Cala Varques is a beautiful little beach; get there early.
What travellers report
We read hundreds of comments on Reddit (r/mallorca, r/spain, r/travel) and kept the points that several people repeat. These are travellers' opinions, not official information. Each tip links to its source thread.
Port d'Andratx is a relaxed seaside town.
Esporles has a nice hostel and some nice hiking.
Soller is a bit touristy but worth a visit.
Palma is one of the best things about the island; definitely spend a day there.
Magaluf is terrible but fascinating in an anthropological kind of way.
Having a rental car is recommended for exploring the island.
ClickRent charged 3x the quoted amount including a 200e deposit and only refunded 50e claiming the car was extremely dirty; user advises contacting 'consumo' (consumer protection office in Palma) to seek a refund.
Flying to Mallorca is cheap, fast, and easygoing compared to taking a ferry.
Stay close to Palma, e.g., the city or Palma Nova, for beauty nearby.
Low carb in Spain is easy: everywhere does jamon and queso, and traditional restaurants do chorizo.
Valor chocolate brand in some Spanish supermarkets uses Stevia and has many flavors.
Use car parks; if parking roadside where there are blue lines, look for a ticket machine nearby and pay for how long you think you'll be.
Don't park anywhere stupid and you'll not have a problem with fines.
Definitely recommend a car for Gran Canaria.
Use the free AllTrails app to find trails around Mallorca.
Staying in Soller was amazing; renting a full house in the mountains above the town for 3 weeks and using a car to visit main towns including Palma worked well.
Hike from St Elm to La Trapa; it's not a casual walk but also not that hard.
Stay a minimum of 3 nights in Mallorca; the countryside is special, so rent a car and drive up the coast.
Sixt is recommended as a reliable car rental agency.
Wiber was recommended on the subreddit; they offer smart/virtual pick up/drop off outside normal hours and full insurance was only a few euros extra per day.
Hiper Rent a Car is mentioned as having good service based on Google reviews.
OK Mobility is used regularly by one commenter who likes them, though they note they never wrote a positive review.
Taking the rental company's extra insurance is often easier for peace of mind, avoids a 1000 euro card block, and the price difference is often minimal compared to buying separate insurance.
Book car rentals early; many options were already booked for desired dates.
To pay a parking ticket from abroad, translate the letter, go to the website indicated, and enter the barcode numbers to pay by card.
Club Tunnel is located in Palma near Maritimo, the night club zone; other nearby places include Tramontana, La forja, Atomic garden, and Hard Rock Cafe.
In August, Mallorca will always be expensive because it's main season and half of Germany is there.
Alcudia is recommended for a honeymoon stay.
A large SUV is highly impractical in Mallorca; everyone tries to avoid those.
$2000 is a huge budget for 3 days for 3 people.
A small hotel is recommended rather than Airbnb in the Med; it will likely be cheaper and better, as Airbnb is normally only much cheaper in big cities in Europe.
Greek islands are cheap to get to, weather will be good late September, and have a good mix of culture and history.
Renting a scooter for a week is a good way to explore beaches, hiking and the city.
Avoid visiting in the congested summer period; consider quiet months such as November or February.
Winters can be wet, windy and cold; autumn and spring are better but autumn can be rainy.
Summer is too hot and getting hotter; heatwaves can make it unbearable.
All money was stolen at the beach; be careful with valuables at the beach.
There are almost no direct round trip flights to Mallorca from the US.
Download offline Google Maps of your area so you can GPS while on Airplane mode.
Consider buying a cheap Spain SIM card to make calls to restaurants for reservations.
Renting a car from the airport is recommended; underground parking in Palma center is easy and cheap at around 2 EURO per hour (reported by a user).
Hotel Java has a great breakfast buffet included in the stay.
Ca’n Torrat has wood fire grilled meats for a very good price and parking outside.
Raimundo Burger was voted the best burger in Mallorca.
Drive on the right; be aware of speed limits because more cameras are being installed.
At roundabouts, watch for zebra crossings right at the entry and exit in urban areas.
If you have the right of way, take it; trying to be polite and giving priority can confuse others and create chaos.
Watch out for groups of cyclists on the roads.
Small roads in the Tramuntana can be tricky because they are narrow.
There are few rainy day activities on offer; the airport can be chaotic with stranded tourists during rain.
Gambas al ajillo basic recipe: garlic, olive oil, parsley, salt, cayenne; maybe paprika or smoked paprika and lemon juice.
Speaking Spanish with Italians is natural communication; no point trying English.
Vanrell has a comfort insurance package which may be less of a headache.
Buses accept regular credit or debit card, no cash needed.
The bus from the airport to Estació Intermodal costs 5 euros and includes one transfer, which may include the transfer to the bus to Puerto Pollença.
Tossa in Gracia on the corner of Carrer de Nàpols serves terrace-side tapas including Galician squid, fried artichokes, and croquettes; service is quick and friendly.
If staying in an Airbnb, seek out the neighborhood's local bakery and buy ensaimada, a soft pastry dusted in powdered sugar.
Book Sagrada Familia tickets online to skip the queue.
Pass the night in Toledo and watch the sunset from the Alcazar.
Barcelona to San Sebastián is not well connected by train; the trip takes around seven hours by train or bus compared to an hour by plane.
Mallorca is best reached by plane; from Barcelona there are lots of daily and cheap flights.
Rent a car and get out of Palma, which is a cruise ship port and therefore very busy.
Check out the beaches near Alcudia and inland towns such as Valldemossa.
The city center of Palma near the big Cathedral has limited traffic areas; entering without authorization can result in fines.
Sa Fonda in the old town of Muro does a great Mallorquian buffet at lunchtime (13:00–15:00) on weekdays, though it may be closed on Tuesdays.
The town of Muro is a hidden gem with an etymological museum, various churches, and a panoramic walkway.
Cala d'Or has wonderful coves, pine trees, and turquoise water; rent a car and drive around, and Parc natural de Mondragó is wonderful.
In May, Mallorca is probably a little less resorty and touristy than later in summer.
The east of the island is less resorty than Alcudia, which is very much a family destination.
Cala d'Or has a great mix of little bars and tapas restaurants with really nice beaches.
The island isn't that big; with a car you can be pretty much anywhere in 90 minutes maximum.
Don't bother staying in two different places on Mallorca; with a car you can reach anywhere quickly.
Don't bother with an all-inclusive hotel; there are so many amazing places to eat and drink it would be a shame to miss out.
Renting a car and exploring makes Ibiza a lovely island.
Even the 'tourist trap' locations in Ibiza serve amazing food.
La Nueva Burgesa in Palma deducts the price of the bread from the bill for burgers.
The Low Carb Universe holds events twice a year, including one about women in March.
Low Carb Chocolate (cachao.eu) uses coconut sugar, which can be problematic for some, but there are 100% alternatives.
DietDoctor has a site available in Spanish with everything low carb.
For a group of 11 people in the Santa Catalina area of Palma, look for a nice restaurant that suits all tastes, ideally with a view (not essential).
Consider whether there are plenty of taxis in Mallorca and whether it is worth renting a car.
A long weekend in October (Wed–Sun or Thu–Mon) from Manchester, Liverpool or Leeds with a direct flight under 3 hours and a budget around £2,000 all-in (reported by a user) is being considered for an anniversary trip.
An adults-only hotel is preferred for a romantic trip.
July is the busiest time to visit Mallorca.
A rough 9-night itinerary includes: arrive in Palma and explore; beach/pool day; tour of Drach caves; take the wooden train from Palma to Soller and explore Soller; full boat rental day; free day for pool or beach; go to Fornalutx in the afternoon and stay for dinner; explore Deia and Valldemossa; rent scooters or a car to find a quieter beach (Cala Tuent bay or Cala Deia) or take the ferry from Port de Soller to Torrent de Pareis/Sa Calobra.
Look for beaches within about 30 minutes of Soller and Palma; everything will be crowded in July.
With a 300k € budget, explore the city first and maybe rent for some time before committing to buying a house.
