Where to Stay in Mallorca: 9 Best (& Worst) Areas for First Time Visitors

Where to stay in Mallorca: Quick Guide + Map

Short on time? Here’s the fast answer for where to stay in Mallorca based on what you’re actually planning to do. I’ll note this totally depends on how long you’ll be in Mallorca and how comfortable you are moving around. If you’re up for it, definitely visit multiple cities!

How to choose where to stay in Mallorca

Before you start comparing specific hotels, there are the three questions I’d ask myself to figure out where to stay in Mallorca.

Do you want beaches vs mountains vs city? (you can have them all)

Mallorca has way more things to do than people realize, it’s more like three different islands stitched together.

The west coast is all mountains, dramatic cliffs and tiny coves (the Tramuntana range drops straight into the blue/green sea).

If you head southeast, it shifts to calm water and quiet teal coves that you never want to leave.

Palma’s in the middle, as a central city base.

I’d say pick the scenery you actually want to wake up to, and know that you can do a few nights in each or drive ~1.5 hours to other areas.

Will you rent a car?

Palma’s the one spot on this list where you honestly don’t need a car. Some of the resort areas up north work fine without one too and the buses in Mallorca are extensive.

Everywhere else? A car will make life a lot easier. The drive from Palma to Soller alone is worth the (fairly cheap) rental cost, and most of those southeast calas just aren’t happening on a bus schedule. I’ve got a full guide to driving in Mallorca if you want the details on rentals, parking, and what the roads are actually like.

That said, don’t let a car be the deciding factor if you’d rather skip one. Base yourself in Palma or a resort spot like Playa de Muro and you can still have a full week without ever touching a steering wheel.

One base or two (or more)?

I’ve personally hit the point in life where I don’t want to switch hotels every night, but you do you! On the flip side, staying put in one hotel all week is simpler, sure, but it usually means picking mountains or beaches and giving up the other.

Split your trip between two areas and you get way more of the island without feeling like you’re constantly repacking.

My combo was one night in Palma, a few nights in Port de Soller, and the rest of the week on the southeast coast of Cala d’Or, and it worked so well. I break down that exact split, day by day, in my one week in Mallorca itinerary if you want to see it in action.

Where to stay in Mallorca: City Comparison

I’ll dive into each one of these in more detail, but here’s a quick comparison table to help you narrow it down:

Palma: best for first-time visitors with no car

Some guides on where to stay in Mallorca say skip Palma entirely and others say base your whole trip there. Both are wrong, in my opinion. If you’ve got a week in Mallorca, one night in Palma is perfect. Definitely see the church, do the free walking tour in my map, and then head out to make the most of the rest of the island.

Palma pros

• Old Town in Palma is small, winding streets that are really cute to wander through with lots of shopping. I have a free walking tour guide to Palma here.
• You absolutely must visit the cathedral. The light through the stained glass is something else (buy your tickets online ahead of time)
• There’s delicious food at small, family-owned restaurants all over
• You absolutely do not need a car to explore at all

Palma cons

• The beaches aren’t bad, but nowhere near as gorgeous as the southeast calas
• It’s pretty crowded and pretty touristy. I think you can have a similar experience in central Malaga

Hotel Cappuccino is central and polished and like you wandered into a European town square dream. I absolutely would stay here next time.

Posada Terra Santa is a 500-year old manor house turned 26-room boutique hotel right in Old Town, with a rooftop terrace and attentive service.

Where I stayed: Hotel Palladium, which was basic but perfectly located, an easy walk to the cathedral. I’d stay there again, though I wouldn’t say no to treating myself to something nicer next time.

Stay in Palma if food, walkability, and skipping a car sound good to you. Stay somewhere else if beaches or mountain scenery are why you’re really here.

Soller and Port de Soller: best for mountain towns and sea

The drive from Palma into the Tramuntana mountains was honestly one of the best things I did in Mallorca, and I’d say Port de Soller is where you actually want to stay, not Soller town up the hill.

Soller’s cute for an afternoon, but staying up there means driving down every time you want to swim. Plus, they’re connected by a vintage tram that runs for around $10 each way (or you can drive) so you won’t miss either.

Port de Soller pros

• The horseshoe bay has calm, clear water right in town, no boat or drive needed to swim. I swam in it every day.
• You’re set up for Deia, Valldemossa, and the Sa Calobra boat tour without ever changing hotels
• The seafood and paella along the port were some of the best meals I had on the island
• Walking out of your hotel straight into the water beats getting back in a hot car every single time

Port de Soller cons

• It’s a long drive from here to the southeast calas, more than you’d want to do twice in one trip
• I skipped the Sa Calobra boat tour and still regret it, book it before your trip since it fills up fast

The Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel and Spa sits up on the cliffside above the port, the closest thing this coast has to a resort splurge, with sweeping views over the bay.

Where I stayed: Hotel Marina, and I’d book it again without a second thought. The marina view from our room was great, breakfast was included every morning, and every restaurant in the port was an easy walk.

Hotel Eden is the budget pick if you still want to be close to the water without the splurge price tag.

Stay in Port de Soller if mountains and sea both matter to you. Skip it if you only have a few days and the southeast calas are your main priority, since it’s a long haul to get there.

Alcudia, Playa de Muro, and Port de Pollenca: best for families and easy beaches

I skipped this stretch on my own trip, mostly because when I was thinking about where to stay in Mallorca I was prioritizing seeing both the mountains and the southeast calas over a full resort week. That said, it’s the easiest pick for families, and for good reason.

Alcudia, Playa de Muro, and Port de Pollenca pros

• The Bay of Alcudia has some of the calmest, most shallow water on the island, way better for little kids than a cliffside cove
• Alcudia’s old town is walled and historic, worth an afternoon even if you’re not staying there
• Playa de Muro’s resorts are built for families, kid clubs and all, so you can actually relax
• Port de Pollenca has a proper marina and a longer restaurant scene if you want more than a resort
• Want to get out on the water? This boat trip out of Port d’Alcudia hits Coll Baix beach and the caves near Alcanada Island, snorkeling gear and tapas included

Alcudia, Playa de Muro, and Port de Pollenca cons

• Alcudia’s old town sits back from the water, so it’s not the move if you want a beachfront hotel
• This part of the island is a weak base for exploring the rest of Mallorca, it’s a real trek to the mountains or the southeast

That said, I also think Port De Soller would be great for kids as well. We saw lots of families and the water was very calm.

Grupotel Parc Natural and Spa sits right against the S’Albufera nature reserve in Playa de Muro, pools and gardens galore, an easy pick for families who want a resort they never have to leave.

In Port de Pollenca, Hotel Illa d’Or is a historic beachfront property known for a great breakfast and a walkable spot right on the water.

And if you want to go all out, the Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor sits on its own private peninsula, the kind of splurge that becomes the whole trip.

Stay here if families and easy beaches are the priority. Skip it if mountain scenery or nightlife is what you’re after.

Cala d’Or: best for easy access to beautiful calas

Cala d’Or is where I spent the back half of my week and is, in my humble opinion, the best place to stay in Mallorca (it’s the Mallorca beach vacation you are probably picturing). That said, you can stay at any of the beach towns I mention in the next section.

Cala d’Or pros

• The town’s built directly around a string of small coves, so you’re never more than a short walk from the water
• It’s got a resort-town feel without tipping into full party mode
• The southeast boat tour I took from here was hands down the best day of my whole trip
• One tiny family-run trattoria did homemade pasta and pizza that I’d book again in a heartbeat

Cala d’Or cons

• The food here was honestly a mixed bag, plenty of cute restaurants but a lot of them overpriced for what they were and sort of touristy blah.

Ikos Porto Petro is a five-star all-inclusive with Michelin-starred dining, five pools, and two private beaches right next to the Mondrago Nature Reserve, technically a five minute drive from Cala d’Or itself.

Where I stayed: Hotel Cala d’Or, which sits directly on the beach with a solid breakfast every morning. Book a sea view room, it’s worth it.

Inturotel Cala Esmeralda is the budget pick, easy beach access and a decent pool, minus the full resort price tag.

The full guide to the best beaches in Mallorca covers the coves within reach of this base in way more detail.

Stay in Cala d’Or if a straightforward beach vacation is what you’re after.

Santanyi and southeast Mallorca: best for beach hopping

I’d honestly say don’t overthink this! There are a million hotels in the southeast Santanyi area and I’m pretty sure they’re all great. Mallorca is a collection of gorgeous beaches so staying at any hotel with access to nearby calas will be a win.

Santanyi pros

• This stretch is home to Cala Llombards, Calo des Moro, Cala s’Almunia, and Cala Santanyi, some of the most photographed beaches on the island
• Santanyi town has a great Saturday market and really good restaurants
• Can Ferrereta puts you an easy walk from the market, with a spa and pool worth the splurge on its own

Santanyi cons

• Not all of the calas are especially convenient to reach, expect real drive time between them
• Stay near the water in Cala Santanyi and you’ll be driving into town for a proper dinner
• Parking in Santanyi town is tight, so arriving early will help

Can Ferrereta is right in the middle of Santanyi’s old town, an easy walk from the Saturday market, with a spa, a pool, and a restaurant good enough to be the splurge on its own.

Stay here if beach hopping is basically why you’re going. Skip it if you’re trying to cover the whole island too.

