Mallorca is undoubtedly one of the favourite destinations when it comes to planning a good holiday. This is why its main tourist attractions tend to be so crowded in high season. However, there is much to see on this island beyond the city of Palma, Manacor or Alcudia. In fact, there are many very interesting places to visit beyond the coves and beaches, which are the main places one thinks of when planning a holiday.
We are talking, therefore, about that rural Mallorca with a lot of charm, since, in the north of the island, in the Tramuntana mountain range, you can make the best getaways to villages that will captivate you with their beauty and the enchantress of the surroundings in which they are located. There, you can discover what life is really like in Mallorca beyond the main tourist sites, monuments and sun and beach tourism.
For this reason, we have talked to the professionals at AutosMallorca, who know every corner of the island perfectly, to bring you closer to the Mallorca that lies behind the more typical tourism. For this reason, we bring you a list of the best getaways to the most charming villages on the island. Read on if you are thinking of enjoying a holiday different from the usual and escape from the sea of tourists during your trip.
Sóller and Puerto de Sóller
Sóller is considered to be one of the most beautiful villages, not only in Mallorca, but in the whole of Spain. This is because it is located in a privileged spot with spectacular views of the Tramuntana mountains and the sea. In fact, from some of the viewpoints near it, you can see the entire coastal area and even the port.
As the island of Mallorca does not have a public transport service designed for tourists, to get to Sóller, we recommend that you hire a car from Palma. If you take the Ma-11 road, driving along the district of Sa Indioteria and other localities, such as Son Sardina, Palmanyola. Further on you will enter the Tramuntana mountain range through the Sóller-Palma Tunnel. A little further on, you will find the village. The journey takes just over 30 minutes, so access is quite easy.
In Sóller you can visit the port, located just a few minutes away by car, and enjoy the maritime atmosphere of the bay around which the port itself is built. In the town itself, we recommend a stroll through the old town with its narrow cobbled streets and enjoy its medieval appearance. If you are looking for monuments and historic buildings, you can visit the church of San Bartolomé, which combines different styles, from Baroque to Modernist and Neo-Gothic.
The tree-lined square where this church is located is also very interesting, as it is the perfect place to have a coffee or an appetizer. Similarly, in the port you can visit the Santa Catalina viewpoint, which dates back to the 13th century and now contains the Museum of the Sea, from where you can enjoy spectacular views of the bay.
Fornalutx
Fornalutx is also considered to be one of the most attractive villages in Spain, thanks to its location. It is quite close to Sóller and is characterized by its beautiful, rustic-looking stone houses and cobbled streets with a steep slope. In fact, it is completely surrounded by rocky mountains and lush nature.
To get there, we recommend that you follow the same route you used to get to Sóller, but skirt the village and continue along the Ma-11 towards the port and, at the roundabout, take the exit towards the Ma-10 road. This road is the backbone of the route through the most important viewpoints of the Tramuntana mountain range. When you can, take the exit onto the Ma-2120 road in the direction of Fornalutx.
Once you reach this village, we recommend you stroll through its cobbled streets decorated with a multitude of plants and dried flowers. It is, so to speak, a very photogenic village. There, you can visit the church of the Nativitat de la Mare de Déu, which dates from the 13th century and combines Baroque and Gothic styles.
The Plaza de España is a place you must visit to have a tapa or an aperitif in its bars and cafés. The town hall is not to be missed either, easily recognised by its fortress-like appearance and its large defensive tower, which dates back to the 14th century.
Deià
Deià is undoubtedly another of the best getaways to the most beautiful villages in Mallorca. It is a small village that is completely surrounded by mountains and cliffs. Therefore, it is one of the places where you can enjoy the best views of the whole island. In fact, it forms part of the Sierra de Tramuntana Natural Park and is a very interesting place to spend a few days relaxing, although you have the possibility of going on a multitude of hiking routes or excursions to the mountains or to the coast.
To get to Deià we also recommend that you hire a car from the city of Palma de Mallorca. In this case, the best option is to leave the capital along the Ma-1110 road, in the direction of the Tramuntana mountain range, bordering the Son Espanyol neighbourhood and the town of Son Sardina. Further on, you will reach the village of Valldemossa, which you will have to cross to exit on the Ma-1130 and then take the Ma-10 turning. Following this road, you will reach the village of Deià. The journey usually takes no more than 45 minutes.
In this town we recommend you explore its streets and surroundings, as every corner is spectacular and incredibly beautiful. Its houses and cobbled streets stand out. Among the most important places to visit are, for example, the House of Robert Graves, the Archaeological Museum, the Parish Museum, the Church of San Juan Bautista and its cemetery, as well as the viewpoint of Son Marroig, one of the best places from where you can see the sunset.
Valldemossa
Halfway to Deià, as we have seen above, is placed the beautiful village of Valldemossa. Although it lies in the shadows of other villages, it is a village that has nothing to offer. It is located on the lower slopes of the Tramuntana mountain range, which means that it is surrounded by spectacular landscapes that you can enjoy. It is also very accessible from the city of Palma, as it will take you no more than 30 minutes to get there.
There, we recommend you stroll through its streets and enjoy the natural environment in which this beautiful Mallorcan village is located. Among the most emblematic and historic places are the Royal Charterhouse, the Museum of the musician Fréderico Chopin and of the famous writer George Sand. Likewise, the Palace of King Sancho, the Church of Sant Bartomeu and the gardens of King Juan Carlos I are places worth visiting.
