s capital city, and there are a lot of nice beaches nearby, including Cala Pi, to give you a taste of both Spanish city life and the beach. Here I stayed at Hotel Colon, which was in a really nice area of the city and in easy walking distance to all the main sites. Check current rates and availability here
There are also plenty of Airbnbs around Mallorca, like this cottage with mountain views, this unique container home, or this affordable penthouse. And if this is your first time using Airbnb you can get a discount by [signing up here].
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Emily says
Beautiful! Sign me up!
Nynke says
Yes, please.
Johana says
Wow you have some lovely photos! I wrote about the best beaches in Mallorca as well on my blog 🙂
Jessica says
Thank you so much for your advice on beaches in Mallorca. My family loved Cala Moro. It was magical for my 2 children. Great pictures, and so spot on with your rankings. If we ever travel to Norway I’ll be sure to follow your lead.
Silvia says
I’m so happy you had a good time!
moira says
Hi Silvia. I loved this post. I am SO late to thinking about Majorca for summer 2019. I usually have summer travel booked by January, but other things got in the way this year. We are looking for a beach town not too far of drive from airport. not too touristy. quick drive from an airbnb to food markets and little restaurants. we will be there 4-5 days late june. (I know! so late to be booking!) we would like to hit a couple different beaches, do some great hikes, explore little villages, chill in the afternoons and evenings at a great airbnb. it will be my husband plus me and 2 teenagers. once i zero in on an area, i can start the airbnb hunt. i just need help with focusing my efforts because i don’t even have time to research! Thank you so much and happy travels.
Ursula Cowieson says
Great blog. I loved the fact that you included maps of each beach and links to Airbnb and hotels, that was brilliant. Thanks so much.
Sally says
Hi
Im Sally and i am taking my 15 yr old son and myself to Palma for the wk at the end of may
I was wandering about transport as i dont drive so am thinking buses and trains
Apart from the beaches would you recommend any good other places to see
Ie cathedrals or markets that sell pottery
Loved your blog thankyou
Oh and is palma and a mallorca quite safe places
Silvia says
It felt very safe to me! You can read more tips here: https://www.heartmybackpack.com/spain/things-to-do-mallorca/
Ruth says
Hiya, really likes your blog. Some very good recommendations. I’m visiting Majorca the last weekend of August and staying near Cala Pi. Can you advise how easy it was getting around the island? We are a group of 6 adults and 2 kids. Sadly none of us can drive internationally so we are hoping to rely on taxis or public transport. Thanks, Ruth
Sof says
Just read your comment. We are in Mallorca now. We are a group of 6 adults. Highly recommend you rent a car. We don’t have international driving license but the rental company didn’t say anything.
Vipin Chauhan says
Hi
We are going there next week which is best car hire company there
sanket says
I like the information as well as photographs.
sanket says
I like the photography of different beaches. Really excited to visit there.