My first ever trip abroad, the one starting this lifelong love affair with travel, was to Mallorca – and with so many fantastic things to do in Mallorca with kids, the only surprise is that I haven’t been back with my daughter before now.
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I still remember the beach and the excitement of drinking chocolate milk, apparently the world’s biggest treat to a small girl. But I also have vivid memories of exploring some of the island’s caves, the amazing buildings in the capital Palma (and the palm trees dotted around them) and enjoying the sunshine.
Four decades on and Mallorca (or Majorca if you prefer) has as much to tempt a teen as younger kids, with some fascinating history, lots of child-friendly attractions, more beautiful beaches than you can shake a bucket at and a few quirky options as well. Here’s my pick of the 16 best things to do in Mallorca with kids to prove it.
Hit the beach
Mallorca isn’t a tiny island – it’s around 10 times the size of the Isle of Wight, almost half the size of Cyprus – so you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to beaches.
In total, there are more than 260 dotted around, from tiny secluded coves to long sweeping stretches of golden sand, so you’ll never be too far from the seaside. But here are a few of the best beaches in Mallorca for families.
Playa de Alcudia
There’s 10km of sand stretching from Can Picafort to Port d’Alcudia, with Playa de Alcudia in the middle – the biggest beach in all the Balearic Islands.
It does get very busy, and getting there early is a good plan, but you’ve got shallow water for little ones, plus plenty of facilities (from beach restaurants to sunbeds, umbrellas, parking, toilets, showers, and watersports). The northern end tends to be a little quieter, with more of the facilities at the south if you’ve got older kids.
Port de Pollenca nearby is another good option, with a bigger beach by the promenade and another smaller cove to explore
Playa de Muro
This Blue Flag beauty near Can Picafort consistently tops the lists of Mallorca’s best family beaches, and for good reason. Shallow, clear turquoise waters with soft, fine pale sand make it perfect whether you fancy a swim or want to build a few sandcastles.
You’ll find loungers and parasols, plus child-friendly places to eat here as well, and there are watersports to try too. Ticks all the boxes for families.
Es Trenc
Another of Mallorca’s long beaches, Es Trenc stretches for 7km in the south of the island and it’s also one of the few big beaches which has stayed more unspoiled. There are toilets, lounger hire and places to get food/drinks nearby so it’s not completely off the beaten track, but more peaceful than some of the busier beaches.
There is parking (for a fee) and some shallow water to enjoy as well. It’s worth knowing that the area is popular with nudists, although the main stretch of beach is clothed.
Cala Mondragó
This Blue Flag beach in the south-east of the island is tucked away in the Mondragó Natural Park, with two lovely sandy beaches surrounded by pine forests. The waters of the protected cove are beautifully calm for kids to swim and it tends to be quieter than the resort beaches, especially if you’re visiting in peak season.
Once you’ve had enough of the beach, it’s easy to check out some of the walking trails nearby as well if you fancy another taste of Mallorca’s scenery.
Canyamel Beach
In Mallorca’s east, this beach also stretches for over a mile and there are some good corners for snorkelling in the clear waters. There are some facilities too, including toilets and showers, plus a lifeguard in peak season and parking.
You can hire loungers, there are some restaurants nearby and watersports here as well – plus a small play area for younger kids.
Take a boat trip
With so much coast to explore, you shouldn’t miss the chance for at least one boat trip, whether you’re looking for a quick trip out to sea, pirate-themed escapes, dolphin-spotting, snorkelling or a full-day trip
Alcudia Pirate Cave & Parc Natural
My top pick if you’re staying around Alcudia or Port d’Alcudia, this three-hour boat tour took us across the bay to the natural park, into pirate caves with astonishing blue water, then to a quiet bay for some snorkelling. Book tickets with free cancellation here.
Robinson Pirate Boat, Port de Pollensa
What’s better than a boat trip? A pirate boat trip, obviously. And this longer adventure has lunch included, as you set off from Puerto Pollensa on a five-hour trip which stops for swimming, snorkelling and stand-up paddleboarding, plus lunch aboard the wooden boat.
Palma Bay sailing trip
If you’re staying in Palma, you needn’t head half-way across the island to find a great boat trip, with SeaBarcelona trips departing from the capital.
There’s a lovely sunset option if you’ve got older kids, but also a midday departure if you’re looking to get out on the water during the daytime. Add in an open bar, snacks, snorkelling and SUP, plus it’s a small boat so there won’t be huge crowds aboard.
Catamaran tour
If you prefer a bigger boat to a smaller one, there are some much larger catamarans to take you out on longer cruises, with five-hour trips from Palma and Port d’Alcudia.
The Palma catamaran tour includes a morning or afternoon departure, with time to stop and swim and snorkel plus BBQ food, while the Alcudia trip is similar with kayaks and paddleboards to borrow too.
Glass-Bottom Boat Tours, Sa Coma
Perfect for kids who want to explore underwater life without actually getting wet, there’s a whole string of glass-bottomed boat tours from Sa Coma along Mallorca’s beautiful east coast – the perfect way to spot the fish as you travel through some gloriously turquoise bays and past sea caves. There are options from Moonfish Catamaran and Mallorca Sea Paradise.
Dolphin Watching boat trips
There are wild dolphins living around Mallorca, so you’ll find a string of tours taking you out to see them, although most go from the north coast around Port d’Alcudia and Can Picafort.
Choose from this three-hour dolphin-spotting tour from Alcudia Sea Trips, or a sunrise boat tour if you’ve got early risers. But you’ll find plenty of choice if you’re hoping to spy a pod.
Barcos Azules from Port Soller
If you’d like to see more of Mallorca’s unspoiled coast, Barcos Azules has several different boat trips from Port Soller, including to the beautiful turquoise waters of Sa Calobra and Cala Tuent, or to view the rugged Serra de Tramuntana and rock formations like Sa Foradada.
Palma Aquarium
This is easily one of Mallorca’s most popular family attractions, and you can see why the moment you walk in. Housing over 8,000 marine creatures across 55 tanks, it’s perfect for kids who love animals and the spectacular underwater worlds from across the planet.
There are tropical reefs, hands-on touch pools and shark tunnels, plus indoor and outdoor play areas, Mediterranean gardens and even a tropical jungle on the roof. This really is somewhere you can spend hours – allow around half a day, especially if you’re hoping to see feeding time or listen to any of the talks.
Buy tickets with free cancellation here, including optional entry into the 3D cinema.
Mallorca is also home to Marineland, the oldest dolphinarium in Spain, which also has an aquarium, zoo and sea lion shows but with captive dolphins, it’s not something I’m happy to recommend
Safari Zoo
If you’ve got kids who love animals, you’re not limited to marine creatures, with this little drive-through safari park near Sa Coma. You’ll need a hire car to get around, but you can spot zebras, giraffes and rhinos as you go, plus there’s a little safari train helping you explore the Savanna.
The small zoo is also home to a small walking area with more animals, shows throughout the day and play areas.
There has been a lot of controversy about the zoo in the past, including the lone elephant and outdated enclosures, but Safari Mallorca is now under new management and there are improvements being made.
If you’re looking for a hire car to explore Mallorca, sites like Discover Cars can compare prices, while Zest car hire is one of my go-to options (and the one I used for our latest Mallorca trip)
Visit a water park
There are also several water parks scattered across the island, so if your kids are fans, there are plenty to choose from. Aqualand El Arenal isn’t far from Palma, around 20 minutes’ drive south-east of the capital and is the biggest water park in Mallorca, with a mix of options for all ages, including themed areas for kids such as Polynesia and Dragonland.
