Why Honeymoon in Mallorca
Variety is Mallorca's strength. The Tramuntana mountains are a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape of stone terraces, monasteries and switchback roads above the sea. The coves of the Llevant and the Mondragó Natural Park give you the swimming. Palma provides the cathedral, galleries and late dinners.
It also has some of the Mediterranean's most romantic hotels. Several occupy old manor houses with gardens of citrus and bougainvillea, where breakfast comes with views of the sea from a terrace.
For couples who want activity, the island is a cycling and hiking destination too. The GR221 long-distance trail links mountain villages, while dozens of operators run private boats along the coast. Couples who want to do nothing at all can pick a villa with a pool above Sóller and barely move for a week.
When to Go
May, June and September are ideal. The sea is warm enough for swimming from June, the island is green and hotels are open but not at their summer peak. Early October is often still lovely, though some evenings turn cool.
July and August bring heat in the 80s and 90s, full beaches and the year's highest rates. Popular coves like Caló des Moro can be packed by late morning. If you come in summer, book a boat to reach quieter spots and plan your swims for early or late in the day.
From November to March many hotels and restaurants close, especially in the mountains and beach towns. Palma stays open year round. Late January and February bring almond blossom across the interior, which is pretty but better for walking than for beach days.
Where to Stay
Split your nights between the mountains and the coast or the city.
In the Tramuntana, Deià is the classic honeymoon base, a village of stone houses where the poet Robert Graves lived. Belmond La Residencia is the best-known hotel there, set in two old manor houses among olive groves. Sóller and its port, down a tram line from town, have more restaurants and the Jumeirah Port Soller on the clifftop above the harbor.
Palma suits couples who want city life between beach days. Boutique hotels fill old palaces in the historic center. Cap Rocat, a converted coastal fortress a short drive from the city, is a singular splurge with rooms set into the old defenses.
For quieter swimming, look at country hotels (agroturismos) near Santanyí or Pollença, many with pools and large gardens.
Romantic Things to Do
Ride the Ferrocarril de Sóller, a narrow-gauge line from 1912 with wooden carriages, through orange groves and mountain tunnels from Palma to Sóller. Continue on the old tram down to the port for a seafood lunch.
Charter a boat for a day on the southeast coast. A skipper can take you to coves near Cala Figuera and Cala Mondragó, or down to the turquoise shallows off Es Trenc, with a stop for paella on deck.
Drive to the Cap de Formentor lighthouse for sunrise. In recent summers, from mid-May to mid-October, private cars have been barred from the lighthouse road during the day, roughly 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., so leave early or take the TIB bus from Port de Pollença.
Watch sunset at Sa Foradada near Deià, where a rock arch frames the sea, or from the Valldemossa monastery gardens.
Getting There and Around
United runs a seasonal summer nonstop between Newark and Palma, the only direct link between Mallorca and the US. Otherwise, connect through Madrid, Barcelona or a European hub. Barcelona to Palma takes under an hour in the air with many daily flights in summer, while ferries cross overnight or in around seven hours by day.
Palma Airport is about 15 minutes from the city. Rent a car for almost any honeymoon plan, because the best villages and coves are poorly served by buses. Choose a small car: mountain roads are narrow, with tight hairpins and limited parking in villages.
In Palma, walk or use taxis. Parking in the old town is difficult and much of it is restricted. Allow more time than the map suggests for mountain drives, especially on the Ma-10 road through the Tramuntana.
Food and Drink
Mallorcan cooking is country food with good olive oil. Start the day with an ensaïmada, a spiral pastry dusted with powdered sugar. Pa amb oli, rustic bread with oil, tomato and toppings like cheese or ham, is the standard lunch in village bars.
Try sobrassada, a soft paprika sausage that you spread on bread. Tumbet is a layered dish of eggplant, potato and peppers. Along the coast, order whole grilled fish or a rich lobster stew in fishing ports.
The island makes good wine, mainly in the Binissalem and Pla i Llevant areas. Look for local red grapes like Manto Negro and Callet. Several wineries open for tastings, which is an easy afternoon between beach days. In Palma, the Santa Catalina neighborhood and its market are the best place for a casual dinner crawl.
Honeymoon Tips
- Balearic hotels charge a nightly sustainable tourism tax per person, higher at luxury hotels and lower out of season. It is usually paid at checkout.
- Arrive at popular coves before 10 a.m. or after 5 p.m., when the day-trippers thin out.
- Bring water shoes. Many coves are rocky at the entrance.
- Book the Sóller train in advance in summer and sit on the right side heading north for the best views.
- Formentor road restrictions have recently run from mid-May to mid-October, with fines issued by camera. Check the dates for your year before you drive.
- Ask hotels about kid-free areas. Several larger resorts have them.
- Restaurants in Deià and Sóller book up in high season. Reserve dinner a few days ahead.
