One Week in a Van in Mallorca, Balearic Islands

For the crossing to Palma, the easiest way is to board a Balearia or Trasmediterranea ferry in Barcelona. Use a search site like https://book.aferry.fr/ to check availability and prices. Crossings are available by day or night! Our advice: try a night departure (arriving in Palma in the morning is a real treat) and a return during the day (a chance to enjoy the scenery from the deck, and with a bit of luck, spot dolphins or even whales…).

Once you disembark in Palma, the adventure begins! A visit to the city is a must as it has many points of interest, including:

• the La Seu Cathedral, officially named Catedral-Basílica de Santa María de Palma de Mallorca. It is the largest religious building in Mallorca and the second largest in Spain after Seville Cathedral. A masterpiece of Catalan Gothic architecture, it is the only Gothic cathedral built right by the sea.

• a seaside walk in the Parc de la Mar, offering the best views of the city and coastline
• a tour of the old town and its many patios. A route is suggested by the Balear agency and is available here. Thanks to them, it’s great!
• For art lovers, amazing museums dedicated to Miro (who died in Palma in 1983) and Picasso: the Pilar and Joan Miro Foundation and the very interesting modern art museum Es Baluard

Take a midday break at the city’s market, the Mercat municipal de l’Olivar, and enjoy tapas at the Bar des Peix. Total immersion in the Catalan way of life guaranteed!

For your evening, two options:

• Dine at one of Palma’s many excellent restaurants, for example Celler Sa Premsa, before heading to find your spot for the night, OR
• head west to find your dream spot to spend the night and dine facing the sea: we recommend the parking lot at Cala Falco beach. Paradise? You haven’t seen anything yet!

The winding road from Andratx to Soller is undoubtedly the most beautiful in Mallorca: stunning coastal landscapes alternating between scrubland plunging into the sea, wild coves, and majestic cliffs…

Two villages are well worth a visit:

• Estellencs, the smallest village on the island, oozes authenticity. Time seems to have stopped here, and we recommend you do the same!
• Banyalbufar is among the most beautiful on the west coast of Mallorca: a unique setting of hills covered with terraced crops, dramatically dropping into a cove and its beaches…

Just before Banyalbufar, a must-stop with your converted van is Torre Del Verger: this small 17th-century tower is one of the most iconic landmarks in Mallorca. You won’t forget the breathtaking view of the cliffs between mountains, sea, and sky.

For active travelers, a beautiful coastal hike allows you to reach Port d’Es Canonge from Banyalbufar in about 1.5 hours.

For the night, drive your converted van down the narrow Cami des Moli street in the village of Banyalbufar to a superb parking area with a stunning sea view, called Cala Chula. It’s a magnificent spot for dinner! If you don’t have leveling wedges, use the many flat stones available to park your van on level ground!

Let’s continue our van journey heading northeast, passing through the village of Valldemossa. History buffs will want to stop and visit the Royal Charterhouse of Valldemossa (Reial Cartoixa de Valldemossa), where you can discover the rooms of Chopin and George Sand. Others can simply enjoy the scenic road lined with olive trees all the way to the village of Deia and its stunning cove, Cala de Deia. A favorite among painters and artists, this village is renowned not only for its beauty but also for its cultural richness. It has even been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After your visit, head toward Soller, then about 6 km before arriving, turn right onto the MA11 toward Palma for a charming stop at the Alfabia Gardens, a true oasis in the middle of scrubland.

Then head back to Soller for a delightful visit: this small town full of charm is nestled in a stunning mountain amphitheater that will surely enchant you. Park your camper van and wander through its quaint streets, visit the museum housed in an old train station Sala Picasso e Miro, and don’t miss the old wooden tramway to Port de Soller, the town’s harbor located a few kilometers away!

If you’re in the mood for good food, enjoy some local specialties at the Port de Soller restaurant Campo Sol.

And for the night, a magical spot: park your van or camper van under the Port de Soller lighthouse for a stunning viewpoint!

A magnificent day awaits you, taking you through some truly exceptional places!

It begins with an epic morning hike in the Biniaraix Gorge, a trail that climbs via paved paths along terraced groves of centuries-old olive trees—a guaranteed favorite! For the more athletic, the hike can extend all the way to the artificial lake of Cúber (6 hours round trip), but no worries: you can turn around whenever you like—just don’t miss the crossroads at ‘Madona des Barranc’ where you’ll see a tree with stunningly gnarled forms and incomparable charm. A great story and hike description can be found on this page.

Back in your converted van, head to Fornalutx, a village listed as one of the most beautiful in Spain!

And we’ve saved the most impressive for the end of the day: drive up to Sa Calobra and then descend a spectacular winding road (12 hairpin turns and one that loops 360°!) toward the sea to discover the gorge carved by the Torrent de Pareis, which flows into the sea.

For the night, drive a few kilometers back up this incredible road and turn right toward Cala Tuent, a wild beach lined with majestic olive trees (trunks nearly 3 meters in circumference!) where you can park peacefully, all alone—especially off-season.

We can wrap up this fabulous exploration of the northwest coast of Mallorca by heading toward the Formentor peninsula.

The first stop on this wonderful journey is the Talaia d’Albercutx watchtower, once a lookout against the constant pirate threat, from where you can enjoy an awe-inspiring view! If you’re afraid of heights, this fully secure site might not be for you…

With your eyes filled with this extraordinary landscape, it’s time to continue the route in your van or camper toward the cape, all the way to the lighthouse, where you’ll drive through completely wild and majestic scenery, occasionally crossing paths with wild goats!

This marks the end of your journey along the west coast of Mallorca: it’s time to return to civilization by heading toward Alcudia, a walled old town well worth the visit. If you’re looking for a place to eat, check out the excellent Ca’n Costa.

For the night, we strongly recommend taking the road to Cap des Pinar, and along this road—before reaching the military zone—stop your van or converted camper at a small parking lot overlooking the sea (with absolutely stunning views). You’ll be alone and undisturbed by traffic… although perhaps not by curious goats!

The last day before returning, and it will take you through completely new landscapes along the southeast coast of Mallorca. Less wild, it still offers absolutely stunning beaches, including:

• The lovely little beach of Cala Varques, south of Porto Cristo, which you can reach after a 25-minute walk
• and especially, in the charming Mondrago Park, the S’Amarador beach, a true postcard lagoon

This is the calm moment of the Balearic road trip—a relaxing afternoon on this dream beach is highly recommended!

For the night, we suggest another equally majestic site where it’s easy to park: Cala Llombards, a cove with turquoise waters surrounded by pine trees.

Depending on the departure time of your return ferry, you can either stroll around Cala Llombards, or if you prefer, head back to Palma to complete your visit.

The crossing—if done during the day—will allow you to admire the island’s coastline and perhaps spot dolphins and whales swimming through these Mediterranean waters.

We hope this road trip in the Balearic Islands has been a real feast for the eyes!