In desperate need of a sunny winter getaway? Book a trip to Mallorca in December, January, or February! This itinerary shares how to spend 5 days in Mallorca and will take you to the top attractions around the island.
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Mallorca is the largest of the Balearic islands and one of the jewels of the Mediterranean. Which, naturally, means that pretty much everyone has heard of it so Mallorca is packed during the summer months.
Mallorca in the winter, though? Totally different story!
In the winter, the island doesn’t suffer from overcrowding. It’s easier (and cheaper!) to book a rental car, hotels are less expensive, and the roads are simpler to navigate without so many people trying to get to the beach.
In this 5-day itinerary, I’m sharing the best places to visit in Mallorca during the winter.
It might not be warm enough to take a dip in the ocean, but you’ll be able to enjoy the quaint mountain villages, hiking trails, and other island attractions without all the crowds!
Table of Contents
Click “show” to see the full table of contents for this post. You can jump around the post as desired by clicking on the individual sections listed below.
Tip: Yes, You’ll Need a Rental Car!
It’s worth noting that you need a rental car to do all the things on this 5-day Mallorca itinerary (car rentals are fairly cheap in the winter). I prefer using Discover Cars to book rental cars and highly recommend them!
If you need an automatic car, be sure to specify that when booking a rental. They usually cost a bit more, as a heads up.
Where to Stay in Mallorca in the Winter
Although Mallorca is home to many quaint villages and seaside resorts, it’s best to stay in the capital city, Palma de Mallorca, when visiting in the winter.
Many of the resorts around the island shut down in the winter, restaurants are closed for the season, and apartments are boarded up.
Yes, staying in Palma will mean you’ll have to drive a little further to get to some of the winter attractions mentioned in this itinerary, but it really is the best place to have as your home base when visiting between December to February.
Some highly rated hotels to book for your winter trip to Mallorca include:
- Budget: Fil Suites
- Budget: MHOUSE Boutique Hotel Palma
- Mid-range: Hotel Almudaina
- Mid-range: Puro Grand Hotel
- Mid-range: Concepcio by Nobis
Day 1: Explore Palma
Palma’s city center is small enough to explore on foot, so park your car and start exploring!
There’s really no reason to rush around Palma or create a strict itinerary for the day. Most of the main attractions are nestled in Palma’s Old Town, so take your time exploring and enjoy the leisurely pace.
Stop 1: Catedral de Mallorca (Mallorca’s Cathedral)
Winter opening hours (November – March): 10am to 3:15pm Monday – Saturday; closed on Sundays
Cost: 10 Euros (grants access to the cathedral and the Museum of the Sacred Arts; book tickets here)
I highly recommend starting your winter holiday at the Catedral de Mallorca, aka La Seu.
It’s a stunning Gothic-style cathedral that’s experienced quite the architectural evolution over time. Building wasn’t finished until the 1630s, so you’ll notice some Baroque-style details within the cathedral.
And, as with many buildings that have survived for so many centuries, the need for continuous restoration projects means that some modern design elements can also be seen inside the cathedral.
For example, the famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi (who designed La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona) worked on the Mallorca Cathedral from 1904 to 1915. He moved the location of the choir and redesigned the Chapel of the Holy Trinity.
Stop 2: Royal Palace of La Almudaina
Winter opening hours: 10am to 6pm (Closed Mondays)
Cost: 7 Euros to enter + 5 euros for an optional audio guide (book tickets here). FREE entry is granted on Sundays and Wednesdays between 3pm to 6pm.
Across from the cathedral is the Royal Palace of La Almudaina. Although the palace is the official residence of the king and queen of Spain when they visit the island, it’s open to the public for tours.
The palace was built on the site of a former Roman settlement, but it wasn’t originally built for the Spanish monarchs.
Just like the Andalusia region of Spain, Mallorca was ruled by a Muslim kingdom. The Royal Palace was first used by the Muslim governors who ruled the island between the 10th and 13th centuries, then converted into the Gothic style by the Spanish King James II in the 14th century.
Highlights of a visit to Mallorca’s royal palace include:
- Royal Apartments: Sumptuously decorated rooms fit for a king and queen!
- Chapel of Santa Ana: Small but beautiful chapel located within the palace.
- Arab baths: One of the few remnants of the former Muslim rulers who lived in the palace. There are three rooms (formerly the hot, warm, and cold rooms).
