Mallorca

Where to Stay

Where you choose to stay will make a big difference on what is easily accessible. With that being said, you can get to any part of the island within about 90 minutes if you have a rental car. If we wanted to go somewhere far, we would plan to spend the day in that area and even bring a change of clothes to have dinner in the area we drive to. We planned our days in half to break it up. Doing an activity or leaving the hotel in the morning and the other half spent at the hotel. You can make the decision on where you want to stay but we added our top 4 options for you to choose from that vary in location.

I am going to base this itinerary around being based in Cala d’Or. You could adjust it or swap out things that are further away if you don’t want stay in that area.

#2 Choice (all-inclusive option):
➡ Iberostar Waves Alcudia Park

We chose this all-inclusive package at this resort and it was one of most kid-friendly hotel resorts we have ever stayed at! The food and drink options were amazing and fresh (we rarely like the food at all-inclusives and we all loved it). The kids club put on the coolest activities like a foam party, ride the bull, huge inflatable bounce houses and an indoor playground for the kids to get a break from the heat. You also could get gelato for free at any time and the property was location on a sandy zero entry beach! The hotel put on a show or performance every night - like magic shows, dance parties and acrobatics.

This property was right across the street from some other hotels, restaurants and shops also. The rooms here were new, with huge balconies that overlooked the pool and ocean.

👉🏻 Our Full Review of staying at Iberostar Waves Alcudia Park

#1 Choice:
➡ Prinsotel Alba Cala d’Or

This was not an all-inclusive resort but they did have breakfast included. We loved the location of this place as it was right across from Cala Gran. They had a small kids club that would do kids activities in the pool area everyday. The rooms were good setups with a living room area for extra space with kids and a balcony.

The hotel was only a 7 minute walk to the town of Cala d’Or with lots of restaurants and shops and a great place to walk around in the evening wth live music and entertainment. We absolutely loved the location(you can walk to 2 different Calas), the smaller feel and the family-friendly activities to do here.

#3 Choice (all-inclusive option):
➡ Iberostar Club Cala Barca

This all-inclusive was not our favorite of the places we have stayed but had a lot of pros to it. We LOVED the pool. There were multiple pools and they were amazing for kids - no matter what age. They had a giant bouncy ball in the water the kids would run up and slide down for hours! They had a larger normal pool - more adult friendly, and a great kids area of the pool that has multiple slides, sprinklers, etc and was only a few inches deep in certain spots - for babies and toddlers. They had food trucks and a bar near the pool that you can get food at all day long. There is also a game room, theatre and nightly shows for kids.

5 Day Mallorca Itinerary

Day 1 – Fly into Palma. Get to your resort and get settled. Spend the rest of the day swimming in the pool and exploring the hotel. We walked into the town to have a quick Dinner at Diferent (for the traditional Spanish paella but they have an extensive menu). Iff you are too tired you can eat at the hotel or order food for pickup from any of the restaurants close by.

Day 2 – Have breakfast and then spend the first part of the day in Cala Gran. This is literally a 4 minute walk from the Prinsotel Alba Hotel. The earlier the better since it will get busy. They have onsite restaurants, bathrooms and shops. If not staying in this area, bring a change of clothes and walk into the town right around the corner for dinner. We loved Tacos Patron - for the quick service and ride on toys the kids could play on across the courtyard. Then walk around the town. They have live music, gelato shops, and we even joined in on a line dance in the street. Ride the Cala d’Or Land Train around town.

Day 3 – Have a chill morning. Swim at the hotel pool (kids activities go on everyday).
In the afternoon, take a boat tour on the island- Palma Boat tour w/ Snorkeling. Our tour was at 3pm and was about 3 hours.
Then make the few minute drive to the Marina de Cala d’Or to have dinner. We went here a couple different times and loved the view and the restaurants. You really don’t specifically need a reservation for here, because there are so many to choose from unless you want to go to a specific place. We loved Restaurant Aquarius! We have also been to 17 Bar & Restaurant & S’ancora and liked them both.

Day 4 – Spend the day at Cala Esmerelda - great for cliff jumping & swimming (they have safe spots to do this and some shallow water for younger kids). You can walk here from Prinsotel Alba. Just about a 10 minute walk. You can pack a lunch or have lunch at one a few restaurants around (one is attached to a hotel) so make sure to bring a change of clothes to be able to go in.
Spend the evening in town back in Cala d’Or. We went to dinner at La Bodega for authentic Spanish tapas and a great selection of food - even for kids!

Day 5 – Spend the morning at Platja den Repic. This beach is a sandy beach and perfect for kids. I know it’s a little over an hour drive from Cala d’Or but if you spend the whole day there, it will be worth it. Spend the morning at the beach, then in the afternoon ride the Port De Soller Tram.
In the evening, there is an amazing sunset restaurant right in this area! Bring a change a clothes and have dinner at NEMI Mallorca or Restaurant Nautilus (we have been to both and loved them both). You DO need to make a reservation for these especially at sunset because they have THE BEST VIEWS but also incredible views!

What adventures/tours should we do while in Mallorca with kids?

