After landing at Palma de Mallorca Airport, take a taxi from the rank outside arrivals or use a pre-booked transfer; the ride into Palma usually takes 20–30 minutes, depending on traffic, with airport taxis typically costing around €20–30. If you’re staying near the coast rather than in the centre, ask to go directly toward Can Pastilla or Playa de Palma. Allow time for luggage and check-in before heading back out—this first afternoon works best without trying to fit in sightseeing.
Make Playa de Palma your first proper stop: it’s an easy, broad stretch of sand with plenty of space to swim, rent a lounger, or simply walk the promenade for about two hours. The seafront is lively but uncomplicated, and you can pick up water or an ice cream from one of the many kiosks. From there, walk or take a short taxi ride—roughly 5–10 minutes—to Cala Estància, a smaller, more sheltered cove in Can Pastilla. It feels calmer than the main beach and is a pleasant place for a late swim as the light softens; the waterfront faces west enough for a particularly good sunset atmosphere.
Finish at Purobeach Palma, right on the waterfront in Can Pastilla, where the mood shifts toward relaxed beach-club dining: expect loungers, cocktails, Balearic music, and sunset views rather than a formal restaurant experience. Reserve ahead for dinner, especially for an outdoor table, and budget approximately €35–60 per person before any extra drinks. It’s only a short walk or taxi ride from Cala Estància, so there’s no need to move the car or over-plan the evening. After dinner, return to your hotel by taxi or local bus; check the latest evening timetable locally, as services become less frequent later at night.
Start at Mercat de l’Olivar, where the covered stalls are at their liveliest from about 9:00. Allow an hour to browse the fruit, cheese, seafood and bakery counters, picking up breakfast at one of the casual bars inside. From the market, walk south through the narrow lanes of Palma’s Old Town to Palma Cathedral—roughly 10 minutes. The cathedral usually opens to visitors from around 10:00, though hours can change around services; entry is generally about €10. Give yourself around 90 minutes to appreciate the Gothic nave, stained glass and views across Parc de la Mar.
Continue next door to the Royal Palace of La Almudaina, the former Moorish citadel now used for royal ceremonies. Its cool stone rooms make a welcome break from the midday heat, and a visit takes about an hour. Tickets are usually around €7–8, with reduced rates available; check the official schedule before setting out, as opening times can vary by season and ceremonial use. The palace and cathedral quarter are compact, so there is no need for transport between these stops.
After a leisurely lunch break or coffee in the cathedral quarter, take a taxi to Es Baluard Museu d’Art Contemporani de Palma in Santa Catalina—about 10 minutes and roughly €8–12—or walk in 20–25 minutes via the waterfront. Spend around 90 minutes with the modern and contemporary collection, then head up to the terraces for one of the best open views over the bay and harbour. The museum is generally open Tuesday to Saturday into the evening, but confirm the September hours; admission is commonly around €6–8. Finish at Santa Catalina Market, a short walk away, for a relaxed late lunch or early dinner among the produce stalls and neighborhood restaurants. Budget €15–30 per person, and arrive before the busiest dinner period if you want an unhurried table; the market area is also a good place to linger over a drink rather than rushing back into the Old Town.
Leave Palma around 7:00–7:30 by rental car and head first to Es Trenc Beach via the Ma-19 and Ma-6040. Aim to arrive close to opening time: the beach is much more enjoyable before the midday heat, and the main parking areas fill quickly even in late September. Parking generally costs around €7–10 for the day; bring water, shade, and snacks, as the beach is deliberately undeveloped and the facilities are limited to a few seasonal beach bars. Spend roughly three hours swimming and walking the long dune-backed shoreline, keeping an eye on the time so you can reach Colònia de Sant Jordi comfortably before the boat departure.
From Es Trenc, it is about a 15-minute drive to Colònia de Sant Jordi. Park near the harbor, then stroll along the marina and waterfront, with time for a quick swim from one of the town’s nearby beaches before lunch. For the planned harbor meal, choose Sa Colònia restaurant and allow around 1½ hours for a relaxed seafood lunch; budget approximately €30–50 per person, and reserve ahead if your Cabrera excursion has a fixed departure time. After lunch, arrive at the Colònia de Sant Jordi excursion quay at least 20–30 minutes early for check-in. The half-day Cabrera Archipelago National Park boat trip usually lasts three to four hours, combining open-water views, dramatic island scenery, and a clear-water swimming stop. Book this in advance through a licensed local operator, bring a light layer for the return crossing, and remember that Cabrera is protected—take rubbish back with you and avoid touching marine life.
The boat should return to Colònia de Sant Jordi in the late afternoon or early evening. Keep the evening unstructured: have a drink along the harbor, watch the fishing boats come in, and take a gentle waterfront walk before dinner. If you are driving onward or changing accommodation, avoid a late swim after the excursion and allow time to collect the car and check parking restrictions around the marina.
Leave Colònia de Sant Jordi around 8:00 by rental car, allowing roughly 35–40 minutes via the Ma-19 and Ma-6100. The first stop is Santanyí Market, held in the town centre on Wednesday and Saturday mornings; arriving early gives you the best choice and makes parking easier before the lanes become busy. Browse the stalls around Plaça Major and the surrounding streets for fruit, local cheese, handmade goods and summer clothing, allowing about 90 minutes. Market hours are generally around 8:00–13:00, though individual stalls vary. From the centre, drive approximately 15 minutes to Cala Figuera and follow the signed road to the harbour; use the public car parks and expect a short walk downhill.
Spend around 90 minutes walking the harbour path at Cala Figuera, where fishing boats sit between whitewashed buildings and old boat sheds built into the narrow inlet. The path is uneven in places, so comfortable shoes are preferable. Continue roughly 10 minutes by car to Cala Santanyí, a sheltered sandy cove with seasonal sunbeds, toilets and casual beach cafés. It is a good place for a swim and an unhurried lunch—allow about two hours, and bring cash in case smaller vendors’ card machines are unreliable. Later, drive around 15 minutes inland and follow signs toward Caló des Moro near Es Llombards. Parking is controlled in the area and the final approach involves a steep, rocky walk of roughly 20–30 minutes each way; wear proper footwear, carry water, and avoid taking valuables down to the water. The cove is spectacular but small, so treat the visit as a scenic swim and viewpoint rather than expecting much space on the sand.
Return to Santanyí—around 15 minutes by car—for dinner in the old town. Book ahead for a traditional Mallorcan table, particularly on a Saturday, and look for dishes such as tumbet, arroz brut, grilled local fish or slow-cooked pork; expect approximately €30–50 per person with drinks. Restaurant Laudat is a dependable choice for regional cooking in a central setting, while Sa Cova offers a more intimate old-town atmosphere. After dinner, take a gentle walk around the illuminated lanes near Plaça Major before driving back to your accommodation; keep the evening relaxed after the steep coastal walks and the heat of the day.
Make the timed Drach Caves visit your anchor for the day, ideally booking a slot around 10:00 or 10:30. Allow about 1½ hours for the guided route through the huge chambers and the short classical concert on Lake Martel; the interior is cool and damp, so bring a light layer even in September. Arrive 20–30 minutes early for parking and check the official timetable when booking, as entry times and prices vary, usually around €17–20 per adult.
After the caves, it’s a short walk or a few minutes by car into Porto Cristo for an easy swim at Porto Cristo Beach. The sheltered bay is a good place to slow down, with sunbeds and showers usually available in season; keep valuables out of the car and bring water, as the promenade can feel exposed in the afternoon. From the beach, follow the coastal path toward Torre del Serral dels Falcons—allow roughly 20 minutes each way, with uneven sections and little shade. The watchtower itself may not always be open, but the clifftop viewpoint is worth the walk for broad views along Mallorca’s east coast.
Return toward the harbor and settle into the Sa Pedra restaurant area for lunch, rather than eating directly beside the busiest beach stretch. Look for a table with harbor views and choose local seafood, grilled fish, or paella; expect roughly €30–50 per person with a drink. Lunch service commonly runs from about 13:00 to 15:30, though reservations are sensible on a sunny Friday, particularly for waterfront seating.
For the late afternoon, drive around 10 minutes south to Cala Anguila and follow the signed access road to the beach. It is a compact cove, so arriving after the main lunch period often feels calmer than visiting in the morning. The water is exceptionally clear for swimming, but the shore is sandy and facilities are limited compared with the town—bring water, a towel, and cash for any seasonal kiosk. Stay through the softer late-day light, then return to Porto Cristo or your accommodation before dark; the access road and beach steps are less pleasant to navigate at night.
After arriving in Alcúdia, head straight into Alcúdia Old Town and park outside the historic centre, as the inner lanes are restricted and awkward for cars. Begin with a gentle walk along the medieval walls, then wander the atmospheric lanes around Carrer Major and Carrer dels Albellons while temperatures are still comfortable. Allow about 1½ hours, with time for a coffee or pastry at a small café along the way. Continue to Església de Sant Jaume, the town’s historic church built into the old defensive structure; allow around 45 minutes and check the posted visiting hours, as religious services can occasionally limit access.
If it is operating today, spend roughly an hour at Mercat d’Alcúdia, browsing fruit, local produce, clothing, crafts and snack stalls. Market hours and stall numbers vary by day and season, so treat it as a flexible stop rather than the day’s anchor; go early for the best selection and carry cash for smaller vendors. From the old town, drive around 10–15 minutes toward Playa de Muro, using the public car parks near the beach and avoiding the busiest central resort areas. Settle in for an unhurried three-hour swim and beach break: the water is shallow for a long way, making this one of the easiest beaches in Mallorca for a relaxed afternoon. Bring water and sun protection, as shade is limited; beach bars and facilities are generally open in September, though services can wind down toward the end of the month.
After rinsing off and changing, drive or walk along the seafront into the Sa Roqueta restaurant area in Port d’Alcúdia for your final seaside dinner. Choose a terrace close to the promenade and expect around €25–45 per person for a relaxed meal, depending on whether you order seafood, drinks and dessert. September evenings are usually warm, but booking is sensible for a sea-facing table—especially on a Saturday. Keep the rest of the evening deliberately easy: a stroll beside the bay after dinner is a better finale than adding another attraction.
Leave Alcúdia with plenty of margin: the drive to Palma via the Ma-13 usually takes 45–60 minutes, but allow longer on a departure day and return the rental car before heading into the city. If your flight is later in the day, make Castell de Bellver your first stop. The castle is generally open from around 10:00, with reduced or changing hours outside the main season; check the official schedule before leaving. Its circular courtyard and pine-shaded hilltop paths make a good final Mallorca stop, and the bay views are especially worthwhile. Entry is usually only a few euros, while a taxi from the car-return area or central Palma is the easiest option if you have luggage.
Continue into central Palma for a relaxed final wander along Passeig del Born, the broad, shaded boulevard lined with plane trees, boutiques and historic façades. Allow about 45 minutes rather than treating it as a checklist—you can detour briefly into the lanes around Sant Feliu and Jaume III if time allows. For a light breakfast or early lunch, settle near Plaça de Cort at Café Moderno, a longstanding spot for coffee, pastries and simple Mallorcan dishes; budget roughly €10–20 per person. Keep this stop unhurried, but avoid a full sit-down meal if your flight is close.
Head to Palma de Mallorca Airport at least two hours before a European flight, and preferably three hours if you need to refuel and return a rental car. From central Palma, the airport is normally 15–25 minutes by taxi depending on traffic; the airport bus is cheaper but less convenient with luggage. Confirm the rental company’s return area in advance, allow time for the shuttle or walk to departures, and keep your passport, boarding details and car paperwork easily accessible.
No packing list attached yet.