- Terraces: There are multiple terraces overlooking the Bay of Palma. The view is incredible!
Claire’s Tip: After visiting the royal palace, head down to the former royal gardens (L’Hort del Rei) which were designed in the Moorish style and are equally breathtaking.
Stop 3: Mercat de l’Olivar
Winter opening hours: Monday – Thursday 7am to 2:30pm, Friday 2:30pm to 8pm, Saturday 7am to 3pm (closed Sunday)
No Mallorca vacation is complete without visiting Palma’s largest market hall.
The Mercat de l’Olivar boasts around 50 stalls selling fresh fruits and vegetables, various meats, fish, and cheeses.
Another 20 stalls offer full meals, including Spanish tapas, sushi, ceviche, and more.
I loved exploring this spacious, airy market hall. I imagine it’s jam-packed in the summer, but in the winter it felt like we were one of the locals!
Stop 4: Old Town Palma
Palma de Mallorca has a small but lovely Old Town that you can explore at your own pace.
There are plenty of boutiques to keep you busy window shopping, bakeries for sampling the local pastries, and cafes for reading a good book over a cup of Spanish-style hot chocolate — you know the drill! 😉
Specific areas I can recommend visiting within the Old Town include:
- Plaça Major: Palma’s main square. The vibrant yellow buildings bedecked with green shutters are very traditional; on the street level, you’ll find lots of shops and cafes.
- Passeig del Born: Most popular shopping street in the city, with a mixture of mid-range and luxury shops (think: a blend of places like Zara and Louis Vuitton).
- Plaça de Cort: A pretty square where the Town Hall has been located since the mid-1600s. You can’t miss the massive olive tree; the 600-year-old tree was moved to this spot in 1989.
Have More Time to See Palma?
One of the perks of visiting Palma in the winter is that you can enjoy things at a slower pace.
However, if you’re a go-go-go traveler who likes to pack your days full, consider adding one of the following tours or experiences to your first day in Mallorca:
- 4-hour sunset cruise
- Sightseeing Hop On, Hop Off bus tour
- Flamenco show
- 3-hour food tour of the Old Town
- 3-hour e-bike tour of Palma
I also have a detailed guide on all the fun things there are to do in Palma in the winter!
Day 2: Hiking, Fornalutx, and Port de Sóller
Winter is the perfect time to go hiking in Mallorca! The cooler temperatures make hiking in the mountains much safer, though you’ll still need to pack enough snacks and water to see you through.
You can use AllTrails to find the best hikes on Mallorca, but my preferred winter hike is the loop trail called the Barranc de Biniaraix.
After the 5ish hour hike, drive to the nearby villages of Fornalutx and Port de Soller to explore them without the crowds!
Stop 1: Hiking Barranc de Biniaraix
Starting point: Biniaraix
Level of difficulty: Moderate
Length: 5 kilometer loop trail (3 miles)
The Barranc de Biniaraix is a deep gorge that runs into the Soller valley. Much of the hike is on a dry stone road that was originally built to link the farms high up in the mountains with the larger city of Soller.
This hike wound up being one of my favorite parts of our winter trip to Mallorca. It wasn’t technically challenging (i.e. we didn’t have to scramble over boulders, use ropes, or anything scary like that), but since we were winding our way up a mountain our legs definitely got a good workout on the steep incline.
There are two stages to this hike:
- You first hike up to the L’Ofre farm (a quaint sheep farm nestled in between the mountains),
- then you can opt to continue hiking up to the Grand Cornador, which is one of the many peaks in the mountain range.
If possible, you should definitely hike the extra hour up to the mountain peak! It’s not particularly strenuous, and the views from the top are stunning. Think: sprawling Spanish villages surrounded by blue water stretching for miles.
Claire’s Tip: If you need explicit instructions on hiking the Barranc de Biniaraix, I recommend checking out this hiking page.
Here are a few tips for hiking the Barranc de Biniaraix:
- Get an early(ish) start: We started our hike around 10am. It took us about 5 hours to complete (we stopped to take lots of pictures along the way), so we were glad to finish mid-afternoon when there was still enough time to grab lunch in Biniaraix before everything shut down for an afternoon siesta.
- Pack snacks and water: Winter in Mallorca is fairly mild, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stay hydrated on your hike. Definitely pack a large (1+ liter) water bottle and plenty of snacks to keep you fueled throughout the uphill hike.
