Is Mallorca, Spain really kid-friendly? Steal our family friendly guide to this magical island
While living in London this summer, our family has fallen in love with Mallorca! If you are not familiar with Mallorca - it is an island off the coast of Spain and is the largest of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. It is known for its beautiful Calas (coves) that have beautiful crystal-clear turquoise waters, sandy beaches and historic towns.
Mallorca (which you may also see spelled Majorca) is an island I don’t feel like much of the U.S is as familiar with compared to the islands of Capri (Italy) or Mykonos (Greece). Mallorca is about an 8 hour flight from the east coast of the United States.
When we were living in London, the direct flight from here is a little under 2 hours so this is an easy long weekend trip for us, and flights from London can be crazy cheap (we got ours for less than $50 a person!).
When thinking of Mallorca some only think of the lively nightlife in areas like Magaluf and Palma but don’t really how family friendly this island really is. We visited this island multiple times in one summer and stayed in different areas of the island to get a feel for what we liked best. So, we created 2 different itineraries for you depending on what part of the island you choose to base yourself. We do recommend you rent a car no matter where you choose to base yourself. The only reason you would not need to rent a car is if you wanted to stay in Palma, which is the city you fly into - but we don’t recommend this because this is the city and not the true authentic feel of the island.
If you are coming from the U.S, since it is a longer flight and wanted to stay longer - you could combine the two stays and make it a week long trip.
Where to Base Yourself for Your Trip to Mallorca?
You have 2 options: We’ve stayed (and LOVED) both these options:
1. In the South - Cala D’Or:
We stayed at the Prinsotel Alba & Spa in Cala D’or - an adorable small beach town on SouthEast corner of the island. (Full review of this hotel coming soon!) We LOVED this location as it was completely walk able to everything in Cala D’or and also just a two minute walk to the amazing Cala Gran Beach and a 7 minute walk to Cala Esmerelda. I personally liked this hotel even more since I am not the biggest fan of all-inclusives in general (I like to get off the resort and SEE the island and try different restaurants). Plus, if you are coming all the way to Mallorca - in my opinion you want to see the famous Calas more than a “normal’ beach! We liked Cala D’or for the overall walkability to the Cala (right across the street) and to the town with restaurants, shops, and all entertainment (5 minutes). If we had to choose one place to stay again, it would be here!
2. In the North - Alcudia Park:
We decided to stay at an all inclusive on the northern part of the island - so we based ourselves at the Iberostar Waves Alcudia Park and absolutely LOVED the hotel. It was so new, modern and had really great food for being an all-inclusive, as well as an amazing kids club and a beautiful zero entry sandy stretch of beach. We liked the all-inclusive because it didn’t feel like an all-inclusive you are used to. It had better food and drink options, made to order food, and an ice cream stand. We also loved visiting Alcudia Old Town and walking the medieval village. This pedestrian-friendly area features narrow streets, gothic churches, and lively markets, with a distinct, historic charm. The old town was only a 20 minute drive away from the resort.
You can see our full review of the Iberostar Waves Alcudia Park here.
Our 4 day itinerary based in Cala D’Or
Day 1
Arrive and check into your hotel. Walk across the street to Cala Gran, the largest beach in Cala d’Or. You can bring your towels from the resort or rent loungers and umbrellas. Kids can swim, build sand castles or try to catch small fish. The water is shallow for a good while so its perfect for smaller kids or kids just learning to swim. We bought nets and some basic beach toys at the store right on the beach to have for the trip and it was crucial for my 7 and 3 year olds. For older kids, there are multiple areas you can jump off the
Have a casual beachfront lunch - there are several restaurant options located right in the Cala on the beach. You can sit down in the shade and take some time out of the sun or take your food to go and eat on the beach. They even sell to-go drinks, ice cream and popsicles.
Dinner at Tacos Patron. The walk into the town is just 5-7 minutes from Prinsotel Alba. We loved this fast casual Mexican place for dinner. It was also all outdoor seating which ended up beaing great because kids ran around in the “courtyard area” and there was no cars allowed on the streets in the actual town. They had great options for both kids and adults and it wasn’t pricey. There are so many places to choose from though, you just can just walk around and find a place you like without having to make reservations. Some places did have longer line than others.
Day 2
Visit Cala Esmeralda - just a short 7 minute walk from the hotel. It is a less popular, calm cove with shallow water that’s great for kids. You can rent paddleboards, peddle boats or just relax.
Then go back to the resort and let the kids have lunch by the pool, have a relaxing afternoon and swim. I like to make sure we have some down time before heading out again for the evening, so we usually let the kids rest in the room as I will get ready for dinner.
Sunset Dinner at S’ancora Mediteratian Restaurant in Cala D’or Marina. A little bit nicer of a a spot but you don’t necessarily need reservations. We walked in at 7pm with 6 people and were able to be seated right away.
Optional: after dinner visit Happy Park - a small amusement areas with trampolines, mini go-karts, and games for a great way to end the evening with kids.
Day 3
Take a boat tour on the island. We did Palma Boat tour w/ Snorkeling. It was perfect for my 7 and 10 year olds. I left my youngest (3 year old) back at our resort with my mom. The tour was about 2.5 hours long and they made a stop to swim or snorkel. They give you the gear and life jackets. But you don’t have to get off the boat, many people choose to just stay on the boat and hang out. So, if you wanted to bring younger kids and choose to not get off the boat, you could. They have a bar where your first drink (non-alcoholic or alcoholic options) is free. Then you can purchase more drinks or some snacks.
Have dinner in town. We choose La Pappa - an Italian restaurants serving pizza and pasta. This is the one place I would recommend making a reservation for. The line of people waiting for this place was pretty big but it was very much would of been worth it. But like I stated, there are so many places to choose from. They have fast causal places, pubs and of course nicer more fancy restaurants. Then we recommend walking around the town. They have live music, gelato shops, and we even joined in on a line dance in the street. We also went and sat at a tiki hut bar and they had a talking parrot that kept the kids so entertained.
Ride the Cala d’Or Land Train around town - it was not free but only a few euros a person and the kids loved it! It’s a great way to end the night.
Day 4
Back to Cala D’or for the morning. Get here early as it is less crowded before noon and spend the first half of your day here. We loved jumping off the rocks into the water. My big kids did this for hours and even made some friends and jumped in together. The Cala also has a ladder for you to climb back up to the jump spot. Have lunch here and then head back to your hotel for a relaxing afternoon. We let my youngest nap by the pool as my older two kids did the activities with other kids from the kids club. The staff hosted games and kept the kids entertained for hours.
Do a sunset walk along the marina with a special last dinner with paella - a traditional Spanish dish. We went to Botavara Restaurant (they also have pasta, steak etc) and then got Gelato and walked around the Marina looking at all of the boats along the water.
Tips for Visiting Cala d’Or with Kids
☀️ Go to beaches early (9–11 AM) to avoid crowds.
🏖️ Most calas are small sheltered coves, meaning calmer water than open beaches.
🚤 Boat trips are often the highlight for kids because they swim in hidden coves.
🍦 Always schedule gelato stops — they work wonders for motivation.
Our 4 Day Mallorca Itinerary when based in Alcudia Park:
Day 1
Land in Palma. Grab your rental car, drive to Iberostar Waves Alcudia Park. This is about a little over an hour from the airport. We grabbed soft drinks, coffee and small snack to take in the car to hold my kids over till we got to the hotel. Checked in and then changed into swimsuits and did the pool, lunch, and beach - just a relaxing day around the resort after full travel day.
Day 2
After breakfast at the hotel (always included whether you get the full all inclusive or not) explore Alcudia Old Town. This is only a 20 minute drive from the resort.
Head to Alcudia Old Town and walk around the ruins of this once thriving roman city. Many tourists come to stay in the resort of Port de Alcudia and they never visit this jewel of the area. Alcúdia was once a Roman town named Pollentia. It was also strengthened by the Moors and Christians. The old town is surrounded by impressive medieval walls from the 14th century, which are mostly well-preserved. You can walk along parts of the wall for stunning views of the town.
Then after, stop and have lunch - we loved Sa Caseta pizzeria restaurant in the old town square of Placeta de Ses Verdures. Shop for authentic Mallorcan goods and souvenirs. Make sure to take time to stop and pet the cats! If you want to explore further, you can drive from Alcudia Old Town to the Port De Pollenca and do the famous Pine Walk or drive to the Port de Alcúdia – A modern beach resort area with a long sandy beach, is just a short distance away!
Day 3
Today we woke up and again, had breakfast and coffee at the hotel. The kids did some fun activities that the hotel was putting on. Riding a bull and a foam party LOL. Then, you'll explore one of the famous "Calas" (coves) that Mallorca is known for. So pack your bathing suits, sun screen and beach towels (we just took ours from the hotel) and hit up Cala Molins, one of the 3 "Calas" or "coves" that make up the Cala Sant Vicenc area. We chose Cala Molins because it has an actual sand beach instead of a rocky beach - which proved to be much more kid friendly.
