Palma is one of the best bases on the island. Here is where to go when you are ready to explore further.
Mallorca is a small island but it packs in an extraordinary amount of variety. From Palma you can reach mountain villages, dramatic coastline, ancient towns, and some of the best beaches in the Mediterranean in under an hour. The trick is knowing which day trips are worth the drive and what to do when you get there.
This guide covers five of the best day trips from Palma, including Sóller and Pollença for food and culture, and two of the best coastal towns for a beach day. A hire car gives you the most flexibility for all of them, though Sóller is also reachable by the famous vintage train from Palma.
Sóller
Distance from Palma: 35 km, around 45 minutes by car or 1 hour by train
Sóller sits in a valley in the Serra de Tramuntana mountains, surrounded by orange and lemon groves, and is one of the most visited and most deserved day trips from Palma. The town has a beautiful central square, a 16th-century church, and a food and cafe culture that rewards a slow morning.
What to do in Sóller
The vintage train from Palma to Sóller is one of the most scenic rail journeys in the Balearics and worth taking at least one way. From the town, a historic tram connects down to Port de Sóller, a calm bay with a handful of restaurants serving fresh seafood. The combination of the valley town and the port makes Sóller one of the most complete day trips on the island.
The food scene in Sóller is rooted in the local citrus harvest and the fresh catch from the port. Pa amb oli, grilled fish, and dishes built around oranges and lemons from the surrounding groves are what the area does best. For visitors who want to explore the town’s food culture with some local context, there are food tours in Sóller that cover the best local restaurants and the stories behind the valley’s produce.
Pollença
Distance from Palma: 55 km, around 50 minutes by car
Pollença is one of the most authentic towns in northern Mallorca, a place that has stayed genuine despite being well known. The old town is built around honey-coloured stone streets, a thriving weekly market, and a cafe culture that locals have been part of for generations. It is the kind of place that rewards a slow pace.
What to do in Pollença
The Calvari Steps are the most iconic landmark in town: 365 cypress-lined steps climbing from the edge of the old town up to a small hilltop chapel with views across the valley and the Tramuntana mountains. The climb takes around 15 minutes and is completely free.
The Sunday market on Placa Major is one of the most authentic weekly markets in Mallorca. Stalls sell fresh produce, local cheeses, preserves, and handmade crafts. Go before 10am to see it at its best.
From the old town, Port de Pollença is 10 minutes by car: a calm bay, a long pine-shaded promenade, and a handful of good seafood restaurants facing the water. The combination of the old town in the morning and the port in the afternoon makes Pollença one of the most complete day trips from Palma.
Food tours in Pollença are a good way to explore the town’s best local restaurants and markets if you want a more structured evening.
Valldemossa
Distance from Palma: 17 km, around 25 minutes by car
The closest and most visited mountain village from Palma, Valldemossa is a beautiful stone village in Tramuntana with cobbled streets, flower-filled balconies, and one of the most photographed churches on the island. The famous Carthusian Monastery, where Chopin and George Sand spent the winter of 1838, is the main cultural attraction and worth an hour inside.
What to do in Valldemossa
The monastery is the centrepiece but the village itself is worth wandering without a particular destination. The local pastry, coca de patata, is a Valldemossa specialty and available at the traditional bakeries around the main square. Arrive early as the village gets busy by mid-morning in summer.
Valldemossa is often combined with Deia, a short drive along the mountain road towards Sóller. The two villages together make a full morning, with lunch at Cala Deia rounding out the day perfectly. The drive between them is one of the most scenic on the island.
Port de Sóller for the beach
Distance from Palma: 35 km, around 45 minutes by car
If you want a beach day with character rather than just a beach, Port de Sóller is the most rewarding coastal option within easy reach of Palma. The bay is calm and west-facing, the promenade is pleasant, and the combination of mountains dropping directly to the sea makes the setting unlike anything else on the northwest coast.
What to do at Port de Sóller
The beach is good for swimming and the bay is calm enough for families. The promenade has several good seafood restaurants and it is one of the best places on the island for a sunset drink. A boat trip along the northwest coast from the port is one of the best ways to see the most dramatic section of the Mallorca coastline from the water.
Tip: Come on a Tuesday when the local market in Sóller town is running, then take the tram down to the port for lunch and the afternoon on the beach.
Alcudia for history and the beach
Distance from Palma: 55 km, around 50 minutes by car
Alcudia is one of the most underrated day trips from Palma. The walled old town is one of the best preserved in Mallorca, with Roman ruins, medieval walls, and narrow streets that see far fewer visitors than the bigger tourist towns. Ten minutes from the old town, the bay of Alcudia has one of the longest stretches of sand on the island.
What to do in Alcudia
Start in the old town: walk the medieval walls, visit the Roman amphitheatre, and take time in the small streets around the church. The Tuesday and Sunday market in Alcudia is one of the best on the island for local food, crafts, and produce.
From the old town, drive or cycle down to Port d’Alcudia for the beach and lunch. The bay is calm, the water is clear, and the beach is long enough to find a quiet spot even in summer. Restaurant Miramar, one of the oldest seafood restaurants on the island and open since 1871, is worth booking for a long lunch on the terrace facing the bay.
Tip: Combine Alcudia with a drive along the Formentor peninsula on the same day. The viewpoint at Mirador Es Colomer and the lighthouse at Cap de Formentor are less than 30 minutes from Alcudia and among the most spectacular landscapes in the Balearics.
How to get the most out of a day trip from Palma
A hire car gives you the most flexibility for all five of these destinations. Most are reachable by public transport but a car allows you to combine two stops in a single day, reach the quieter beaches and viewpoints, and leave on your own schedule.
Leave Palma early. The mountain roads and the best parking spots at the popular beaches fill up quickly in summer. Being on the road by 9am gives you a noticeably better experience at all five of these destinations.
Eat lunch locally. Each of these towns has its own food culture and the best meals are always found in the local restaurants rather than the tourist-facing places near the main car parks. The food tour options in Sóller and Pollença are good evening options if you are making either of those a longer stay rather than a day trip.
For a broader picture of where to eat and what to explore across the island, Food Tours Balearics covers the best food experiences from Palma to the north coast.
