South-west (Palma, Portals, Andratx, Santa Ponça)
Santa Ponça
Santa Ponça is a family-friendly resort in the south-west of Mallorca in the municipality of Calvià, right next to Magaluf and Peguera. A wide, sheltered sandy beach, a small marina and several golf courses define the resort, which lies around 25 kilometres from the airport.
Families Beach holiday Active holidays Peace and quiet
The bay is sheltered from the wind – the water usually stays calm.
The resort lies in a sheltered bay and is known historically as the landing place of King Jaume I in 1229. Today Santa Ponça is above all a destination for family and golf holidays: a modest range of evening options, good infrastructure and the nightlife of Magaluf a few minutes away, without being directly affected by it.
Is Santa Ponça right for your holiday?
Well suited to
- Families with children on the sheltered sandy beach
- Golfers, with several courses in the area
- Sailors and boating holidaymakers, thanks to the marina
- Anyone who wants to be near Magaluf without the Magaluf hustle and bustle
Less suited to
- All-night nightlife on the spot
- Secluded natural coves
- Countryside holidays away from the coast
At a glance
- Region
- South-west (Palma, Portals, Andratx, Santa Ponça)
- From the airport
- 25 km · approx. 30 min
- Without a car
- 4/5
- Nearby beaches
- Platja de Santa Ponça
- Coordinates
- 39.5117, 2.4747
Town profile compared
Editorial assessment from 1 to 5 – for comparing towns, not as a rating.
- Beach4/5
- Peace and quiet3/5
- Nightlife3/5
- Families5/5
- Culture2/5
- Food & drink4/5
On the ground
What makes Santa Ponça special
Sheltered bathing bay
The wide sandy beach lies in a bay, so the water stays calm – an advantage for families with small children.
Marina
The small marina shapes the look of the resort and is the starting point for boat trips along the south-west coast.
Golf in the area
Several courses in the municipality of Calvià make the resort interesting outside the swimming season too.
Historic landing place
A cross above the bay commemorates the landing of King Jaume I in 1229.
Evenings in Port Adriano
The Port Adriano marina between Santa Ponça and El Toro was redesigned by Philippe Starck. Restaurants, terraces and shops line the promenade; you park in the underground car park beneath the harbour building. Open-air concerts take place there in July and August.
Accommodation
Where to stay in Santa Ponça?
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Santa Ponça
Family-friendly, a modest range of evening options, but not as quiet as Peguera.
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Magaluf
Direct neighbour with loud nightlife and a young party crowd.
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Peguera
Very quiet, a rather older crowd, little nightlife.
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Compare hotels in Santa Ponça
What matters in Santa Ponça is how close you are to the beach, noise in the evening and whether restaurants are within walking distance – criteria you can filter for directly in the search.
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Getting around
The beach, promenade and supermarkets are within walking distance, and buses run to Palma and neighbouring towns. For golf courses and trips inland a car is more practical.
Bus connections: From the airport, TIB route A11 runs to the south-west coast (including Camp de Mar, Peguera, Santa Ponça, Magaluf and Palmanova). Within the resort almost everything is within walking distance.
Active
Activities & experiences in Santa Ponça
Top activities & experiences
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Snorkelling
Water sports
Sheltered stretches of coast around Santa Ponça are suitable for snorkelling when conditions are right.
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Mallorca Country Club
Tennis in Mallorca
Tennis facility in the south-west of Mallorca.
Avinguda del Golf 20, 07180 Calvià / Santa Ponça
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Piscina cubierta de Santa Ponça
Swimming in Mallorca
Check guest access with Calvià Deportes beforehand.
Municipal swimming facility in Santa Ponça – handy for holidaymakers who want to swim lengths on holiday too.
Avda. de Santa Ponça s/n, Santa Ponça
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Jungle Parc
Outdoor & action in Mallorca
High ropes course in the south-west for active visitors.
Avenida Jaime I 40 A, 07180 Santa Ponça
More activities in Santa Ponça
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Club Bàdminton Calvià
Badminton in Mallorca
Badminton venue in Calvià near Santa Ponça.
Camí de Son Pillo 1, 07180 Santa Ponça
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Golf Santa Ponsa I
Golf
Long parkland course with wide fairways, lakes and a long tournament history.
Berenguer de Palou 2, 07180 Santa Ponça, Calvià, Mallorca
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Golf Santa Ponsa II
Golf
Private 18-hole course among pine trees and lakes; the 18th green is shaped like Mallorca.
Berenguer de Palou 2, 07180 Santa Ponça, Calvià, Mallorca
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Golf Santa Ponsa III
Golf
Private 9-hole short course, especially suitable for beginners and short-game practice.
Berenguer de Palou 2, 07180 Santa Ponça, Calvià, Mallorca
Beaches
Swimming near Santa Ponça
View all beaches with filters →
Excursions
Activities around Santa Ponça
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Catamaran trip
Catamaran trips start from places including Palma, Port d'Alcúdia, Cala d'Or, Port d'Andratx and Cala Ratjada. Typical options are half-day trips of about three hours, full-day tours with swimming stops and sunset cruises in the evening. 2–8 hours April to October Help choosing & details →
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La Seu Cathedral
La Seu Cathedral in Palma is the island's most important building, known for its large rose window and the baldachin by Antoni Gaudí. 1 hour all year round Admission & opening times →
Location of Santa Ponça and the nearest beaches.
Food & drink
Restaurants in Santa Ponça
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€€€
Adelfas by Jens
Santa Ponsa
Mediterranean
Head chef Jens Bräuning.
- Couples
- Romantic
- Special occasion
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€€
Bon Thai Santa Ponça
Santa Ponsa
Thai
- Families
- Relaxed
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€
Paco's Restaurant
Santa Ponsa
Pizza · Steak & grill
A deliberately simple family classic, established in 1983.
- Near the beach
- Families
- Relaxed
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€€€
Saba
Santa Ponsa
- Hotel restaurant
- Special occasion
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€€
Simar's Spice Village
Santa Ponsa
Indian
- Families
- Couples
- Romantic
- Special occasion
Topics around Santa Ponça
- The South-west region at a glance Calvià, coves and coastal towns
- Magaluf The loud neighbour compared
- Peguera The quieter alternative next door
- Car hire in Mallorca Rental stations, insurance and deposit
Alternatives with a different character
Frequently asked questions about Santa Ponça
Is Santa Ponça as loud as Magaluf?
No, the resort is much quieter. The nightlife of Magaluf is a few minutes away without affecting you directly.
Is Santa Ponça suitable for families?
Yes: a sheltered sandy beach, good infrastructure and many family hotels within short distances.
How far is it to Palma airport?
Around 25 kilometres, about 30 minutes by car via the Ma-1.
How does Santa Ponça differ from Peguera?
Peguera is quieter and aimed more at older guests; Santa Ponça has more for families, a marina and a somewhat livelier evening scene.
Image credits: Santa Ponça beach: Photo HerrAdams, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons