A No-Gatekeeping Guide to Mallorca 🌞

Reporting back from my fourth stint on this magical island...

Hi, friends!

Today’s post is a big one. Honestly, if there’s one guide I’ve been intimidated to tackle, it’s this one.

Since first visiting Mallorca for my 28th birthday (if you’re new here, I’ve made an annual tradition of birthday trips for the past decade!), I’ve found myself drawn back again and again—four visits later, I’m still under its spell. And based on the number of DMs, texts, and emails I get about this magical Spanish island, I know I’m not alone. In fact, aside from my Paris recs, it’s probably the destination I get the most questions about.

So, consider this my Mallorca master list: a meticulous guide built on four trips’ worth of discoveries, detours, and deeply memorable moments with absolutely zero gatekeeping. I hope it helps make your time on the island just as meaningful.

• The basics: When to go, favorite route to fly, and Spanish hotspot combinations to consider, including four different ways you could match Mallorca to the other Balearic islands, plus how long to plan to stay on each island.

• What people get wrong about Mallorca.

• Why you need a car rental…a guideline that’s RICH coming from someone who doesn’t have a driver’s license! But let me explain.

• A breakdown of the six hotels I’ve stayed at, five more I’d recommend, and four I’m dying to see.

• The structure I’d recommend for a seven-day itinerary, including where to stay, beach, and dine!

• Things I haven’t done yet in Mallorca but are on my list for next time…because there will always be a next time.

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While Mallorca is beautiful year-round, timing your visit makes all the difference. High season runs from June through August, bringing peak crowds and with it peak prices—not to mention sometimes sweltering temps that make sightseeing a sweaty endeavor. I’ve visited in June, July, and twice in September. Without a doubt, my favorite time to visit is September, when the summer rush has thinned, the Mediterranean is still warm from the months of sun she’s been basking in, and the pace on the island slows just enough to let you breathe a bit slower. Think: golden light, balmy evenings, and easier access to tables at beloved beachside restaurants. If you’re more into spring blooms and cooler hikes, April to early June is also lovely. But if you want that sun-drenched, postcard-perfect Mallorca moment without the chaos? September wins every time.

For fellow New Yorkers, my favorite way to get to Mallorca is the direct flight on United that operates roughly May through late October, with flights three to four times per week. If you’re not taking that flight but coming from the States, you’re likely flying via Madrid, which makes a great stopover. I’ve done this routing, plus a few others, which I’m going to include below to help spark inspo for your itinerary.

• Mallorca, Start to Finish! Fly direct in and out of Mallorca to really sink into the island’s rhythm; I wish more people would do this, but Americans often love to overcomplicate trips, so I've included other combinations below. That said, if doing it this way, I’d recommend 7-10 nights! Trust me, between hiking the Tramuntana and lingering over long lunches in Deià, you won’t get bored.

• The Mainland and Island Combo: Madrid (2n) → Marbella via Malaga (3n) → Mallorca (5n). We did this in 2021, and it was such a fun Spanish sampler platter! Think: a hit of culture in the capital, a little coastal glam down South, and then pure Mediterranean magic to close it out.

• The Party and Peace Plan: Mallorca (5n) → Ibiza (4n). Start mellow, then turn it up in Ibiza. Or, reverse it if you prefer to recover on the tail end! Either way, you’ll get your fill of beach clubs, boat days, and Balearic bliss.

• The Calm, Cool and Collected Itinerary: Mallorca (6n) → Formentera (3n) via Ibiza. This is what we just did, so I can fully sign off on this nine-night combo! If you thought Mallorca was relaxing, then you’ll really unwind when immersed in Formentera’s turquoise waters, white sand beaches, and barefoot lunches.

• The Island Hopper: Mallorca (5n) → Menorca (3n). Start with Mallorca’s vibrant mix of mountains and beaches, slow it down in Menorca’s sleepy coves. We did this combo a couple summers back, and while there is a ferry, we flew between the two, which was super simple.

For more on the distinct qualities of each Balearic island, check out my post from last Sunday, which includes a mini guide to Formentera.

This is going to be an unpopular opinion…but I don’t think you should categorize Mallorca as a “beach vacation.” There are beaches. And you should go on vacation—perhaps even here. But I’m not sure that this island actually qualifies as a place where one takes a “beach vacation.” There are countless places where you can maximize sun and sand that are a hell of a lot easier to reach and navigate once there.

But Mallorca is more than that. I think it’s a place to explore! Get lost (no really, you’ll definitely get lost at some point). Stay at a sickeningly good hotel. And eventually, when the weather is *just* right and you’ve worked up the audacity to wake early enough to make it to the beach before it gets too crowded…you’ll have those few blissful hours where you’re perfectly lathered in sunscreen and oscillating between swimming in the sea and reading on your carefully placed beach towel.