Palma is very safe, unlike areas in the US and UK.
Consider a two-week honeymoon with one week in Mallorca and one week in Andalusia; check if it is still worth going in October/November.
For a relaxing beach stop of around four nights, consider Algarve or various areas of Andalusia on the coast, which fit well without another flight; the Canary Islands and Mallorca are also options.
For a relaxing trip in July, decide whether to stay in Palma or elsewhere on the island; value walkable areas to restaurants/shops if not renting a car.
For 4 days in Mallorca at the end of June, consider Port de Soller as a base; it is often recommended and has hikes in the surroundings, from Valldemossa to Cala Deia and/or Barranc de Biniaraix.
Prefer an area that isn't too hard to reach from Palma by public transport; avoid renting a car but can do so if necessary (or rent a motorcycle).
In mid January, a 19-year-old can join his mother in Palma for two weeks; she will be writing all day, so he will be on his own most of the time.
For landscape photography in May with a rental car, the island is small and well connected with a motorway intersecting it, so it normally takes no more than an hour to get anywhere.
Cap de Formentor is a cliff around 230m above sea level, well worth a visit for the view of the drop; a good view is further up the nearby mountain.
Torrent de Pareis is a spot to look up for landscape photography.
Park your car at 39.583881,2.350424 and walk down Avenida de la Trapa to start a 3-4 hour hike that takes you past a high point on the West coast.
For a 5-day solo trip in June on a budget using public transport only, decide between Soller or Cala d’Or as a base; Palma makes the most sense logistics-wise but may be too busy.
Check whether it is worth traveling to Mallorca with the curfew if nightlife is important.
For a last year of college trip with friends, staying in Magalluf is an option; ask for tips on best places to visit and best clubs.
A user reported receiving a €90 fine for driving through the ACIRE zone after Google Maps routed them there; they were told by people on the way that the road was open.
A commenter advises paying the fine rather than ignoring it, warning that Schengen countries can share information and it could cause problems if you return to Spain or Schengen.
A user considered splitting a honeymoon between Magaluf (Meliá South Beach) and Port de Sóller (Bikini Island & Mountain Hotel) and planned to rent a car.
A user asked whether renting an electric car in Mallorca provides enough charging options and whether it is more economical than petrol/diesel cars.
A user planning a 5-day mother/daughter trip heard mixed feedback about Palma, Deia, Soller, and Cala Ratjada and ideally did not want to rent a car.
A family with a 9-month-old planned a late May/early June trip with bases in Port de Pollença and either Port de Sóller or Cala d'Or, prioritizing walkability and avoiding long car drives.
A traveler with back pain planned to use high-speed rail in Spain and France and overnight ferries to and from Mallorca, avoiding car rental.
A user initially booked Port de Sóller for a mid-August trip but worried it would be too crowded/touristy and that parking would be limited with a rental car.
A user attending a wedding in Mallorca asked for hiking suggestions that include nice blue beaches and mountains.
A user planned a mid-May Monday–Thursday trip with a rental car, starting early (05:30/06:00), visiting Valldemossa, Deià, Sóller, Sa Calobra, Formentor, Alcúdia, Cala d'Or, Cala des Moro, S'Almunia, and Es Pontàs.
A commenter warned that the 4-day itinerary is exhausting and includes 4–5 hours of driving on Tuesday alone, and that map directions do not account for being stuck behind cyclists or buses on windy roads.
A commenter suggested dropping half the stopping points to make the itinerary realistic.
A commenter sarcastically criticized the itinerary for lacking minute-by-minute timestamps and a PowerPoint presentation.
A user considered taking an overnight ferry from Barcelona or Valencia to Mallorca and then an overnight ferry to Toulon or Sete.
A user asked whether overnight ferry private cabins are good.
A user planning a mid-August trip is splitting time between Barcelona (3 days) and Mallorca (4 days) and wants a rustic stay near water/beach with walking access to restaurants.
A user considered basing around Palma for easy access to nightlife and beaches and exploring other parts of the island.
A user asked whether renting a car is necessary for a 5-day mother/daughter trip or if it would make or break the trip.