If you have a fascination for footwear, you’ll find plenty of shoe shops in Palma for some retail therapy. Mallorca’s association with shoemaking goes back centuries and some of today’s brands from the island – such as Camper, Carmina, Lotusse, and Bestard – are known around the globe.
If you hanker after the boating life or are already a nautical enthusiast, then Mallorca has just the event for you next week. The Palma International Boat Show launches on Thursday, 25th and continues until Sunday, 28th, at the Moll Vell, opposite La Lonja.
Mallorca’s most popular wine-tasting fair happens this month – and this year the Fira del Vi in Pollença is on the same weekend as the Palma International Boat Show, so some diary planning may be required if you enjoy all things nautical and wine.
Mallorca has many traditional fairs – also known as ‘firas’ or ‘ferias’ – throughout the year. Visiting them is a great way to discover more about the island’s culture, gastronomy, artisans, and agriculture.
If your passions are art and wine, this exhibition launching on Good Friday and continuing throughout the season should be of interest. The Danish-owned winery Bodega BiniVista at Biniali near Sencelles is hosting its second Easter art exhibition.
There’s a view of Palma that many visitors don’t get to see: the panorama from the roof terraces of Palma’s magnificent Gothic cathedral known as La Seu. But until the end of October, it’s possible to climb the steps up to the rooftop, where you can walk around the flying buttresses, see the Cathedral’s famous large rose window, the bell tower, and enjoy the ultimate skyline view of Palma and the bay.
Binissalem is the town where Mallorca’s grape harvest is celebrated each year at the ‘Festa des Vermar’. This year’s fiesta is the 57th of its kind and the packed programme of events began on the 15th of this month.
September is the start of the cultural season in Mallorca, with an event that’s open to all – locals and visitors alike.
An historic event from the 13th century is still celebrated every September in Mallorca’s southwest. In September 1229, King Jaume I of Aragon and his Christian knights and soldiers landed in Santa Ponça, to conquer the Moors and reclaim Mallorca.
Who doesn’t love a fabulous view? Preferably with the Mediterranean in the background. Mallorca has some amazing viewpoints – or ‘miradores’ – and it’s worth a drive to soak up a sensational panorama.
The sun shines on over 300 days a year in Mallorca, so it’s not surprising that the island has a lot of sundials – which are part of its cultural heritage. The island is said to have around a thousand – some three hundred of which are in Palma alone. It’s one of the highest concentrations of sundials in Europe.
For a break from driving and trying to find a parking space, or if you don’t have a car, it’s easy and affordable to explore some of Mallorca by train.
Watching a movie under the stars is a fun way to enjoy a balmy August night and this month there are two places in Palma where you can enjoy a free, outdoor screening of a film.
If you need some relief from the heat of August in Mallorca, go underground to luxuriate in a consistently cool temperature – and discover a different side of Mallorca.
Visiting one of Mallorca’s many weekly markets may not have much appeal during a searing hot July or August day, but if you enjoy browsing craft-market stalls for tasteful local and artisan-made items in cooler temperatures, check out one of the summer’s night markets.
There’s something special about sipping a drink as you soak up a bird’s-eye view of your surroundings from a rooftop terrace. Outside the centre of Palma, here are a few others to try in Mallorca.
Mallorca has a good choice now of hotel rooftops where you can go in the evening for a drink and maybe something to eat while you enjoy a great view. Not surprisingly, Palma has the largest choice; here are some of our favourites.
Sitting on a balmy evening under the darkening sky as you listen to classical music in the open courtyard of one of Europe’s few round fortresses is a summer treat in Mallorca. The venue is the Gothic-style Castell de Bellver, located on a hilltop and surrounded by forest to the west of the centre of Palma.
Mallorca is the setting for quite a few contemporary novels, written by authors inspired by living or holidaying on this island. But taking writing inspiration from beautiful Mallorca isn’t something new: famous literary figures from history include Robert Graves, Jules Verne, Josep Pla, Llorenç Villalonga, and Ramon Llull.
Before modern technology, seafarers relied on Mallorca’s lighthouses to aid their navigation. Today, these lighthouses are still a distinctive sight around the island, although it’s often landlubbers who seek them out for the beautiful sea views they offer in their strategic locations.
Summer officially arrives next week and that means it’s time for one of the season’s best-loved and most magical fiestas, Sant Joan, which happens on Friday, the 23rd – the eve of the saint’s day.
MAY 29th, 2023
Cultural treats of a musical nature await you this summer in Mallorca. The 45th Deià International Music Festival begins in June, with concerts throughout the summer until late September. Traditionally, these concerts took place at beautiful Son Marroig on the rugged Tramuntana coastline and most of them still do, but other venues are also on the programme.
MAY 22nd, 2023
Fashion, urban art, food trucks, and music. If those sound like your kind of fun, don’t miss this year’s AfterSun Market – the seventh edition – which brings all these things together in one exciting pop-up event this spring. It happens over four weekends and has a great location in southwest Mallorca.
MAY 15th, 2023
Each spring the hilltop town of Capdepera in the northeast of Mallorca hosts a Medieval Market – a three-day event that’s one of the most popular traditional events on the island.
Photo by Benjamin L. Jones on Unsplash
Enjoying the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean is one of the pleasures of being in Mallorca, and it’s thanks to the seagrass Posidonia – one of the oldest living organisms on the planet – that the waters around our island are so appealing. The underwater Posidonia meadows are known as “the lungs of the Mediterranean”: they help maintain the biodiversity and transparency of the sea – and produce about half of the oxygen we breathe. If you’ve spotted strange, brown balls on the beach, you’ve seen dead seagrass that’s been washed ashore.
