Mallorca is the kind of island that can feel completely different from one hour to the next. One moment you are walking through a quiet stone village, the next you are looking down at a turquoise cala, entering a vast cave or following a path through ancient olive trees.
We spent seven days here in April, combining easy walks, longer hikes, beaches, caves, small towns and one final day in Palma. The holiday also gave us something we did not expect: new friends. This is our first-hand account of the places we visited, what we enjoyed most and how the island felt outside the main summer season.
For official destination information and current visitor details, the Mallorca tourism portal is a useful starting point. The practical details in this article describe our own trip, so opening times and access conditions should always be checked before travelling.
Seven Days in Mallorca: Our Route Around the Island
We arrived on 6 April and stayed for one week. The weather was remarkably kind to us: around 20°C during the day, with rain only during one night. It was not really swimming weather for us, but it was excellent for walking. The mild temperature made it possible to spend most days outside without fighting the intense heat that Mallorca can experience in summer.
One thing we noticed immediately was the number of cyclists. We had never seen so many on the roads during any previous trip. On some stretches, driving required patience because groups could occupy much of a lane. Still, the popularity of cycling makes sense once you see the island’s mountain roads and varied landscape.
Our first taste of inland Mallorca came in Randa, where warm stone walls, narrow streets and small architectural details gave the village a quiet character.
Day One: Pollença, the Calvari Steps and Cala Barques
We began our first full day in Pollença. The town sits between the coast and the Serra de Tramuntana, and it feels like a natural introduction to Mallorca away from the busiest resorts. Our main goal was the Calvari staircase: 365 stone steps, traditionally associated with the days of the year, leading to the small chapel at the top.
The climb is not especially difficult if you take it slowly. Cypress trees and flowering plants line the route, and the view becomes better as you gain height. At the top, we stopped to enjoy the rooftops and surrounding hills rather than rushing back down.
From there, we continued towards the old stone bridge and eventually returned to where we had parked. The whole circuit took roughly an hour and offered a good mixture of streets, buildings and open views. It is also the kind of place where street photography happens naturally: doorways, steps, textures and everyday life provide subjects without needing to force a composition.
Cala Barques
For the rest of the day, we slowed the pace and visited the coast. Cala Barques gave us one of those classic Mallorca combinations: clear blue sky, turquoise water and rocky slopes descending directly into the sea. What makes the view work so well is the way the mountain frames the water. Even without thinking technically about photography, it is a place that makes you stop and look.
By the end of the first day, Mallorca had already shown us three distinct sides: an old inland town, an easy historical walk and a compact beach surrounded by rock and vegetation.
Day Two: Cala Santanyí and Mallorca’s Caves
Our second day combined coastal scenery with two very different underground experiences. Near Cala Santanyí, we stopped to see Es Pontàs, the large natural rock arch standing just offshore. It is a simple viewpoint, but the shape of the arch and the open water around it make the scene memorable.
Coves d’Artà
We then visited the Coves d’Artà in the northeast of the island. Inside, the scale changes completely. Stalactites and stalagmites rise from the darkness, while carefully placed lighting reveals formations that would otherwise disappear into the cave. The coloured illumination is theatrical, but it also helps visitors understand the depth and structure of the chambers.
The cave moves at a geological pace that is difficult to comprehend. Its formations develop over immense periods, so even a short visit creates a strong contrast between a human holiday measured in days and a landscape shaped over millennia.
The Unexpected Friendship That Began Underground
This visit became important for a reason that had nothing to do with geology. While I was taking photographs with my wife, we were speaking Romanian. Another Romanian couple in our group heard us and said hello. They were Bogdan and Corina Cârcel, who live in Germany.
That brief conversation became a genuine friendship. We met again every day for the rest of the holiday and explored the following places together. Bogdan is a very good photographer, more experienced than I was at the time, and he generously shared advice without ever making the conversation feel like a lesson. More importantly, both he and Corina are warm, good people, and meeting them remains one of our best memories from Mallorca.
