5-Day Mallorca Itinerary: Palma de Mallorca and Portopetro for Culture, Beaches, and Coastal Adventure
Mediterranean blue, honey-stone alleys, and the scent of almond and sea salt—Mallorca has seduced travelers for centuries. Romans, Moors, and Catalans shaped its culture; you’ll see it in Palma’s Gothic cathedral, in fortress walls, and in recipes passed down in village kitchens. Today, the island pairs heritage with an outdoor lifestyle: cycling promenades, hidden coves, and a dining scene that ranges from rustic “pa amb oli” to Michelin-starred menus.
This 5-day itinerary focuses on Palma de Mallorca and the southeast around Portopetro. You’ll wander historic quarters, sail past city bastions, and spend days in Mondragó Natural Park’s twin coves—S’Amarador and Cala Mondragó—where pines shade sugar-soft sand. For a jolt of adrenaline, a guided sea-caving adventure explores cathedral-like chambers carved by the sea.
Practical notes: Spring and fall bring warm seas with fewer crowds; summer is prime beach time. Reserve popular restaurants and activities in advance. Public buses reach much of the island, but a compact rental car gives flexibility for coves and villages. Always carry reef-safe sunscreen, water, and light layers for breezy evenings.
Palma de Mallorca
Palma is the island’s capital: a waterfront city crowned by La Seu, a Gothic cathedral so tall its rose window paints the nave with morning halos. The old town is a maze of courtyards, sandstone mansions, and artisan cafés. Down by the marina, promenades invite sunset strolls, while the Santa Catalina district hums with market-to-table tapas.
- Top sights: La Seu Cathedral, Almudaina Palace, Arab Baths, La Lonja, Bellver Castle’s circular ramparts, and the Santa Catalina Market.
- Why we love it: Real history underfoot, easy-to-reach beaches (Portixol, Ciudad Jardín), and a food scene spanning ensaïmadas at Can Joan de S’Aigo to contemporary tasting menus.
- Eat & drink: El Camino (counter-style tapas), Bar España (classic raciones), La Rosa Vermutería (vermut and seafood), Marc Fosh (Michelin-starred), OMBU (creative small plates).
- Fun fact: Antoni Gaudí consulted on La Seu in the early 1900s, introducing modernist touches inside a 14th-century masterpiece.
Where to stay (Palma): Browse stays on VRBO or compare hotels on Hotels.com. Specific favorites: the cliff-perched luxury of Cap Rocat, the characterful budget-friendly Hostal Pons, and beachside ease at Iberostar Playa de Palma.
Getting to Palma: Fly into PMI. Search flights within Europe on Omio; for long-haul options check Kiwi.com or Trip.com. Ferries from Barcelona and Valencia are searchable via Omio ferries.
Portopetro
Portopetro (Porto Petro) is a serene harbor village on Mallorca’s southeast coast—white boats bobbing in a green cove, piney trails fanning into Mondragó Natural Park. It’s the slow-life counterpoint to the city: swim before breakfast, hike to a viewpoint by lunch, and dine on seafood as the masts silhouette at dusk.
- Top nearby beaches: Cala Mondragó, S’Amarador, Cala d’en Borgit; plus quick trips to Cala Figuera (a photogenic fishing inlet) and Cala d’Or’s sandy coves.
- Eat & drink: Es Bergant (rice dishes and grilled fish), La Caracola (harborfront seafood), Norai (Mediterranean plates), and a splurge at Port Petit in neighboring Cala d’Or.
- Good to know: Trails link the coves; bring water shoes for rocky entries and a dry bag for phones on boat or kayak days.
Where to stay (Portopetro): Find villas and apartments on VRBO or hotels on Hotels.com. Look for harbor-view rooms or family-friendly resort stays; if you prefer a village base with beach access, aim for properties near the Mondragó park entrance.
Getting from Palma to Portopetro: Driving takes ~55 minutes via Ma-19. Without a car, buses take ~1.5–2 hours with a change near Campos or Santanyí; check schedules and book on Omio buses.
Day 1: Arrival in Palma de Mallorca, golden-hour stroll, and tapas
Morning: Travel day. Book flights into PMI—compare options within Europe on Omio or long-haul on Kiwi.com or Trip.com. Taxi from PMI to old town runs ~20–25 minutes. Drop bags at your hotel—city boutique, beachfront, or the cliffside retreat at Cap Rocat if you’re celebrating.
Afternoon: Orient yourself along Passeig del Born and the Parc de la Mar beneath La Seu. Pause for specialty coffee at La Molienda or Mistral Coffee, then taste Mallorca’s classic ensaïmada and hot chocolate at Can Joan de S’Aigo (an island institution since the 1700s).
Evening: Kick off with a self-paced tapas safari on the Gourmet Tapas and Wine Tour in Palma de Mallorca—five curated stops pairing local wines with creative bites.
Day 2: Old town, cathedral interiors, market lunch, and castle views
Morning: Join the Mallorca Old Town Walking Tour with Cathedral Skip The Line Tour to see Palma’s highlights with context—La Seu’s rose window, the Moorish arcades of Almudaina, and labyrinthine lanes.
Afternoon: Lunch at Mercat de l’Olivar: pick grilled cuttlefish at Bar del Peix, croquettes and jamón from a charcuterie counter, and a glass of Mallorcan wine. Then taxi up to Bellver Castle for sweeping bay views from Europe’s only circular castle. Coffee stop back in Santa Catalina Market if you’re still peckish.
Evening: For dinner, choose Marc Fosh (clean, produce-led tasting menu) or OMBU (playful tapas—don’t miss the patatas bravas riff). Post-dinner, step into Bar Abaco in La Lonja—a theatrical 17th-century mansion turned cocktail bar with frescoes and fruit-laden still lifes. Stroll the illuminated cathedral façade before turning in.
Day 3: Beach morning and sailing on the Bay of Palma
Morning: Easy start along the Portixol promenade—rent bikes and cruise past palm-lined beaches with swim breaks at Ciudad Jardín. Breakfast at Rosevelvet (fluffy buttermilk pancakes) or Fibonacci (good pastries and flat whites).
Afternoon: Head out on the water with Mallorca Midday or Sunset Sailing with Light Snacks and Open Bar—a 4-hour small-group trip skirting the city walls and coastal coves for swimming and sun.
Evening: Seafood feast near the fish market at Can Eduardo (classic grilled catches and rice) or Sa Roqueta (old-school plates like razor clams and lobster rice). Rooftop nightcap at Sky Bar (Hotel Almudaina) with a twinkling view over the cathedral and harbor.
Day 4: Transfer to Portopetro and Mondragó Natural Park
Morning: Depart Palma after breakfast. Driving to Portopetro takes ~55 minutes via Ma‑19; car rentals typically run €35–60/day. Without a car, use the island bus network (about 1.5–2 hours with a change near Campos/Santanyí); check routes and book on Omio buses. A taxi transfer is ~€85–110. Drop bags at your Portopetro stay—compare options on Hotels.com or VRBO.
Afternoon: Wander into Mondragó Natural Park. Split your time between S’Amarador (wide arc of pale sand) and Cala Mondragó (clear, calm swim water). The cliff-top path between coves takes ~20 minutes with sea views. Grab a simple lunch—grilled sardines, salad, and cold drinks—at the beach chiringuito.
Evening: Back in Portopetro, dinner on the harbor. Try Es Bergant for paella and arroz caldoso, La Caracola for the catch of the day, or Norai for Mediterranean favorites. Stroll the quay with gelato and watch the fishing boats settle for the night.
Day 5: Sea-caving on the east coast, Cala Figuera, and departure
Morning: Thrill time with the Small-Group Cova de Coloms Sea Caving Tour in Mallorca—a guided swim-and-scramble into a stunning marine cave near Cala Romàntica (about 30–40 minutes from Portopetro). Wetsuits and helmets provided; you should be comfortable swimming.
Afternoon: Early lunch with harbor views in Cala Figuera (think grilled octopus, lemon, and olive oil), then a short wander among the boathouses and llaüts (traditional boats). If it’s Wednesday or Saturday, stop by Santanyí’s open-air market for local cheese, sobrasada, and ceramics. Return to your lodging, freshen up, and transfer to the airport or Palma port—flights on Omio or ferries on Omio ferries.
Evening: If time allows before departure, a final seaside dinner at Port Petit in nearby Cala d’Or brings refined plates and a terrace view. Otherwise, snag a last gelato on the quay in Portopetro and promise yourself you’ll be back.
Optional add-ons if you extend: Valldemossa and Deià in the Tramuntana for mountain villages and terraced views; Palma Aquarium for families; or a scooter day to string together east-coast coves.
Summary: In five days you’ve traced Mallorca’s arc—from Palma’s storied stones and cathedral light to Portopetro’s pine-scented paths and translucent coves. With sailing, tapas, and a dash of sea-cave adventure, you’ve sampled the island’s greatest hits at an easy, coastal pace.