Families with older children
Mallorca with teenagers – which resort suits you?
With teenagers, variety is what counts: beach, water sports, activities and a place where something is going on in the evening.
The beach stretches for almost two kilometres to Cala Bona.
In short
Which Mallorca resorts suit a holiday with teenagers?
With teenagers, places work particularly well when the beach, activities and a bit of life come together. Alcúdia, Cala Millor, Santa Ponça, Playa de Palma and Porto Cristo offer a particularly wide variety.
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 places with plenty of variety for teenagers
Rated by beach, activities, evenings 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 with water sports in the bay
- ✓Promenade, restaurants and shopping for the evening
- ✓Nature spots in the north for day trips
What you should know
In high season the most popular stretches of beach can get noticeably busier.
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Cala Millor
Long sandy beach with a continuous promenade
Particularly good if …
- ✓Wide beach and continuous promenade
- ✓Lots along one stretch – teenagers can quickly get around on their own
- ✓Excursion destinations in the east within easy reach
What you should know
A classic, larger resort – if you want small romantic coves and complete peace, there are better alternatives.
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Santa Ponça
Resort in the south-west with a bay and golf nearby
Particularly good if …
- ✓Bay with water sports and boat trips
- ✓Restaurants and local life without a party centre
- ✓Short trip to Palma and the south-west
What you should know
A relatively large resort – if you want authentic village charm, there are better alternatives.
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Playa de Palma
Long sandy beach right next to Palma
Particularly good if …
- ✓Very long beach with lots of sports options
- ✓Palma quickly reachable without a car
- ✓Lots going on in the evening – varies greatly by section
What you should know
Considerably livelier depending on the section – if you are looking for absolute peace, choose the exact hotel location carefully.
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Porto Cristo
Harbour town by the Dragon Caves
Particularly good if …
- ✓Harbour town with a bay and boat trips
- ✓Stalactite caves as an excursion right in town
- ✓Quieter than large resorts, but with things to do
What you should know
For long days on a wide sandy beach, other resorts are stronger.
Comparison: Mallorca places with teenagers
Suitability for teenagers, beach and evenings come from the same central rating matrix.
| Place | Beach | Activities | Water sports | Evenings | Without a car | Suitability for teenagers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcúdia / Port d’Alcúdia | strong | Beach sports, nature, cycle paths | Options in the bay | strong | very easy | very well suited |
| Cala Millor | strong | Beach sports, excursions in the east | Options on the beach | strong | very easy | very well suited |
| Santa Ponça | yes | Water sports, boats, golf nearby | Options in the bay | strong | easy | very well suited |
| Playa de Palma | strong | Beach sports, Palma, leisure activities | Options on the beach | very strong | very easy | very well suited |
| Porto Cristo | partly | Caves, harbour, boat trips | Harbour and boat trips | hardly any | easy | very well suited |
| Cala Ratjada | yes | Coves, hiking, harbour | Boat trips and coves | very strong | easy | very well suited |
| Palma de Mallorca | no | City, culture, shopping | Harbour, excursion boats | very strong | very easy | very well suited |
| Magaluf | strong | Beach sports, leisure activities | Options on the beach | very strong | easy | suited with reservations (party strip) |
Which Mallorca resort is best with teenagers?
Places where teenagers can get around on their own work best: the beach, promenade, restaurants and shops are then within walking distance. Alcúdia and Cala Millor do this particularly well; Santa Ponça and Playa de Palma also offer plenty of sports and leisure activities.
Where are there the most activities for teenagers?
The choice is widest in the larger resorts and around Palma – from beach sports and boat trips to leisure and adventure activities. Which providers operate locally changes with the seasons; RM24 lists the specific facilities in the place profiles and in the Active section.
Which places have a beach and water sports?
The Bay of Alcúdia, Cala Millor, Santa Ponça and the Playa de Palma are the classic places for beach sports. In Porto Cristo and Cala Ratjada the focus is more on the harbour with boat trips.
Where can teenagers still do something in the evening?
Nightlife with bars and clubs is not on the agenda for under-18s – when choosing a place, the point is that the evening outside the hotel doesn't feel empty.
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Promenade
Cala Millor, Port d’Alcúdia and Playa de Palma have continuous seafront paths with life in the evening.
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Restaurants
In larger resorts the choice is wide enough for different tastes.
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Shopping
Palma and the large resorts have shops open into the evening.
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Family-friendly entertainment
Beach sports, mini golf, bowling, cinema or leisure activities, depending on the place.
Mallorca with teenagers without a hire car – where does it work?
Cala Millor, Port d’Alcúdia, Playa de Palma and Palma work best without a car, because everything is along one stretch and teenagers can get around by themselves.
Cala Millor or Alcúdia with teenagers?
Both places are well suited to teenagers; Alcúdia offers more to do, Cala Millor is more compact.
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Cala Millor
More compact, everything along the promenade, short distances – good if independence in town matters.
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Alcúdia / Port d’Alcúdia
Larger bay, more sport and nature, plus the old town – good if variety matters.
Is Playa de Palma suitable with teenagers?
That depends on the section. Playa de Palma stretches from Can Pastilla to s’Arenal and varies greatly in character: there are family-oriented areas with a promenade and beach sports, and the well-known party area. With teenagers, you should therefore choose the hotel location deliberately.
Which places might be too quiet for teenagers?
Valldemossa or Santanyí can be ideal for families who want nature, a pretty townscape and peace. But they offer less classic resort entertainment – for teenagers who want to do things on their own, that may not be enough.
And Magaluf with older teenagers?
For families with older teenagers looking for lots of action and a lively atmosphere, Magaluf can also be interesting – because of the nightlife, choose the hotel location particularly carefully. It is not suitable as a general top pick for families.
More options
Also interesting, depending on your teenagers' interests.
When these places are less suitable with teenagers
Less suitable if …
Lively resorts are less suitable if the family is mainly looking for peace, nature and seclusion – then Tramuntana villages or small towns on the south coast are the better choice.
And if the holiday is strongly focused on hiking or culture, a large beach resort adds little.
Related RM24 pages
Read on if a second criterion is decisive for your choice of place.
Found your place? Now plan your trip
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Frequently asked questions
Which Mallorca resort is best for teenagers?
Alcúdia / Port d’Alcúdia and Cala Millor offer the best mix of beach, activities and short distances. Santa Ponça and Playa de Palma also score with sports and leisure activities.
Where is there plenty of water sport in Mallorca?
In the Bay of Alcúdia, in Cala Millor, in Santa Ponça and on the Playa de Palma. In Porto Cristo and Cala Ratjada the focus is on the harbour and boat trips.
Do you need a hire car with teenagers?
Not necessarily. In places with a continuous promenade such as Cala Millor, Port d’Alcúdia or Playa de Palma, teenagers can reach a lot on foot. For excursions beyond the region, a car is helpful.
Is Cala Millor good for teenagers?
Yes. The beach, promenade, restaurants and shops are along one stretch, so teenagers can get around on their own.
Is Alcúdia good with teenagers?
Yes. The long bay offers beach sports, plus nature spots in the north and the old town for variety.
Is Playa de Palma suitable for families?
It depends on the section. The coastal area stretches from Can Pastilla to s’Arenal and includes family-oriented areas as well as the well-known party area. The hotel location is decisive.
Where is there something to do in the evening?
In places with a promenade and restaurants such as Cala Millor, Port d’Alcúdia, Santa Ponça and Playa de Palma, and in Palma with shopping and culture.
Next steps
Find the right Mallorca place with teenagers
In the place finder, choose ‘Family with older children’ – the results take beach, evenings and getting around into account.
Image credits: Sandy beach at Cala Millor: Photo Olaf Tausch, CC BY 3.0, 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 Santa Ponça: Photo HerrAdams, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · Harbour of Porto Cristo: Photo Boberger, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons