A day in … · Tramuntana
A day in Valldemossa: Charterhouse, coca de patata and sunset over Sa Foradada
Last checked: October 2026
The mountain village where Chopin spent a winter – at its best when you do things differently from the coach groups: arrive early, head out to the coast at midday, and return to the cliffs in the evening for the sunset.
Quick answer
What is the best way to spend a day in Valldemossa?
Arrive before 10:00 and you will have the lanes and the Charterhouse to yourself before the day-trippers arrive between 11:00 and 14:00. At midday, drive to the sea (Port de Valldemossa or the viewpoints along the Ma-10); by late afternoon the village is quiet again. The highlight to finish: sunset over the Sa Foradada rock needle near Son Marroig. From Palma it takes around 30 minutes by car or bus.
- Getting there
- by car via the Ma-1110 from Palma, approx. 30 min; TIB bus from Palma Estació Intermodal, approx. 30–40 min
- Time needed
- a full day including the coast and sunset; the village only: 3–4 hours
- Charterhouse admission
- most recently around €12–16 (more with the tower) – check the day's price on site
- Best time
- before 10:00 and after 16:00; spring and autumn
- Without a car
- village easily reached by bus; coast and Son Marroig better by car or taxi
- If it rains
- Charterhouse with the Chopin cells, Costa Nord, cafés on Via Blanquerna
The day plan
Valldemossa in one day – how it works
-
Arrive early, park without stress
The large car park is on the access road at the edge of the village – in summer it is often full before 10:00. There are hardly any spaces in the village centre itself. By bus you arrive directly on the main road.
-
Breakfast: coca de patata, still warm
The soft potato bun dusted with icing sugar is the village speciality. The Ca'n Molinas bakery has been baking it since 1920, now in the third generation; Ca'n Cerdà is known for ensaïmadas. Add a café con leche – in the morning you will still get a seat.
-
The Charterhouse and the Chopin cells
The former 14th-century Carthusian monastery is the heart of the village. In the cells where Frédéric Chopin and George Sand spent the winter of 1838/39, the piano and manuscripts are still on display; there is also the old monastery pharmacy, the church, the garden with a view over the valley and an art collection. Allow around 90 minutes.
Open in Google Maps Google profile The Charterhouse in detail
-
Lanes, tiles and the village saint
Next to almost every front door hangs a ceramic tile showing Santa Catalina Thomàs, Mallorca's only saint, who was born here. Her birthplace on Carrer de la Rectoria is now a small chapel. Continue through the lanes to the church of Sant Bartomeu and up to the viewpoints over the terraces.
-
Leave when the coaches arrive
This is exactly when the village gets busy – time for the coast. Along the Ma-10 towards Deià, one viewpoint follows another; on the way you pass Miramar, the estate of Archduke Ludwig Salvator. Alternatively, a narrow, winding road leads down to the tiny fishing harbour of Port de Valldemossa.
-
Lunch with a sea view
At Port de Valldemossa there is fish right by the water, and along the Ma-10 there are restaurants with views of the cliffs. If you stay in the village: around Via Blanquerna, restaurants offer a set menu at lunchtime.
-
Back to the quiet village
In the afternoon the coaches have gone and the light turns golden. The Costa Nord cultural centre, founded by the actor Michael Douglas, tells the story of the coast and its famous residents. Afterwards, there is time for the shops and cafés on Via Blanquerna.
-
Sunset over Sa Foradada
Around ten minutes' drive towards Deià lies Son Marroig, another of the Archduke's estates. From here you look out at the Sa Foradada rock needle with its large hole, behind which the sun sinks into the sea. The restaurant next door is known for exactly this view – book early.
-
Back to Palma
By car in around 35–45 minutes. Without a car, check the last bus connection beforehand – on the Tramuntana routes it leaves earlier than in the city; for the sunset at Son Marroig, a taxi is the safe option.
At a glance
Food & drink in and around Valldemossa
| What | Where | What for |
|---|---|---|
| Coca de patata | Ca'n Molinas (since 1920) | Breakfast, to take away |
| Ensaïmada | Ca'n Cerdà, Via Blanquerna | Breakfast, souvenir |
| Fish by the water | Port de Valldemossa | Lunch with a sea view |
| Sunset | Restaurant with a view near Son Marroig | Dinner overlooking Sa Foradada |
Check the details
Opening times, admission prices and bus timetables change with the seasons. The Charterhouse publishes current times and piano concerts on its official website; you can find buses at tib.org.
Variations
Adapting the day
-
Without a car
Take the bus to the village in the morning, see the Charterhouse and the lanes, then in the afternoon continue to Deià or return to Palma. In that case, reach the coast and Son Marroig by taxi.
-
For walkers
Above the village rises the Puig des Teix, with wide views over the Tramuntana – a demanding half-day hike. Only with sturdy shoes, water and an early start.
-
With children
Keep the Charterhouse fairly short and focus instead on the lanes, a tile hunt (who can find the most Santa Catalina tiles?) and a detour to the harbour.
-
Combine with Sóller
Valldemossa in the morning, along the Ma-10 and via Deià to Sóller, and back to Palma on the historic train in the evening – a big Tramuntana day.
FAQ
Questions about the day trip to Valldemossa
When is Valldemossa least crowded?
Before 10:00 and after about 16:00. Between 11:00 and 14:00, from April to October, is when most coach groups arrive.
How much does admission to the Charterhouse cost?
Most recently around 12 to 16 euros, depending on whether the viewing tower is included. Check the current price on the official website before your visit.
Where can you eat the famous coca de patata?
The best known is the Ca'n Molinas bakery, which has been baking the potato bun since 1920. Best in the morning, when it is often still warm.
Can you get to Valldemossa without a car?
Yes, by TIB bus from Palma in about 30 to 40 minutes. For the coast and Son Marroig, a car or taxi is more practical.
Is it worth combining Valldemossa with Sóller in one day?
Yes, if you start early: Valldemossa in the morning, via Deià to Sóller and back to Palma by train in the evening.
Read more
More about Valldemossa and the Tramuntana
Image credits: Valldemossa with the Charterhouse: photo Abrget47j, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons