First Mallorca holiday
Mallorca for the first time – which place is right?
For your first holiday, a versatile place pays off: beach, restaurants and excursions without long journeys.
Cala d'Or consists of several small coves linked by coastal paths.
In short
Where should you stay on your first Mallorca holiday?
For your first Mallorca holiday, versatile places are particularly practical. Alcúdia, Cala d’Or, Port de Sóller, Peguera and Palma show very different sides of the island and therefore make particularly good first bases.
How RM24 rates
All assessments on this page come from the same editorial decision matrix as the place finder. They are a guide for choosing a place – not an objective rating of the places.
Five good places for your first Mallorca holiday
Selected for versatility: beach, local life, excursions and getting around without a car.
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Alcúdia / Port d’Alcúdia
Old town plus long sandy beach in the north
Particularly good if …
- ✓Long sandy beach and historic old town in one place
- ✓Plenty of infrastructure for families and first-timers
- ✓The north, with nature spots for excursions
What you should know
In high season the most popular stretches of beach can get noticeably busier.
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Cala d’Or
Resort of coves in the south-east with a marina
Particularly good if …
- ✓Several coves and a marina
- ✓Typical Mediterranean resort
- ✓A good introduction to the south-east
What you should know
The coves are lovely, but smaller and quicker to fill up in high season than long sandy beaches.
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Port de Sóller
Sheltered bay with promenade and tram
Particularly good if …
- ✓Tramuntana scenery right on the doorstep
- ✓Bay, promenade and tram to Sóller
- ✓Shows the mountain side of the island without needing a hire car
What you should know
The transfer is longer than to the resorts around Palma.
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Peguera
Walkable beach resort with three beaches
Particularly good if …
- ✓Compact beach resort with three beaches
- ✓Short trip from the airport to the south-west
- ✓Everything within walking distance
What you should know
If you want lively nightlife or a historic old town, other places suit you better.
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Palma de Mallorca
Island capital with old town, harbour and short distances
Particularly good if …
- ✓Old town, cathedral, food and shopping
- ✓Best base without a hire car
- ✓Good for a first overview of the island
What you should know
Not a classic beach resort – other places are better suited to a pure beach holiday.
Comparison: places for your first Mallorca holiday
Beach, evenings and accessibility without a car, from the central RM24 rating matrix.
| Place | Beach | Atmosphere | Excursions | Without a car | Evenings | Particularly good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcúdia / Port d’Alcúdia | strong | Old town plus beachfront | North, nature parks, Formentor | very easy | strong | Families and first-timers |
| Cala d’Or | partly | Mediterranean resort of coves | South-east, coves, caves | easy | very strong | Couples and families |
| Port de Sóller | yes | Harbour and mountains | Tramuntana, Sóller, Palma by train | very easy | very strong | Fans of nature and towns |
| Peguera | strong | Compact beach resort | South-west, Palma, Andratx | very easy | strong | Short distances, families |
| Palma de Mallorca | no | City with old town and harbour | Whole island by bus and train | very easy | very strong | City, culture, food |
| Cala Millor | strong | Classic resort | East, caves, Artà | very easy | very strong | Beach holiday without a car |
| Port de Pollença | strong | Quiet bay | Formentor, Pollença | easy | little | A quiet first week |
| Colònia de Sant Jordi | strong | Small beach resort in the south | South, natural coastline, Cabrera harbour | easy | strong | Nature and peace |
Where should you stay on your first Mallorca holiday?
It makes sense to choose a place that allows several types of holiday: a beach day, a stroll around town, one or two excursions. That way you can find out which side of the island suits you without your trip being dominated by long drives. That is exactly what Alcúdia, Cala d’Or, Peguera, Port de Sóller and Palma offer.
Which place is the best all-rounder in Mallorca?
There is no universal winner. Alcúdia is the strongest all-rounder for families, Cala d’Or for a beach holiday with coves, Palma for city life and food, Port de Sóller for scenery. So the question is less ‘which place is best’ and more ‘which side of Mallorca do I want to see first’.
Is Palma suitable for your first Mallorca holiday?
Yes, if city life, food and culture appeal to you and swimming is not the only purpose of your trip. Palma is very convenient without a car and a good base for day trips. But if you want to be on a long sandy beach every day, you are better off in a beach resort.
North coast, east coast or south-west – which is better for first-timers?
The north scores with long beaches and nature, the east with many resorts and coves, the south-west with proximity to the airport and a wide choice. For a first holiday, the transfer time is the main argument: if you are only staying a week, you save time in the south-west.
Do you need a hire car on your first Mallorca holiday?
Not necessarily. In walkable places, a hire car for a few individual days is often enough for excursions. If you want to see a lot of the island, a hire car for the whole stay gives you more flexibility.
Which place is suitable for a first visit with children?
With small children, Port d’Alcúdia, Peguera and Cala Millor are good first choices: shallow water, short distances and plenty of infrastructure.
Which place is suitable for a first visit as a couple?
For your first holiday for two, Port de Sóller, Cala d’Or and Palma are particularly versatile – scenery, coves or city, each with good food.
Which mistakes should you avoid on your first Mallorca holiday?
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Only looking at the hotel
A good hotel in the wrong place still won't suit the holiday you have planned.
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Underestimating the transfer distance
The journey from the airport to the north is noticeably longer than to the south-west.
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Applying the party image to the whole island
The well-known party area is one section of the Playa de Palma, not the whole island.
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Confusing a cala with a sandy beach
A small cove and a long sandy beach are two very different types of holiday.
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Settling the hire car question too late
Whether you need a car should be decided before choosing your place – not afterwards.
Alternatives for your first holiday
Other good all-rounders with a slightly different focus.
When these places are less suitable
Less suitable if …
The classic all-rounders are less suitable if you are specifically looking for seclusion, hiking in the Tramuntana or a pure party trip – there are specialised places for that.
For very short trips of two to three nights, a place near the airport is also a better choice than a destination in the north.
Related RM24 pages
Read on if a second criterion is decisive for your choice of place.
Found your place? Now plan your trip
From choosing your place to booking – with the right overviews.
Frequently asked questions
Where should you stay on your first Mallorca holiday?
In a versatile place with a beach, restaurants and excursion options – such as Alcúdia, Cala d’Or, Peguera, Port de Sóller or Palma.
Which place is the best all-rounder in Mallorca?
There is no universal winner. Alcúdia is strong for families, Cala d’Or for a holiday of coves, Palma for city life and food, Port de Sóller for scenery.
Is Palma suitable for first-time visitors to Mallorca?
Yes, especially without a hire car and if you are interested in culture and food. For a daily beach holiday, a coastal resort is the better base.
North or south-west for your first visit?
The north offers long beaches and nature, the south-west short transfers and a wide choice. For short trips, the transfer time favours the south-west.
Do you need a car on your first Mallorca holiday?
Not necessarily. In walkable places, a hire car for a few excursion days is often enough; if you want to see a lot, a hire car for the whole stay gives you more flexibility.
Which place suits a first visit with children?
Port d’Alcúdia, Peguera and Cala Millor offer shallow water, short distances and plenty of infrastructure.
What mistakes do people often make on their first Mallorca holiday?
Looking only at the hotel instead of the place, underestimating the transfer time, applying the party image to the whole island, confusing a cala with a long sandy beach and settling the hire car question too late.
Next steps
Compare with the Mallorca place finder
Five questions about who you travel with, getting around, beach, evenings and transfer – and three specific place suggestions.
Image credits: Harbour of Cala d'Or with boats: Photo Friedrich Haag, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · View over the old town of Alcúdia from the city walls: Photo Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons · Beach at Peguera: Photo Liilia Moroz, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons