Mallorca, the largest island of the Balearic group, is comfortably spread on the turquoise surface of the Mediterranean Sea, surrounded by centuries-old rocks and green mountains. Breathtaking landscapes, views of the clear sea and the unhurried life of the island at the beginning of the tourist season have their fans among travel lovers.
And even if the sea is not too warm yet, and the evenings are cool, there is something special in the May freshness of the island that makes you fall in love with Mallorca in May at first sight. Kidpassage will tell you about the weather, beaches and sightseeing holidays on the most beautiful island in Spain.
Holidays in Mallorca in May: pros and cons
The end of spring marks the start of the holiday season. And if the sea is still not warmed after the winter cold, then lush greenery, sun and daytime warmth confidently declare: the tourist season is open!
The stunning beaches of the island beckon to walk along the coast and feel the coolness of the Mediterranean surf, warm up on the warm sand and bring the first sea tan from your trip. Tourists leave positive reviews about holidays in Mallorca in May: how can you remain indifferent, looking at the fantastic landscape of a sunny island?
Let's name other advantages of the May trip.
- Low prices for holidays. At the very beginning of the season, the cost of tours and tickets has not yet had time to grow, so holidays in May is an excellent opportunity to get to know the island, breathing sea air and taking an endless number of walks along the old streets.
- No heat. It is still too early to swim in the sea in May — it is not warm enough, but you can sunbathe and walk as much as you like without fear of the sweltering heat.
- A small number of tourists. Fans of basking in the warm sea waves will come to the resort later because, at the end of spring, the water in the sea is still cold for swimming. Therefore, there are no significant concentrations of tourists either on the beaches, in hotels, or at sights.
We will also name some of the disadvantages of the trip so that you can take them into account when planning your vacation.
- Cold sea. It warms up to +19 ° C only at the end of the month, but even this temperature will not allow you to swim for a long time and is unsuitable for a child.
- Periodical atmosphere cooling. If you are a big fan of heat and evenings, when you can walk around in shorts and a T-shirt, then this time for a holiday should not be chosen either. The temperature during the day can sometimes drop to +16 ° C and stabilises at a level above +25 ° C only by the end of the month.
Weather in Mallorca in May
Spring in Mallorca is not hot, as the air gradually warms up after the winter cold. The weather in May and June is not characterised by constancy, with periodic increases and decreases in temperature during the day and relatively cool nights. However, the first tan lies on the skin perfectly, especially as it is already very comfortable to sunbathe in May.
The weather in early May is characterised by temperature jump from +16 °С to +25 °С during the day and dramatically changes within two-three days. Nights at this time are relatively cool — the temperature does not rise above +15 °С and sometimes drops to +8 °С. That's why you should dress warmer for an evening walk. The day temperature in Mallorca in the middle of May often rises to +25 °С, and at night it still stays at +13 °С - +15 °С.
Despite the cool evenings and the lack of heat during the day, the holiday season is open, and the beaches are slowly filling up with tourists.
The weather in Mallorca gradually stabilizes at the end of May, and during the day, the temperature no longer drops below +20 ° C and sometimes even reaches the thirty-degree mark. Night temperature usually drops 7 to 8 degrees compared to daytime, making the evenings cool.
Air and water temperature
The Mediterranean climate provides Mallorca with mild, wet winters and dry, sunny summers. Spring here is not very hot, and constant heat is established only by the beginning of summer.
Temperature in Mallorca in May
The average daily temperature in Mallorca in May is +22.7 °C, and at night — +15.4 °C. At this time, you can not be afraid to overheat on the beach and arrange a tour of all the sights that have long interested you — the heat will not be a hindrance. Walking with a stroller will also be comfortable during this period.
Water temperature in Mallorca in May
The Mediterranean Sea off the coast of the largest island of the Balearic archipelago, which belongs to the Spanish kingdom, warms up well only by the beginning of summer. The average water temperature in May is around +18.6°C, which will only allow you to wander along the water's edge. Only the most daring tourists decide to swim in such a sea.
Precipitation
May is considered one of the driest months of the year, with no more than two rainy days and a total rainfall of only 17.5 mm. You can safely count on the fact that the vagaries of the weather and sudden rains will not spoil your walk.
Sunny, cloudy, overcast days
The daylight hours in May approach the annual maximum and is 13.9 - 14.8 hours. Mallorca in May pleases with sunny days quite often — there are about 24 of them (77% of the total number of days of the month), 4 - 5 days are given with variable cloudiness (16%) and only 1 - 2 days are cloudy (6% of all days of the month).
Beach holidays
Despite the relatively cool waters of the sea in May, the air temperature still allows you to open the beach season and get additional UV doses in the period of maximum vitamin D deficit. It is so pleasant to lie on the warm sand and admire the transparent sea surface already in the second half of the month.
Cala Pi Beach
The perfect pair — golden sand and turquoise water — on the beach of Cala Pi organically complement the rocky cliffs surrounding the bay. The sea here is warm, shallow and calm, the entry into the water is gentle, so it is very comfortable to relax with children.
The beach is located on the island's south coast; it is narrow and not long. The rocks protect it from the winds and create a secluded atmosphere. 147 steps lead to the coast, which must be overcome to get to the place of rest. Lifeguards are on duty on the beach from 10.00 to 18.00; here, you can rent an umbrella, buy drinks and ice cream. Cala Pi is about an hour by bus from the island's capital.
Cala Gran beach
It is a narrow beach surrounded by rocks and pine forests, with fine white sand and excellent turquoise water.
