Where to stay in Majorca?

Staying in the capital: Palma de Majorca

Palma de Majorca is the island's main city. If you're looking for accommodation in Majorca, this is the obvious choice. It's a lively place, with plenty of restaurants, bars, shops and entertainment.

In terms of accommodation, Palma de Majorca offers quite a wide range. There are many hotels, both in the city centre and on the seafront. For the latter, the eastern side of the bay (towards the marina) is mainly home to resorts. The part closest to the city centre (towards the cathedral) is home to the most luxurious ones.

For those who prefer renting, there are also plenty of flats, especially in the city centre.

Palma de Majorca is home to a number of tourist attractions:

• its cathedral, which soars magnificently over the seafront.
• its narrow streets and lively squares, including Plaza Mayor.
• Bellver Castle, towering over Palma and the bay

The city is large, but you can easily explore the centre on foot. The bus network will also help you to get around easily. Another advantage of Palma is how close it is to the airport. You can easily get to it by bus.

The Bays of Alcudia and Pollença

Alcudia Bay is one of Majorca's best-known tourist areas. Located in the north of the island, this large bay is lined with several seaside resorts. The best known is Port d'Alcudia, in the far north.

This bay stretches from Port d'Alcudia to Betlem at the other end, passing through the seaside resort of Can Picafort. It is lined by small towns and large villages. In terms of accommodation, you'll find resort hotels and holiday rentals.

The best thing about staying in this area is that you can enjoy great beaches and a variety of water sports (including catamaran and boat trips). The area is also perfect for dolphin watching! These seaside resorts also boast numerous bars, restaurants and shops.

Pollença Bay lies to the north-east of Majorca, just above the nearby Alcudia bay. Less well-known and smaller, it is considered a little more “authentic”. The main "town" is Port de Pollença. This resort is more family-oriented. There are a few hotels, bars, restaurants and shops, but without being overly touristy.

This bay lies at the foot of the Cap de Formentor peninsula and the Mirador Es Colomer viewpoint, one of Majorca's most well-known. Staying in this bay for part of your stay may be a good idea for if you want to enjoy the beach without going to the big seaside resorts.

Small villages in Northern Majorca: Charm and authenticity

For those who prefer more authentic accommodation, there are some charming villages in the north of Majorca. These are located in the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range. They are found at elevations of around 500 m, and can be reached by partly winding roads.

The main villages to consider are:

• Valledemossa, famous for its Carthusian monastery, where composer Frédéric Chopin spent some time.
• Deia, on the mountain slopes but with views over the sea
• Soller, located inland but also nearby the coastal Port de Sóller, which can be reached by tram.

Bear in mind though that these villages have become a bit touristy. With that said, they are much quieter in the evening and are still a nice place to stay.

In terms of accommodation, there are a number of hotels, as well as guest houses and a few rental properties. The offer is nevertheless limited, and here, more than anywhere else in Majorca, we recommend booking as early as possible.

Staying inland in Majorca: the answer?

If you're going to Majorca with the aim of visiting different beaches all over the island, visiting small villages, doing activities, hiking, etc., staying by the sea may not be the best option.

If you want to make it easier to get around, consider accommodation in the heart of the island. All in all, you're around an hour's drive from all the points of interest.

Of course, staying inland in Majorca means you’ll need a car. Renting a car is not very expensive, and there are plenty of rental companies at the airport. The perks are that you can:

• get generally better-value accommodation than on the coast
• stay in smaller, more authentic towns that are less touristy

The main towns are Manacor and Inca. But there are smaller ones too, such as Arta and Algaida. These towns are quiet in the evenings, and there are plenty of good restaurants around.

Staying on the East coast, near the Southern coves or on the West coast: other good alternatives

The very east of Majorca is also home to a number of beaches and seaside resorts. One of Majorca's most beautiful beaches is located in this area. This is Cala Mesquida, with its fine sand and turquoise waters!

In terms of accommodation, you’ll want to look between the seaside towns of Cala Ratjada (to the north) and Cala Millor (to the south). There are numerous hotels, both on the seafront and in the city, as well as flats for rent. People often come here for hotels offering half-board or full-board packages. Accommodation is generally very good value.

Majorca is also famous for its coves, some of which are truly magnificent. The southern part of the island is home to the most beautiful. The best known are Cala Figuera, Calo des Moro and Cala Marmols.

In terms of accommodation, there are mainly rental properties close to these coves, in the small villages that surround them. These are mainly detached houses, or even villas, but also flats.

Cala d'Or cove, the largest in the area, is an exception. This is more akin to a small port town, as the cove is deeper, allowing a marina to be built. If you're looking for a little liveliness in the south-east of the island, Cala d'Or is the place to stay.

The west coast meanwhile, roughly between the south of Palma and Cap de Ses Salines to the south, has a few places to stay. There are a few hotels scattered around, but mainly holiday rentals. The main tourist destinations in the area are Badia Gran, Cala Pi and Colònia de Sant Jordi.