- Wear layers: Because you’re hiking between mountains, you’ll spend long stretches of time in the shade, followed by stretches in the sun. As such, we were constantly shedding layers and putting them back on later when we cooled down.
- Wear sturdy shoes: Much of the hike is on cobbled pathways. Sturdy tennis shoes will work for this hike, but actual hiking boots are preferred. Trust me, you’ll be grateful for the ankle support!
Stop 2: Visit Fornalutx
Once an Arab farming settlement, Fornalutx is a quaint village tucked up in the mountains of Mallorca.
In the winter, the village is almost completely boarded up, but it’s still worth parking and wandering around. Plaça de Espanya is the village’s central square, and if the 17th-century Gothic church is open when you visit, definitely pop inside!
The stone buildings topped with red tile roofs make every alleyway in Fornalutx look like it should be on a postcard. There’s something so magical about exploring the empty town on foot during the winter.
You won’t need to stay here for very long, but do get out and explore on foot. I bet this place is packed in the summer, so soak up the rare peace and calm!
Stop 3: Watch the Sunset at Port de Sóller
Although we were bone tired after our hike, we drove the short distance to the Port de Sóller to see the sun set over the water.
We took off our sweaty socks and shoes and burrowed our toes in the cold sand at the Playa den Repic beach, all the while watching the sun slowly sink down behind the sailboats docked in the harbor.
Like most of the towns in Mallorca, the Port de Sóller is mostly shut up during the winter, but we loved having the beach to ourselves after a long day on our feet.
This town is known for its large, protected bay and historic tram which connects to Palma — both of which you can still enjoy in the winter!
Day 3: Visiting Mallorca’s Prettiest Villages
There are so many lists online that claim to know the “best” villages in Mallorca, but truth be told they’re all pretty cute!
Knowing this, feel free to switch up your third day in Mallorca and visit any other villages that seem interesting to you.
Claire’s Tip: Although Mallorca is an island and therefore easy to bop around in a rental car, we found it best to visit clusters of villages in the same area to ensure we spent most of our day outside rather than cooped up in the car.
Stop 1: Sóller
Known for its citrus groves, Sóller is home to some of Mallorca’s old money (there are a few particularly grand and beautiful homes here!).
The church on the main square is particularly well known and worth popping into, and if locomotives tickle your fancy you should walk over to the train depot to see the historic train that runs from the town to the port in the warmer months.
Stop 2: Deià
Deià is another sleepy village perched in a ravine at the base of the Teix Mountain, with epic views of the Mediterranean.
This area has been settled since prehistoric times, and the irrigation systems put in by the Arabs in the 8th century are still in use!
More recently, the English poet Robert Graves briefly lived in Deià in the 1930s. He hoped the sunny village setting would help him to heal from his traumatic experiences in World War I.
We grabbed a spot of lunch near the square — I recommend Restaurant Deià for its good food and balcony views — then shuffled to the top of the village to see it from above. There’s a little church at the top (Sant Joan de Deià), so peek your head in while you’re there.
After snapping photos all around Deia, I suggest driving out to Cala Deia, a well-known beach nearby with turquoise water and small rock pools.
In the summer, there are two seafood restaurants open near the beach that book up months in advance — but in the winter you have the place to yourself!
Stop 3: Valldemossa
End your day in Valldemossa, which is best known for its monastery where Frederic Chopin and his lover, George Sand, once wintered (see, even in the 1800s people knew that visiting Mallorca in the winter was a good idea!).
Chopin stayed at the Carthusian Monastery (Real Cartuja), which can be visited from Monday to Saturday.
This small hilltop town has a pedestrian-only center, so you can safely park your car and wander around on foot.
In addition to the monastery, I recommend visiting the Church of Saint Bartholomew (Església de Sant Bartomeu) to see where Mallorca’s only saint — Santa Catalina Thomas — was born.
Otherwise I suggest simply strolling along the cobblestone streets, taking in the beautiful surroundings, and window shopping (if the afternoon siesta hasn’t started yet!).
Claire’s Tip: Things close early in this small town. It’s best to get there before 4pm so you can squeeze in some window shopping and visit the monastery, if desired.
Day 4: Hiking Near Sant Elm, Port de Andratx, and Castell de Bellver
If two hikes in one week isn’t your idea of a good time, feel free to alter this itinerary to suit your preferences. The hike near Sant Elm is fairly easy, takes around 3 hours to complete, and has some pretty amazing views.