Deia: Quick stop that’s best for romance and a splurge

Deia is the one place on this list I visited but didn’t stay overnight, and I stand by that for a first trip. It’s a tiny mountain village stacked into the hillside above its own little cove, gorgeous for a lunch stop or an afternoon wander. I will say that I think a night or two here could be romantic and cute (especially if you stay at a luxury hotel, more on that in a minute).

Deia pros

• The village itself is honey-colored stone stacked up the hillside, really pretty to just wander through
• Cala Deia is small and dramatic, more of a scene to sit and take in than a full beach day
• The restaurants here are some of the most romantic on the island, if pricey
• It’s an easy stop on the way between Port de Soller and the rest of the west coast

Deia cons

• Parking is tight and the walk down to the beach is steep
• Everything else on the island is a real drive from here, so it’s a rough full-trip base
• The restaurants and hotels are expensive for what they are

If you’re looking up where to stay in Mallorca, I’d bet this place comes up as one of the best hotels on the island. La Residencia is the hotel most people mean when they talk about staying in Deia.

It’s built across two former manor houses, olive groves and orange trees all over the property, the kind of place people book for a honeymoon or an anniversary because they want the hotel itself to be part of the trip. If you’re staying there, then it might be worth more than a night.

Stay in Deia if a romantic splurge for a night or two sounds perfect. Skip it as your only base if you’re trying to cover a lot of the island.

Valldemossa: beautiful, but I’d visit instead of staying too long

Like Deia, Valldemossa is a tiny stone village stacked into the Tramuntana mountains, and a lot of guides push it as a base. I stopped here for lunch (which was delicious) on the drive to Port de Soller and thought it was lovely for an hour or two. Honestly, I’d rather visit than stay multiple nights (unless you’re staying at a gorgeous hotel).

Valldemossa pros

• Honestly one of the prettiest villages on the island
• Easy stop on the drive between Palma and Soller
• If you do stay, Hotel Valldemossa has real mountain views and a good on-site restaurant

Valldemossa cons

• There’s not much to do once the day-trip crowds clear out
• You’re a real drive from any beach
• Most people don’t need a full overnight here

Hotel Valldemossa sits a short walk from the Charterhouse, mountain views, a spa, an on-site restaurant.

Stay in Valldemossa if you specifically want one quiet mountain night. Visit instead if you’re like most first-time visitors and want your nights near a beach.

Magaluf and Palmanova: best for nightlife and resort convenience

I skipped this stretch of coast on purpose, and I’d probably recommend that to my friends, unless a party scene is actually what you’re after.

Magaluf and Palmanova pros

• Magaluf is Mallorca’s real nightlife hub, big clubs and loud strips if that’s your scene
• Palmanova right next door is calmer, still close to everything, better for bars and restaurants over full clubbing
• INNSiDE by Melia Wave Calvia sits right on Magaluf beach with an infinity pool, walking distance to the strip

Magaluf and Palmanova cons

• Not the spot for mountain scenery or quiet mornings
• Weak base for exploring the rest of the island

INNSiDE by Melia Wave Calvia sits right on Magaluf beach with an infinity pool and puts you within walking distance of the main strip.

If you’d rather stay near the action without being smack in the middle of it, Hotel Son Caliu Spa Oasis is a short drive over in Palmanova, direct access to a quieter cove and a more grown-up pace once the sun goes down.

Stay here if a loud beach town with plenty of bars and restaurants is exactly your speed. Skip it if that’s not your idea of a good night.

Rural Mallorca and finca stays: best for agriculture and quiet

One unique option for where to stay in Mallorca is a Finca, which are a form of agrotourism. They’re old stone farmhouses turned into small hotels, usually with a pool, olive groves, and not much else around for miles. I think on my next trip to Mallorca I’ll spend a few days in one.

Mallorca Finca pros

• Total privacy, some suites even come with their own private pool
• A completely different view of the countryside than anywhere on the coast
• Castell Son Claret has a Michelin-starred restaurant and gorgeous gardens if you want a serious splurge

Mallorca Finca cons

• You give up walkability, beach access, and restaurant variety almost completely
• A car is basically essential, you’re driving to reach anything

Castell Son Claret is a 14th century castle estate in the hills near Es Capdella, part of Leading Hotels of the World, with a Michelin starred restaurant, gorgeous gardens, and some suites with their own private pool.

Most of Mallorca’s fincas sit in the middle of the island, and this one’s a bit southwest of that, closer to Palma. It’s gorgeous enough that I wouldn’t let that stop you. Personally, I’d pair it with a coastal stay rather than making it your only base.

Book a finca if slowing all the way down, for a couple of nights or the back half of a longer trip, sounds better than another beach town. Skip it if you want to walk anywhere without getting back in the car.