The best towns in Mallorca are found high in the mountains, or clinging to the coastline, and cradled in the countryside, among orange farms, olive groves, and pine forests.
Mallorca’s towns include the seductive capital, Palma, with its gleaming cathedral and a pretty old quarter. The old town of Alcúdia has Roman ruins, while Manacor was inhabited as far back as the early Bronze Age.
From swoon-worthy Deià on the west coast, with its literary connections, to Llucmajor in the south, where one of Mallorca’s most famous battles took place, discover the best towns in Mallorca to explore on vacation.
Bunyola
Bunyola
Beautiful Bunyola is one of the lesser-known towns in Mallorca, surrounded by mountains in the foothills of the Serra de Tramuntana, on the west of this Spanish island.
This lofty town just nine miles from Palma is home to the elegant Raixa Estate. Previously owned by the German designer Jil Sander, it has been open to the public since 2018. Explore the Italian-style villa, dating back to the 16th century. Enjoy the sweet-smelling gardens designed by Italian sculptor Pietro Lazzarini and admire the courtyard’s delightful portico.
One of the best things to do in Bunyola is wander the intersecting semi-cobbled streets lined with oatmeal-colored houses, most with traditional green shutters. There’s a historic church, a clutch of tapas bars and restaurants, and a twice-weekly produce market every Wednesday and Saturday in the town’s main square.
Llucmajor
Llucmajor
Llucmajor is a small town in the south of the island where the 1349 Battle of Llucmajor saw Pedro IV of Aragon overpower his cousin, Jaume III, ending Mallorca’s period of independence.
Llucmajor is compact and easy to explore on foot, made even more effortless by the almost grid-like layout of the town center. Stop by the 17th-century St. Bonaventure Church, tucked away next to a convent in a square of the same name.
There is a statue of Jaume III, Mallorca’s brief ruler from 1324 to 1344, on Llucmajor Passeig Jaume III. Llucmajor is also famed for its shoe-making craftsmanship, with a statue on Carrer Obispo Taxaquet in honor of the town’s cobblers.
A highlight is Llucmajor’s 19th-century Church of St. Michael on Plaça Espanya with its neoclassical-style bell tower and an exquisite, restored organ. After looking inside the church and its baroque chapel, a remnant of the previous church that stood here, take a seat in the square to soak up Llucmajor’s deliciously slow pace.
Sóller
Sóller
Travelers will find dreamy Sóller, one of the best towns in Mallorca, in a lush, chalice-shaped valley in the northwest of the island.
Arrive via the vintage Sóller Railway from Palma, which cuts through the Serra de Tramuntana, also stopping in Bunyola. You’ll pass palm, almond, citrus, and pine trees on the scenic one-hour journey. Gliding into Sóller, you’ll be greeted with narrow winding streets meeting in the buzzing Plaza de la Constitución.
Sant Bartomeu Church, Sóller
This sun-dappled square is lined with cafés, bars, and tapas restaurants facing the spectacular Sant Bartomeu Church. The early 17th-century landmark, renovated in the early 20th century by Joan Rubió, a pupil of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, features a beautiful rose window on the front facade.
A visit to Sóller is one of the best things to do in Mallorca as it presents a fantastic opportunity to shop, with souvenir Spanish fans, handmade jewelry, crafts, and antiques on offer. After enjoying a leisurely walk around the town and a spot of retail therapy, settle at one of Plaza de la Constitución’s many cafés or bars with a coffee or chilled glass of Mallorcan wine.
Save time for the verdant Botanical Garden of Sóller or a trip to Port de Sóller, where there’s a soft sandy beach flanked by palm trees and rows of shiny yachts in the marina.
Santanyí
Santanyí
The southern town of Santanyí lies close to the vast Reserva Marina del Migjorn de Mallorca, the largest marine reserve in the Spanish Mediterranean.
Santanyí is known for the golden glow of its architecture and its myriad cobbled streets. Naturally, there’s a central church, Sant Andreu de Santanyí, while the town’s squares are taken over by bustling markets each Wednesday and Sunday.
Browse the galleries, boutiques, and pottery stores dotted around the town and enjoy a coffee, and perhaps some local almonds and olives in Plaça Major, facing the sun-tinged church.
A five-minute drive south leads to the coast and one of Mallorca’s most inviting calas. The turquoise water of Platja de Santanyí is the perfect spot for a restorative swim after exploring Santanyí, easily one of the best towns in Mallorca.
Valldemossa
Valldemossa
What makes car-free Valldemossa one of the best towns in Mallorca? The highest town on the island affords breathtaking views of the green Tramuntana mountains, including Puig des Teix, a 15 to 20-minute drive north of Palma.
The fairytale-like Valldemossa is small, with cobbled streets and pretty shuttered houses, embellished with tall cypresses and olive trees that make it one of the most beautiful places in Spain. There’s plenty to do, with shops, cafés, and restaurants around the town.
Spend time at the Royal Carthusian Monastery. Previously a palace, the monastery was occupied by monks between 1399 and 1835. Inside, visit the old pharmacy, where medicinal potions were once concocted. There’s a brilliant modern art museum hidden away at the monastery, too, where you can view works by Picasso and Miro.
Royal Carthusian Monastery, Valldemossa
The 19th-century Polish composer Frédéric Chopin and the French writer George Sand stayed at the monastery during the winter of 1938-1939. Though their romance was ill-fated, they respectively composed and wrote some of their best works while staying here.
The monastery is just steps from Costa Nord, a center for contemporary art set up by actor Michael Douglas, who owns a home nearby. Listen to Douglas narrate the story of Valldemossa before viewing the collection.
Take a seat in Plaça Ramon Llull at a shady spot on the terrace of Cappuccino Grand Café, where you can cool off with a divine gazpacho, iced coffee, or ice-cream sundae.
Esporles
Esporles
If you have a penchant for cute under-the-radar towns with a village-like feel, you’ll want to visit Esporles.
Situated in the south of the Serra de Tramuntana, Esporles offers a window into rural Mallorca, within easy reach of Palma.
Esporles’ tree-lined streets, including the main strip, Carrer de sa Rectoria, feature picturesque honey-colored buildings. Here, you’ll find the odd boutique and restaurant, frequented mainly by locals.
Gaze up at the Church of San Pedro de Esporles, with its neo-gothic facade and rose window. There’s a lovely restaurant, Es Brollador, with alfresco seating, just across from the town’s pharmacy and bank.
Hiking and cycling are popular around Esporles, and there’s a charming winery, Bodega Son Vich de Superna, set among leafy vines just outside of town. In the tasting room, sip on elegant red, white, or rose wines, made right here in the mountains.
Palma
Palma
Rooftop bars, a charismatic old town, and a shimmering marina—plus castles, beaches, museums, and galleries—make Palma, the island capital, one of the best towns in Mallorca.
Cast your eyes over the arresting Santa Maria of Palma, the capital’s iconic cathedral that’s also known as La Seu, by the palm-fringed waterfront. Built on the site of a Moorish mosque and on the citadel of the Roman city, the cathedral was completed in 1601, with a pupil of superstar architect Antoni Gaudí playing a role in the cathedral’s renovations in the early 20th century.
Castell de Bellver, Palma
Take in the heady scent of the thick pines on a hike to Castell de Bellver, a circular castle built in the 14th century on the edge of the town. In the historic center, you could tour more churches, including Santa Eulàlia de Ciutat de Mallorca and the 13th-century Basílica de Sant Francesc.
The Juan March Foundation Museum is the epicenter of Palma’s modern art scene. Carrer de la Gerreria, which winds through the old town, is the place for rows of tapas bars. For more grazing, the Santa Catalina food market is open daily, packed with stalls selling everything from bread and pastries to cured meats and sparkling wine.
Read: The Ultimate Mallorca Food Guide
Fornalutx
Fornalutx
Many of the best towns in Mallorca are in the craggy Serra de Tramuntana, including Fornalutx, which is snuggled in the center of the island, a scenic 45-minute car journey from Palma.
