Mallorca
September 2021
4 Days
To see the previous stop on this trip, go here to Barcelona
The next stop on our honeymoon was the island of Mallorca. Since we booked everything just a few days in advance, we could not find a rental car so we didn't venture far from the capital of Palma. With all of the clubs closed due to COVID, the beaches were empty and the weather was beatiful which was perfect for what we wanted. If I was to return in the future, I would definitely get a rental car so we could explore more on the island.
Contents
Daily Itinerary
Arrival at Zafiro Palmanova
Dinner at the Instagrammable Max Garden Restaurant
Palmanova Beach
Beachside octopus at Il Chiringo
Visit an empty Magaluf Beach
Dinner at Gelacious
Visit La Seu in Palma
Seafood paella at Sa Cranca
Step back in time with a visit to the Arab Baths
Walk the old town of Palma
Flights
Vueling Economy BCN-PMI: Cash one-way
Hotels
Zafiro Palace Palmanova: Cash with 4th night free via Citi Prestige
▸ 5 star resort with all-inclusive option located a few minutes walk from Palmanova Beach
Lobby at Zafiro Palace Palmanova - Palma Nova, Spain 2021
Food (With Beli Ranking)
Il Chiringo (8.5) - Cafe right on the beach that served what might be the most delicious octopus I've ever had.
Sa Cranca (7.2) - Specializing in seafood paella and overlooking the water, on the higher end but the paella was very good.
Gelacious (7.0) - Serving up some seriously delicious-looking brunch creations, although we came for dinner which was still very good with both Asian and Mediterranean options.
Max Garden - Instagrammable restaurant just up the street from the beach. Food was actually quite good and a bit healthier.
Full Itinerary
Day 1
Max Garden
After an afternoon of relaxing by the pool, we ventured off the resort toward Palmanova Beach, just a short walk away. We came across Max Garden Restaurant which looked like it was set up for Instagram photo shoots. I would usually avoid a place like this at all costs, but it had good reviews and the food options looked somewhat healthy with a mix of tapas, wraps, rice bowls, and salads. The food turned out to be so good we actually came back here again later in the trip! The food was delicious and not too heavy, which we needed after 4 days of eating a ton in Barcelona.
Max Garden Restaurant - Palma Nova, Spain 2021
Palmanova Beach
We caught the sunset from Palmanova Beach. With COVID still around, the beaches were quite empty and beautiful even during the day.
Sunset at Palmanova Beach - Palma Nova, Spain 2021
Day 2
After spending the morning back on the beach, we stopped at the beachside cafe Il Chiringo. Although it looks like a basic beachside restaurant serving drinks and pizzas, I ordered the octopus which may have been the most delicious octopus I've ever had.
Octopus at Il Chiringo - Palma Nova, Spain 2021
Day 3
Platja de Son Maties
On our third day, we explored further south from Palmanova first to Platja de Son Maties and then further on to Magaluf Beach. Magaluf is known as a beachside party are most popular with British tourists, but with everything closed due to COVID it was completely empty.
Platja de Son Maties - Palma Nova, Spain 2021
Gwen found a restaurant back near our hotel called Gelacious which seemed to be quite popular for its brunch, but when we went for dinner the food was also pretty good.
Poke at Gelacious - Palma Nova, Spain 2021
Day 4
La Seu
Palma is the largest city and capital of Mallorca. In the city center overlooking the harbor is the Cathedral of Mallorca, also known as La Seu.
La Seu - Palma, Spain 2021
After walking along the water, we found ourselves at Sa Cranca, a restaurant known for its seafood paella and views overlooking the water. I'm certainly no paella expert, so all I could say is that the food was good although maybe a bit on the pricier side as it is a nice restaurant and you are paying for the views as well.
Crab Paella at Sa Cranca - Palma Nova, Spain 2021
Arab Baths
The Arab Baths can be found in the old city of Palma, a remnant dating back to the 10th century during the Muslim occupation. If you're in the area, this is a quick, cheap stop and interesting to see something that's survived over 1,000 years.
Arab Baths - Palma, Spain 2021
Plaza Major
Like many other city's Plaza Major is Palma's main square surrounded today by shops and restaurants.
Plaza Major - Palma, Spain 2021
Paseo del Borne
Paseo del Borne is similar to the famous La Rambla in Barcelona, lined with trees, cafes, restaurants, and luxury stores.
Paseo del Borne - Palma, Spain 2021
Overall
Our trip to Mallorca was a nice break in the middle of our trip to sit by the pool and the beach which was really all we wanted, although I don't think a trip back to Palmanova would be necessary - it definitely felt set up to cater to British tourists, especially those going out to party through the night. The best way I could describe it is the UK's Florida. I would however love to explore more of the island - sadly we just couldn't make it work with the last minute changes.
To see the next stop on this trip, go here to Paris
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