Attractions Nearby Palma Nova, Day Trips and Excursions

(Palma Nova, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain)

Mallorca is easy to explore, suiting tourists with a hire car in tow and planning day trips. While the major sightseeing attractions are right here in Palma, there are ruins and a few natural attractions well worth visiting in the countryside.

Highlights include hiking to the ruins of Castell d'Alaró, which may predate the island's Moorish occupation, and riding the train to the quaint seaside town of Sóller. Off the southern shore of Mallorca is Cabrera Island, where the beaches feel like they were torn from the pages of Robinson Crusoe. Further afield, excursions to the islands of both Ibiza and Menorca are especially popular.

Palma de Mallorca

The Balearic Island capital, Palma de Mallorca, is a short drive away and is where any sightseeing tour of Mallorca begins. The historic core hosts the island's grand cathedral, Arab baths and bullring. In the evening, the Paseo Maritimo transforms into one of Mallorca's leading night scenes, with clubs and discos open until morning light breaks over the Mediterranean. The beachfront itself is very developed and can be easily found by simply following the signposts to the Parc de la Mar.

More information about Mallorca attractions nearby.

Castell d'Alaró

Address: Alaró, Mallorca, Spain, ES
The ruins of this ancient fortress lie in the island's interior, and drivers can get here in a little more than 30 minutes. Hikers climb the bluff to the Castell d'Alaró site, where the views over the plains of Mallorca are unrivalled. You can also hike even higher to a small 17th-century sanctuary called the Mare de Déu Refugi.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to 18:00
Admission: free

Cabrera Island

Address: Cabrera, Mallorca, Spain, ES
This island and national park lies off the southern coast of Mallorca, where it offers one of the best day trip possibilities for tourists in the area. The untamed environment hosts some 150 bird species and even more exotic flora. Divers can visit Es Dimoni and Cala Baliota bays, but there's just as much to be said for stretching on a deserted beach far from the crowds of Palma Nova. Boats can be chartered from the Palma harbour.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge

Parc Natural de s'Albufera

Address: Muro, Mallorca, Spain, ES
Tel: +34 0971 892 250
This park is situated on the opposite coast of the island and can be reached by car in about an hour. The Parc Natural de s'Albufera comprises the most significant wetlands area in the Balearics, and as such is a haven for birdwatchers. The landscape is broken up by dunes that separate the wetlands from the interior plains.
Open hours: April to September, daily - 09:00 to 18:00; October to March, daily - 09:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge

Sóller

This charming small town is on the north-west coast of the island, and getting to Sóller is half the fun. An old-style train toddles through groves of citrus trees, offering spectacular views of the Mallorcan countryside and mountains along the way. Sóller is flanked by mountains and is riddled with small agricultural plots of olive and orange trees. Tour the town centre on foot, or ride the tram to the Port of Sóller, where a resort and tourist facilities await.

Menorca

Menorca is the second-biggest of all the Balearics, after only Mallorca, and is just over 30 km / 19 miles away, being connected by frequent boats. The attractions of Menorca are certainly in plentiful supply and some extremely popular holiday resorts have grown up around the best beaches. Principal towns on Menorca include Mao - the capital, and also Ciutadella, which is the ancient capital and resides on the opposite side of the island. If you are visiting Mao, be sure to check out the Placa Esplanada, the Teatre Principal (Principal Theatre) and the Gobierno Militar (Military Governor's House), while nearby, the extraordinary caves named the Cales Coves date back to prehistoric times.

Ibiza

Although for many, Ibiza is the epitome of a party island, this Balearic really does have more to offer holiday makers. The coastline is simply spectacular and stretches for over 200 km / 125 miles in total, containing approximately 50 glorious beaches. Tourism has become a mainstay of Ibiza and whilst there are some epic nightclubs here, there are also some very peaceful villages, charming medieval towns, vast salt lakes and a majestic cathedral. Ibiza's principal beaches include the Cala de Boix, the Cala es Figueral, the Cala Llonga, the Platja del Pinos, the Platja des Canar and the Platja des Niu Blau. Regular high-speed boats and ferries connect the attractions of Mallorca with Ibiza, with sailing times of between two and four hours.