family travel guide
What does travelling to an island mean to a child? Endless expanses of sea, sandy shore, hot sun, lush vegetation (definitely palm trees with bananas and coconuts) and adventure, including encounters with pirates.
It is precisely what the Spanish island of Mallorca looks like. However, the beauty of the landscape is added to excellent tourist infrastructure and safety. And, of course, a warm, sunny climate contributes to family holidays.
One of the main priorities of the tourist business is a holiday with children in Mallorca. Hotels, restaurants, entertainment and health services are all geared towards it. Kidpassage has gathered all the essential information about Mallorca's resorts. Find out when it's best to come to the island for sunbathing and how to choose a good holiday destination for your child.
Mallorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. Mallorca is 8 km from Playa de Palma and C'an Pastilla, 13 km from Illetas, 15 km from Palma Nova, 18 km from Magaluf, 22 km from Santa Ponsa, 25 km from Paguera, 65 km from Cala d'Or and 60 km from Alcudia. Palma de Mallorca, the island's capital, is 275 km from Valencia and Barcelona by sea.
Finding Mallorca on the map is easy. Although it is smaller than the island of Sardinia, located 400 km, it is still impossible not to notice. The island has been spotted before: Mallorca was fought over by armies of different nations until the Balearic Islands became part of Spain in the 18th century.
.jpg)
Holidays in Mallorca are a mix of the exotic and the mundane in just the right proportion. On the one hand, it's an island steeped in pirate legends. Conversely, Spanish ordinariness means great hotels, clean beaches and delicious food.
In many ways, holidays in Mallorca with children are similar to holidays in other resort regions of Spain. It's a construction set: you have everything you need for a relaxing holiday, a lot of travelling, and a lot of fun. You can put it all together as you see fit.
And yet, it has to be said that Mallorca is best appreciated by those who like to rent a car and drive around, discover the backdrop of non-resort life and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The island lacks large-scale attractions but has a lot of natural beauty.
Mallorca also has plenty of activities for children. However, a trip to several neighbouring resorts will be necessary to organise a varied entertainment programme.
But you need to pay tribute to a quiet pastime. If you want to enjoy a calm holiday with your child in a resort with a lovely beach and a comfortable hotel, Mallorca is the best place to go. There are plenty of sites on the island where you can bring your baby and enjoy the peace. The only downside is the difficulty of the transfers. In most cases, travelling to Mallorca will involve a connecting flight, although there are direct flights in high season.
Fact: Mallorca hosts dozens of festivals, fairs and celebrations throughout the year, most in winter and early spring. However, Mallorca's high season is primarily beach, and the May to September holiday season is the peak season. The island is bustling during July and August when hotels are booked up almost a year in advance.
Recreation in May and the first half of June has its peculiarities. The first is a rather cold sea. The hotel swimming pool or a water park can be a great help. The second is a small number of regular international flights. You may have to look for a suitable charter or take a connecting flight.
It's wise to arrive in time for the opening of the Mallorca season if you want to travel around the island rather than lie on the beach.
The weather at the end of spring favours the active traveller:
When should you go to Majorca if beach holidays are more of a priority? In this case, you can safely choose the low, action-packed season. A succession of celebrations follows Christmas and New Year's Eve: On 18-20 January, Palma celebrates St Sebastian's Day, the city's patron saint. The end of February sees the Mallorca Carnival - Sa Rua. An integral part of the festival is Sa Rueta, a carnival for children.
On the first day of March, the Balearic Islands Day is celebrated with popular festivities and merriment. April sees the Princess Sofia Trophy sailing regatta. October and November are devoted to various agricultural fairs, including pumpkin, olive and wine.
High season highlights include the Moors and Christians Festival in May, the Night of Fire and the St. Juan's Bonfires in June.
Mallorca's climate is typically Mediterranean, with sunny summers and mild winters. The island has two seasons, a hot summer from May to October and a warm spring (or autumn) from November to April.
Those who have been pining for a beach holiday over the winter can plan their Mallorca holiday as early as the beginning of May. The average daytime temperature in May is around +23° C, but sometimes it can be hotter than 30° C or colder, as low as +18° C. In any case, you should take some warm clothes with you because, during the night, the temperature in Mallorca can drop to 12-15°C.
Mayorcan holidays with children usually begin in June because the sea does not get warm enough in May. The air temperature rises to +27-28°C when summer arrives, and the water becomes warm.
Mallorca's hottest weather is in July and August. Temperatures start around 30°C in the morning and heat up to 35°C by midday.