Alternatively, Western Water Park is – as the name suggests – a Wild West-themed water park that’s around 25 minutes from Palma, just outside Magaluf. There are some smaller slide and shallow pools for younger kids along with some adrenaline thrills for teens, such as The Beast, one of the highest slides in Europe
There’s also Hidropark Alcudia in the north of the island, which has toddler play areas and wave pools as well as some high-speed slides.
Palma Cathedral (La Seu)
You might not think Mallorca’s Gothic cathedral should be top of your list when you’re travelling with children, but don’t even think about skipping it.
The jaw-dropping architecture, sheer size of the cathedral and gorgeous coloured light filtering through that famous rose window create an almost magical atmosphere that genuinely captivates visitors of all ages.
The visit is typically quick enough to hold children’s attention, and the Parc de la Mar is ideal if they need to burn off any energy afterwards.
If you’re visiting with kids aged 11+, you can also get tickets to climb up to the ‘terrazas’, the roof of the cathedral – 138 steps up, there are incredible views.
It’s well worth booking tickets in advance although you can only get roof access through the official site.
The Turbopass Palma de Mallorca includes entry to the cathedral, Bellver Castle, Palma Aquarium and various other sights and tours – get a discount if you book through my link using the code MUMMYTRAVELS6
La Almudaina Palace
Positioned right next to the cathedral (so it couldn’t be easier to combine both visits), this former Moorish fortress turned royal palace gives you a fascinating glimpse into Mallorca’s unusual history.
Still used by Spain’s royal family, you can wander through the royal apartments of La Almudaina, past fountains in ancient courtyards, old Arab baths and defensive towers, as you learn about the island’s Arab and Christian heritage.
The audio guide has some more background, but there are information boards in each room, so it’s not essential. Buy tickets with free cancellation here.
TRAVEL TIP: Save some time to explore the palace gardens while you’re in this part of Palma – they’re free to wander into, at the bottom of the stairs below the palace, with more shady water features.
Bellver Castle
Just outside central Palma, this circular fortress has some fantastic views down over Palma Bay, and there’s a little museum inside covering the island’s history. It’s a slightly eclectic mix of artefacts, weapons, sculptures and more, but it’s well worth a look.
You can also climb up to the roof of the main tower at Bellver Castle to look out across the waves for invading forces (or ferries from Menorca).
Kids under 14 go free and it’s possible to walk up from the city, but it’s quite steep and a hot climb during the summer, so it’s better to take a taxi if you don’t have your own car, or the hop-on hop-off bus also stops here.
For more ideas of the best things to do in Palma with kids, check out my top picks
Walk the Medieval Walls in Alcudia
Built to protect Alcudia’s old town from pirate raids, you can still walk parts of the medieval walls today and travel back through the centuries as you stand by one of the guard posts.
There are only a couple of ways up onto the walls, so I’d suggest walking along the Cami de Ronda from the Porta de Mallorca and climbing the steps at this end. You can stroll back down towards the main gate, then retrace your steps and follow the wall along to Porta de Vila Roja to the second set of steps leading down back into the town.
Along the way, you’ll see a few guardposts and smaller towers to look out from. It’s completely free to explore and not usually too busy, even on market day.
Head up for golden hour and the stones seem to glow, or visit earlier in the day during summer as there’s no shade – there is plenty of ice cream in the streets below though.
Browse one of Mallorca’s markets
Visiting a proper local market is a great way to get a taste of Mallorcan life with kids, as well as picking up a few souvenirs.
The weekly markets in towns like Sineu, Alcudia, and Pollensa are some of the biggest, with a chance to look at local jewellery, and pick up some fresh fruit (we even spotted dragon fruit).
Be prepared for it to get very busy, so arrive early if you can – we got to Alcudia’s market at around 10am, and the car parks were already heaving and it only got busier from there, although the streets of the old town still had some quiet corners (and some very tempting jewellery and ceramics for me, plus a few souvenirs for my daughter).
If you are visiting Alcudia’s market and driving, the best place to try for parking is next to the old Roman ruins at Pollentia – there’s a big lot, someone directing cars, and it’s free (plus the market is just across the road)
Caves of Drach (Cuevas del Drach)
The Caves of Drach are one of my favourite memories of visiting the island as a child, the endless stalactites and stalagmites in the caverns, reflecting in the water and sending thrilling shivers down my back.
Heading back with my daughter, there’s no question it’s a lot busier and more touristy, but the caves themselves are as spectacular as ever, with their underground lakes and weirdly wonderful shapes.
The highlight is still the live classical music concert performed on boats floating on the lake, the only things illuminated in the darkness, before taking a ride over the water yourself. It genuinely is magical (not many things have stuck in my memory for over 40 years!)
As a bonus, there’s a constant cool temperature in the caves too, which is very welcome on a hot summer’s day. I’ve still yet to see a dragon though…
Booking ahead is a good plan, and make sure you get there in time for your slot – it’s all very well organised, with hundreds of people going in during the time period, but if you miss it, you might end up missing out entirely. You can get entry including a transfer from Palma or a transfer from Alcudia if you don’t have your own car.
You can also visit the Caves of Hams nearby, as well as the Caves of Genova near Palma
The Caves of Arta
The Caves of Drach might be the best known but they are far from the only caves on Mallorca. Head a little way up the east coast and you can see the Caves of Arta – much quieter, the caverns here are vast, including a 17m high stalagmite (currently around 50cm from the roof of the cavern, which should only take another 5,000 years or so to complete).
You get a real sense of how old the formations are here, with the caves dating back around three million years, and there are some quirky shapes to find, including jellyfish and a slightly melted elephant.
Another highlight is visiting hell, the deepest part of the caves where there’s a short sound and music show, and the much higher heaven, with its organ-like structures.
Take the toy train to Soller
There’s plenty to tempt you to visit Soller itself, but the scenic trip aboard the vintage Train de Soller from Palma is well worth it just for the journey, and definitely the most fun way to travel between the two.
The historic narrow-gauge train winds through the mountains along the way, passing through 13 tunnels before twisting its way down to Soller.
Once there, you can continue to Port de Soller via vintage tram, making it a full day of proper railway excitement. It does get exceptionally busy during the summer months though.
Visit Roman Pollentia
Next to Alcudia’s Old Town, you’ll find an even older corner of Mallorca’s history at Roman Pollentia. The city was once the most important in the Balearic islands, inhabited for around six centuries from 123BCE.
You’ll see the ruins of the residential area as soon as you enter, but don’t be fooled into believing that’s all there is – the site goes on much further than this, with the forum area including the remains of several temples, shops and a market.
There’s also the old theatre which was later used as a necropolis, and various boards along the paths about other excavations, including a mosaic floor which is now in the little Pollentia Monographic Museum over the road in old town Alcudia. Free for kids under 14.
Visit Cap de Formentor
At the end of the Formentor peninsula, there are some of the most spectacular views on Mallorca from the Cap de Formentor lighthouse. On clear days, you can see right across to Menorca, and it’s easily one of the best free things to do in Mallorca with kids.
If you are driving, it’s worth knowing that access is limited during the summer months to protect the area, but there’s a bus which takes you along the peninsula if you don’t fancy walking.
Try an ensaimada
You won’t be short of ice cream (and tapas) while you’re in Mallorca but save some stomach space for a traditional ensaimada. These delicious pastries come plain, as well as filled with cream, custard, or chocolate and are the local equivalent of a croissant, but far more indulgent.
C’an Joan de S’aigo in Palma has been perfecting these delicious treats since 1700 and is still one of the most stylish places to eat them – but without the price tag you might expect of somewhere oozing with heritage.
*First published 2016, last updated 2025*
Images: Cala Agulla/Platja de Muro/Es Trenc/Canyamel beach/catamaran/Palma Aquarium/waterslides/Soller train/Soller tram/Cap Formentor courtesy of Depositphotos, all other images copyright MummyTravels
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