Start in Palma’s Old Town around 09:30, when the streets are still pleasantly quiet. Begin at La Seu Cathedral, where the Gothic interior, enormous rose window, and views toward the bay are best enjoyed before the midday crowds. Allow about 1½ hours; entry is typically around €10–12, and shoulders and knees should be covered. Next door, continue to Palau de l’Almudaina, the former Moorish fortress now used as a royal residence. Its arcaded halls and rooftop outlook take roughly an hour. Check official opening times before setting out, as hours can vary by season and royal events.
Walk north through the lanes of Palma Centre—about 15 minutes—to Mercat de l’Olivar. It is a good place for a relaxed lunch rather than a formal meal: browse the fish counters and produce stalls, then choose tapas or seafood at the market bars. Budget €15–30, and carry a little cash in case a small stall does not accept cards. After lunch, stroll or take a short taxi ride toward Santa Catalina and spend the afternoon at Es Baluard Museu d’Art Contemporani. The collection is manageable in around 1½ hours, while the old bastion terraces are particularly worthwhile for their elevated bay views; admission is generally about €6–8. Wear comfortable sneakers—the old-town paving is uneven.
From Es Baluard, walk down toward Paseo Marítimo for an easy hour beside the marina. Early evening is ideal: the light softens over the water, and you can pause at the benches near the boats without committing to another major sight. Finish in La Lonja, where the narrow lanes around the medieval Llotja de Palma are atmospheric after dark. For a traditional dinner, try Cellar Sa Premsa for hearty Mallorcan cooking or La Bóveda for pa amb oli and local dishes; reserve if possible, especially for a Friday evening. Expect roughly €30–50 per person, and order tumbet, fresh fish, or a shared pa amb oli rather than trying to fit in too many courses.
After arriving in Portals Nous, begin at Puerto Portals, ideally around 09:30 while the marina is still calm. Spend about an hour strolling the promenade, looking at the yachts, and taking coffee at Wellies Restaurant & Bar or Cappuccino Puerto Portals; expect roughly €4–7 for coffee and pastries. From the marina, Playa Oratori is a pleasant 10-minute walk uphill and around the headland. This small, sheltered beach is much more inviting before midday—bring your reef-safe sunscreen, hat, towel, and water, and allow two hours for a swim and an unhurried beach break. In May, the sea can still feel brisk, but the cove is excellent for sunbathing.
Take a short taxi—about 5–10 minutes—to Marineland Mallorca in Costa d’en Blanes for the early afternoon, allowing around two hours for the aquarium and marine-life exhibits. Check the 2026 timetable and ticket prices before setting out, as opening hours and show schedules vary seasonally; online admission is commonly around €25–35. From there, continue by taxi or local bus toward Palmanova Beach, roughly 10–15 minutes away, for a broader sandy shoreline and a gentle late-afternoon walk along the promenade. Finish back in Portals Nous with seafood overlooking the harbor: Restaurante Flanigan is the polished choice, while La Perla offers a more relaxed waterfront setting. Reserve ahead for an outdoor table and budget €35–60 per person; bring a light cardigan, as the marina becomes breezy after sunset.
Take the morning Ferrocarril de Sóller from Palma, allowing the planned travel time from Portals Nous to reach the station and board without rushing. The wooden carriages take roughly an hour, passing citrus groves, olive terraces, and the Serra de Tramuntana through a series of tunnels. Aim for an early departure around 08:00–09:00; check the exact 2026 timetable and reserve at trendesoller.com, as seats can fill in May. On arrival, walk into Sóller’s center for a late-morning pause in Plaça Constitució. The square is ideal for a coffee beneath the plane trees, with the grand façade of Església de Sant Bartomeu and the old tram tracks providing the village’s signature scene. Allow about 45 minutes, and keep some cash handy for small cafés.
A five-minute walk along Carrer de Sa Lluna brings you to Can Prunera Museum of Modernism, one of Sóller’s most rewarding small museums. This former early-20th-century townhouse has ornate woodwork, stained glass, Art Nouveau details, and a collection including works by Miró and Picasso. Allow around an hour; opening days and hours can vary outside the busiest season, so check locally or online before setting out. Entry is usually modest—roughly €5–8—and the cool interior makes a welcome break if the May sun is strong.
From Sóller, take a pre-booked taxi to Fornalutx, about 20 minutes on winding mountain roads; this is more convenient than relying on infrequent buses, especially with hiking shoes and a daypack. Spend the afternoon wandering the village’s stone lanes, stairways, and flower-filled corners, including the area around Plaça d’Espanya and the parish church of Església de la Nativitat de la Mare de Déu. The slopes are steep and polished in places, so supportive sandals or hiking shoes are preferable. Allow about two hours to explore at an unhurried pace, and stop for a drink before dinner. Finish at Ca N’Antuna, where traditional Mallorcan mountain cooking—often roast meats, tumbet, or hearty rice dishes—is served with broad valley views. Budget €30–50 per person; reserve ahead if possible, and bring a light layer for the terrace after sunset.
Take the Ferrocarril de Sóller tram from Sóller to Port de Sóller, allowing around 25 minutes; the line runs through citrus groves before arriving beside the harbor. Start with an easy walk around the curved waterfront, then stop for coffee at Fornalutx Petit Café near the marina or one of the cafés along Passeig de Sa Platja. Give yourself about an hour before the boat departure, and check in early with Tramuntana Sailing—half-day excursions generally cost €60–100 and depend on sea conditions. Bring your waterproof phone pouch, sunscreen, a light layer, and motion-sickness tablets if you are sensitive to the swell.
The sailing excursion is the day’s main experience: expect roughly four hours along the rugged northwest coast, with clear views of sea cliffs, hidden inlets, and the Tramuntana shoreline. Boats usually include time for swimming, but confirm whether drinks or snorkel equipment are provided. If the sea is too rough or the trip is cancelled, make Sa Calobra your land-based alternative rather than trying to fit both into the same day; the winding mountain road takes substantial time each way, but the walk through the Torrent de Pareis to the cove is spectacular. Wear the hiking shoes from your packing list, carry water, and avoid entering the gorge after heavy rain. If you sail instead, return to the harbor in the mid-afternoon and walk along the southern side of the bay to Platja d’en Repic, where the atmosphere is generally calmer than around the main marina. Spend about 90 minutes swimming or relaxing, using the beach cover-up away from the sand and keeping valuables minimal.
For dinner, walk back along the promenade to Kingfisher Restaurant, a convenient harbor-side choice for seafood and sunset views. Budget around €35–60 per person, and reserve ahead if you want an outdoor table in May. The promenade is lovely after dark, but bring a light sweater or jacket: the sea breeze can make the evening feel considerably cooler than the afternoon.
Aim to reach Cala Deià by about 09:00, before the narrow access road and small parking areas fill up. From the bus stop in Deià, it is roughly a 30–40-minute downhill walk to the cove; wear your hiking shoes rather than sandals, and bring water, sunscreen, a hat, and your quick-dry towel. The rocky inlet is beautiful for a quiet swim, but there is little shade and no broad sandy beach. Give yourself around two hours, then allow extra time for the steep walk back up. Restaurant Sa Foradada is reached by a demanding coastal path rather than directly from the cove, so check its opening days and reserve ahead; a taxi to the restaurant’s access point is the easier option, while a seasonal boat service may operate depending on sea conditions.
Settle in at Restaurant Sa Foradada for a long lunch overlooking the dramatic headland, budgeting about €30–50 per person. Order simply—fresh fish, paella, or grilled meat—and allow at least 1½ hours, as the setting and access make this a deliberately unhurried stop. Afterwards, return to Deià by taxi or the walking route, then visit Robert Graves House, usually open from late morning into the afternoon with reduced or seasonal hours in May; check the official schedule before setting out. The poet’s preserved home and garden offer a peaceful insight into the artists and writers drawn to Deià.
Continue on foot through Deià’s stone lanes to the Deià Archaeological Museum and Research Centre, allowing about 45 minutes. It is a small, focused visit, so verify the day’s opening hours—local museums can close between lunch and late afternoon. Leave time afterward for a drink or a slow wander around the village rather than trying to add another attraction. For dinner, take a taxi or walk carefully along the road to Es Verger, where rustic Mallorcan dishes are served in a mountain setting. Reserve if possible, especially for an outdoor table, and expect €25–45 per person; bring a light sweater, as the temperature drops quickly after sunset.
After arriving in Alcúdia, begin at Alcúdia Old Town before the lanes warm up and the market becomes busiest. Allow about two hours to wander along the medieval walls, pass through Porta de Mallorca and Porta del Moll, and explore the quieter lanes around Carrer de la Rectoria and Carrer dels Albellons. The walls are free to access, though the stone can be uneven, so wear your walking sneakers rather than sandals. Continue to Iglesia de Sant Jaume, built into the old fortifications; allow around 45 minutes and check the door notice for that day’s opening times, as access can pause around services. If it is a market day—usually Tuesday and Sunday mornings—finish the old-town loop at Mercat d’Alcúdia, where you can browse fruit, cheese, cured meats, ceramics, and woven goods; bring a small reusable bag and some cash for smaller stalls.
After lunch, walk or take a short taxi ride—roughly five minutes—from the old town to the Museu Monogràfic de Pollentia, beside the Roman ruins. The compact museum takes about an hour and displays mosaics, pottery, coins, and sculpture from ancient Pollentia; allow roughly €3–4 for entry and check the seasonal hours before setting out, since afternoon opening can be limited. Later, head to Platja d’Alcúdia by local taxi or bus, around 10–15 minutes depending on traffic, and spend the late afternoon on the long sandy shore or strolling the palm-lined promenade. The beach is free, with loungers and umbrellas available for hire in season; keep your cover-up handy when leaving the sand and use the beach showers before changing into your evening clothes. For dinner, continue along the promenade into Port d’Alcúdia and choose a beachfront restaurant such as Mirablau Beach Bar & Restaurant or La Ponderosa, reserving if you want a table facing the bay. Expect about €25–45 per person for grilled fish, paella, or lighter Mediterranean plates, and bring a light layer—the sea breeze is noticeable after sunset.
If you have a rental car, leave Alcúdia around 07:30–08:00 for the Formentor Peninsula; this is the easiest way to fit in the viewpoints and cove without rushing. In May, road restrictions can still vary, so check the current access rules before setting out. If private cars are restricted, use the seasonal shuttle from Port d’Alcúdia or Alcúdia and allow extra time. Begin at Cap de Formentor, continuing toward the lighthouse and stopping at the signed viewpoints along the winding Ma-2210. Allow roughly three hours including photo stops, and bring water, a hat, and a light layer—the cliff tops are breezy even on warm days. Parking is limited, so arrive early; never leave valuables in the car.
Continue to Mirador Es Colomer, where a short stairway leads to one of the finest views over the jagged coast and tiny offshore islets. Give yourself about 45 minutes, wearing proper walking shoes rather than flip-flops. From there, drive back along the peninsula to Cala Figuera—not to be confused with the southeastern town of the same name—for a quieter rocky coastal break. The access is uneven and swimming is weather-dependent, so treat it as a brief dip or shoreline pause rather than a full beach stop; pack your quick-dry towel, swimwear, and sandals, and take all rubbish with you.
Return toward Pollença and settle into the old town for a slower afternoon. Wander the lanes around Plaça Major, then climb the 365 Calvari Steps at an unhurried pace; the cypress-lined staircase is steep, but the view from the small chapel at the top is worth it. Allow about two hours, with a cold drink or coffee afterward in the square. A taxi from the Formentor area is practical if you used the shuttle and do not want to coordinate buses; otherwise, buses or the car take roughly 25–35 minutes from the Alcúdia area, with parking generally easier on the edge of town than in the center.
Late afternoon is well spent at the Museu de Pollença, housed in a former convent near the old town. Opening days and hours can change seasonally, so check the museum’s official listing before relying on a visit; allow around an hour and expect a modest entry fee, usually only a few euros. Finish near Plaça Major with dinner at a local Mallorcan restaurant—La Placeta is a good choice for traditional dishes and a relaxed square setting, while Café Cultural works well for a more casual meal. Reserve if visiting on a weekend, and expect around €30–50 per person with wine. Try tumbet, grilled local fish, or porcella, and keep your linen trousers or other modest evening outfit handy for a comfortable, smart-casual finish.