From Sóller and Palma Cathedral to Deià, Valldemossa and Cap de Formentor: the 10 places worth your time in Mallorca, with tips and prices.
Mallorca is much more than beaches. Behind the coast you’ll find stone villages clinging to the Tramuntana mountains, a Gothic cathedral facing the sea, a century-old wooden train and coves you can only reach on foot.
We live in Sóller, so this list is the one we give our friends when they visit. It mixes the classics with a few places the guidebooks rush past, with practical tips on getting there, prices and the best time to go.
1. Sóller and Port de Sóller
The Valley of Oranges is our home, and it’s the best base for exploring the west of the island. Stroll around Plaça de sa Constitució, look up at the modernist façade of Sant Bartomeu church and stop at the Saturday market in Sóller. Then ride the old tram down to Port de Sóller for a swim and a sunset by the lighthouse.
The best way to arrive is the historic Tren de Sóller from Palma: about an hour through the mountains. Tickets: €23 one way or €30 return; the tram to the port is €10, and a train + tram return from Palma is €40. Good to know: the train doesn’t run from 23 November 2026 to 1 February 2027, and the tram is replaced by a bus from 23 November to 22 December 2026.
2. Palma Cathedral (La Seu)
Palma’s Gothic cathedral rises right above the sea and is the image everyone takes home. Inside, look for the canopy Antoni Gaudí designed over the altar and Miquel Barceló’s ceramic chapel. On sunny mornings, the rose window throws coloured light across the nave. See more places to visit in Palma.
For the best views, book the guided visit to the rooftop terraces: €25, including the cathedral and the museum, with visits every 30 minutes. It runs from March to November and isn’t suitable for children under nine or people with vertigo.
3. Valldemossa
Cobbled lanes, flowerpots on every doorstep and the Royal Charterhouse, where Chopin and George Sand spent the winter of 1838–39. Valldemossa is beautiful and busy, so arrive early (here’s where to park). Don’t leave without trying a coca de patata, the village’s fluffy potato bun, with a hot chocolate.
4. Deià
A village of honey-coloured stone between mountains and sea that has drawn artists for a century. The poet Robert Graves lived here, and his house, Ca n’Alluny, is now a museum. Walk up to the church and cemetery at the top of Deià for one of the best views on the coast. Driving? Read our guide on where to park in Deià.
5. Cas Patró March (Cala Deià)
A family-run seafood restaurant on the rocks of Cala Deià, made famous by the BBC series The Night Manager. Order the grilled fish or the prawns and look at the water. It’s worth knowing three things: book ahead in season, bring cash (they don’t take cards) and expect to walk down from Deià or park by the cove if there’s space.
6. Fornalutx
Just 3 km from Sóller, Fornalutx regularly appears on lists of Spain’s most beautiful villages. Stone houses with green shutters, stepped streets and views over the orange groves and Puig Major. It’s quieter than Valldemossa and perfect for a coffee in the square after a walk from Sóller.
7. Sa Calobra and the Torrent de Pareis
The road down to Sa Calobra is an attraction in itself: hairpin bends, including the famous “tie knot” where the road loops under itself. At the bottom, a path through tunnels in the rock leads to the mouth of the Torrent de Pareis, a gorge that opens onto a pebble beach. In summer you can also get there by boat from Port de Sóller. More ideas in our best beaches near Sóller.
8. Cap de Formentor
The northern tip of Mallorca, with cliffs falling into the sea and a lighthouse at the end of the road. Stop at the Mirador des Colomer on the way. Good to know: from 15 May to 18 October, between 10:00 and 22:00, private cars can’t drive to the lighthouse. Take TIB bus 334 from Alcúdia or Port de Pollença, which stops at the viewpoint, Formentor beach and the lighthouse. Full details in how to get to Cap de Formentor.
9. Pollença
A lively old town in the north, with a Sunday market in Plaça Major and the 365 steps of the Calvari, lined with cypresses. Climb them at sunset and you’ll see the whole bay. Pollença combines well with a day at Formentor.
10. Drach Caves (Coves del Drach)
In Porto Cristo, on the east coast, these caves hide Lake Martel, one of the largest underground lakes in Europe. The visit lasts about an hour and ends with a short classical music concert on illuminated boats on the lake. Tickets: €18 for adults and €11 for children aged 2–12. In winter there are four entry times a day, so book ahead.
Where to Stay: Save on Your Hotel
Base yourself in Sóller to have Deià, Fornalutx, Valldemossa and Sa Calobra on your doorstep, or stay on the southwest coast, a short drive from Palma. Book with our exclusive codes and save on your stay:
- Alcázar Hotel Sóller ★★★★ — 10% off with code DSOLLER
- Gran Hotel Sóller ★★★★★ — 13% off with code DSOLLER
- Pure Salt Port Adriano ★★★★★ — 5% off with code DSOLLER
- Zafiro Palace Andratx ★★★★★ — 5% off with code DZAFIRO27
Looking for other areas, like the north for Formentor and Pollença? See all our hotel discount codes in Mallorca.
Plan Your Trip
If you only have a few days, base yourself in Sóller and split the island in two: the west (Sóller, Fornalutx, Deià, Valldemossa and Sa Calobra) and a day each for Palma and the north. Leave the Drach Caves for a rainy day. And whatever you do, take the train to Sóller at least once.
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