After the hike, you’ll drive to the nearby Port de Andratx for lunch, then end your day of adventures with a visit to the 14th century Castell de Bellver, near Palma.
Stop 1: Hiking to La Trapa Monastery, Near Sant Elm
Starting point: Sant Elm (I suggest parking near Avinguda de La Trapa since that’s where you’ll be starting the hike)
Level of difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Length: 9.5 kilometer loop trail (5.9 miles)
To kick off your fourth day in Mallorca, I suggest hiking from Sant Elm to the remains of the Trappist monastery (conveniently called “La Trapa Monastery”).
This hike boasts some of the best views on the island, but it’s much shorter and easier to complete than the hike along the Barranc de Biniaraix earlier in the week.
Claire’s Tip: For detailed instructions on hiking from Sant Elm to the La Trapa Monastery, check out this hiking page.
The hike first takes you to a 400-year-old abandoned watchtower. This first leg of the hike is a breeze, and the views from the tower are incredible.
We were treated to a full view of the nearby Dragon Island, which looks like a sleeping dragon … if you use your imagination! You can climb to the top of the watchtower using some old ladder rungs and rope, but I opted to keep my feet planted on solid ground.
After snapping some pics at the watchtower, double back on your path and hike up to the ruins of the La Trapa Monastery. Once the short but sweet hike is over, return to Sant Elm and walk around a bit.
In the winter, most of the apartments are boarded up and the restaurants are closed, but it’s still worth spending 30 minutes walking around Sant Elm just to say you did.
Stop 2: Port de Andratx
Drive to Port de Andratx for a late lunch.
Even in the winter, there will be few restaurants open near the water. We enjoyed our meal at Restaurante Miramar, but if you’re looking for something vegetarian- or vegan-friendly, try the nearby Natural Cafe.
After lunch, take a walk along the docks to enjoy the view of the water.
Stop 3: Castell de Bellver
Winter opening hours (October – March): 10am to 6pm Tuesday – Saturday; 10am to 3pm Sunday; closed on Monday
Cost: 4 Euros
On your way back to Palma, stop by the Castell de Bellver. The imposing circular castle overlooking Palma was built in the early 1300s and housed the island’s royalty until the Kingdom of Mallorca fell.
Over the centuries, the former castle has been used as a mint and then as a prison (most recently during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s).
When you enter the castle, you’re first struck by the impressive open-air parade ground in the center of the complex. Within the castle itself, you’ll find the city’s history museum.
Don’t forget to head to the upper terrace for an unparalleled view of Palma!
Claire’s Tip: You can either drive up to the castle, or you can park your car at the base of the hill it’s perched on and hike to the top (as I understand, it’s an easy hike!). We drove up, but we wish we would have hiked!
Day 5: Exploring the Northern Tip of the Island
End your winter trip to Mallorca on a high note! The final day of this itinerary takes you to one last beautiful town, then ends with some of the best views on the entire island.
Stop 1: Pollença
The drive from Palma to Pollença takes under an hour.
On your way into the town, make sure to stop by the Roman Bridge (Pont Romà). Despite its name, locals don’t actually know if the bridge was built by the Romans. The first written records mentioning the bridge are from the 14th century, but either way it’s a picturesque bridge that’s worth visiting. (And yes, you can still walk across it!)
After seeing the bridge, head to Pollença’s main square (Plaça Major) to enjoy a cup of coffee in the sunshine. The nearby Cafeteria Can Nas is really nice, as is Club Pollença on the square.
Claire’s Tip: If your visit to Pollença falls on a Sunday, you can look forward to one of the best weekly markets on the island! Nearly 300 stalls are set up between the main square and Plaça de Ca les Monnares. The market is open from 8am to 1:30pm.
Some of Pollença’s best known landmarks are closed to visitors in the winter, such as the church on the main square (Santa Maria de Pollença), but you should certainly walk around to take in the sights.
After wandering around the town, walk to the famous Calvari Steps, which take you to the aptly named the Calvary Chapel.
There are 365 steps, as many as the days in a year. Lining the steps are 14 crosses, representing the Stations of the Cross.
In the Christian faith, the 14 stations represent Jesus’ last hours on Earth, beginning with his being sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate and ending with him being entombed after his crucifixion.
The walk up the Calvari Steps isn’t strenuous, and the view as you progress up towards the chapel just keeps getting better and better!
Claire’s Tip: You can also drive your car up to the Calvary Chapel to take in the views.