There’s no shortage of unforgettable things to do in Mallorca with kids. You can choose to just have relaxing vacation on the beach or pool or choose to do more adventurous activities.

Mallorca is one of those rare destinations that truly feels easy with kids. Between the calm turquoise calas, walkable beach towns, incredible food, and laid-back pace, it somehow manages to feel both relaxing for parents and exciting for kids at the same time. It’s the kind of place where your days naturally fall into a rhythm of slow beach mornings, afternoon gelato stops, sunset dinners by the marina, and letting the kids run around safely while you actually enjoy your meal.

What we loved most about Mallorca is that there is SO much to do without constantly feeling like you have to “go, go, go.” One day you can spend hours swimming in shallow coves and hunting for fish with little nets, and the next you can take a boat tour, snorkel in hidden caves, explore medieval old towns, or ride the little land train through Cala d’Or. There are also so many kid-friendly extras that make the trip feel magical — trampoline parks, beachside restaurants, dolphin tours, paddle boarding, cave kayaking, and nightly live music in the towns.

It also feels like one of the easiest European beach destinations to navigate as a family. The towns are incredibly family friendly, many beaches have calm shallow water perfect for younger kids, and there are so many hotel options that cater to families without sacrificing style or location. Mallorca gives you that dreamy Mediterranean vacation feel while still being practical and manageable with kids — which honestly can be hard to find.

The tours we did and absolutely loved:

⛴️ Half day boast cruise with lunch and swimming:
4 hour tour. Departs from right outside of Palma. Best for older kids as it’s a long time on the boat and swimming. I took my 7 and 10 year old kids and it turned out to be one of our favorite afternoons in Mallorca. Immediately upon getting on the boat, they offer you a free drink (alcoholic or non) and then you cruise along the coastline with a drink in hand while the kids soaked up the views. We stopped in one of those crystal-clear turquoise coves, where everyone jumped in for a swim and snorkel before continuing along the coast. It was such an easy, laid-back way to experience a different side of the island and be able to get out on the water.

🛶 Kayaking, Sea Cave, Cliff Jumping & Snorkel Tour:
3 Hour tour, Departs from Alcudia area. Better for older kids like ages 8+ (website states 5+). This kayaking and snorkeling tour along the island coastline was such a different way to get on the water. We paddled into sea caves, swam in unbelievably clear water, snorkeled over rocky coves, and even had the chance to do some cliff jumping (optional but the kids LOVED it). It felt like such a fun way to experience Mallorca beyond the beaches, with a mix of adventure, gorgeous scenery, and just enough adventure for my 10 year old boy.

⛵Stand Up Paddle boarding on a Deluxe Catamaran with Slide, Snacks, Drink, & Snorkeling:
4 Hour tour, Departs from Palma. Kids need to be 5 years old or older. This tour is so great for both kids and adults. You get out on the water but also have the option to do any activities. You spend the day on a catamaran sailing through the Bay of Palma. We cruised past the coastline, stopped in a few gorgeous turquoise coves for swimming and snorkeling, and spent the rest of the time stretched out on the nets soaking up the sun while the kids jumped in and out of the water. They even offer free drinks, snacks and light food!

Other options: 

- Dolphin watching boat tour (Kid-friendly for kids of all ages)
- Sea Cave and Snokeling Expedition (Would be for a not kids trip or older kids)
-Buggy Tour of Mallorca for families: 2.5 Hour tour fromCala Ratjada, you will see beaches, coves and nature trails on this off-roading buggy adventure.
- Cathedral of Mallorca Tour (Good for all ages)

Packing

The majority of people are going to be going to Mallorca during the summer or late spring or early fall. That means it will be HOT. Even if t reaches high temperates during the day, the evenings can be a tad chilly so that is why I made sure to include a sweater. On our first trip here it was the month of May and the nights were a bit cold once the sun went down.

Most of the Cala’s are more rocky than sandy so having water shoes is crucial, especially for the kids.

Remember to check the weather ahead of your trip but all the beach essentials is mostly that you will need. You can always purchase some of this stuff on the island also. We bought toys and rafts when we got there and it was very affordable.

My recommendations by trip type:

  • First time or with kids : Rental Car

  • Budget traveling: Bus + train

  • Staying mostly in Palma: Taxi + walking

  • Beach or City hopping: Rental Car

  • All-inclusive and don’t plan to move around: Taxi + walking

Resources & Pro Tips


Planning a trip to Switzerland can seem overwhelming. We did so much research before our first trip, I spent weeks planning and searching for the best resources. After visiting more than a handful of time now I am happy to say I complied a list of the best resources for you to use.

We created these resources for you:


In addition to our blogs, these are some of our favorite resources:

-Tiny Travelship: Their website gives you all the practical information for a family friendly travel to Mallorca.

-Rick Steves Forum: I have bought Rick Steves books before planning to travel to so many countries and have used and LOVED them. You can also go to his website and people will ask questions about specific destinations and others will give advice. It’s a great resource.

-Familieslovetravel: They give you lots of options of all-inclusive and gives great details for what they loved from the kids clubs to the locations.