Where to stay in Mallorca really depends on what kind of holiday you want. In summer you want to be by the beach and you’ll want sea views. The rest of the year, consider a rural escape or mountain hideaway. Whenever you go, bookend your trip with stays in beautiful old Palma di Mallorca.
Our where to stay in Mallorca guide is by no means comprehensive. It’s a ‘best of’ guide to the accommodation we sampled when we were researching and shooting a guidebook to the Spanish Mediterranean island. It’s just the spots that we loved the most, from charming, small, stone boutique hotels to sleek and chic seaside sleeps.
Where to Stay in Mallorca
Mallorca may not be a large island but the mountainous regions and narrow coastal roads can make distances feel greater than they are. Having said that, the diversity of the landscapes, drama of the mountains, and beauty of the beaches make for a breathtaking road trip at times and the variety of beautiful hotels means that each day’s driving will end with a heavenly sleep somewhere.
Wherever you stay in Mallorca, make sure to start and/or end your trip in the capital Palma di Mallorca, which is often overlooked by people heading to the island primarily for a beach holiday. When we were last there, after circumnavigating the island twice, and testing out countless hotels, we rented an apartment in an atmospheric house in the heart of the old town to do the write-up. It was just wonderful.
Where to Stay in Mallorca – Our Picks from Palma to Pollença
Palma di Mallorca
When it comes to where to stay in Mallorca it’s hard to beat the beautiful capital, Palma di Mallorca, with its abundance of historic sights, fantastic restaurants, and fab shopping.
Convent de la Missió
Located in a former convent on a quiet lane in Palma’s busy shopping heart, this minimalist hotel is muy chic. The contemporary, understated rooms are sleek with thoughtful amenities; some look over the central courtyard while suites have terraces. There’s a gallery, bar and the superb Michelin-starred restaurant Mark Fosh (formerly Simply Fosh). Book dinner when you book the hotel.
Carrer de la Missió 7, 971 227347
Book Convent de la Missio online with our booking partner Booking.com.
Hotel Santa Clara
A short stroll from the Arab Baths and Cathedral, in an atmospheric old quarter, this stunning renovation of a historical stone building is an ideal place to stay if style, comfort and sightseeing are high priorities. The décor seamlessly melds history (stone walls, exposed beams) with modern design (contemporary furnishings, techie extras) and there’s a fine spa.
Carrer Sant Alonso 16, 971 729231
Book Santa Clara Urban Hotel & Spa online with our booking partner Booking.com.
Southwest of Palma
This is where to stay in Mallorca if you’re looking for luxury resorts with big swimming pools and a golf course nearby, buzzy seaside centres with restaurants with sea views, and you don’t mind crowds.
Castillo Hotel Son Vida
With its turreted tower, soaring dome, plush furnishings, colossal paintings, and suits of armour in the corridor, this opulent hotel in a converted 13th century castle must be one of Mallorca’s most impressive. Spacious rooms come with all the amenities you’d expect from a Luxury Collection property. There are several restaurants, bars, a massive swimming pool, and stupendous views to Palma.
Raixa 2, Son Vida, 971 493493
Book Castillo Hotel Son Vida online with our booking partner Booking.com.
Maricel
The interiors of this elegant hip hotel ooze style, from the chic high-ceilinged, lobby lounge to the spacious, minimalist rooms, and the exteriors are breathtaking, from the terrace bar and alfresco restaurant with sea views to the enormous swimming pool beside the sea. The unusual design of most rooms won’t suit everyone – when you enter the room you enter the bathroom, making your room service delivery a tad awkward if you’re in the tub! Shy types might want to upgrade to a suite with more space, a slightly different design, and a private terrace.
Carretera Andratx 11, Cas Catala, 971 707744
Book Hotel Hospes Maricel y Spa online with our booking partner Booking.com.
Son Net
Located in the bucolic foothills of the southern Tramuntana mountains, in a splendidly restored 17th century finca, this beautiful boutique hotel is one of Mallorca’s most memorable and one of its most romantic. Each of the spacious, characterful, antique-filled rooms is different, boasting sumptuous furnishings and four-poster beds, with terraces or balconies. There are cottages for those who want even more space and privacy, as well as highly regarded spa and an enormous pool. The restaurant is considered to be one of the area’s finest.
Castillo de Sonnet, Puigpunyent, 971 147000
Book Gran Hotel Son Net online with our booking partner Booking.com.
St Regis Mardavall
Undoubtedly Mallorca’s most exclusive hotel, the Mediterranean-style St Regis goes as far as to boast it’s a bespoke hotel – a claim supported by floors fitted out in custom furnishings and luxurious amenities. All 133 of the lavishly appointed rooms – decorated in light, summery white and neutral shades – are equipped with all the mod cons you’d expect at this level, along with big balconies with stunning views of the sea, manicured lawns, luxuriant gardens, and a gigantic swimming pool. If you can drag yourself away from your sun bed, there’s an excellent spa and the location at the foot of the Tramuntana mountains makes it a fab base for exploring. There is a stylish bar and excellent restaurants, including Es Fum.
Passeig Calvia s/n, Costa d’en Blanes, 971 629629
Book The St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort online with our booking partner Booking.com.
West of Palma
The west coast and its wild mountains are where to stay in Mallorca if you’re a fan of hilltop towns that ooze history, magnificent sea vistas, and you don’t mind scrambling down hillside to reach hidden coves secreting away busy little beaches.
Ca’s Xorc
Splendidly set in a restored stone farmhouse surrounded by olive groves, this intimate boutique hotel is located high on a hilltop between Soller and Deia. With its breathtaking mountain and sea views and a background soundtrack of cicadas, birds, and the tinkling of goat bells, this beautiful property is ideal for a relaxing retreat or romantic getaway. The individually decorated rooms are charming, but it’s the common areas that really make the place – a cushioned sitting area that would be at home in a Moroccan riad, a library with wall-to-wall books, private dining rooms, several lounge areas, a restaurant in a former olive press, an enormous open kitchen, an alfresco terrace, and plenty of spots to sit, sprawl or sunbathe in the gardens or by the pool.
Carretera de Deia Km 56, 971 638280
Book Boutique Hotel Ca´s Xorc online with our booking partner Booking.com.
Espléndido
Located slap bang on the seafront at Puerto de Sóller, this is a grand old hotel for the 21st century. Espléndido is made for travellers nostalgic for those big old-fashioned seaside hotels but can’t face doing without contemporary style and modcons. And while it oozes retro-charm, from the vintage wallpaper in the rooms to the funky lounge with turntable and record collection, it’s the simple things that make Espléndido shine: friendly efficient staff, good bistro food, and sea views.
Es Traves 5, Puerto de Sóller, 971 631850
Book Hotel Espléndido online with our booking partner Booking.com.
Belmond La Residencia
A favourite with royalty and the rich and famous, this luxurious five star hotel in Deià may be one of Mallorca’s most exclusive. Set within two colossal 16th and 17th century stone manor houses overlooking the charming village of Deià, the spacious rooms and suites come equipped with every amenity you could dream of. Suites also boast balconies, terraces or private plunge pools, and there are villas for families wanting greater privacy and space. Lush gardens, two huge swimming pools, bars and a fine restaurant complete the picture.
Son Canals, Deià, 971 63 9011
Book Belmond La Residencia online with our booking partner Booking.com.
East Coast
The east coast offers a real mix of bustling resort towns with busy beaches and quiet fishing villages and empty stretches of sand.
Can Simoneta
The sprawling lawns, stunning swimming pool, and dramatic cliff-top setting at this diminutive boutique hotel, overlooking the cobalt sea and surrounding mountains, are such an allure guests have been known not to budge for days. Unfortunately, food at the in-house restaurant can be hit and miss, meaning you’ll have to hike down to town for meals – or raid the well-stocked mini-bar in your stylishly-appointed room. Some rooms have decks, terraces or balconies, and not all have ocean views; book your preference ahead of time.
Carretera Artà-Canyamel Km 8. Finca Torre Canyamel, Capdepera, 971 816110
Book Can Simoneta online with our booking partner Booking.com.
Cas Ferrer Nou Hotelet
This contemporary-designed hotel in a historical stone building is quite a surprise to find in the back streets of Alcúdia’s ancient walled town, and while it’s tiny, rooms are spacious, and there are plenty of common areas to loaf about including a lounge with books and DVDs to borrow and a two sun terraces above a central courtyard. While it’s only a block from the busy main square, there’s parking nearby at Plaça de Toros.
Carrer Pou Nou 1, Alcúdia, 971 897542
Book Cas Ferrer Nou Hotelet online with our booking partner Booking.com.
Northern Mallorca
The north is where to stay in Mallorca if you want rugged mountains, dramatic coastline, still bays, surfing and windsurfing beaches, and laidback towns.
Hotel Ca’n Pere
This chic little hotel in a restored 19th century manor house in the heart of the old city of Alcúdia has loads of character. While the original stone walls and many traditional features have been maintained, neoclassical furniture and contemporary fittings add a stylish modern touch. Book a room with a private terrace if you’re staying more than one night.
Calle Serra 12, Alcúdia, 971 53 91 78, www.hotelcanpere.com
Son Brull
This beautiful boutique hotel in the countryside near Pollença is perfect for those who can’t decide whether to check into a rural finca or a city hotel. Situated in a splendid former monastery, Son Brull seamlessly melds the traditional stone architecture of the structure with the sleek contemporary design of its big, light-filled rooms. There’s a stunning swimming pool with plenty of sun beds, a superb spa with another pool, an atmospheric bar, and a brilliant restaurant.
Off the MA2200, Pollença, 971 535353
Book Son Brull Hotel & Spa online with our booking partner Booking.com.
Son Sant Jordi
Situated on a charming square boasting a splendid church, a short stroll from the old centre of Pollença, this family-owned boutique hotel may be small but the elegant eight rooms are enormous with canopied and four-poster beds, solid wooden country-style furniture, and big bathrooms. The lush garden hides away a swimming pool – perfect for cooling off after a hike up the Calvary or Puig Maria.
Calle Sant Jordi 29, Pollença, 971 530389
Book Son Sant Jordi online with our booking partner Booking.com.
Rural Heartland
The rural heartland and countryside are best for those who prefer birdwatching and biking and hiking Mallorca to summer days on sandy beaches.
Finca Sant Blai
This lovely agroturismo property in the countryside outside of Campos is comprised of a renovated finca (farm house) and several self-catering casitas (cottages) surrounded by farming land. Lovingly decorated with traditional furnishings and the occasional modern touch, the place has loads of rustic charm. There’s a resident pony and donkeys, and the hotel can organize plenty of activities, including horse-riding, cycling, and sailing. While there’s a swimming pool, the beaches of Es Trenc are close by when you need a change of scene.
Camino de Son Toni Amer, 4km from Campos, 971 650567
Book Agroturismo Finca Sant Blai online with our booking partner Booking.com.
Have you spent much time on the island? What’s your preference when it comes to where to stay in Mallorca?
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