You can see Bogdan’s work on Bogdan Cârcel Photography on Instagram and on his FotoCommunity profile.
Coves dels Hams
Together, we continued to Coves dels Hams, near Porto Cristo. Before entering, a photographer took a group picture of us. We liked it enough to buy it, and it now records the beginning of a friendship that continued after the trip.
The route through Coves dels Hams passes through a series of chambers with distinctive hooked formations—the feature that gave the caves their name. Projection, music and lighting make the experience more staged than Coves d’Artà, but the two visits complement each other. One emphasises the natural grandeur of the chambers; the other presents the underground landscape as a full audiovisual experience.
Day Three: Valldemossa, Sa Foradada, Cala Deià and Port de Sóller
Our third day was one of the fullest. We started in Valldemossa, a mountain town of stone houses, narrow streets and green shutters. The Charterhouse stands at its centre, while cafés and small terraces make it easy to slow down and enjoy the setting. It is picturesque, but it also feels lived in rather than arranged only for visitors.
Walking Down to Sa Foradada
Next came Sa Foradada, one of Mallorca’s best-known coastal viewpoints. Instead of seeing it only from above, we followed the path down through an old olive grove towards the shore. The descent took about an hour; climbing back to the car took roughly twice as long.
The walk was worth the effort. The twisted trunks of the olive trees were as interesting as the sea views, and we kept stopping to take photographs. This is not a quick roadside attraction when you walk all the way down, so comfortable footwear, water and enough time for the return climb are sensible.
Cala Deià and Port de Sóller
We continued to Cala Deià, a small, rocky cove surrounded by steep slopes. Some people were brave enough to swim, but in April the water was too cold for us. We preferred to enjoy the view, have a good fish meal and drink coffee beside the sea.
We finished the day in Port de Sóller. An evening walk along the waterfront was followed by dinner and an excellent sangria. After the long climb at Sa Foradada, the relaxed harbour atmosphere was exactly what we needed.
Day Four: A Quiet Bird-Watching Walk
After several busy days, we deliberately chose a gentler fourth day. We met Bogdan and Corina and drove about 15 minutes from our accommodation to an area suitable for watching birds. We spent around three hours walking, talking and photographing birds at close range.
It was one of the least famous stops on our itinerary, yet one of the most relaxing. Not every good travel day needs a major attraction. Sometimes a quiet path, wildlife and time with new friends leave a stronger memory than another crowded landmark.
After the walk, we returned to our accommodation, tried local food and drinks and simply spent time together. That unplanned social side of the holiday is something no itinerary could have predicted.
Day Five: Hiking from Randa to Santuari de Cura
On the fifth day, we returned to the area around Puig de Randa, specifically to visit Santuari de Cura. It is possible to drive almost to the top, but we left our cars in free parking near the bottom of Randa and walked instead.
The climb took around an hour and a half at a comfortable pace. It was not a difficult hike for us, and the changing views made the ascent enjoyable. At the summit, visitors can explore the sanctuary, gardens and the cave associated with Ramon Llull. There is also accommodation and a restaurant, which makes the location accessible even to people who do not want to hike.
Walking gave us something driving would not have provided: time to notice how the landscape opened gradually beneath us. The destination was rewarding, but so was the route itself.
Day Six: Walking Through S’Albufera
Our sixth day took us into S’Albufera, Mallorca’s major wetland. This was a different landscape again—flat, open and rich in plant and animal life. We spent hours walking through the reserve, seeing fish in clear water and stopping repeatedly for flowers, vegetation and wildlife.
The area rewards patience. There are no dramatic cave chambers or mountain viewpoints demanding attention; instead, the interest is in smaller details and the variety of life around the paths and waterways.
We also saw horses living outdoors with limited human interaction. Against the wetland vegetation, they added another layer to a day already full of natural subjects.
Colour contrasts appeared everywhere: dry and green vegetation, water, flowers and cultivated land. Mallorca’s interior is not empty space between beaches. Agriculture has shaped much of it, with olives, almonds, citrus fruit and grapes forming part of the island’s character.