The facilities are good there: a rental of umbrellas and sun loungers, a playground, bars and restaurants nearby, and lifeguards work.
It is easy to get here by car and bus — the stop is a hundred meters from the beach. Both tourists and locals choose Cala Gran for relaxation.
Cala Major Beach
This beach is located four kilometres from Palma, near one of the luxury hotels. It's very clean, for which it received the Blue Flag. Rocky ledges protect the beach from both sides, so the sea here is calm and clean. The beach facilities include toilets and showers; you can also rent umbrellas and sun loungers. There is a club owned by one of the hotels where you can eat or order drinks. Cala Mayor is located within the island's capital, so you can get from the centre by taxi or bus.
Tour holidays
Taking into account the most favourable weather for walks in May, we recommend that you take full advantage of it and get to know the sights located in the open air. The benefit of natural parks, caves and beautiful grottoes is enough here. We will name only a few of them — it is simply impossible to list them all.
Drach Caves
This unique natural site began to receive tourists about a hundred years ago. The entrance to the cave resembles a dragon's head, from which it got its name.
Stalactites and stalagmites have been growing here for more than one thousand years. It is a fantastic warm nine-meter-deep lake with crystal clear water; the play of illumination on the walls of caves and the surface of the lake water will will make you believe that are in a fabulous, almost fantastic place. Be sure to visit here with the whole family in any weather in early May — the cave's beauty incredibly amazes all, without exception, travellers.
Mallorca Safari Park
In mid-May, you can tour the Safari Zoo Mallorca on a fine sunny day. The park consists of two parts: a free zone where animals walk and enclosures where they are kept in a closed space. The journey through the park takes about an hour. You can walk in a car with closed windows or an open train.
Take a car if you don't want to ride with the monkeys. They jump into the train's windows without warning and are keenly interested in tourists. When deciding to ride with baboons, remember to hide all valuables. Otherwise, you risk losing them.
In addition, in the zoo, you can see zebras and antelopes, elephants and hippos, lions, tigers and giraffes, and various birds.
There is also a children's animal-themed playground, where the baby can have great fun.
Palma Aquarium
If you're looking for freshness and coolness on a hot day at the end of May, you can head to one of Europe's largest aquariums — an excursion you'll remember for a long time. The 55 tanks contain 5 million litres of salt water and house 8 thousand sea creatures.
The Palma Aquarium has 9 thematic zones and a contact aquarium where you can touch sea stars and rays. And in the Mediterranean Sea and Blue Abyss aquariums, you'll see giant octopuses and sharks.
In a separate tank, similar to a wax lamp, jellyfish live, day after day, slowly moving along a transparent cylinder.
You can also visit with your children the following places:
Holidays, events, festivals
The end of spring on the island is the time of the sun, the beginning of the holiday season and festivals. Holidays in Mallorca in May will add a touch of local flavour to your holiday program and significantly diversify it.
Join one of the festivals, enjoy the music and spend an unforgettable time with the whole family.
At the beginning of May, you will witness unusual battles between Moors and Christians at the colourful Moors and Christians festival in Soller.
The participants dressed in appropriate costumes honour Spanish history in this way. As part of the event, you will see a costume parade, have fun with a dance programme and enjoy a festive fireworks display. In mid-May, Calvia, in southwest Mallorca, hosts the rock, pop and electronic music festival 'Mallorca Live Festival'.
With DJs and superstars performing over two days, you won't be able to stop dancing, and the live performances of famous bands will leave no festival-goer indifferent.
Cost of vacation
The holiday season on the island is only gaining momentum by the end of spring, so prices in Mallorca in May are still unstable, but they have a solid upward trend. At this time, the island is visited by lovers of walks and unhurried rest, but there is practically no complete tourist lull in Mallorca.
Package Tours
Tour operators are slowly but surely raising prices for tours. So, compared to May, the trip will cost 14% more in June. Therefore, the end of spring is the time to think about a budget but no less exciting trip.
Airfares
Airlines reduce the price of a flight by 10% compared to April, but in June, they raise prices by 16%. So for the purchase of air tickets, May is the most profitable month. Moreover, the flight can be booked in advance or from low-cost airlines, which will be cheaper.
Accommodation
The price of hotel accommodation in May rises very slightly — only by 3% compared to April: if in the previous month, it averaged 202 euros per person per day, then by May it remains almost unchanged — about 208 euros per person per day.
Food and Transport
If you like delicious food, then you are fortunate: the locals know a lot about food, and although the traditional products of the island are potatoes, almonds and olive oil, they indulge in a delicious and varied menu. Try hearty Sopas Mallorquinas with cabbage and pork, monkfish or bream soup with rice, roasted suckling pig or Mallorcan tumbet — everyone will find a dish to their liking.
The main thing to remember is that portions can be large and suitable for two people.
Buses are the main means of transportation around the island. You can pay for the fare directly from the driver, but if you buy a travel card for 10 trips, they will cost you much less. The cost of an intercity trip is flexible and depends on the distance.
Travel tips for holidays with children
There is no better time than May to visit Mallorca with a child. You can walk with a pram and sit on the beach without fear of getting burnt or getting a heat stroke; with older children you can endlessly explore the sights of the island and admire the magnificent views. Bathing in the sea at this time is better to postpone — the water is cold even for adults.
Remember to put a few warm things for yourself and your baby when packing your suitcase to keep you warm in the evening. There is more than enough entertainment for older children. Find out more about where to take your child in our selection of Mallorca's children's and family activities. Kidpassage wishes you a pleasant trip and warm memories. We hope you will find our tips and recommendations helpful in planning your vacation and excursion programe.