After walking back down the steps, get into your car and drive up to the Santuari del Puig de Maria, an old monastery atop a tall hill. The drive up is slightly terrifying since the road is quite narrow, and the turns are sharp.
We parked the car about three-fourths up the massive hill and hiked the rest of the way up on foot. The hike is short but steep, so definitely wear good shoes!
The small chapel at the top of the hill was being set up for a wedding, so we didn’t stay long, but the view of Pollença and the nearby port were stunning.
Stop 2: Port de Pollença
A short drive from Pollença is its stunning port, the Port de Pollença.
I recommend ordering lunch here. Try Osteria N 15 if you’re craving Italian food, or Gran Cafe 1919 for lighter fare, coffee, or ice cream.
After eating, take a stroll along the white sand beach before hopping back into the car for one last, epic drive.
Stop 3: Mirador de es Colomer
The Mirador de es Colomer is arguably the most popular viewpoint on the island, so even in the winter you’ll see a few other cars parked nearby.
From the viewing platform, you’ll be treated to a panoramic view of the Formentor peninsula — which you’ll be driving to next!
Claire’s Tip: You can either time your day so you see the sunset from the Cap de Formentor Lighthouse (next stop on this 5-day itinerary) OR you can give yourself enough time to return to the Mirador de es Colomer and see the sunset there. Both are stunning options, it really just depends on how confident a driver you are, because you might not want to drive back from the lighthouse in the dark.
Stop 4: Cap de Formentor Lighthouse
Cap de Formentor is a lighthouse at the very tip of the island — sounds simple enough to visit, right? Much to our surprise, the road out to the lighthouse was full of tight twists and turns that had me questioning all of my life choices.
It allegedly takes 15 minutes to drive from the Mirador de es Colomer to the lighthouse, but it easily took us twice that long because we had to drive so carefully.
With that being said, the drive itself is arguably better than the view at the end, and it’s an experience I’ll never forget.
The Cap de Formentor Lighthouse is one of the BEST winter attractions in Mallorca because it can’t be reached by car during the summer months.
Since 2018, private vehicles (like rental cars!) have been banned from accessing the road to the lighthouse during the summer. This rule was put into effect due to overcrowding and the continuous traffic jams that occurred.
In the winter, though, you can drive all the way out to the lighthouse with little to no traffic slowing you down. (Except all the goats that hop into the road. Seriously, be careful!)
Claire’s Tip: You need to drive slowly on the way out to the lighthouse. We passed countless goats along the way, and I can’t tell you how many times we gasped at the ever-changing ocean views.
Frequently Asked Questions
We thought five full days was perfect for a winter holiday. Since most of the resort towns are closed for the winter, this gave us time to leisurely explore Palma, see some of the island’s prettiest villages, and go hiking.
Blessed with 300 days of sunshine per year, Mallorca is one of the best places to visit in Europe to beat the winter blues.
Mornings and evenings are a bit chillier, with temperatures around 45ºF (8ºC). During the day, you can expect temperatures of around 60ºF (15ºC).
It doesn’t rain much during the winter — maybe 4 or 5 days per month.
I suggest packing plenty of layers so you can add or remove items as the day progresses.
For this winter itinerary, I suggest packing hiking boots or very sturdy tennis shoes for your hiking days. I also packed a pair of sturdy sandals (Birkenstocks) for wearing when I was in Palma and the smaller villages.
To be on the safe side, pack a hat and sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun, as well as a rain jacket and / or umbrella in case it rains.
I rarely rent a car when I travel (too much trouble!), but Mallorca is so much easier to explore by car.
I recommend Discover Cars for finding the best deal on a rental car.
For the most part, yes! The few museums and paid attractions we visited had information in Spanish, Catalan, English, and German so we had no issues there.
If you’re worried you’ll have issues driving around the island, buy an eSim beforehand to ensure you have data on your phone for using Google Maps.
Map of the Attractions on This Winter Itinerary
Enjoy Your Winter Visit to Mallorca!
Before signing off, I want to reiterate that Mallorca in the winter is super chill, so there’s no reason to stick to a strict itinerary or worry about checking off your to-do list.
I suggest using the winter activities shared in this Mallorca itinerary as a starting point for your own adventures. Begin each day with a loose list of things you’d like to see and do, and fill in the blanks as you go.
Trust me, you’ll have the most relaxing winter holiday of your life if you “plan” your trip this way!
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