Planning Mallorca throws up the same handful of questions every time. Car or no car? Which cove? When to go? Is it just party resorts? Here are straight answers to the things travellers actually ask — grouped by topic, with the numbers you need and a quick-reference table at the end.
Q: Do I really need to rent a car?
A: For the city, no. For the island, yes. Palma has solid buses and a metro, and you can reach plenty by the vintage Sóller train. But the best calas and the Tramuntana villages need wheels. Rent ahead for summer — agencies sell out and prices surge. One caveat: a few headline spots restrict cars in peak season (more on that below).
Q: How do I get from Palma airport (PMI) into the city?
A: Take the A1 Aerotib bus — central Palma in about 15–20 minutes for roughly €5 (about $5.50), running every 15–20 minutes. A taxi is €20–25 (about $22–27), worth it only if you've got heavy bags or a tight schedule. The airport sits just 8 km east of the city.
Q: Which roads have car restrictions, and how do I get around them?
A: Two big ones. Cap de Formentor and the coiled road to Sa Calobra restrict cars during the day in peak months. For Formentor, go early (before the restriction window) or take the seasonal shuttle bus from Port de Pollença. For Sa Calobra, take the scenic boat from Port de Sóller instead (around €25 / about $27 return) — honestly a better arrival anyway.
Q: Is the Sóller train worth it?
A: Yes — it's a highlight, not just transport. The 1912 wooden train runs from Plaça d'Espanya through orange groves to Sóller (about an hour), then a heritage tram drops to the port (~30 min). Combined return is around €32 (about $35). Sit on the left leaving Palma and book ahead in summer.
Q: Which is the best beach on Mallorca?
A: For the classic white-sand, shallow-turquoise look, Es Trenc on the south coast wins — 3 km of fine sand in a protected natural area, the island's most Caribbean-looking stretch, a match for the best sands in Spain's Canary Islands. It's free; car parks charge around €8 (about $9). Bring your own shade — facilities are deliberately minimal.
Q: Where do I find the dramatic cove (cala) swims?
A: The northwest, along the Tramuntana. Cala Deià below the artists' village (free, scarce parking, cliff-edge restaurant Ca's Patró March), and Sa Calobra with the Torrent de Pareis gorge where two ravines meet the sea. On the east coast, Cala Mondragó (a protected natural park) and wilder Cala Varques (a 15-minute walk in) deliver the turquoise-water postcard shots — Mediterranean swimming to rival the famous coves of Capri.
Q: Are there good family beaches with shallow, calm water?
A: Yes. Playa de Muro and the long Alcúdia bay in the northeast are wide, sandy and shallow — easy for kids and easy to reach (about 50–55 minutes from Palma). Es Trenc is also shallow, just with fewer facilities.
Q: How do I eat well without overspending?
A: The menú del día. A weekday three-course lunch with bread and a drink runs €13–18 (about $14–20) inland or in Palma's back streets — skip the tourist-strip menus, which cost more for less. The lanes around Mercat de l'Olivar are reliable. The market itself is great for cheap tapas and picnic supplies.
Q: What's this tourist tax I keep reading about?
A: The Balearics charge a sustainable-tourism tax of roughly €1–4 (about $1–4.50) per person per night, depending on accommodation category and season. It's usually added at checkout, not booking, so factor it in.
Q: Roughly what does a week cost?
A: Hugely variable, but a mid-range, car-included week is realistic if you eat menús del día at lunch, mix self-catering with dinners out, and use the A1 bus. Entry fees are modest — the cathedral €10, Bellver Castle ~€4, the Caves of Drach ~€16. Your two big line items are accommodation (cheaper outside July–August) and the rental car (book early).
Q: When's the best time to visit?
A: May, June and September for warm seas and thinner crowds. July and August are peak — busiest, hottest, priciest, and the months when the top roads close to cars. May–June especially gives you warm water with room to breathe.
Q: What's the weather like?
A: Mediterranean. Hot dry summers of 26–31°C (79–88°F), mild winters of 10–16°C (50–61°F). Spring and early autumn sit comfortably in between — warm days, mild evenings.
Q: Is Mallorca good for kids?
A: Very. Shallow family beaches (Alcúdia bay, Playa de Muro), the novelty of the Sóller train and tram, the boat ride and underground concert at the Caves of Drach (€16, near Porto Cristo — book the timed session online), and walkable medieval Alcúdia with Roman ruins next door (€4). Distances are short and the island is set up for it.
Q: Is Mallorca just party resorts like Magaluf?
A: No — and that's the most common misread of the island. Magaluf and El Arenal are a small, loud corner. The real nightlife for most visitors is in Palma's Santa Catalina barrio around its old market, and on the harbour and plaza terraces of towns like Pollença and Sóller. Rent a car or ride the train to the mountain villages and east-coast calas and you'll see why locals love the place.
Q: Do I need a visa?
A: Mallorca is part of Spain and the Schengen area — the same entry rules as mainland Barcelona. US, UK, Canadian and Australian citizens can stay 90 days within any 180-day period visa-free. Once ETIAS goes live, visa-exempt travellers will need that authorization (around €7, valid 3 years).
Q: What language is spoken?
A: Both Spanish (Castilian) and Catalan — in its Mallorquí dialect — are official. English is widely spoken in tourist areas. A few Catalan words go a long way with locals.
Q: How safe is it?
A: Generally safe. Violent crime is rare. The real risks are pickpockets in Palma's Old Town, on the airport bus and around crowded beaches — keep valuables zipped and out of back pockets — and the midday sun, which is no joke at exposed coves. Sunscreen, water and a hat aren't optional in summer.
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Airport to Palma | A1 bus, ~15–20 min, ~€5 (about $5.50) |
| Need a car? | City no, island yes — book ahead in summer |
| Best beach | Es Trenc (south); Cala Deià / Sa Calobra for coves |
| Cathedral (La Seu) | €10 (~$11), Mon–Sat, go mid-morning |
| Sóller train + tram | |
| Caves of Drach | |
| Bellver Castle | |
| Best months | May, June, September |
| Cheap lunch | Menú del día, €13–18 (~$14–20) |
| Tourist tax | ~€1–4/person/night, added at checkout |
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
| Visa | Schengen 90/180; ETIAS coming (~€7) |
Get the basics right — the A1 bus in, a car for the coves, lunch off the strip, and a May or June arrival — and Mallorca rewards you fast. Skip the resort-strip cliché entirely and the island most people never see opens right up.
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