Breathe in this citrus-scented town as you wander the hilly stone steps, stopping to browse chic boutiques and craft shops. Plaça d’Espanya is a gorgeous square, typically Mallorcan, with cafés, a church, and tables spilling onto the cobbles.
Fornalutx is close to the town of Sóller so travelers can visit both in one day. The trip is best enjoyed when stopping by a dazzling viewpoint to see the region’s luxuriant orange groves and emerald terraces.
Deià
Deià
Ravishing Deià lies at the foot of a ravine in northwest Mallorca, luring travelers from around the world for its inspiring location, sandwiched between the sultry Mediterranean Sea and the rugged Puig del Teix mountain.
Early settlers populated this region in prehistoric times. Arabs have ruled, too, setting in place an irrigation and drainage system in the 8th century that is still used today. Later, Roman Catholic monasteries were established in this peaceful spot, and Archduke Lluis Salvador from Austria created many lookout points and walking routes while studying the local flora and fauna in the 19th century.
Deià
Embark on a stroll around this extraordinary Spanish town, drinking in the views of tall palm trees, blue sky, and glimpses of the azure sea that appear through openings in the stone buildings. Deià is a wonderful spot for shopping, with gourmet grocery stores, craft shops, galleries, and gelaterias providing refreshing ice cream.
One of the best things to do is hike the coiling route to the town’s tiny cala, or cove, which takes around 40 minutes. First, visit St. John the Baptist Church for the soul-stirring views. Originally built in the late 1500s, the church was rebuilt in the 18th and 19th centuries following a fire.
Read: Best Places to Go Hiking in Spain
Alcúdia
Alcúdia
Alcúdia is a beautiful old town in the north of the island, just a short distance from the coastal resort of Port d’Alcúdia, home to some of Mallorca’s best beaches, including Platja d’Alcúdia and Platja de Muro.
Within the old town’s medieval city walls lies the neo-gothic Church of St. Jaume and an archaeological Spanish museum housed in a 14th-century building. This pedestrian quarter is home to cafés, restaurants, stylish boutiques, and majestic townhouses.
Porta del Moll, Alcúdia
Admire Porta del Moll, a 14th-century stone gate featuring two towers, built into the town’s ancient walls on Plaça de Carles V.
A must-visit when visiting Mallorca is the 123 BC Roman ruins of Pollentia, also in Alcúdia. Visitors can see the remains of a residential area, a forum, and an amphitheater regarded as the smallest Roman theater in Spain.
Manacor
Manacor
Manacor is in the east of Mallorca near the magical Drach Caves. The town is the second-largest on the island and home to a magnificent church, though it’s probably better known as the birthplace of tennis star Rafa Nadal.
Start in the very center of Manacor at the landmark Nostra Senyora dels Dolors in Plaça del rector Rubí. Built in the late 19th century on the site of former churches, the church features a soaring bell tower, several chapels, and ten aisles.
On the edge of the town center, the Rafa Nadal Museum explores the sportsman’s career, with trophies, training equipment, and even the player’s tennis shoes on display.
There are plenty of dining options and fantastic shopping, with pottery, wine, olive oil, and olive-wood carved bowls. Look out for Majorica pearls, too, cultivated here in Manacor.
Pollença
Pollença
In north Mallorca, climb pretty Pollença’s 365 steps, lined with stone buildings and cypresses, to the incense-fragranced Calvary Chapel, which stands proudly on a hill. Here, hikers are rewarded with sublime views of northern Mallorca.
Marvel at Pollença’s sandstone Convent Of St. Domingo, with its hushed cloister constructed by Dominican friars between 1558 and 1616.
Browse the fashion, homeware, and gift boutiques and galleries around the center of Pollença. Plaça Major is the place for a lunchtime bite or a refreshing drink. Also in this delightful square, Santa Maria de Pollença is an unassuming church from the outside, with a baroque altarpiece and beautiful ceiling frescoes inside.
Palma
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