Look up at the sky above Mallorca and you’re likely to spot large birds of prey, such as red kites, on the wing. Not many visitors though realise that Mallorca is also an important habitat for vultures. The island is home to two types of vultures who live in the Serra de Tramuntana.
One of Mallorca’s most popular wine-tasting events celebrates its 20th edition this year: the Fira del Vi de Pollença – or Pollença Wine Fair – is on over the weekend of May 6th and 7th.
Even dedicated landlubbers will find something to enjoy at this year’s Palma International Boat Show, the event that’s seen as the start of the Mediterranean nautical season. It’s a good day out for all, with plenty to see – especially for those who own or dream of owning a boat.
The beautiful village of Deià attracted creative people long before mass tourism came to Mallorca; the most famous of these was the poet and author Robert Graves, whose numerous works included ‘I, Claudius’ – which was adapted into a BBC TV series.
As well as being an important religious festival in Mallorca, Easter is a time for families to get together around a table to enjoy the foods associated with this time of year. And Mallorca has some traditional Easter eats that visitors should try while they’re here.
If you’re a golf enthusiast, Mallorca is a great destination for the sport – with some 20 courses open to visiting golfers and other non-members. Outside the Serra de Tramuntana mountains, you’re never far from a golf course, and many of them offer superb views and facilities.
If you enjoy a gin and tonic occasionally, imagine being able to drink or offer a gin that you made right here in Mallorca. In Santa Catalina in Palma, the Mallorca Gin Distillery offers fun workshops during which you’ll hear fascinating tales about gin’s history in Europe, have a gin-tasting session, enjoy four gin cocktails, and make, bottle, and label your very own gin – crafted to your own taste. The bottle will be wax sealed so you can pack it safely in your luggage.
Now that September’s cooler weather is here, how about seeing more of Mallorca … but in a different way? Have some fun on wheels with one of the companies offering special trips on the island.
The grapes were harvested earlier this year because of the hotter-than-usual summer, but the ´Festa des Vermar´ – celebrating the harvest – takes place over the usual period in the town of Binissalem. After a two-year break because of the pandemic, expect plenty of enthusiasm for the 56th edition of the popular Festa des Vermar.
Kayaking is a fun way to take to the crystal-clear waters around Mallorca – and there are several places where you can learn to master a kayak at sea in a matter of hours.
If you want a break from driving or haven’t rented a car for your Mallorca holiday, it’s easy and affordable to explore some of Mallorca by train.
If you love gardens, you may enjoy a visit to one of the gardens in Mallorca open to visitors.
School’s out and it’s time for a fun, family holiday in Mallorca. This beautiful island has plenty to enjoy with children – and the following ideas are just a few activities that families may enjoy on a day out.
From rooftop terraces to hilltop sanctuaries, there are plenty of places in Mallorca to enjoy elevated views, but for a real buzz and a bird’s eye perspective, take to the skies.
Head for a hotel rooftop terrace for an evening drink and maybe something to nibble for fabulous views of Mallorca’s capital, Palma. Here are some popular ones.
There’s a view of Palma that many visitors don’t get to see: the panorama from the roof terraces of Palma’s magnificent Gothic cathedral known as La Seu. But during the summer months it’s possible to climb the steps up to the rooftop, where you can walk around the flying buttresses, see the Cathedral’s famous large rose window, the bell tower, and enjoy the ultimate skyline view of Palma and the bay.
If hot sand isn’t for you and you’d rather view the Mediterranean from a comfortable lounger – with everything you could need on hand for a relaxing day – check out Mallorca’s beach clubs.
The summer solstice is next week and is celebrated with an unforgettable fiesta in Mallorca involving fire and water. It happens on Thursday, June 23rd – the eve of Sant Joan.
When the mercury soars, you can’t beat a cooling ice cream – and the choice of artisan Mallorcan ice creams is excellent.
If you’re a fan of chamber and classical music, the Deià International Music Festival should be on your calendar this summer. First held in 1978, this Festival has grown significantly over the years and in its 44th edition includes concerts in a few additional locations, as well as the traditional setting of the Son Marroig property on the northwest coast, near Deià.
Surrounded by crystal-clear waters, it’s no wonder Mallorca is a playground for those who love water sports. But did you know that Mallorca is also home to the top outdoor Olympic swim centre in Europe?
If you’re tempted by the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean, how about trying one of Mallorca’s hugely popular water sports? When it comes to finding a sport you can learn – or practise – easily on holiday, stand up paddle boarding (or SUP) is the one. Not only can you become proficient quickly, SUP is also suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels.
Each spring the hilltop town of Capdepera in the northeast of Mallorca hosts a Medieval Market – a three-day event that’s one of the most popular traditional events on the island.
A visit to the annual Fira del Vi in the town of Pollensa is an excellent introduction to the number and variety of Mallorca’s wines and wineries, or bodegas. It’s an opportunity to taste some of the wines and talk to the people who make them.
Ship ahoy! It’s the event that kicks off the nautical season in the Mediterranean: the Palma International Boat Show 2022 is on from Thursday, April 28th to Sunday, May 1st.
Music fans have three theatre treats in Palma to enjoy this April: two tribute concerts and a musical comedy show based on a 4-Oscar-winning British movie.