When I planned my recent trip to Mallorca, I decided to stay in Palma and explore other parts of Mallorca by taking day trips. During my stay, I visited four of Mallorca's most beautiful destinations by public transport and small-group tour. Warning: this post contains beautiful beaches (platjas), stunning coves (calas), charming mountain towns and much more!
RIDE THE HISTORIC TRAIN TO SÓLLER
Take the scenic route to Sóller
Sóller is a small town in the Tramuntana Mountains, 15 miles north of Palma. You can drive there in 30 minutes or take the 204 bus, but it's much more fun to travel on the antique wooden Tren de Sóller. This narrow-gauge railway is over 100 years old and the journey takes an hour from the station near Plaza España in Palma.
There are several trains per day and I booked my ticket online, which was €40 return, including tickets for the tram from Sóller to Port de Sóller. To book online, you have to select specific outbound and return trains and you can't book on the day of travel. You can also book combo tours including the train, tram and a boat trip from Port de Sóller.
If you want to stay flexible, the best option is to show up at the Tren de Sóller station in Palma well in advance of the train you want to take. Tickets on my train (10:10) sold out 25 minutes before we left: the parents of the couple next to me had to take the next train.
Boarding started 30 minutes before our departure. I just needed to show my ticket QR code on my phone. Seats aren't assigned but get a window seat if you can. There's no air con but once the train gets moving, there's a nice breeze — and wonderful photo opportunities — through the open windows.
For most of the journey, the views were better on the left side of the train (facing the direction of travel) but the right side had better panoramic views as we neared Sóller. It doesn't matter too much as you can move around within the carriage and the train stops for a few minutes at a scenic viewpoint to let people get off for photos.
Discover Sóller's mountain charm
In Sóller, you can visit the baroque Església de Sant Bartomeu, explore Can Prunera modern art museum or simply stroll around the pretty streets. If you have time, you could check out the Sa Vinyassa lemon and orange orchard or MUCBO botanical garden. There are lots of places to eat; try Coccum for specialty coffee and brunch.
Take the tram to Port de Sóller
Continue your journey to Port de Sóller on a historic tramway. It's three miles to the port and you can walk, but I didn't fancy that in the 34C midday sun. Trams run up to every 30 minutes, but the one I planned to get was cancelled, resulting in a long, hot wait and a stressful rush when the tram eventually arrived. If you're visiting at busy times, allow extra time to get to Port de Sóller just in case.
When I got to Port de Sóller, all I wanted to do was run straight into the sea to cool off. The quaint fishing village is set around an almost entirely enclosed bay with several sandy and pebbled beaches, and the Tramuntana Mountains looming in the background. There are lots of eateries along the main promenade but I went to a grocery store to buy a picnic lunch, which I ate on the beach.
I spent a couple of hours relaxing on the sand, swimming in the warm waters and enjoying the views of the bay. You can hike up the hill to Far des Cap Gros, a lighthouse just to the west of Port de Sóller, but after the tram issues, I didn't have time. To rent two sun beds and an umbrella on the beach, it costs €18 per day.
Dive into western Mallorca's dramatic coves
After lunch, I headed to the marina for a two-hour speedboat tour of western Mallorca's beautiful coastline. The tour costs about £40 and runs several times per day (going at sunset would be lovely!). Travelling by speedboat means you can see more than by ferry, although it can be a little bumpy — sit at the back, if possible!
The views were absolutely incredible, as we rode past the dramatic Sa Costera coastline, stopping to snorkel in the turquoise waters of a quiet lagoon. Pictured below is Mallorca's highest waterfall; it's only about 30 metres!
After passing Cala Tuent — once the most pristine beach in the area but now suffering from over-tourism — we stopped at Sa Calobra. There's a tiny, pebbly beach surrounded by towering cliffs. The water was vibrant turquoise, reminding me of Capri, and although there were some brave cliff jumpers, I settled for jumping off the boat instead.
Back on land and the return tram ride to Sóller was more pleasant. I stood at the back, enjoying the views of the mountains and lemon groves. But at Sóller train station, I found out that all of the trains had been cancelled due a technical issue. I had to walk to Carrer de Setre, where a coach was waiting to take us back to Palma. It was a shame to miss the return train ride but at least the coach only took 30 minutes.
Book Tren de Sóller tickets here or combo tour tickets here.
COVE-HOP IN SOUTHEASTERN MALLORCA
When you're in Mallorca in the warmer months you'll want at least one beach day — probably more. I had set my sights on Es Trenc, a four-mile beach with shallow, turquoise waters and soft golden sand. I'd considered staying at the brand-new Iberostar hotel but couldn't make it work this time.
You can get to Es Trenc by bus but it's not super-convenient. The best route I found was taking the 508 bus to Sa Ràpita, which takes about 1h10, and then it's a two-mile walk along the beach to Es Trenc. And going by public transport makes it very difficult to visit any other places in this part of Mallorca on the same day.
Instead, I booked a small-group tour to Es Trenc and the nearby cove Cala Pi. It cost £85, which included all transport in an air-conditioned minivan, paddleboarding and snorkelling equipment, and beach umbrellas, coolers and everything else you might need for a day on a beach. It's also much more fun to go with a group. There were four other women on my tour and we all had a great time with our friendly guides.
We first stopped at Ses Covetes, which is next to Es Trenc. The sea wasn't as calm as usual and the sky was slightly overcast but it was still a beautiful place to swim, snorkel and sunbathe. Mallorca 'cloudy' certainly isn't like British cloudy!
I clambered over the rocks and small cliffs to get to Es Trenc (bring water shoes!) and then strolled along the sand before running into the clear waters. Note that parts of the beach are 'clothing optional' — I'd never felt more British! The area is also famous for its salt flats and the crisps I'd bought for my picnic lunch were made with local salt. I also bought some to take home from Flor de Sal d'Es Trenc in Palma.
After lunch, we drove to our next stop, Cala Pi. Cala means 'cove' and Cala Pi is one of the loveliest in Mallorca. We arrived at the top of the cliffs, where we were treated to stunning views of the emerald green waters below.
We climbed down the steps to the small, sandy beach where we set up camp. Our guides looked after our valuables so I grabbed my waterproof camera and ran into the water, which was warm and perfectly clear. With the high cliffs on each side of the narrow cove, it's a beautiful place to swim. There are lots of good spots for snorkelling and rocks of varying heights if you fancy a spot of rock jumping.
Between snorkels, I swam back to the beach to lie on the sand. Before I knew it, it was time to travel back to Palma, and we got back to the city around 5 pm. I recommend this tour if you want to visit several different beaches and coves in southeastern Mallorca and don't have a car. Going with a group was convenient and a lot of fun! The same company runs a similar tour to Caló des Moro and Cala s'Almunia.
Book the tour I took here.
UNWIND ON PLATJA DE MURO'S GOLDEN SANDS
Even on a short trip to Palma, one beach day wasn't enough for me, so I did another one. I first spotted Platja de Muro, on Mallorca's northern shore, from the plane. As soon as I landed, I looked it up and decided I would try to visit.
Platja de Muro is a four-mile-long beach running between the towns of Alcúdia in the north and Can Picafort in the south. If you're looking for a Caribbean-like beach experience without leaving Europe, this is it. Think soft, golden sand, gently lapping crystal-clear waters and views of the distant mountains.
It's a 45-minute drive from Palma or you can take the 302 bus, like I did. Try to get to Estació Intermodal about 20 minutes early so you can find the bus stop and make sure you get a seat. You can't book tickets in advance but you can pay on board with a bank card — tap the reader when getting on and off. I paid €5.40 each way.
The bus takes just over an hour to Port d'Alcúdia and then makes several stops along the length of Platja de Muro. I got off near Can Picafort, stopping to buy a picnic lunch at the supermarket before heading to the beach.
The southern section of Platja de Muro, near the Es Comú nature reserve, is a little quieter and less developed. Although I was there during high season, it wasn't too busy — the beach is so long that people can spread out and find their own perfect spot.
There was a section with a few sun beds and umbrellas for rent, which cost €13 for one sun bed and an umbrella for the whole day (an extra sun bed was €6.50). Make sure you have enough cash as they don't accept credit cards.
I spent several happy hours reading and relaxing on my lounger and then going into the water to cool off. There's a sand bar just offshore so the water is gentle and shallow — you have to wade some way out before you can swim. There's not a lot to do at Platja de Muro, but that's kind of the point: total relaxation in serene surroundings.
CULTURE ON THE COAST AT CALA MAJOR
If you're short on time in Palma and want a day trip with both cultural cachet and covetable coves, look no further than Cala Major. This beach resort is just four miles west of central Palma, a 15-minute taxi ride or 30-minute bus ride (routes 4 or 46). It's a popular place to stay and as soon as you glimpse the turquoise sea, you'll see why.
I got off the bus on Avinguda de Joan Miró, climbing up the steps to Mirador Santa Eugenia, which has panoramic views of the bay. It's a short walk up to the Fundació Miró Mallorca, which is where the cultural part of this day trip comes in. NB: check the website for opening hours (it's closed on Mondays). You can also buy tickets online.
Dedicated to the work and life of Joan Miró, the gallery is home to over 6,000 paintings, sketches and sculptures by the celebrated abstract and surrealist artist. You can visit his studios, explore the sculpture garden and take in the amazing views down to the sea — an inspiring place to work and paint, for sure!
After appreciating all of that world-class art, vamos a la playa — or anem a la platja in Catalan! The beach at Cala Major is ten minutes' walk from Fundació Miró. It isn't the biggest beach and I was there on a hot Tuesday afternoon in July, so it was fairly busy. The water wasn't too crowded, however, and I had a blast bobbing up and down in the aquamarine waves.
There are sun beds and umbrellas available to rent — they come with a safe, but cost €70 per day for two loungers and an umbrella. Instead, I laid my towel out on the sand but put my phone and wallet into a dry bag, which I took with me whenever I went into the sea. I wouldn't ever leave valuables unattended (in general, not just at Platja de Major).
Another beach west of Palma is Ses Illetes, which is 20 minutes further on from Cala Major on the number 4 bus. Like Cala Major, it can get busy during peak season, but the rocky coves of Cala Illetes are gorgeous.
Want more inspiration for day trips from Palma? There's a huge range of tours available, from catamaran cruises along the south coast to sunset boat trips. On future trips, I'd consider visiting or staying in the picturesque villages of Deiá and Valldemossa. You can reach them both on bus 203. I'd love to dine at C'as Patró March near Deiá for top-rated food and even better views!
Check out my Palma de Mallorca city guide for my recommendations for things to do and see, and places to eat, drink, shop and stay. Or, for the best coffee in Palma, read my specialty coffee guide.
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