We packed a few light snacks (apples and chips) and just a couple water bottles but we didn’t have a cooler or anything. Obviously, with it being 80 degrees(F) outside after about an hour in the sun my kids(and my mom, sister and I) were ready for a cold drink. Luckily, right across from the beach there is the cutest little bar/restaurant - Bar Mallorca - that serves cold drinks, ice cream and even to go alcoholic beverages. This cute shack is also a restaurant and you can grab lunch here or take it to go back to the beach. There is also a hotel - Grupotel Molins that overlooks the cove and has restaurants and a rooftop bars if you wanted to bring a change of clothes and go there.
The water is so extremely clear this is a great place for the kids to snorkel! The water is only 2ft deep for the first 400m. We recommend bringing nets because the kids had SO MUCH FUN trying to catch little fish and sea creatures. My kids were up and playing doing this the ENTIRE time we were there. You can also rent paddle boards or kayaks and we really wanted to do this but didn't have enough time!
If you didn't get to visit Pollenca the day before, you can add it to this day and head there after! Or, you can go to Panoràmica cap al de Cap Formentor to watch the famous sunset! (just be forewarned that parking can be very difficult in this area)
Day 4
Have a beach/pool day in the morning, but plan to leave the hotel around 1PM for a 1 hour drive to the town of Sóller. Here, you'll park your car in the old town and catch the famous vintage train (Tren De Soller) to Port De Sóller. You can book your tickets ahead of time! That way you don’t get there and have to wait another hour for the next tram. The tram leaves Soller on the hour (see timetable below) and leaves to return on the half hour. You will see orange groves and lemon trees and get to see some of the most beautiful sights in Mallorca!
Then head to one of these amazing places for dinner and drinks and watch the sunset.
Our top recommendations:
NENI Mallorca
Restaurant Nautilus
Jumeirah Mallorca's restaurant
Cap Roig or their Sunset Lounge (small bites and cocktails)
Some things we didn’t get to do but came highly recommended:
- Dolphin watching boat tour (Kid-friendly for kids of all ages)
- Half day boast cruise with lunch and swimming (Best for older kids as its a long time on the boat and swimming)
- Sea Cave and Snokeling Expedition (Would be for a not kids trip or older kids)
- Cathedral of Mallorca Tour (Good for all ages)
The Best Calas In Mallorca to Visit with Kids
Cala Esmerelda
Cala Gran
Cala Petite
Cala Santanyi
Cala Sant Vicenc
FAQ
Q: Do you need to rent a car when visiting Mallorca?
A: Yes, we recommend you get one unless you are just staying in Palma.
Q: What is the best Cala to visit with little Kids in Mallorca?
A: We recommend this Cala that we visited Cala Sant Vicenc, because of the sandy beaches and shallow water for kids. Some of the Cala’s can be rocky and have deeper water so they would not be as friendly for young kids.
Q: Where is the best place to catch the sunset in Mallorca?
A: We went other Nautilus, a cliffside restaurant in Port de Sóller. We showed up around 7pm and they were able to give us a table for 6 just before sunset. They were extremely accommodating to the kids and the food and service was amazing!
But, depending on what part of the island you are on here are some other options:
- Sa Foradada (West Mallorca, Deià)
-Cap De Formentor (northernmost viewpoint of Mallorca, on the Formentor peninsula)
-Sunset Lounge in Jumeriah Hotel and Spa
-Es Princep (rooftop bar)
Q: How difficult is parking in Mallorca?
A: The streets can be quite narrow and some roads are one lanes but we rented a van and it was tight but we didn’t have problems. We found parking everywhere we went with little issues. We went to restaurants, historic sites, and to Cala’s and always found parking but it could take a little bit of driving around depending on what season you go.
Q: Do you suggest staying at an all inclusive in Mallorca?
A: Yes! Especially with kids, it was so worth it for us to do the all-inclusive option. This included soft-drinks, all our meals, snacks and alcoholic beverges. They even have had a Gelato stand the kids could get for free!
Q: Is Mallorca kid friendly?
A: Yes, they have lots of kid-friendly resorts, beaches and activities.
Q: What is the best hotel to stay at with kids in Mallorca?
A: Ibeurostar’s are amazing and have many family friendly options. We stayed at the Iberostar Waves Alcudia Park and it was THE BEST family friendly resort i’ve ever been to! See our full review of the Iberostar Waves Alcudia Park.
