The Top Ten Mallorca Beaches (plus 49 others)
Our Mallorca beach guide gives you the main ones, the most popular beaches on Mallorca, but also a large choice of lesser known beaches so you'll have some alternatives to try if you get a chance. I don't know them all personally, but we've tried to get feedback on any place worth a visit so you'll know what you can expect to find.
Mallorca’s Top Ten Beaches
Es Trenc
This is the famous one, so often crowded. Es Trenc's two miles of sandy beach and lovely adjacent woodlands are one of the best-preserved areas of Mallorca, mainly thanks to several ecological groups that fought for its protection. It’s often very busy at weekends, especially near the car park, but the ends of the beach can be quiet unto deserted, so if you don’t mind walking for ten minutes you can usually find yourself a private area. Sparkling white sands and transparent waters make it a “must visit” for beach lovers. Sun beds, parasols and loos.
Playa de Muro
A favourite with guests of our townhouse hotel. It’s between Alcudia and the big tourist resort of C’an Picafort. I’m not sure why it’s called Muro Beach since Muro is a ways inland (but worth a visit for its Mallorca Ethnology Museum). The best thing about this beach is that it’s protected by a swath of pine trees, and flanked on the left by the big S’Albufera wetlands nature park (very much worth a visit and there’s more information HERE) and by the fact that the tourists in C’an Picafort rarely walk the quarter mile from their crowded beach to this, often quiet, one. The water is shallow, clean, clear and turquoise, so good for kids. All services, drinking water and beach sports can be found by walking in the direction of C’an Picafort.
Cala Varques
A sensational little bay with powder sand, a pine tree surround, and a sea that’s clean and sweetly swimable. Reachable only on foot or by boat so usually visited only by those in the know (and now you’re one of them!). No services and no loo.
Cala Millor
Another lovely sandy beach, about 60 metres deep. The sand is fine and almost pure white. Tends to fill up, especially on summer weekends, but you can usually find a niche to lay your towel. All services.
Sa Coma
Wide bay with fine white sand and a generally wind-protected sea. It’s shorter, but deeper than Cala Millor. , Always gets an EU blue flag for quality. Well known but there’s usually space available. All services.
Port d’Alcudia
A big, long bay with fine white sand. Easy to get to and with lots of entrances and exits, so if you’re lucky you can find deserted areas even in high summer. All services and lots of water sports.
Cala Mesquida
A long, wide beach with shallow water backed by high sand dunes stretching deep inland. It can be windy and attracts many visitors but isn’t usually over-crowded. All services.
Cala Mondrago
Really a postcard beach. Guarded by professional nature marshals. Fine sand, dense forest and a picturesque sea. Access only by foot. There are amazing rock formations. It’s in a Mallorca nature preservation area, but offers all services.
Arenal
The first tourists to see this beach must have been gobsmacked with amazement. So long you can’t see the ends unless you’re close to them, and at least 90 metres deep, all gorgeous deep white sand. The water is shallow and varies in the light from sapphire to slate to deep blue. When unoccupied a beach to die for, a sea warm, luscious and shallow. One of Mallorca’s most popular beaches, so its one real drawback is that it can get very crowded, especially being as close to Palma as it is. All services and the German tourist town of Arenal just behind in case you want an authentic German beer and a bratwurst.
Cala de Sant Pere
Flat beach with good sand leading down to a shallow sloping shelfed seabed. Not long, but lesser tenanted and the landscape around looks like the bad paintings on sale along popular beachfronts – landscapes too pretty to be true (even though they are).
Lots More Mallorca Beaches
Platja de Formentor/Cala Pi de la Posada, Pollenca
A mile of tourist brochure sandy beach fringed with virgin pinewoods. The famous Formentor Hotel is nearby, though they aren’t friendly to non-guests. Step behind the nearest pine tree, though, and you’ll be virtually all by yourself; apart from the hotel there’s no commercial development. You can get there by road, along the Formentor peninsula, or by a ferry that runs every hour from Port de Pollenca. The beach itself is narrow, but has views of the fairytale bay and the bird sanctuary of S’Albufera mentioned above and in the distance the Port of Pollenca. Sun beds, parasols and toilets.
Cala Torta, Arta
The largest of the several less developed beaches in the area, a wide arc of sand surrounded by dunes. Take the turn-off towards Capdepera at the petrol station outside Arta. Nine kilometres along that road, go right. The private road becomes a rough track and the beach is 1.5 Km further on. There is often a build-up of seaweed on the sand but lovers of unspoilt beaches will take that in their stride.
Cala Pi
Part of a larger area of clean shoreline, Cala Pi is small, only 40 x 150m, but pleasant. But be warned that because it’s small, it doesn’t take that many people to make it feel crowded. Save it up for weekdays.
The fine sand beach is protected by high pines, and set at the end of a long fjord with shallow waters.
Torrent de Pareis, Escorca
Another picture postcard beach. On calm days it’s spectacular – a strip of pebbly sand sheltered by two looming walls of rock. On stormy days the beach is inundated by the sea crashing through the gorge. Take the winding, 14-kilometre road down to Port de Sa Calobra, then walk through the foot-tunnel.
Cala Agulla
A splendid beach located further to the north. It can suffer from the effects of strong winds if it’s blowsy, so choose a calm day.
Cala Mesquida
The choppy waters limit Cala Mesquida's suitability for swimming, but the beach further along toward Cala Agulla is picturesque.
Cala Torta
Located on the northern part of the eastern coast, Cala Torta is a beach for calm days; any wind from the north or northeast can make it uncomfortable.
Illetas
Two small bays, 60 x 20m, with fine sand, wind protected and pretty but so small that most of the time it’s crowded. The water is clear and clean. Sun beds and parasols are on offer to rent.
Bendinat Cala
Small cove, crystal water, a shop and a restaurant. Nice cliff top walk around the corner to Portals Nous where you can spend all your money, no matter how much you’ve got. Sun beds and parasols.
Portals Nous
Right next to the swish chic and trendy port of Portals you find Portals beach. It’s pretty, though small. The beautiful church on the cliffs behind is regrettably often closed and locked. Famous folk off their yachts in Portals harbour are sometimes to be observed, though discreetly of course. All services.
El Toro
Fine, brown sand, OK sea. Near the sports harbour of Port Adriano. Sun beds, parasols and even a lifeguard.
Palma Nova and Magaluf
Twins. Two nice wide beaches with good sand and clean water. This is Little England in summer, and can get sardine-tin crowded. Behind is a pedestrian walkway where there’s a array of bustling bars, restaurants and shops. There’s a water ski training school and paragliding trips around the bay are on offer. They can be huge fun. All services.
Santa Ponca
An S-shaped bay, right in the town of Santa Ponca, an English tourist area. Fine sand, good water, lots of sports on offer against a backdrop of hotels, shops and restaurants. There’s a pine-shaded picnic area. Good beach if you’re staying there, but probably not worth a special trip unless you want to visit the town. All services.
Peguera
Excellent sand beach with a pine forest backdrop. This is a German tourist area. Lots of sports and services on offer and lots of bars, shops and restaurants. Sun beds, parasols, all services including life guards. If you’re drowning you need to shout “Hilfe!” – “Help” in German.
Portals Vells
The ‘in place’ to drop anchor in your yacht, or indeed anybody’s yacht you can cadge a ride on. Three little bays between cliffs, with fine sand and good water. Cala Mago is an official bare-it-all-beach. Sun beds and parasols on offer.
Cala Llamp
No sand, but flat rocks in crystal clear water. Some nice restaurants with terraces above. My son tells me it’s an excellent place for snorkelling. There’s a pool, and sun beds and parasols for those of us who don’t snorkel much.
Sant Elm
Sand and pebble beach facing the sleeping dragon, which is what the locals call the isle of Dragonera. The sea is shallow which makes it another good snorkelling place. The main road is pedestrianised. It’s a popular Mallorca beach and offers full services.
Port de Canonge
Pebbly bay, quite small, with fishermen’s huts and boats. Romantic, but not a great place for swimming.
Cala Estellencs
Small bay with no sand, but deep clear sea to look at. Lined by fishermen’s huts. Popular because there’s a fresh water spring for drinking and showering.
Camp de Mar
Pretty, though not striking, beach with find sand. All services on offer, even changing cabanas and a couple of bars. They say famous faces come here, and Claudia Schiffer has a home nearby, but I’ve never heard of anyone seeing her around, not even a paparazzo I know. She did a photo shoot in our place once, though, and everyone on staff thought she was as nice a person as she is dishy.
Cala Deia
Tiny beach, no sand, reachable only on foot, therefore rarely crowded, though that may also have something to do with the lack of sand and its tiny size. Spectacular view out to the high cliffs. Two very expensive restaurants.
Cala Tuent
Sensationally clean and clear water, but the beach is all pebbles and rocks. Still, the wild landscape with dense forest makes you feel you’re very far from tourist Mallorca.
Torrent de Pareis
A pebbly beach at the end of a dramatic gorge. Full to the brim in summer, with the brim itself frequented by thousands of non-bathing, sightseeing tourists. Strictly a Monday morning beach, before They all arrive.