The heat is less noticeable, thanks to the moderate humidity and refreshing breeze, but you're still better off on a beach holiday during the morning and evening hours. By the way, Mallorca's summer evenings are pleasantly cool, with temperatures dropping to between 20-24ºC.
If you feel that a good holiday is best achieved with mild weather, a warm sea and no crowds on the beach, opt for September. September brings the end of the holiday season, with temperatures dropping to 26ºC and the sea retaining its summer warmth — it's the best time to be on Mallorca with the kids.
On the other hand, October's weather is unpredictable in a good way. Temperatures are usually around +22ºC in mid-autumn, but October is often hot and sunny, resembling summer. It is a time to bring your baby to Mallorca without the heat and scorching sun.
From November to April, temperatures fall between +14 and 19ºC in Mallorca. But even then, there are no more frosty days than sunny ones. In contrast to summer, when there is hardly any rain, late autumn, winter, and early spring are rainy times.
Mallorca doesn't experience cold weather as we know it, but the beach season starts in May, and the bathing season is even later. In May, for example, Mallorca's beaches are already full of sunbathers but hardly any bathers: the sea temperature barely reaches +19°C.
The situation changes for the better in June. By the middle of the month, the water gets as warm as +23°C. During July and August, the water temperature in Mallorca is around +25-26°C; during prolonged heat, it can rise to +28°C. The sea remains warm throughout September, although the temperature gradually drops to around 24°C. The bathing season often lasts throughout October as the water retains a temperature of 22-23ºC and only cools to 20-21ºC towards the end of the month.
.jpg)
Meals in Mallorca hotels are rarely included in the room rate. Tourists usually eat outside the hotels in local restaurants, especially as children greatly appreciate Mallorca's culinary traditions. Pa amb tomàquet is an excellent quick snack dish consisting of slices of toasted bread spread with a mixture of tomato, olive oil and garlic. The bread can be topped with sausage or cheese.
Among Mallorcan desserts, children love the ensaïmada, a sweet bun with yeast dough rolled up into a spiral.
If you prefer to cook on your own, you can buy all the products you need from supermarkets. They can be found almost everywhere, but there are only small shops in some towns. All resorts also have their market day, when fresh fruit, vegetables, meats and cheeses are sold.
Public transport in Mallorca is ordinary and surprising at the same time. It includes buses, the city metro in the capital and two modern and vintage trains. TIB runs all this: its website has detailed information on routes, timetables and fares.
The most convenient form of transport in Mallorca is buses. They can take you anywhere on the island. There are about a hundred routes, almost half of which work only during the high season when tourists must get to the resorts.
Fares on the buses depend on the distance. For example, a ticket from Palma to Santa Ponsa costs €3.40, Alcudia €5.40 and Cala d'Or €8.40. For frequent travel, you can buy a T20 or T40 card. Tickets are sold only by the drivers.
Its price depends on the zone of validity and is €16.80-51.40 for a 20-ride card and €25.20-77.25 for a 40-ride card. The zoning scheme is relatively complicated, but the TIB website indicates for each route how many zones crosses. There is no discount on single tickets for children, but buying a youth card with a 50% discount on fares is possible. The youth card can be used by people aged 4 to 25. Children under four years of age can travel for free.
There are city buses only in the island's capital, with several taking you to nearby resorts.
City bus number 3 goes from Palma to Illetas, and numbers 15 and 25 to Can Pastilla and Playa de Palma. The fares are €1.50 to the city, €3 to the port, and €5 to the airport.
The metro in Palma de Mallorca connects the city centre with the suburbs inland. It is more of a sightseeing transport, like the trains going to the Inca, Sa Pobla and Manacor. Only the decorative old Palma-Soller train takes you to the coast (admittedly not a resort, but very scenic).
Whether or not to take a taxi to get around Majorca depends on the situation. For example, the only way to get from the airport to the resort at night is by taxi. The fare includes a boarding fee (about €4) and a charge per kilometre (about €1.5). For active travel, it is handy to rent a car. Majorca has good roads, plenty of parking, and even free. The offices of car rental companies are located at the airport and in all the resorts.
There are plenty of activities for children in Mallorca. They are mainly concentrated in the southern part of the island, and each town has its attraction. Palma de Mallorca boasts the Palma Aquarium and the Marineland Dolphinarium. Magaluf has three family attractions: the unimaginable Katmandu Amusement Park, the Adventures of Pirates show and the Western Water Park.
