Mallorca travel guide from Budapest: top 10 sights and a 4-day itinerary

Mallorca is the largest of Spain’s Balearic Islands, a place where a lively Gothic capital, a UNESCO-listed mountain range and dozens of turquoise coves sit within an hour’s drive of each other. It is far more than a beach resort: Palma is a proper city break, and the villages of the Serra de Tramuntana are among the prettiest in Spain. A single day is not enough, but three or four days give you a great overview. Here are the flights, the best season, the top 10 sights and a day-by-day plan.

How to get to Mallorca from Budapest

Both Wizz Air and Ryanair fly direct between Budapest and Palma de Mallorca. The flight takes about two hours and forty minutes, and Mallorca is in the same time zone as Budapest. The route is busiest from spring to autumn, and frequencies change by season, so check the airlines’ websites for the current timetable.

Palma airport is only about eight kilometres from the city centre. The A1 airport bus takes you to the centre in around 20 minutes, and taxis wait outside arrivals. If you plan to explore the island, pick up the rental car right at the airport.

Best time to visit Mallorca

The sweet spots are May, June, September and early October: warm, sunny days, a swimmable sea and fewer crowds than in high summer. July and August are hot and very busy, and prices peak. Late January and February bring the almond blossom, when the island turns white and pink, which is lovely for hiking and city walks even if it is too cool for swimming. Many beach hotels close in the winter months.

Top 10 sights in Mallorca

• Palma Cathedral (La Seu): the huge Gothic cathedral by the sea, with interior details by Gaudí.
• Palma old town: narrow lanes, hidden courtyards and the Arab Baths.
• Bellver Castle: a rare circular Gothic castle with a panoramic view of Palma Bay.
• Serra de Tramuntana: the UNESCO-listed mountain range along the north-west coast.
• Valldemossa: a stone village with the Carthusian monastery where Chopin spent a winter.
• Sóller and the vintage train: a wooden train from Palma over the mountains, then a tram to Port de Sóller.
• Cap de Formentor: dramatic cliffs and lookout points on the northern tip of the island.
• Caves of Drach (Coves del Drac): stalactite caves with an underground lake and a short classical concert.
• Caló des Moro: a tiny cove with emerald water on the south-east coast.
• Alcúdia old town: medieval walls in the north, near a long sandy beach.

Mallorca in 4 days: a day-by-day itinerary

Day 1: Palma

Arrive in Palma and spend the day in the capital. Visit the cathedral and the Almudaina Palace next to it, get lost in the old town and stop for an ensaïmada, the spiral pastry Mallorca is famous for. In the late afternoon, go up to Bellver Castle for the view over the bay, then have tapas in the Santa Catalina district.

Day 2: Valldemossa, Deià and Sóller

Head into the Serra de Tramuntana. Start in Valldemossa with the Carthusian monastery, continue along the coast road to the hillside village of Deià, then drive down to Sóller. Take the tram to Port de Sóller for a swim or a seafood dinner. Without a car, the vintage wooden train from Palma to Sóller is a sight in itself.

Day 3: The north: Formentor and Alcúdia

Drive to Cap de Formentor early, before the road gets busy (access by private car is restricted on some summer days, when a shuttle bus runs instead). Stop at the Mirador des Colomer, then spend the afternoon in Alcúdia’s walled old town and on the long beach next to it.

Day 4: The east coast: caves and coves

Book the Caves of Drach in Porto Cristo for the morning. Afterwards, drive south to Caló des Moro or Cala Llombards for a swim, or to the long natural beach of Es Trenc. Return to Palma in the evening for your flight, or stay one more night.

The best beaches in Mallorca

Mallorca has two kinds of beaches: long sandy bays with full facilities, and small rocky coves (calas) with crystal-clear water but little shade and limited parking. Mix the two for the best experience.

• Es Trenc: a long, undeveloped white sand beach in the south, often compared to the Caribbean.
• Caló des Moro: a tiny cove with emerald water, very crowded at midday in summer.
• Cala Mondragó: two sheltered bays inside a natural park, good for families.
• Playa de Muro: a long, shallow sandy beach in the north, ideal with children.
• Cala Agulla: a wide bay with fine sand and pine trees near Cala Ratjada.

Where to stay in Mallorca

For a first trip, Palma is the best base. It has the most restaurants and sights, the airport is close, and every corner of the island is within about an hour’s drive. If you want a quieter stay with mountain views, Sóller or Port de Sóller is a lovely second base for the Tramuntana days. Families often prefer the long sandy beaches of Alcúdia or Playa de Muro in the north, while the east coast around Cala d’Or and Porto Cristo is handy for the coves and the caves.

What to eat in Mallorca

Mallorcan food is simple, rustic and very tasty. Beyond the usual Spanish tapas, look out for these local specialities:

• Ensaïmada: the light, spiral-shaped pastry dusted with icing sugar, the island’s symbol.
• Sobrassada: a soft, spreadable paprika sausage, usually on bread with honey.
• Pa amb oli: bread rubbed with tomato and olive oil, topped with ham or cheese.
• Tumbet: layered fried vegetables with tomato sauce, Mallorca’s answer to ratatouille.
• Frit mallorquí: a hearty fry-up of lamb offal, potatoes and vegetables, found in traditional taverns.

The covered Mercat de l’Olivar in Palma is a good place to taste local cheese, olives and fresh seafood at the bars inside the market hall.

Getting around Mallorca

A rental car gives you the most freedom, especially for the Tramuntana villages, Formentor and the eastern coves. The mountain roads are narrow and winding, and parking in popular villages fills up by mid-morning, so start early. Without a car, the TIB bus network connects Palma with most towns, and the train to Sóller and the train lines to Inca and Manacor are useful too. Palma itself is best explored on foot.

How much does a trip to Mallorca cost?

Mallorca uses the euro, and prices depend heavily on the season. Accommodation is the biggest item, and it can cost double in August compared with May or October. Car rental is also cheaper outside peak summer. Eating out ranges from affordable tapas and menu del día lunches to expensive seafront restaurants, and most sights such as the cathedral and the Drach caves have entry fees.

Tips for Mallorca

• Book the Caves of Drach and the Sóller train in advance in summer.
• Reach the famous coves before 10 am, parking fills up quickly.
• Try the menu del día at lunch, it is the best value meal of the day.
• Do not skip Palma: it deserves at least a full day on its own.
• Bring hiking shoes if you visit in spring or autumn, the Tramuntana trails are superb.

If you only have one day

Mallorca is a destination for several days, but if you only have one free day, you can still fly from Budapest to a Mediterranean city in the morning and be home the same night. Barcelona, Rome, Athens and Malta regularly appear in Daytrip, with flight dates and a ready-made hour-by-hour itinerary. Read our one-day city guides at flightdaytrip.com/blog.

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