Port de Soller
Another city beach, on a larger scale than Santa Ponca, and quite different, being a pebble beach rather than sand. It runs alongside the harbour road and there are some lovely seafront restaurants and the opportunity to take a pleasant walk. The old-fashioned train from Palma takes you through some of Mallorca’s most picturesque orange, almond, olive and lemon groves to Soller, from where you take the little rackety tram to Puerto Soller. A very popular resort catering for every taste. All services.
Cala San Vicenc
A rough, not-so-fine sand beach set between tall rocks, and lined with pine trees. But there are nice views from the beach and we’ve always heard good things about the hotel there, which has a recommended restaurant.
Cala Figuera
Teeny tiny sand and pebble beach with clear, deep water. Usually almost totally deserted, since it can only be reached with a 4X4 ploughing down a path that’s narrow even for sheep. But some people like to walk.
Port of Pollenca
Two huge beaches, left and right of the harbour, with fine sand, polished rocks and pine trees to offer shade on the top side. A popular Mallorca bay with all services including sports of all kinds.
Mal Pas
Rough sand bay, lined with pine trees. Excellent water and a breathtaking view into the bay of Alcudia.
Aucanada
Long, narrow beach with fine sand and shade trees. Views to the pretty isle of Aucanada with the old lighthouse you can almost wade out to. A favourite of Mallorcan families with children.
Cala des Cans
Tiny deserted bay -- pebbly, stony, rock-strewn. To get there means an off-road adventure. But the water is deep and clear and swimable, so you soon forget the travails of getting there -- until you go to get out, that is.
Font de sa Cala
Wide bay with find sand. All services. There’s an ice-cold sweet water source. Most of the time densely populated, so this is one to save for a weekday off season.
Canyamel
Just along the coast from the Caves of Arta you find the Playa de Canyamel. It’s a charming bay with plenty of pine trees and fine sand, but be advised this is tourist land, with lots of hotels and sporting facilities. The water is clean and shallow, so suitable for children. All services
Pinos
Right alongside the golf course, long and narrow, almost always deserted. The sand is rough. Not worth a detour.
Cala Agulla
Plastered with typical Mallorca tourist hotels, so offering all water sports and nautical attractions. Clear blue seas make it great for exploring the water and snorkelling. All services. Crowded in high season.
S’Illot
Small sandy picturesque village beach just around the bay from Sa Coma. Not at all touristy. Scant services.
Cala Bona
Fine sand, but loomed over by all the big tourist hotels that encroach on the beach. Not one of Mallorca’s most recommended beaches. Crowded in season, but off-season you might think of taking a look (though there are many better choices, truth told).
Portocristo
Crowded city beach, but with foot-friendly sand and unexpectedly clean water given that it’s right next to the town. Best for those who can ignore harbour and tourist noise.
Cala Anguila
Only 30m wide, but at the end of a 100m deep fjord with fine sand between dramatic rocks. A likeable beach.
Cala Estany
A popular little beach in a highly developed area, a small sickle of sand with good water that gets very deep very fast. Full services, water sports and often very busy.
Calas de Mallorca
A dozen giant tourist hotels share this mini-bay measuring only 40 x 100m. That comes to available space of less than two square yards per person. Is this really how you want to spend your holiday day at the beach?
Porto Colom
Another tiny beach, just to the left of the harbour, a pebble and sand mix. It’s usually protected from wind, which makes it good for chilly days, but it’s a city beach and can often be crowded.
Cala Marcal
This beach is on the other side of Porto Colom, to the right. Fine sand, clear and clean water between cliffs, but heavily frequented and sliced in two by a road.
Cala Serena
Fjord type beach -- small, calm, with fine sand and a shimmering, shallow sea, lined by pines.
Cala d’Or
Possibly the smallest beach of all of Mallorca’s beaches, only 20 x 30m, consisting of three bays which look as though they have been painted between cliffs and pines. Clear, shallow water. Very popular.
Cala Llombarts
A lovely little inlet, pretty much undiscovered by the masses. It measures only 60 x 116m. Fine sand between two wooded and ‘developed’ cliffs, crystal clear water. There are limited services, sun beds and parasols only.
Es Dolc
A half-moon bay, medium sized, with fine white sand and a pretty sea. Would be more picturesque without about half of the houses along the shore.
Cala Santanyi
Another lovely sheltered little inlet, similar to Cala Llombarts above. Fine sand, shallow water, 80 x 94m, all services, including water sports. Small and pretty close to perfect.
Ses Covetes
Relatively deserted beach alongside a bonny pine forest. The cove is 300 x 44m in size, with fine white sand, clear shallow water but no services to speak of.
This is the list, though I certainly don’t know every single one of these beaches well, so there’s a form here for your feedback and suggestions:
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