Day Seven: Palma de Mallorca
We saved Palma for our final day. Because our flight was later in the afternoon, we still had time for a long walk along the waterfront, lunch, souvenirs and the historic centre.
I spent some time photographing boats and birds with my Sony FE 24–240mm lens. Its range was useful for a travel lens, but at that moment I felt its limitations for distant subjects. The experience helped convince me to buy the Sony FE 200–600mm later. Travel has a practical way of revealing what equipment does well—and what it cannot do.
The Cathedral of Mallorca dominates the waterfront and is one of those buildings that looks impressive before you know anything about it. Construction began in the 13th century, and its position above the old city walls gives it an unusually strong relationship with the sea. Anyone planning to enter should check the official Mallorca Cathedral website for current opening times and tickets.
We did not take one of the carriage rides, although they were clearly available around the historic centre. We preferred to continue on foot because Palma’s details appear everywhere: balconies, stonework, courtyards, façades and small scenes of daily life.
At one point I noticed children playing and could not resist joining the moment, even if only from a distance. That is how Palma felt to us—grand architecture mixed with ordinary, cheerful life.
The city deserves more than a rushed visit, but our final hours gave us a satisfying end to the week. We reached the airport for around 4:30 pm feeling that the last day had still been a proper part of the holiday rather than time spent waiting to leave.
What We Learned From This Mallorca Trip
Our route was busy, but it worked because we did not try to make every day equally demanding. The long descent and return climb at Sa Foradada was followed by a quieter bird-watching day. Later, the walk up Puig de Randa was balanced by stops where we could take our time. Alternating harder and easier days made the week enjoyable instead of turning it into a race between attractions.
For an April visit, we would pack proper walking shoes, a light layer for the evening and water for the longer routes. The daytime temperature was comfortable for us, but conditions can change quickly around the coast and hills. We would also allow more driving time than the map suggests. Mallorca is popular with cyclists, and narrow or winding roads are not places to rush.
The island rewards travellers who look beyond a single type of holiday. Its beaches are beautiful, but our strongest memories also came from caves, villages, wetlands, mountain paths and Palma’s streets. If you have only a week, choosing a mixture of these environments gives a much better sense of Mallorca than spending every day in one resort.
Finally, check official websites shortly before visiting caves, nature reserves or major attractions. Opening hours, ticket arrangements and access rules can change. We prefer to plan the important stops, then leave enough space for an unexpected walk, a longer meal or a conversation that changes the rest of the trip—as happened when we met Bogdan and Corina.
The Camera I Used in Mallorca
All the photographs in this article were taken with my Sony A7R II and Sony FE 24–240mm f/3.5–6.3 OSS. I owned and used this equipment, and the combination gave me the flexibility I needed for villages, caves, coastal landscapes, wildlife and city details without constantly changing lenses.
You can read my hands-on Sony A7R II review for more about my experience with the camera. Some of my images can also be viewed and downloaded at full resolution from my GottaPics profile on Unsplash.
Would We Recommend a Week in Mallorca?
Yes, without hesitation. Seven days allowed us to see much more than beaches, although it still left many places for a future visit. We walked through historic towns, visited two cave systems, followed mountain and coastal paths, explored a wetland, spent time in Palma and discovered how varied the island can be in a relatively small area.
April worked especially well for the kind of holiday we wanted. The sea was cold, but the mild weather made walking far more comfortable. Travellers whose priority is swimming may prefer the warmer summer months; those who want hiking, sightseeing and photography may appreciate spring’s quieter pace.
Most importantly, Mallorca gave us memories that were not on any checklist. Meeting Bogdan and Corina changed the rhythm of the holiday and turned a conversation inside a cave into a lasting friendship. Beautiful places matter, but the people encountered along the way often become the part of a journey we remember most.
If you enjoy first-hand travel stories, you can also read about our three days in Barcelona, our nine-day journey through Andalusia, or browse the complete GottaPics Travel Blog.
If you have visited Mallorca and would add another place to this route, you are welcome to share it in the comments.
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Marian Florinel Condruz