.jpg)
The Arenal (Aqualand water park) and Alcudia (Hidropark) are also famous for their water fun parks. The Jungle Rope Park has been opened in Santa Ponsa, with trails for even 4-year-old children.
La Reserva de Puig de Galatzó Adventure Park in Puppuñente offers natural obstacles such as rocks and waterfalls, which don't need to be overcome as you can take your child for a walk. Porto Cristo has a zoo, the Safari Zoo, where the animals live without an aviary. Another zoo, Natura Parc, is in the town of Santa Eugenia. Visiting the S'Albufera Bird Park is an excellent experience for a child to see the birds in their natural habitat.
It has to be said that the resort coastline is not abundant in vegetation. However, the greenery is striking in some places. Escaping the heat, children can enjoy their time in the Mondragó Nature Reserve near Cala d'Or. In Porto Cristo, the botanical gardens of Jumaica Tropical Park include an extensive banana plantation, amongst other plants. Soller and Buñola are also famous for their beautiful botanical gardens.
A vintage train runs to Soller from Palma de Mallorca, making the journey from point A to point B more like a journey through time.
The island's wildlife deserves no less attention. On holiday with your child in Mallorca, we recommend visiting the Dragon's Cave, a trip to Cape Formentor or a boat trip to the uninhabited islands of Cabrera and Sa Dragonera. Or set sail on a sightseeing submarine that plunges to a depth of 20 metres and swims surrounded by marine creatures.
Hotels often have ideas for things to do in Mallorca when you have a baby. Family-friendly hotels offer mini-clubs and a children's play area. It is a good option for when the beach or excursions are too hot.
.jpg)
Mallorca's sandy beaches are picture-perfect. White sand, straight rows of sun loungers, dark blue sea with a lacy foam edge by the shore — the reality is even better than the publicity photos. As elsewhere in Spain, the beaches belong to the municipality, which keeps the coast clean. And, admittedly, it's meticulous: many of Mallorca's beaches are awarded the Blue Flag yearly.
There is no charge for access to the beaches. You only have to pay for an umbrella and sun lounger, but it's not forbidden to lie directly on the fine, velvety sand.
The sea at most resorts is calm and incredibly clear. Most beaches are set in places where the bottom drops very gently. In some parts of the island, the shallow waters extend a few dozen metres from the shore. It is ideal for a holiday at sea with children. The beaches of the resort of Cala d'Or are small, the most beautiful being the Cala Gran beach. The longest and most picturesque beach at Es Trenc can accommodate many holidaymakers, but it is less comfortable than the coast in the town centre.
Playa de Palma boasts one of Mallorca's best beaches, stretching for 8km. There are also playgrounds and a children's cafe. A pedestrian walkway runs between the beach and the hotels. Can Pastilla offers the best conditions for windsurfing and other water activities (provided by the "Sea Club"). Illetas is on a rocky coastline stretch, and most beaches are concrete platforms. But there are three small sandy beaches: Playa Es Forte, Playa de Illetas and Playa Cala Comtessa. These places have the most accessible entrance to the water for children.
Santa Ponsa Beach has a safe bathing area with a dedicated space for pedal boats and windsurfing.
On the other hand, the beaches of Magaluf and Palma Nova don't have any special features — they're just clean, well-maintained and well-equipped. The 8-kilometre stretch of beaches along the Bay of Alcudia are some of the best in the world. It's also one of the shallowest seas off the coast and one of the warmest in the summer months. But the bottom is covered in algae in some places, especially in the Playa Alcudia area. Is there anything else you need for sunbathing?
Beach activities in Mallorca are prevalent, and the specialised schools and natural surroundings make this possible. Diving lessons are available at almost all resorts. The sea off the east coast is considered the best place to dive, with brightly coloured tropical fish grazing in the coral maze.
The best winds for windsurfing are in the north of Mallorca, so please visit the surf centres in Alcudia and Port de Pollensa. Learn from the ground up throughout the summer and autumn, and experienced windsurfers prefer to come to Majorca during July and August. In the meantime, there are windsurfing facilities on the west coast, but kite surfing is popular here. You can learn how to fly a kite at the Palma de Mallorca school.
.jpg)
You may want to visit museums near the sea and the beach. But we've put together a list of things to see in Mallorca, so if you get bored with a lazy holiday, you'll always have a few ideas to show your child.
Most places of interest are, of course, concentrated in the capital. You can start by getting around Palma de Mallorca on a tour bus. It's an excellent way to see everything and get close to one of the city's most impregnable beauties, Belver Castle, now home to a historical museum.
Here are other exciting places for children in the island's capital:
If you plan to visit the old castles of Cabrera, Capderrera, Alaro and more while on holiday in Mallorca with children, you can also have a guided tour. And in Alcudia, there are still some traditional houses from the 13th and 15th centuries. Also near this resort are the ruins of the ancient Roman town of Polentia. There are a few options to see with the kids in Mallorca, but you won't be torn between sunbathing on the beach and hiking off the beaten track.
The best thing to say about Mallorca as a holiday destination is that all the resorts on the island are good, but not all are suitable for holidays with children. When choosing where to stay in Mallorca with children, the capital Palma de Mallorca may have to be ruled out as the busiest and most crowded town and the resorts with rocky beaches (primarily located in the southeast of the island).
Mallorca's most family-friendly areas are to the west and south. Sandy beaches with a gentle sea approach are prevalent; you can find busy or very peaceful resorts, and most resorts can be reached within half an hour from the airport.
Respectable resorts in the immediate surroundings of Palma de Mallorca. The towns have few hotels, but all are close to the coast.
A comfortable resort for a relaxing holiday. Almost all Illetas hotels are four and five-star. Illetas has the advantage of noiseless entertainment and lush pine groves. Mallorca's best golf course is located here.
Magaluf is a top-rated holiday destination, with many hotels, entertainment for all tastes and long stretches of white sand beaches. There are a water park, an amusement park, a pirate show, and go-karting for kids. The only downside is the noise and flooding of tourists. When looking for where it's best with children, consider neighbouring resorts.
A tranquil resort area next to lively Magaluf. An avenue for pedestrians and cyclists winds along the scenic coastal strip. The beaches are long and comfortable.
Another quiet neighbourhood in Magaluf. The only noise allowed there is that of the green parrots that populate the pine grove. In addition to sunbathing, you can have a great time at the rope park.
A tranquil spa town where many families with children holiday. The pine trees along the coast provide pleasant shade in the day's heat and offer healthy phytoncides to the air. It is relatively far from the capital; it takes about an hour to get there from the airport.
One of the few resorts in northwest Mallorca. The resort comprises the towns of Port D'Alcudia, Platja D'Alcudia, Platja de Muro and C'an Picafort. Alcudia is separated into two parts by an extensive highway, and it is advisable to settle in a town where you won't have to cross the road on your way to the beach. The resort is a long way from the capital. Still, it has its attractions: an aquapark, a go-kart centre, trips to the Formentor peninsula, S'Albufera bird park and the streets of old Alcudia.
Paguera, Cala Mayor and Playa de Mouraud also offer plenty of opportunities for families with children. For a family holiday, Menorca, with its many beach clubs, is the best place to stay on an island close to Mallorca.
Barely every resort in Mallorca has a full range of hotels, from luxury five-star to modest two-star. The capital is considered the most expensive place to stay, with the rest of the resort towns having lower prices and the same level of service. Mallorca's hotels are rarely large. However, this does not prevent them from equipping playgrounds and swimming pools. Many hotels have mini-clubs. There are also usually playgrounds on the beaches.
For self-catering holidays in Mallorca with children, you can rent apartments with a kitchen or a villa.
The most expensive hotels and villas are usually located along the beach. Budget options can be found within a 5-10 minute walk of the sea. Another popular choice for accommodation in Mallorca is the rural huts deep on the island.
Palma de Mallorca Airport is located 8 km from the capital. During the high season, it receives scheduled flights from many countries, while during the low season, it receives mainly charter flights. Flight schedules can be found on the airport's website. Another option is to fly to Barcelona or Valencia, and from there on a domestic flight to Mallorca. The flight takes less than an hour.
From the airport, there is a public bus no. 1 to Palma and a public bus no. 21 to Arenal. Intercity buses go to the other resorts: to Santa Ponsa, Magaluf and Palma Nova - number A11; to Alcudia — number A32; to Cala Bona, Sa Coma and Manacor - number A42; to Cala d'Or and Arenal — number A51.
The TIB provides bus service between towns on the island. The website www.tib.org has information about routes and ticket prices.
A ferry service connects the Balearic Islands. A ferry service is also one way of getting to Mallorca from Barcelona or Valencia. Ferries arrive at Palma or Alcudia. The travel time is between 6 and 10 hours.
You can rent a car if you plan to travel around Majorca. You can do so at the airport or the car rental agencies. You can rent a car in advance online.
How to reach the resorts of Mallorca:
useful articles about rest and not only
