There are 262 beaches on the island of Mallorca varying from secluded coves (calas) to family-friendly, sandy bays as well as pebbly shores with clear, turquoise water. Some of the finest are to be found along the north coastline where the dramatic outline of the Tramuntana Mountains make for a spectacular backdrop. For those in search of a holiday house or apartment with immediate beach access and sea views, here are some places to start looking.
After several months of work, the newly pedestrianised Paseo Saralegui in Puerto Pollensa has created an even more spectacular seafront promenade—and made the front-line flats and houses that overlook the horseshoe bay even more attractive. With 1.5km of beach, much of which boasting fine sand, Puerto Pollensa is a family-friendly destination with one of the most attractive settings overlooked by mountains. The long stretch of Playa de Llenaire is often considered to be one of the best beaches in Mallorca.
The bay of Alcudia boasts Mallorca’s longest beach and is one of the most developed areas in the north of the island. Stretching from Puerto Alcudia along a so-called ‘golden mile’ of hotel- and apartment-backed coastline, this has long been a popular destination for families and those looking to buy a house or apartment on the coast with everything required on the doorstep.
The average depth of the beach is a generous 80 metres and it has wooden walkways at the back to allow for access by buggy and wheelchair. In high summer, the beach can fill up with tourists but it’s still possible to find quieter spots, especially by heading east (see Playa de Muro).
Continuing on from Puerto Alcudia and before the bustle of Can Picafort, Playa de Muro is a golden sandy beach overlooked by five-star hotels and beach clubs. This is also a residential area with villas for sale within walking distance of the beach.
This beach is in fact two small coves, located in the affluent residential suburb of Alcudia, on the Victoria peninsular, another popular spot for large villas with sea views.
Overlooking the Bay of Pollensa and towards the Cap de Formentor, the beaches are known for having waves large enough to body surf. Despite their diminutive size, as the surrounding area isn’t very built up, they remain fairly quiet even in the busy season.
This old fishing village has four little coves—all of which are known for their crystal-clear water. The largest, and the first to be reached on the road from Pollensa is Cala Barques which has a number of rock pools and is a great spot for snorkelling. The beach is well served with an all-day long restaurant at Hotel Niu. In the evenings, Cal Patro, which specialises in seafood, is a perfect spot to enjoy the sunset. Cala Clara, as the name suggests, has a clearer seabed than its neighbour Cala Barques and Cala Molins is easily accessible from the car park. The furthest beach is Cala Carbo, a small rocky cove which makes it the least crowded of beaches.
Once a modest fishing village, Can Picafort now has a long-established reputation for catering for the tourist crowds. The beach is very family friendly, with soft white sand and shallow waters, with all the amenities, shops and restaurants one could need in the commercial pedestrianised zone which backs onto the beach. Those looking for a quieter spot should head towards Playa de Muro.
Since the early 20th century, Formentor and its’ world-famous hotel has been popular with celebrities. With a line of pine trees providing natural shade, and overlooking the sparklingly-clear water of the Bay of Pollensa, the cala de Formentor is well worth the journey along the peninsula. Tourist boats from Puerto Pollensa as well as private yachts visit throughout the summer and there’s a cafe on the beach for (not inexpensive) snacks and lunches.
Arriving here involves negotiating the serpentine bends of the famous Sa Calobra road which makes it off limits for all but the most determined. Enjoying views of the mountains, the small gravel beach is popular with divers and experienced windsurfers. But the lack of restaurants or snack bars makes it unsuitable for those with very young children.
Less well known than Cala Formentor, this sand, shingle and pebble beach is a 20 to 25-minute walk from the nearest parking. It has no facilities but clear and clean water—somewhere to consider during the height of the summer tourist season.
Son Serra de Marina
A spot long favoured by naturists, this long, sandy beach is backed by dunes and enjoys views across the Bay of Alcudia. Because of its location, just beyond the protection of the bay, it’s a popular spot for kite- and wind-surfing too. This isn’t a beach with full amenities but there’s El Sol Sunshine bar for food and drink.
S’illot, or “the little island” in Mallorquin, takes its name from the lump of ochre-coloured rock in the sea which protects the bay from the Tramuntana wind. The pale grey pebble beach itself doesn’t have any facilities but there’s a nice restaurant with tables that overlook the sea and across to Cap de Formentor.
Interested in a property by the north coast, just have a look at our portfolio, and check out apartments, townhouses, terraced houses, villas and country homes situated close to the sea.
About the author: Arabella Youens is a freelance editor and journalist based in London. Having studied at the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid and worked both for a summer in Palma and a year in Barcelona, she speaks good Spanish and covered the top-end property marketing the Balearics for over ten years while she was Property Editor of Country Life magazine. Today, she continues to write about property and interiors across a variety of titles including The Telegraph, Country Life, London’s Evening Standard, City AM, Homes & Gardens and Country & Town House.