Palma sits at the hub of an island made for exploring, and some of Mallorca's most spectacular sights are an easy day trip away. Ride the vintage train into the Sóller valley, wander the honey-stone mountain villages of Valldemossa and Deià, explore medieval walled Alcúdia and its vast bay beach, descend into the illuminated Caves of Drach, or brave the hairpin drives to Cap de Formentor and Sa Calobra. Here are the best day trips, with distances and how to get there.
FreeSóller & Port de Sóller
Area
Serra de Tramuntana
Distance
~30 km
“Take the vintage train out and the tram down to the port, then bus or train back for the full loop.”
FreeValldemossa & Deià
Area
Serra de Tramuntana
Distance
~17–27 km
“Do Valldemossa in the morning before the coaches, then lunch in Deià and swim at its little cove.”
FreeAlcúdia Old Town & Beach
Area
North Mallorca
Distance
~55 km
“Wander the walled old town in the morning, then hit the huge shallow bay beach in the afternoon.”
€16Caves of Drach & Porto Cristo
Area
East Mallorca
Distance
~65 km
“Pre-book a timed slot; the classical concert on the boats across the underground lake is the finale.”
FreeCap de Formentor
Area
North Mallorca
Distance
~75 km
“Access is restricted to shuttle buses in peak summer — check the rules, or drive early morning off-season.”
FreeSa Calobra & Torrent de Pareis
Area
Serra de Tramuntana
Distance
~90 km
“The boat from Port de Sóller is a stress-free alternative to driving the vertiginous hairpin road.”
Day trips from Palma in detail
1.Sóller & Port de Sóller
The Sóller valley is the classic Mallorca day trip and, for many, the highlight of the island beyond Palma itself. The elegant town of Sóller, ringed by orange and lemon groves in a bowl of the Tramuntana mountains, grew rich on citrus exports, and its wealth shows in a graceful main square dominated by a Modernista church and bank facade, both linked to disciples of Gaudí. From here a charming open-sided vintage tram rattles down through the valley to Port de Sóller, a sheltered horseshoe bay with a curving promenade, beaches, seafood restaurants and boat trips. The journey is a joy in itself, especially arriving on the century-old wooden mountain train from Palma. You can easily fill a day: wander Sóller's square and market, ride the tram to the port for lunch and a swim, and browse the galleries and cafés. Reach it by the scenic Sóller train, by car over the mountains or through the road tunnel, or by bus. Cyclists and walkers also use it as a base for the surrounding peaks. It's photogenic, relaxed and thoroughly rewarding.
Hours
Always open; train several times daily from Plaça d'Espanya
Price
Free town; train/tram ~€25–32
Getting there
Sóller train from Plaça d'Espanya, MA-11 by car (~30 min), or bus
Insider tip: Take the vintage train out and the tram down to the port, then bus or train back for the full loop.
2.Valldemossa & Deià
Strung along the Tramuntana coast northwest of Palma, Valldemossa and Deià are two of the prettiest villages in the Mediterranean and pair naturally into one memorable day. Valldemossa, a cascade of honey-stone houses and flower-filled lanes, is famous as the place where composer Frédéric Chopin and writer George Sand spent the winter of 1838–39 in the Royal Carthusian Monastery (Real Cartuja), which you can visit for its cells, gardens, pharmacy and Chopin memorabilia. A short, spectacular drive further along the cliffs brings you to Deià, a cluster of ochre houses tumbling down a hillside above the sea that has long drawn artists, writers and musicians — the poet Robert Graves lived and is buried here. Its steep lanes, galleries, celebrated restaurants and the small pebbly cove of Cala Deià below reward a slower pace. Together they offer mountain and coastal scenery, culture and village charm in equal measure. Go by car or the scenic bus 210, tackle Valldemossa early before the tour coaches arrive, and allow time simply to wander and take in the views.
Hours
Villages always open; Valldemossa monastery ~09:30–17:00
Price
Free villages; monastery ~€10
Getting there
MA-1130/MA-10 by car (~30 min), or bus 210 from Palma
Insider tip: Do Valldemossa in the morning before the coaches, then lunch in Deià and swim at its little cove.
3.Alcúdia Old Town & Beach
In the north of the island, about an hour from Palma, Alcúdia combines history and beaches in a way few other day trips manage. Its beautifully preserved medieval old town is encircled by honey-coloured Renaissance walls you can walk along, enclosing a warren of cobbled lanes, stone houses, artisan shops, cafés and a fine parish church, with a lively market filling the streets on Tuesdays and Sundays. Just outside the walls lie the ruins of the Roman town of Pollentia and a small Roman theatre, adding another layer to the visit. Then there's the coast: the enormous Bay of Alcúdia unfurls one of Mallorca's longest, sandiest and shallowest beaches, its warm, gently shelving water ideal for families, backed by a promenade of restaurants and resorts at Port d'Alcúdia. This mix of a genuinely characterful old town, Roman heritage and a superb family beach makes for a well-rounded full day. Go by car via the MA-13 motorway or by direct bus, spend the cooler morning exploring the walled town and ruins, and save the afternoon for the beach.
Hours
Old town always open; Tue/Sun market
Price
Free
Getting there
MA-13 motorway by car (~50 min), or bus 302/351/353 from Palma
Insider tip: Wander the walled old town in the morning, then hit the huge shallow bay beach in the afternoon.
4.Caves of Drach & Porto Cristo
The Coves del Drac (Caves of the Dragon) near Porto Cristo on the east coast are among the most visited natural attractions in Mallorca, and a memorable full-day excursion from Palma. A guided walk descends through a series of vast, theatrically lit chambers dense with stalactites and stalagmites, following a route that eventually reaches Lake Martel, one of the largest underground lakes in the world at around 115 metres long. The set-piece finale is a short classical music concert performed by musicians on illuminated rowing boats gliding across the dark water, after which you can take a short boat ride yourself. It's a well-organised, if popular, experience on timed tickets, so booking ahead is strongly advised in season. The caves sit beside the pleasant fishing town and resort of Porto Cristo, whose sheltered beach, harbour and seafront restaurants make an easy pairing for lunch and a swim, and the nearby Coves dels Hams offer another cave option. Reach it by car in about an hour or by direct bus. The cool, otherworldly caverns also make a good choice on a hot or unsettled day.
Hours
Daily, timed tours ~10:00–17:00
Price
~€16 adult, ~€9 child
Getting there
MA-15 by car (~1h) to Porto Cristo, or bus 412 from Palma
Insider tip: Pre-book a timed slot; the classical concert on the boats across the underground lake is the finale.
5.Cap de Formentor
Cap de Formentor is the wild, rocky peninsula at Mallorca's northern tip, and its narrow, twisting road delivers some of the most dramatic coastal scenery on the island. Beyond the resort of Port de Pollença, the route climbs to the celebrated Mirador des Colomer, where a viewing platform looks down onto sheer cliffs plunging hundreds of metres into a deep-blue sea and a jagged offshore islet — one of Mallorca's signature views. The road continues past hidden coves and the beautiful sheltered beach of Formentor to the lighthouse at the very cape, with panoramas across to Menorca on clear days. It's a spectacular drive, though the road is narrow and popular, so in high summer private cars are restricted and you must use a shuttle bus from Port de Pollença — check the current rules before setting out, or visit early in the morning or off-season to drive it yourself. From Palma it's a longer excursion of around an hour and a quarter to Pollença plus the peninsula road, so allow a full day, ideally combined with a stop in the historic town of Pollença. The rugged beauty makes the journey well worth it.
Hours
Always open; summer car restrictions apply
Price
Free; shuttle bus fee in season
Getting there
MA-2210 from Port de Pollença by car or shuttle; ~1h15 from Palma to Pollença
Insider tip: Access is restricted to shuttle buses in peak summer — check the rules, or drive early morning off-season.
6.Sa Calobra & Torrent de Pareis
Sa Calobra is one of Mallorca's most thrilling destinations, reached by one of Europe's most famous roads. The MA-2141, nicknamed the 'snake' or Nus de Sa Corbata (the tie knot), corkscrews down more than 800 metres through a series of extraordinary hairpins — including a full 360-degree loop where the road ties itself in a knot — from the Tramuntana ridge to a tiny cove far below, a bucket-list drive for motorists and road cyclists alike. At the bottom, a short walk through illuminated rock tunnels brings you to the mouth of the Torrent de Pareis, a spectacular gorge where soaring cliffs funnel down to a pebbly beach and the sea, one of the most photographed spots on the island. The drive is not for the nervous, so many visitors prefer to arrive by boat from Port de Sóller, a scenic and stress-free alternative that lets you enjoy the coastal cliffs from the water. Either way it's a full-day outing from Palma. Go early to beat the crowds and the coach parties, bring water and swimming things, and take your time on the road.
Hours
Always open
Price
Free; boat from Port de Sóller ~€25 return
Getting there
MA-2141 'snake' road by car (~1h30 from Palma), or boat from Port de Sóller
Insider tip: The boat from Port de Sóller is a stress-free alternative to driving the vertiginous hairpin road.