As you start your drive through the windy roads built into the side of the Tramantana mountains, the magic of Mallorca, Spain begins to take your breath away. Part of it is due to the rising altitude, but the rest is from the wonder of the dramatic views and life changing landscapes. Western Mallorca was the perfect location to start our magical week, and here’s how to fit in our favorite spots and create a luxury vacation while staying on a budget. Many of the activities mentioned did not cost any additional money, while still seeing a lot of what this area has to offer.
How to Get to Western Mallorca
From the Palma airport, to Valldemossa, which was the first larger city we passed on our way up the mountains, was about 30 minutes. I highly suggest using a rental car in Mallorca, as they do not have Lyft or Uber, and taxi services are not always availiable. Expedia can help compare prices, and make sure to book early if you need an automatic vehicle, as many cars on the island are manual transmission. The roads in this part of Mallorca are narrow and around mountain bends, so the smaller the vehicle, the better.
When and How Long to Visit
Mallorca's busy season is from June to August. We went mid May to early June and loved being there right before their peak season. Some of the stores and restaurants are not open year-round, so I recommend trying for May or September when possible. We stayed in Deia for four nights, and started our seven night stay in Mallorca here. The extra night allowed us to recover from jet lag, but three to four days in the mountains was the perfect amount of time to experience its pure magic.
Where to Stay in Western Mallorca, Spain
I recommend finding a central location on the Western side such as Deia or Valldemossa. We stayed in Deia and fell in love with it. Valldemossa was larger, however, and can have more options for hotels based on your budget.
We stayed at S’Hotel D’Es Puig, which is right across the street from La Residencia, a future bucket list stay. We loved our time at S’Hotel D’Es Puig, and we had the most incredible views at this botique hotel. There is off site parking, but the hotel itself is up a small hill off the main road.
Once we located the entrance, the staff gave us the passcode for the parking lot. We were very thankful for this spot, as parking in Deia can be difficult due to the narrow roads and hills, and we were always confident that we would come back to a parking spot for our rental car.
S’Hotel D’Es Puig also had breakfast included in the mornings. It was always fresh and was something we continued to look forward to every day. We felt the luxury of the location next to La Residencia at a fraction of the cost, while also not sacrificing comfort or cleanliness. Read more about our time in Deia here. We also had most of our big meals in Deia, and those are discussed here.
Where to Visit in Western Mallorca, Spain
Outside of Deia, we spent time in Sóller, Port de Sóller, Valldemossa, and Fornalutx. All of these locations had a completely different feel, and driving to them did take some extra time due to the mountain roads, even though they are close together on the map.
Fornalutx
This was our favorite small town, and the cobblestone roads and stone buildings made us feel as if we stepped backwards in time. I would have spent an entire day wandering the streets if I could.
We stopped for a snack at Bar Deportivo Fornalutx and the entire menu consisted of breads with different toppings. We could not have imagined a better idea for a restaurant, and topped it off with a cinnamon roll from their bakery. I would love to bring this cuisine back to the United States.
Port de Sóller and Sóller
We spent most of our time in Sóller at the Port. The mountains and the ocean came together at this unique spot, and many were spending their day at Playa d’en Repic, the horseshoe- shaped-beach alongside the walking path. We walked around and ordered Gelato made with fresh Sóller oranges at Fet a Sóller. There were many restaurants that had a beautiful view of the water, but we enjoyed a causal walk and time at the beach.
Sóller is famous for its weekly market held on Saturdays from 8:00-2:00 and is another popular spot in Western Mallorca. We spent time driving around and admiring the small shops and busy streets. There is a train that travels from Sóller to Port de Sóller, and even has stops all the way from Palma. This historic ride originated in 1912, and is a hallmark of the area.
Valldemossa
We stopped in Valldemossa on our way out of the Western side of the island. There are a few museums in the area, as famous people such as Chopin lived in the town. You are able to tour these for a price, but we visited the free gardens next door to the Carthusian Monastery and still had beautiful views.
Gelato Mossa had amazing ice cream, and we stopped for a snack and then walked the streets to admire the shops and local stores.
Our favorite part of Valldemossa was the cocq de potata and ensiamadas from Form i Patisseria Ca’n Molinas. These pastries are famous in Mallorca, and the sweet tasting potato bread was something I could have eaten all day.
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