Journey to sunny Spain: Barcelona and Mallorca. Travel organization and itinerary

It is a good tradition for the second year in a row to extend the summer and exchange Moscow autumn rains for sun and warmth. If last year the exchange was slightly conditional (there was no sea in Prague and Vienna), then this year the lost time was made up: we went to sunny Spain and spent the first week in Mallorca, and then on the mainland, in Barcelona.
Perhaps it was the first full-fledged Vacation in my life (with a capital letter), the way it should be - with the sea and the sun, parties, with a historical and cultural component, and, of course, a two-week one.
Long after such a rich and multifaceted holiday, the post-holiday syndrome lasted, when in the dull Moscow reality nothing but photographs, discussions, memories and new contacts on Facebook reminded of the wonderful Spanish days.

Planning is our everything
When you are planning a vacation in September, and in most resort places it is already getting cool, the choice for destination becomes not so wide (if you choose from Europe). Initially, we wanted Spain (anticipating the appearance of a six-month Schengen in our hands), so the choice narrowed down to the island part of it, because. in early autumn it is still quite warm there.
We did everything ourselves, as usual - to the Spanish visa center; on the website vueling and ozone (via Air Europa) book three flights: Moscow - Palma de Mallorca, Palma de Mallorca - Barcelona and Barcelona - Moscow; hotels at home booking; read Vinsky and study guidebooks ahead.

Majorca,El Arenal
Experiences: beach, cocktails and clubs
Joy knew no bounds when we finally checked into the hotel and put on swimsuits and got to the beach. The water is great, the sand, the sun!
A local feature is to drink cocktails (mainly sangria with ice and sprite, but any other is possible) from huge buckets with a bunch of straws, lying right on the beach. This is my favorite photo from this trip:

It looks funny when you come to the beach with a 12-liter bucket, three of us, girls, and start making a cocktail at a brisk pace. By the way, it turns out not as alcoholic as it might seem: do not forget about the whole bag dangerous ice!

The myth that Mallorca is a fashionable resort was completely debunked. Nothing like that, quite ordinary hotels and ordinary beaches, without frills and bells and whistles. The locals told us that Mallorca is considered a budget holiday in Spain and nearby countries (as I understand it, like Turkey for Russia).

90% of tourists in El Arenal are Germans. In Magaluf (another resort, to the west of Palma), on the contrary, it is predominantly British. So it remained a mystery at what historical moment such a division occurred, but the fact remained: during our stay on the island, we heard German speech much more often than Russian.

Perhaps, focusing on German preferences in music and parties, the owners of El Arenal clubs chose a specific format that we didn’t like at all: there are no usual beautiful clubs where everyone is in dresses, and the music is not in the tum-tum-tum style with German motives a la march. Therefore, in search of a good club atmosphere, it was decided to go to Palma (20 minutes from El Arenal by car / bus), to Tito's club, which was recommended by the locals as the best club in the city. The girls liked it, and that day, unfortunately, I was lying in the hotel, struggling with the acclimatization syndrome.

Island tours
The ideal option, of course, is to rent a car and drive yourself. But, if, like me, you use the rights exclusively as an ID when paying for purchases in a store, you can always use the services of local travel agencies that sell excursions in the surrounding area. We chose the route through the monastery of Lluc in the mountains, the port of Soller and the settlement of Fornalutx to another pretty village of Valdemossa. Basically, the road was represented by a mountain serpentine, driving along which on a huge bus it seems that now you will hit oncoming cars and overhanging rocks. Who gets sick (like me), take pills for seasickness ..

When we arrived at Lluc Monastery, I wanted to quote Lermontov: “ A few years ago / Where they merge, they make noise / Embracing, like two sisters, / The jets of Aragva and Kura, / There was a monastery»..
Pilgrims flock to Lluc from all over the island. it is here that the statuette of the patroness of the island - St. Virgin Mary Ljuk is located.
How the monastery was built is completely incomprehensible, because. getting there is quite difficult. Very close to one of the most beautiful places that I have ever seen: the sea passes into the sky.

At the next stop portSoller time seems to have stopped.. beautiful harbor with many snow-white yachts, hillsides with cute houses, warming sun, delicious food and magical music played on the street by the Indians.

Fornalutx and Valdemossa- two small island villages. It is incredibly nice, cozy and I want to stay at least a little bit, but the tour schedule calls further.

Valdemossa known for the fact that for some time Chopin and George Sand lived here. It was here that several of the most famous works of the composer and the book "Winter in Mallorca" by the writer were written.

I would like to give a few words to our guide, a native of Mallorca, Rafael. In his, I think, about 60 quite vigorous years, he spoke 6 (!) languages: ordinary Spanish, Majorcan dialect, German, French, Russian (because he is married to Russian Natasha), and of course English. Wishing to make his story understandable to all the tourists present on the bus, Rafael duplicated the information in 5 different languages (excluding the local dialect).

Palma de Mallorca
In the "capital" of the island, you can walk for one day, it will be just right. The town is very pretty, a beautiful embankment, an old palace-castle towering above it, lovely streets, many shops, a port with yachts, and, as I said above, night club Tito's!

Mallorca's anthem will remain the song Call me maybe, which was the soundtrack of the last unforgettable night, which smoothly turned into a real teleportation to Barcelona..

Of the unvisited
Ferries leave from Palma every day for neighboring island- Ibiza. Unfortunately, we did not get there, because:
1) you need to spend two full days there (arrive at 7 in the morning by ferry, leave things at the hotel, wander around the island, go to the club in the evening, return the next morning), and out of the six available to us, it was a pity to spend them not on the beach;
2) on the days when Tiesto, Van Buuren and Guetta performed, the ferry ticket cost many times more + the entrance to the clubs themselves is also paid.

Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia
No matter how hard we tried, no one like Javier Bardem was found. As it was found out a little later, he himself is not from Catalonia at all, so you may have to go to Las Palmas, where he was born, and look there.
Catalonia, as you know, is a province of Spain, which is strongly striving to become independent. Catalan flags are hung everywhere, everyone loves Lionel Messi, the inscriptions are duplicated in two languages - common Spanish and Catalan. As our Spaniard friend Sergio said, if there was a referendum on independence from Spain, he would vote “yes”, motivating this not only with economic issues, but also with the fact that the identity of Catalonia, customs and traditions, are suppressed by Spain (Catalonia was conquered by the Spaniards which some time ago).

Where to live in Barcelona
Since we were going to spend exactly one week in the city, it was important to live in the center as much as possible and close to the necessary transport routes. After a short search, apartments were found Feel Good Apartments Plaza Cataluna at Santa Ana, 35 (street perpendicular to the Rambla, 5 minutes from Plaza Catalunya and about 10 minutes from the Columbus Column in Portal de la Pau in the port). The place is excellent, and a small entrance door, in the center of a busy street, added a special flavor - we felt like natural citizens when we opened it with our key, and without contacting any reception.

The check-in system is as follows: first you need to come to the office at Ferran, 11 for the keys. On the day of departure, the door will be locked at 11 a.m., so if you need to leave things, you can again walk to the office or (which is much more convenient) for a couple of euros, check in your luggage at the locker at Carrer d'Estruc (literally 5 minutes from the apartment) .

LaMerce, feast of the patron saint of Barcelona
The day of arrival in Barcelona coincided with the national holiday La Merce (September 24): all Barcelona residents walked, there were many concerts and street performances. Surprisingly, among the crowds of people wandering around the city, not a single policeman was noticed, everything was quiet and peaceful. It was amazing that the column within the framework of the Festival of the Giants consisted entirely of joyful and satisfied residents of the city, even mothers with strollers were walking, in contrast to the forced forced processions associated with May 1 or June 12 in Russian cities. The holiday ended with a beautiful light show projection on the building of the city hall, which we watched sitting right on the square on the cobblestones together with the residents of the city and other tourists.

National cuisine and where to try it
The most popular are, of course, paella and sangria. I forced myself to eat a real seafood paella - incredibly tasty, despite the unpleasant-looking scallops and shells! Sangria poured in jugs, and the city became even more beautiful and pleasant from this!

In Barcelona, you must definitely eat fish and seafood, everything is fresh and very tasty.
The most excellent place serving a whole mountain of seafood in the literal sense is El Rey de la Gamba-2 in the Barceloneta beach area. I read about this place on Vinsky, thank you very much, it's gorgeous there. And finally they bring shots, just like that :)

In the city center, the favorite restaurant with the most delicious sangria has become Ambos Mundos at Plaça Real, 10.
We liked the breakfast the most. Pastisseria del Pi on Ferran, 12, where after the second visit we were already recognized. Coffee, croissants, pies, bruschettas, puddings, etc. (and during the time closer to dinner, and more substantial food).

And why they eat jamon with melon, I still don’t understand. Maybe you haven't tried it?

Port
The harbor of Barcelona begins at the Columbus Column, where, according to history, he sailed after the discovery of America to inform the royal couple about this. On the embankment, right by the water, they sell tickets for a 2-hour sailing on a pleasure boat, which will take you out of the harbor into the open sea with real huge waves. The whole Barcelonetta beach will be in full view.
It is good to sit on the embankment in the evening, drinking something unobtrusive, and look at the stars.

Barceloneta beach
It was a bit cooler in Barcelona than in Mallorca, but we couldn't miss the beach. An ordinary city beach with sand, starting right behind the residential areas. The sea here is completely different: strong waves, on which you can swing to the point of insanity and then shake the sand out of your swimsuit for a long time. Well, it was colder, of course, compared to the calm waters of Mallorca.

If you walk from Barceloneta towards the W Hotel Barcelona along the beach of Sant Sebastian, you can find an amazing bar salt located right on the beach. Wicker chairs stand on the sand, lounge-style music, cocktails are pleasant, the sea splashes at your feet, the night sky .. It was very good.

ClubOpiumMar andCDLC
One of top clubs Barcelona, located on Barceloneta, a stone's throw from each other. It's great when the club is right on the beach, and you can go out on the sand with a cocktail to listen to the waves. The music is great, the people are nice and international, the entrance is 20 euros, you can get there by taxi (they are in huge number waiting for those who want to ride around the city at night on the Rambla and in general in the center).

Tibidabo Park
Everyone who watched Vicky Cristina Barcelona remembers old park entertainment and a red airplane - this is the park on Mount Tibidabo, where the seducer Bardem brought his two girls.
The park is over a hundred years old, but you can ride the rides without fear that they will fall apart. Slides a la American are not at all scary, even I liked them. Cool wildly fast train and carousel on chains.
Tibidabo offers a great view of the city, and it even seems that the statues of Christ on top of the Sacred Heart Cathedral are touching the cloud.
You can get to the mountain from the Avinguda Tibidabo metro station, first on the Blue Tram, and then on the funicular.

Montjuic
Montjuic is another lookout opposite Tibidabo. You can get there by cable car, passing through the entire bay (scary, by the way), starting from metro Barceloneta. In general, Montjuic has a park, a Spanish village with the main attractions of Spain in miniature, and Olympic pools, but since the visit to Montjuic was scheduled for the penultimate day, I just wanted to take a walk and take another look at the city. Therefore, having reached the end point of the cable car, we began to descend to the Plaza de España in order to look at the Magic Fountain near the National Palace.

On the way, I found a cool Noa-Noa bar at Carrer de Lleida, 23, with a cheerful atmosphere and a Russian-speaking owner.

Port Aventura
How to visit Barcelona and not go to the amusement park Port Aventura. Even if you are afraid of slides. There is a direct train from Passeig de Gracia station (via Tarragona in the direction of Salou), and at the station you can also buy a ticket to the park + a return ticket. Useful advice: check the schedule of return trains and if there are planned interruptions in transport communication for this day.

On the two most-most slides (Dragon Khan and Shambhala) we did not ride, because. I personally was even scared to look at them, and when I found out that in Shambhala they generally only fasten their belts, and their hands dangle, I decided that this was too much .. So, even if you are not a fan of extreme slides, it’s all the same in Port Aventura there is something to ride.

Furius Baco, for example, belongs to the “black”, but I even rode it with pleasure twice (it is located at the very beginning of the park). Oh my god, I just read that it accelerates to 135 km / h! .. This is not felt at all (tried to reassure).
I really liked all the water rides - Tutuki splash (Polynesia), Grand Canyon Rapids and Silver River Flume (Wild West). I advise you to buy a raincoat!

Return from Port Aventura back to Barcelona made me worry. At the time indicated by the schedule, the required return train did not come. He did not come even after an hour. And two hours later. It was already dark outside and even colder. People on the platform became nervous, no one understood how to get back to the city. Only the local Spanish rastamans did not tense up, who, for the purpose of heating, lit a fire right next to the station and urged everyone to relax. As a result, taxi drivers quickly found out about the transport collapse, and we drove back (2 hours by car) for 200 euros per car ... The Spaniards, what to take from them, are constantly on strike, you see, and there was another strike on the railway!

I won’t write anything about Gaudi and Park Güell, you just have to go there, it’s a must see!

Transport in Barcelona
If possible, it is best to avoid the subway. I have never seen such an ill-conceived and inconvenient system. Firstly, it is incredibly stuffy there (on the platforms while you are waiting for the train) - after 10 minutes there is an irresistible desire to see the light again and breathe in the air. Secondly, you can wait for the train, but it will not come (by analogy with the railway). Well, the pointer system - where to go in order to go further, is clearly suffering. Better enjoy ground transport. The same applies to the way to the airport: it is better to take a bus or call a taxi (about 30-40 euros from the center) than to wait for the metro.

Shopping in Barcelona
Left for the last day. In the area of pl. Catalonia has three large shopping centers El Corte Inglés, as well as many small shops.
Needless to say, we didn’t have time to get around everything, already when we were dragging our suitcases to the bus to the airport, we saw a wine cellar and ran there for joy, but, realizing that we wouldn’t carry much, we returned. I didn't want to leave like never before! Barcelona is beautiful hospitable city, in which you need to come for at least a week. This is one of the cities to which you want to return.

Mallorca is one of largest islands, which are part of Spain, located on the Balearic archipelago in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. I believe that this is truly a heavenly place where you can enjoy picturesque landscapes, clean beaches and forget about all everyday problems.

This small island, whose area is only 3.5 thousand square kilometers, is a little different from the resorts we are used to in Spain, and all because in its entire long history it managed to be at the disposal of the Phoenicians, Romans, and of course, the Arabs. Therefore, the culture here is really very rich!

My acquaintance with this wonderful island began with its capital - Palma de Mallorca. It is here that all its main attractions are concentrated.

As soon as I left the airport, I was struck by a long palm avenue that led arriving tourists to the parking lot. The palm trees there are truly majestic, the size of three-story houses! You look and do not believe your eyes that just 4 hours ago you were in a gray rainy city, and now you are already among such beauty!

And when you drive directly into the capital itself, your eyes begin to run wide. You look to the left - a turquoise sea, you look to the right - a majestic cathedral, and right in front of you - high mountains.

Here you want to photograph absolutely everything, so I advise you to free up memory on your phone, tablet and camera in advance, because you will constantly have a desire to capture this or that place!

How to get there

There are two modes of transport to get to Mallorca: air and water.

By far, the most commonly used and comfortable option is air. In the island's capital, Palma, international Airport, from where every half an hour take off and where just as often land liners of various European airlines.

As for water communication, Palma has the main port of the island, where ships from various parts of Spain arrive daily, which is very convenient for tourists who spend most of their time relaxing on the mainland, for example, in Barcelona or Valencia, and go on an excursion to Palm.

You can get around the island by bus, car or train.

By plane

The main and only airport of the island, which bears the name Son San Joan , located 8 kilometers from the capital of Palma de Mallorca. It is here that both external and domestic flights. The airport has a very good connection with various European countries, including Russia.

Flights from Moscow

There are direct flights to Mallorca from Moscow (Domodedovo Airport): S7 airlines, the average cost of a round-trip ticket is 20 thousand rubles. In addition, you can fly to the island by flights with one or more transfers, which are operated by the Spanish airline Iberia also from Domodedovo Airport for the same price (about 20 thousand rubles). It is worth noting that there are several other European airlines that carry transfers to Palma, for example:

Finnair;
Lufthansa;
Swiss;
Czech Airlines;

But then the flight time will be more than 20 hours, which is completely inconvenient and not worth the money. Therefore, I advise you to choose a direct flight!

In this case, the travel time will be only 4.5 hours, so I recommend not saving on tickets and not spending the whole day on endless transfers.

You can compare prices yourself, for example,.

How to get from the airport to the city

You can get from the airport to the city center either by bus or by taxi.

Definitely the cheapest option is the bus. Routes No. 1 and No. 17 constantly run here, which will take you to Palma for only 3 €. If you need to resort town Arenal, then bus number 21 leaves from here directly to its center.

But a taxi will cost much more - the average cost of the trip will be 20 €, and if you are traveling in a group, you can order a minivan for 40 €.

In addition, you can rent a car directly at the airport, there are a wide range of car rental companies (Hertz, Avis, Europcar). The average rental price starts from 50 € per day. Details below.

By ferry

So, the second way to get to Mallorca is to sail from another part of Spain by ferry or high-speed catamaran. The latter depart daily to the island directly from:

Barcelona (4.5 hours drive)
Valencia (4-6 hours drive),
Menorca (2.5 hours drive),
Ibiza (3 hours drive)

The average ticket price is 40 € and depends on the features of the vessel.

How to get from the port to the center

The port of Palma de Mallorca is located 6 kilometers from the city center, if you wish and are in good physical condition, you can walk to the center from there along the promenade, enjoying beautiful views and a light breeze, or take bus number 1 for only 1.5 €.

The bus stop is next to the port. Of course, you can catch a taxi and get to the Cathedral (the trip will cost 10 €).

Clue:

Mallorca - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 2

Kazan 2

Samara 3

Yekaterinburg 4

Novosibirsk 6

Vladivostok 9

When is the season. When is the best time to go

According to local residents, the island of Mallorca opens up to tourists in all its glory at the end of spring and continues to please the eye until mid-autumn. This is the best time to relax!

As for winter, the Spaniards believe that in given time years, their life becomes very calm, quiet and even a little boring. Although the weather here is favorable in winter (about +14 ° C), there is absolutely nothing to do. Because you won’t lie down on the beach, you won’t swim, and you won’t enjoy seasonal fruits and vegetables. Therefore, it is not worth going to Mallorca in the low season (that is, from November to March). The only tourists on the island at this time are employees of companies that arrange business meetings, trainings or business trips here.

Mallorca in summer

Like all resorts, Mallorca is especially beautiful in summer. It is at this time of the year that the air and water temperatures reach their maximum and all the most beautiful flowers and shrubs of the island bloom everywhere. By the way, it was in Mallorca that I noticed a very large number of those flowering evergreens, and this cannot but please the eye!

Of course, summer (especially July) is also a vacation time, so there are a lot of tourists here, in fact, like everywhere else. But since Mallorca is still an island and holidays on it are not cheap, wealthy Europeans love to come here most of all, and most often those who are over 35, or young families with children. It is believed that holidays in Mallorca are quite calm and the pace of life is measured, so all young people who prefer nightclubs to evening boat trips go to the neighboring island, Ibiza. But at the same time, it cannot be said that Mallorca is a remote place suitable only for pensioners: here you can also have fun and actively relax. But the most important treasure of the island is the incredible beauty of nature! Such landscapes as here, you will not see anywhere else!

By the way, the climate here is very pleasant, in summer the air temperature reaches around +30 °C, and in winter - +15 °C. But unfortunately, there is nothing to do in Mallorca in winter. Locals say that at this time of the year they have a lull. In fact, the island is inhabited by about a million people, so at a time when all the tourists go home, the island becomes empty and almost deserted. Residents quietly go about their daily business, and nothing special happens here. Therefore, I do not advise you to go here in winter, although if you are tired of the bustle and noise of the city, then here you can definitely be alone with yourself and nature. No wonder it is here that the residence of the Spanish royal family is located! Celebrities such as Claudia Schiffer, Michael Douglas and Gwyneth Paltrow also bought villas in Mallorca. Since Mallorca has pleased the pretentious taste of the stars of the first magnitude, then you will definitely like it too!

Mallorca in autumn

The beginning of autumn in Mallorca is considered the velvet season, so until the end of September you can enjoy bright sun and warm sea. But since October, the sun sets at 7 pm, and it becomes noticeably colder, the temperature reaches + 7–8 ° C.

Even in the period from late October to early November, rains and thunderstorms become more frequent on the island. Therefore, at this time it is no longer worth relaxing in Mallorca.

Mallorca in spring

In the spring in Mallorca, the high season gradually begins, already in March - April the air temperature reaches + 20–23 ° C, the warm, pleasant sun shines, and flowers begin to bloom. At this time, you can’t swim yet, but you can already take sunbaths.

In spring, the island is good because there are still few tourists here, and you can spend a quiet relaxing holiday.

Mallorca in winter

Winter in Mallorca is a time of complete silence and serenity. Here the sun often shines, and snow falls only in the mountains, it rarely reaches the lowlands. December is considered the month of rains, but January and February are characterized by pleasant comfortable weather. average temperature during the day it reaches +14–15 °C.

The only caveat is that it is very boring here in winter, and this is the favorite time of the year for pensioners to relax.

Mallorca - monthly weather

Clue:

Mallorca - monthly weather

What are the prices for holidays

As I mentioned earlier, holidays on the island of Mallorca can be classified as luxury, and therefore here you will find hundreds of villas and apartments for rent, the price of which starts from 1.5 thousand € for 10 nights.

In principle, if you compare this price with hotels, the difference will be insignificant. For the same 10 days in a 3-star hotel in any area of the island, you will give an average of about 1.7 thousand €, and in a 5-star hotel - about 4 €.

If you take into account that in your apartments you will cook on your own, and in hotels you will use the all-inclusive service, then your costs will be approximately the same.

So it's up to you to decide what is more convenient, but personally I lived in a good 3-star hotel, where in addition to the all-inclusive food there is a free gym, bar, pool and, of course, theme parties!

TOP 5 best hotels on the island

I want to present you my TOP 5 the best hotels islands:

Globales Simar 4 * (from 1.7 thousand € for 10 days for two).
Barcelo Ponent Playa 3 * (from 1.3 thousand € for 10 days for two).
Globales Palmanova 4 * (from 2.1 thousand € for 10 days for two).
Insotel Cala Mandia Resort & Spa 4 * (from 4.2 thousand € for 10 days for two).
Blue Bay Hotel 3 * (from 1.2 thousand € for 10 days for two).

You can navigate the prices for ready-made tours (with flights, transfers, accommodation and insurance) to hotels of different categories in the Trevelask section.

Expenses

So, if you decide to stay at a hotel, then there will be no problems with food, and if you decide to rent an apartment or a villa, then you have the option to buy in supermarkets, of which there are quite a few on the island. One of the most popular, often caught my eye - Eroski. This is a popular supermarket chain in Spain where you can buy everything from bread to hand cream at average Spanish prices.

If you buy groceries for a week, the average check will be about 60 €. You can also visit restaurants and cafes, which will turn out to be quite expensive, given that the average bill will be 50–60 €.

You can go on excursions both on your own and with a guide. Mallorca is a small island, from Palma you can get to Alcudia in just an hour and a half, that is, it will not be difficult to travel around the entire island up and down in one day.

You can rent a car for 50–70 € per day and go explore the island yourself, or you can travel by bus for only 6 €. Group tour with a guide on your own rented bus will cost about 100 €. A trip around the island by taxi will cost about 80–90 €.

Main attractions. What to watch

Mallorca is famous for its variety of attractions and incredibly beautiful places to visit.

If you like to find out all the smallest details and interesting facts about certain sights, you can hire a guide or book a full tour. And if you like to walk independently on beautiful places and independently discover something new, you can explore everything on your own.

It is worth choosing a day for the tour in advance, it is advisable to select one of the weekdays (except Friday), because on weekends the locals have a siesta and rest, and there are too many people on the streets that will prevent you from seeing everything properly. Bad weather is extremely rare in Mallorca, so you should not be afraid of rain and cold weather, but you can still look at the forecast before the walk, just in case.

The capital of the island, Palma, is not very large, so you can walk around the city and see the main sights.

The map below shows the main tourist spots, museums, galleries, bus stops and more.

I bring to your attention my version of one day in the capital of the island of Palma, I advise you to travel by Citysightseeing tourist bus (ticket price 18.5 €):

10:00 - we go to Bellver Castle, which is located a couple of kilometers from the city. Here we will spend about 2 hours.
12:00 - we are on our way to the Spanish village.
13:30 - stop for lunch at the author's restaurant Sadrassana Restaurant Cocteleria (Placa Drassana, 15).
15:00 - we go to the cathedral. Since this place is considered the main attraction of the city, we will spend about 2 hours here.
17:00 - we will go out to the main tourist streets of Palma and take a walk, go to the ice cream parlor Rivareno (Plaza Llotja, 1) and enjoy the most delicious cold dessert of the island.
20:00 - dine with seafood at La Parada del Mar restaurant (Avenida Joan Miro 244 Marivent) and celebrate the end of a great day with a glass of sangria.

Top 5

Below I will give a list of places that, in my opinion, you should definitely visit in Mallorca in order to truly experience the atmosphere and culture of the island.

Cathedral

It is he who is one of the most iconic buildings on the island of Mallorca. The construction of the cathedral began in the 13th century, so now it is officially proclaimed a cultural and historical monument of the island. This place is truly extraordinary!

Inside, the cathedral is decorated with colored stained-glass windows by various masters, the main altar with four columns, which is decorated with a canopy made by Gaudí himself. Also here is one of the largest organs in Europe. Agree that this place should not be left unattended!

Address: Plaza Almoina, s/n, 07001 Palma de Mallorca.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 18:15.

Ticket price: 7 €/person

Cape Formentor

This is one of the most visited places on the island! To visit Mallorca and not come to Formentor is a real crime. Formentor is located near the town of Pollensa and its main port. Its length is about 300 meters above sea level, so the views here are incredible: such that it takes your breath away. It is impossible to explain, you need to evaluate it with your own eyes!

Address: Cap de Formentor.

Opening hours: around the clock.

Free admission.

Bellver Castle

A couple of kilometers from the city of Palma, on a hilltop, is the medieval castle Castell de Belver. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that it is the only gothic castle round shape in Europe, built in the Middle Ages.

It used to be the summer residence of the King of Spain, and later served as a prison, the prisoners of which were such famous personalities as the writer Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos and the widow of King Jaime III. The castle has a large observation deck, which offers a beautiful view of Palma and its surroundings.

Address: Carrer Camilo José Cela, s/n, 07014 Palma.

Opening hours: 8:30-20:00.

Ticket price: 2.5 €/person

spanish village

There is a wonderful place in Palma where tourists have the opportunity to see the most important buildings in Spain and feel the atmosphere different cities. This place is called the Spanish Village.

In addition to the main attractions, you can visit small souvenir shops and cafes with delicious tapas.

Address: Calle Poble Espanyol, 55.

Opening hours: from 9 to 19:00.

Ticket price: 8 €/person

Natura Park

This beautiful nature reserve is located just half an hour from Palma and is home to dozens of different species of animals and birds from all over the world. The park is located in the open air in the shade of trees and includes several routes.

Here live tigers, monkeys, porcupines, raccoons, turtles, flamingos and even lemurs, which you can feed from your hands! This is an ideal place to relax with children, as well as for those who are not indifferent to our little brothers!

Address: Carretera de Sineu, Km 15,400, 07142 Santa Eugenia.

Opening hours: from 10 to 17:30.

Ticket price: 9 €/person

Beaches. Which one is better

Mallorca is an ideal place for a beach holiday, it is on this island that there are dozens of the best beaches in Spain, and what is there in Spain, all over the world! In fact, no matter what beach you come here, it will definitely be quiet, cozy and clean. Even not far from Palma in the resort areas where thousands of tourists rest, they are very worthy! But the most best places to soak up the sun and enjoy swimming in transparent sea water- secluded bays, of which there are many in Mallorca.

As I wrote above, I was relaxing in the Cala Mayor area, a few kilometers from the capital, and one day, quite by accident, I wandered into a bay where there was a small beach, and the sea was crystal clear there! There were not very many vacationers there, mostly locals and tourists like me, who, most likely, also accidentally found this piece of paradise.

And yet, I will give a list of the best of the best beaches in Mallorca, which are worth a visit if only to understand what heaven on earth is.

Beach Cala S "Almunia

This beach is located in the bay of the town of Santana and is surrounded by rocks, serenity and tranquility reign here. By the way, the beach has all the conditions for diving, and soft azure waves will allow you to fully enjoy the sea. But it is worth considering that the infrastructure is not developed on the beach, so there are no restaurants, no toilets, no showers and changing cabins.

The type of coating is pebbly, the entry into the water is gentle.

Address: Diseminado Poligono 3, 594, 07690 Santanyí.

Cala Mondrago beach

Another truly heavenly place in Mallorca. The beach is located on the territory of the natural park among pine trees and rocks. Despite the fact that this place is quite popular, here you can enjoy peace and quiet. By the way, this beach is shallow, so it is great for families with children. Here you can rent umbrellas and sunbeds, there is also a cafe where you can buy soft drinks and a snack.

The type of beach is sandy, the entry into the water is gentle.

Address: Cala Mondragó, Balearic Islands.

Es Trenc beach

Es Trenc is 2 kilometers long. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that this is the only beach on the island that has not been affected by urbanization, so it looks very exotic and is ideal for romantic dates and walks. You can also rent umbrellas and sun loungers.

The coast is sandy, the entry into the water is gentle.

Address: Ma-6030, 68, 07639 Mallorca, Illes Balears.

Playa de Formentor beach

Formentor Beach, as you may have guessed, is located near the famous cape of the same name. And, of course, it is also famous for its beauty and wonderful views. The beach stretches for one and a half kilometers, it is surrounded by pine trees, under which it is pleasant to lie down in the summer heat. The sea here is shallow and very clean, and near the beach there are dozens of cafes and restaurants where you can have a delicious lunch. Prices in establishments vary, the average bill for lunch will be about 10–15 €.

Beach type: sandy, gently sloping entry into the water.

Address: Carrer Zona Formentor, 66A, 07460.

Cala de Sa Calobra beach

And to top it off, perhaps the most magical bay on the entire island, where a small pebble beach is located between the rocks of the Sierra de Tramuntana. This place is definitely worth the trip! Seeing the magnificence that Sa Calobra offers, you will forever keep in your heart the memories of that wonderful day when you got here! But it is worth noting that there are no facilities on the beach, so it is advisable to take care in advance and take everything you need with you.

The type of coast is rocky, the entry into the water is gentle.

Address: Carrer Port De Sa Calobra.

Churches and temples. Which are worth a visit

Despite the fact that Mallorca is an island, there are a lot of churches and monasteries here. By the way, services are held in all the active ones, and any tourist can visit these temples and admire their interior decoration.

Church of Saint Francis

The church is located in Palma, it was built in the 13th century, better known as a Gothic monastery, which houses the tomb of the Catalan philosopher Ramon Llull.

Opening hours: 9:30-12:30 and 15:10-18:00.

Address: Basilica de Sant Francesc, 07001 Palma, Islas Baleares.

Monastery of Señora de Cura

This monastery is located on the top of a half-kilometer hill in the Randa valley. Its distinguishing feature is that it is from here that most of the island is visible, and more recently a bar has been opened here and observation deck. This place is worth a visit to enjoy great views and take great photos.

Opening hours: 9:30-18:00.

Address: Puig de Randa, S/N, 07629 Randa, Illes Balears.

Monastery of San Salvador

This is a former monastery building, which is located on the highest hill in Mallorca, near the town of Felanitx. Previously, monks lived here, and now the monastery is a favorite place for pilgrims. From it you can see the entire eastern part of the island.

Opening hours: 8–20:00

Address: Santuari de Sant Salvador, 07208 Felanitx, Islas Baleares.

Luke Monastery

This medieval monastery is very revered by the inhabitants of Mallorca, it is he who is considered the religious center of the island! There are wonderful gardens, as well as a large museum. There is even an inexpensive hotel near the monastery, and all because it is very beautiful here and the picturesque mountains of the Sierra de Tramuntana are nearby.

Opening hours: 10-13:30 and 14:30-17:00

Address: Plaza Peregrins, 1, 07315 Lluc, Mallorca, Islas Baleares.

Museums. Which are worth a visit

There are quite a few museums in Mallorca, perhaps because incredible nature compensates here for all cultural institutions. Below I have selected some of the most interesting of them, which are really worthy of the attention of tourists.

Museum of Ceramics

In the northeast, not far from Palma, is the small town of Sa Cabaneta, which is considered the center of ceramics production. In 2002, a museum was opened here, which displays about a thousand traditional examples of Majorcan ceramics, which are worth seeing. The museum houses a school of pottery and various souvenir shops.

Museum address: Carrer del Moli, 4.

Free admission. The museum is open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 13:30.

Manor Raikh

12 kilometers from Palma, on the way to the city of Soyer, there is a beautiful estate, which is an object of historical and artistic value in Mallorca. Previously, there was a Moorish building here, and after several changes of owners, it came to the Count of Montenegro and was ennobled. It's crazy here beautiful landscapes, large gardens and beautiful architecture.

Museum address: Palma - Sóller Road, km. 12.2 07110 Bunyola.

Free admission.

Shoe Museum

Mallorca makes very high quality leather products, including shoes. In 2010, a museum dedicated to this theme was opened in the city of Inca, where various traditional exhibits are presented, and temporary exhibitions with samples of various leather products are often arranged here.

Museum address: Antiguo Cuartel General Luque, Avenida del General Luque, 223.

Free admission. Muse It is open from Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 20:00, on Saturday the museum is open from 10:00 to 13:00.

parks

The island of Mallorca can be called one big park, wherever you go, you will be surrounded by small picturesque bays, green spaces, majestic mountains and endless expanses. However, there are several on the island noteworthy national parks and reserves.

Parc Natural de Mondrago

It is pleasant to walk in this park during the intense heat, because numerous coniferous trees will cover you from the burning sun. There are several specific routes here, walking along which you can meet forest dwellers.

Address: Sudlich von Ma-19 zwischen s "Alqueria Blanca und Portopetro.

Opening hours: 9:00–16:00. Free admission.

Parque natural s "Albufera de Mallorca

Here you can enjoy the singing of beautiful birds, as well as watch them in special houses, sit on the banks of a small river and admire its local inhabitants, and, of course, take great photos.

Address: Llista de Correus | Llista de Correus, 07458.

Opening hours: 9:00–18:00. Free admission.

Artestruz Mallorca

And here you can see the real ostriches! What's more, you can hand-feed them, and children are even allowed to ride ostriches on horseback. This is a small farm owned by an ordinary Spanish family, whose members will gladly give you a tour.

Address: Pmv-6014 Km 40 | Road Llucmajor to Ses Salines, 07630.

Opening hours: 10:00–20:00. Ticket price: 12 €/person

nearby islands

If you will be relaxing in Mallorca, then I advise you to choose a day or a whole weekend and dedicate it to a trip to Ibiza.

Balearia ferries leave from the main port of Palma to the port of Ibiza several times a day. The duration of the trip is approximately 3-4 hours, the average ticket price ranges from 50 to 70 euros per person. There are also Transmediterranea ferries from Mallorca to Ibiza, but keep in mind that they only run on Sundays in the summer.

Details and schedule can be found on the official website of the company.

In Ibiza, you can walk around the capital of the island of the same name and look at its protective walls, which were erected here in the Middle Ages. It is also worth visiting the Punic Necropolis, and be sure to visit picturesque bay Cala d'Hort.

Food. What to try

At first, you might think that there are no traditional dishes in Mallorca, and that the usual Spanish gazpachos, tapas and tortillas are eaten there. But how surprised I was when I found out that this small island has its own national dishes that you will not try on the mainland.

Majorquina soup

It is a broth with vegetables and pork and is served with sliced bread.

The soup is insanely delicious and very satisfying, which is why we love it so much. local residents.

Tumbet

It consists of vegetables, namely: potatoes, eggplant and onions.

And also meat or fish is added to them to taste.

Sobrasada

Be sure to try it - this is a moderately spicy minced pork and bacon sausage, very reminiscent of chorizo, popular in Spain, since their cooking technology is very similar.

Ensaimada

And for dessert, don't forget to enjoy this delicious Mallorcan puff pastry. It is rightfully considered the most favorite sweet of the locals.

Ensaimada dough is airy, melting in the mouth, the pie itself is filled with whipped cream or delicate syrup, and sprinkled with powdered sugar on top.

Beverages

Liqueurs are popular among local drinks: Herbas secas (dry) and Herbas dulces (sweet). They are infused with anise with the addition of various fragrant herbs.

A very popular aperitif on the island is the Palo drink, which is made by mixing sweet caramel with bitter cinchona bark.

Here I will list the best restaurants on the island:

Es Raco d "es Teix (the average bill is 50–70 €);
Salvia Restaurant (average bill is 20 €);
A ma Maison (average bill is 30 €);
Restaurante Toque (average bill is 35 €);
Restaurante Peix Vermell (average bill is 40€)

And a few more establishments at prices.

Budget:

Kingfisher Restaurant;
El Norte Sidreria Restaurante;
QuitaPenas Valldemossa;
5illes Eat & Drink;
Restaurante Luna 36.

Intermediate level:

Como En Casa;
Smith's Cafe-Bar-Restaurant;
Ca "n BoQueta;
Bistro Mercat;
Marsim Bistrobarante.

Quadrat Restaurant;
Ribello;
Restaurant Ca'n Josep;
Ola del Mar;
Forn de Sant Joan.

Holidays

As the locals joke, in Mallorca every day is a holiday! And this is fully justified: a wonderful climate, beautiful nature and the endless sea contribute to the fact that the inhabitants of the island always have a good mood. But there are also several official holidays.

San Rua carnival

A special holiday in Mallorca is the Sa Rua carnival. Here it is held in winter, in the first half of February.

Elegant residents in costumes take to the streets of the capital and arrange a procession. The carnival is held before the beginning of the Catholic Lent.

Mallorca Day

This holiday is celebrated on September 12, it was adopted by King James II back in 1276, when the island of Mallorca was liberated from Muslims.

On this day, concerts and fairs are organized on the island.

Safety. What to watch out for

Mallorca seemed to me a very calm and safe place. Of course, pickpocketing, which is widespread in Europe, should not be ruled out, but in general, walking around Palma and its environs in the evening is not at all scary, because in summer life is in full swing until late at night.

In large stores and supermarkets, you will definitely not be deceived, and in small souvenir shops you can count your purchase amount and the change received just in case, although it is generally not common here to openly cash in on tourists.

Therefore, in Mallorca you should not beware of something serious, but still the basic simple safety rules should be observed.

Things to do

Mallorca has a lot of entertainment, you can explore all the beaches of the island and go snorkeling, or you can immerse yourself in its cultural life and visit the most important museums, temples and other historical sights of the island.

You can also go to Cape Formentor, admire the wonderful scenery and arrange a photo shoot there. Or go to the eastern part of the island to meet the owners of local farms and try their traditional dishes. Do not forget about shopping, you must definitely go to the center of leather products - the city of Inca. There are a lot of options, choose what you like about your soul and enjoy your vacation!

Despite the fact that Mallorca is quite small island shopping here is a pleasure! And all because here you can find exclusive items that are produced only in the Balearic Islands!

Majorica

Vinguda Jaume III and Passeig des Born Plaza Mayor

Porto Pi

1127 Porto Pi (bus no. 1).

TOP 5 best bars in Mallorca:

TOP 5 best clubs in Mallorca:

extreme sports

If you love water sports, namely diving, surfing, snorkeling or windsurfing, then Mallorca is for you. perfect place. After all, it is here in the resort of Alcudia that the center aquatic species sports . It is an excellent holiday destination for those who prefer leisure.

For more than 20 years, the school has been offering travelers training in rowing, windsurfing, the basics of navigation, and sailing. Guests of the center can also go paragliding and mountain biking. And if you are interested in yachting, you can take an introductory course here. In general, you certainly will not be bored!

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

From the island of Mallorca, you can bring quite a lot of original gifts to your friends and relatives. You can buy traditional summer sandals, which I wrote about above, by the way, here you can even buy a magnet in the shape of such sandals! Be sure to take the ensaimada pie with you, which can be stored for 2-3 days when closed, and please your friends with this delicacy in the first days after arriving home (the average price per kilogram is 7-10 €).

And do not forget that in the city of Inca they sew high-quality leather goods, so feel free to buy bags, belts and shoes.

Shopping and shops

Despite the fact that Mallorca is a rather small island, shopping here is a pleasure! And all because here you can find exclusive items that are produced only in the Balearic Islands!

An excellent example is the traditional summer sandals - avarks. Their homeland is the neighboring island of Menorca. They are made of genuine leather, in various colors - standard plain or decorated with beads, bright prints, rhinestones. In Mallorca, they are sold both in small shoe stores and in leather factories, for example, in the city of Inca. These unusual sandals can be a great souvenir for family and friends, and will look great with both shorts and flowy dresses. Their cost varies depending on the materials they are made from, but the average price of avark is around 30€ per pair.

And it is here that the famous factory of artificial pearls is located. Majorica . If you find yourself in a company store, then you definitely won’t be left without a purchase! Pearl beads and bracelets, earrings and pendants are distinguished by their elegance and excellent quality. Prices for pearls are different, for example, the average cost of a pearl necklace is about 300 €, but a pearl bracelet will cost you 100 €. By the way, the factory warranty is 10 years!

Of course, do not forget about leather products. Head straight to the city of Inca, where leather factories and shops for shoes and accessories are located at every turn. Popular shoe manufacturers here are: Camper, Bestard, Jaime Mascaro, Barrats, Tomeu, Bestard.

In Palma, go shopping in the areas: A Vinguda Jaume III and Passeig des Born, as well as many shops you will meet on the pedestrian street around Plaza Mayor. It will help you not to get lost again tourist map Palm trees where all the main streets are marked.

As in all of Spain, the most popular shopping mall here it is considered El Corte Ingles (Address: Alexandre Rosselló, 12-16). There are 3 stops near the mall:

422 Grans Magatzems (buses No. 1, 15, 23, 30 stop here).
195 Grans Magatzems (buses No. 2, 6, 12, 19, 41, 46).
48 Grans Magatzems (buses No. 7, 9, 10, 14, 16, 24).

And 2 kilometers from Palma there is a large shopping mall Porto Pi(Avinguda de Gabriel Roca, 54). There are 2 stops near it:

65 Porto Pi (buses number 3, 20 stop here).
1127 Porto Pi (bus no. 1).

Sales in Mallorca are traditionally held in winter from January to March and in summer from July 1 to the end of August.

bars

TOP 5 best bars in Mallorca:

Cuba 58 (opening hours can be clarified by phone +34 653 32 34 50, average price per drink - 15 €);
Cafe Atlantico Cocktail Bar (opening hours: 13:00–02:30, average price per cocktail - 10 €);
El Ancla (opening hours: 19:30–02:30, the average price for a drink is 7 €);
Samoa Bar (opening hours can be clarified by phone +34 971 26 37 01, the average price for a drink is 5 €);
Waikiki - Cocktail Bar (opening hours: 11-01:30, average price per drink - 8 €).

Clubs and nightlife

TOP 5 best clubs in Mallorca:

Pacha (working hours: 00:00–07:00, ticket prices depend on which DJ plays in the club, the average price will be 40–60 €);
Tito "s (working hours: 23:00–06:00);
Jazz Voyeur Club (opening hours: 09:15-03:00);
BCM Planet Dance (opening hours: 22:00–07:00, average ticket price is 25–30 €);
RIU Palace (opening hours: 21:00–05:30, admission is paid, but you can get a flyer for a free party from promoters who distribute them on the beaches).

Mallorca - holidays with children

A holiday in Mallorca with children is a great idea, because here you can really enjoy the peace and quiet, and the children will be impressed by the picturesque landscapes and encounters with wild animals that you can find in Natura Park, on an ostrich farm or in nature reserves. When traveling with a child, you should pay attention to the southwestern, northern or eastern part of the island - in such places there are few noisy youth and parties, so here you can really relax and gain strength.

Ski holidays

conditional areas. Descriptions and Features

Mallorca is divided into 7 main areas:

metropolitan,
central,
northwestern,
south,
southwestern,
southeastern,
northeastern.

metropolitan area

Located closer to the southwestern part of the island, it is here that the main attractions and the residence of the royal family are located. If you want to be in the center of all events, then it is worth settling here.

The city itself is quite noisy, crowds of tourists walk around, it is very hot and stuffy during the day, so I recommend renting an apartment or staying in a hotel, which is located a few kilometers from Palma. I lived in the vicinity of Cala Major beach - this is a typical Spanish resort suburb, there are many hotels, cafes, shops, a large public beach and several museums. In general, an ideal place for those who like a measured, but not too boring holiday. Housing here will be more expensive than in other areas, since this is the capital, that is, the most important area of the island.

southwestern region

This area of the island is the most densely populated. Here are located such large cities as Illetas, Portals, Santa Ponsa, Paguera. It is best to come here with family and children, because in these places you can relax and enjoy the tranquility.

It is also here that the large golf club Bendinat is located, so the area is considered very prestigious and by no means cheap.

Northwestern region

Along the coast, in the shade of trees, townhouses and villas are located, which, if desired, can be rented for the summer, and here you can also observe beautiful mountain landscapes. Why not a heavenly place?

northern region

This area is famous for its unforgettable views and pristine beaches. It is here that the most high point islands - Cape Formentor, which offers a magnificent view of the sea. Housing in this place will be quite expensive due to the extraordinary beauty of nature and due to the proximity to the "star" villas.

The major cities of the region are Alcudia and Poyença. There is a port near Pollença from where you can sail around the island on a yacht.

Northeast of the island

It is distinguished by its beauty and serenity. Settling here, you will forget about all the problems and the bustle of the city.

In the area, you will find a large number of traditional rural houses and farms, as well as the chance to mingle with friendly locals, and they may invite you to taste oranges grown in their garden or homemade jamon (pork jerky).

Southeast

It is essentially very similar to the northeast, agriculture and navigation are also common here, so if you want to get to know the local way of life and taste fresh fruits, vegetables and seafood, as well as immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the island, get to know its cultural and historical component, then this is a great option!

Southern part of the island

But it is famous for its long beaches, sports bars and noisy discos. The largest resort town is Arenal. It is here that the largest water park of the island is located, an amazing aquarium with sharks and rays, and many more bars. The place is considered quite budgetary for recreation, so all young people live in this part, respectively, the prices for living here do not bite compared to the costs in other areas.

If you like bright fun vacation, then you here. A little to the south is the longest beach of the island - Es Trenc. It is distinguished by white sand and a light blue sea.

central part

These are picturesque estates, almond orchards, pastures and olive fields. Another great place in order to relax in peace, while being only half an hour from Palma.

Here is located Big City Inca, which is famous all over the world for the production of quality leather goods, as well as the city of Sineu, which is definitely worth a visit to look at the magnificent churches and the former royal palace, as well as go to the largest fair on the island, which is held on Wednesdays.

I usually look for hotels on Booking - but you can check if there is a more attractive price anywhere.

Offers for renting private apartments can be viewed at the link.

How to get around the island

There are many ways to get around the city and around the island.

The most interesting is on the island's historic electric train. It starts from the Palma de Mallorca station (Carrer Eusebi Estada, 1), travels along the island, winding between mountains and plains, and stops at the Soyer railway station.

In addition, the island has high-speed trains that run on several routes:

Palma Inca Sa Sobla;
Palm Manacor.

The train starts from the underground station in Plaza España in Palma. A ticket for it can be purchased from the conductor or at the box office of the city.

And of course you can rent a car.

Taxi. What features exist

And another comfortable option for getting around Mallorca is by taxi. The average cost of a trip is 20 €. List of popular taxi companies on the island:

IB Taxi;
Mallorcataxitransfer;
Mallorca Taxi Car;
Taxi PMI;
majorcabdriver;
Fono Taxi.

Public transport

The most convenient way to get around Mallorca is by bus. If you plan to drive around Palma and its surroundings, you can purchase a 10-ride pass for 10 €, which is very advantageous, since a ticket for 1 trip costs 1.5 €.

Booking Sites! Don't overpay. It !

Rent a Car- also aggregation of prices from all distributors, all in one place, let's go!

Have something to add?

Mediterranean Europe is an absolutely stunning travel destination. On the one hand, it is an opportunity to visit European cities and see the sights, and on the other hand, pay tribute to the beach holiday. Agree that if you are traveling for 2 weeks, then such a program will most likely appeal to all participants in the trip.

Today we will talk about how to plan a similar trip to Spain, and more specifically, we will consider the route Barcelona - Mallorca, combining two of the most popular places in Spain.

In terms of popularity among our compatriots, Spain has long been in the top three along with Turkey and Bulgaria. And no wonder, the Spanish coast is famous for its beaches. In 2012, Spain ranked 1st in terms of the number of received " blue flags” - a quality mark annually awarded to the best beaches in the world.

Spanish beaches stretch along the entire coast from Barcelona to Malaga. When buying a ticket, our tourist usually naively believes that having settled somewhere in the Tarragona region, he will easily visit all the interesting things that are in Catalonia, and at the same time drive him to Valencia - they say, how much that Spain is there!

Don't be fooled. After the first tedious (2 hours by train, a whole day on foot in the heat in the city and 2 hours back) excursion to Barcelona, you will say that well, these sights to hell, we’d better lie down on the beach. Or, if we really want to see something, we will buy an excursion from a tour operator - they will pick it up, take it, bring it back. Expensive, but not so hard, especially for children.

As a result, instead of a trip to Europe, you, in fact, get the same Turkey, but with a Spanish accent. It's a shame.

Planning a trip to Spain

In order not to be “excruciatingly painful” for the money spent and lost impressions, we will try to refuse to buy a tour and plan the trip ourselves. We will omit the technical details about, and, - our other articles are devoted to these issues, but let's talk about how to combine a full-fledged excursion program in Barcelona with an equally complete beach holiday.

First, we are looking for a hotel in the city. Do not try to kill two birds with one stone, arguing that 20-30 minutes on the train is nonsense. Not nonsense! Even if the trip is very short, it is psychologically difficult to make several trips a day, which means that you will go to Barcelona as if you were going to work - there in the morning, back in the evening - do you need it? Trust me, it makes a big difference. If you know that at any time you can return to the hotel to change, relax, leave your shopping bag - you never know! - this allows you to relax, not to check the train schedule and not put an end to night events. To select a hotel in Barcelona, you can use the hotel map below:

If you are going to Spain for a week, then take 2 days to walk around Barcelona. Devote another 2 days to long-distance excursions - to the Montserrat Monastery, to Girona and Figueres or to Port Aventura. From Barcelona there regularly go special tourist buses, and it is more convenient to get to Port Aventura by train. After the trip, return to the hotel, relax, have dinner, walk around the evening city.

Do not rush to the beach - the second half of your holiday will be devoted to the sea.

From Barcelona to Mallorca

Of the more than 500 Blue Flags received by Spain, 40 belong to the beaches of Mallorca - a solid contribution to the country's reputation, isn't it? Mallorca's beaches are really good: White sand, palm trees and crystal clear water. No wonder holidays in Mallorca are considered prestigious, and its 5-star hotels are often chosen by stars and celebrities for holidays.

Again, we will provide you with the choice of a hotel in Mallorca. And there is plenty to choose from, the whole island is a huge resort. You can live in the city or you can choose beach hotel, but given that the "urban" part of the trip has already taken place, we would recommend a hotel on the coast. By the way, many of them work on an all-inclusive basis. To select a hotel in Mallorca, you can use the hotel map below:

How to get from Barcelona to Mallorca? There is a ferry from Barcelona - it's 6-7 hours on the way and 60-70 euros one way. In our opinion, it is long and expensive, so we recommend flying by plane. There are many flights, the choice is large.

One of the airlines serving this route is the Spanish low-cost carrier Vueling (Vueling or Vueling, as we often call it). They make from 5 to 9 flights a day, starting from 7 am to 10 pm. Fly from Barcelona to Mallorca in 50 minutes.

Since Vyuling is a low-cost airline, be prepared for the fact that you will have to pay extra for choosing a seat in the cabin (if this is important for you) and limit your luggage to 23 kilograms. You will also need to pay extra for checking in luggage, and it’s cheaper to do it online; for checking in luggage at the airport, they charge 35 euros. But as hand luggage, you can take a bag or suitcase weighing 10 kg into the cabin.

As usual, minor payment troubles common to all low-cost airlines are compensated by an excellent price for a flight: the most cheap airfare Barcelona - Mallorca will cost 35 euros one way. For large families (from 3 children) Vueling provides a 5% discount.

You can buy tickets from Barcelona to Mallorca on the official website of Vueling Airlines: . The site is Russified.

By the way, Vueling offers both direct flights from Domodedovo to Palma de Mallorca and cheap tickets to Barcelona.

Have a nice holiday in Spain!

Article author: Katya Kim

I travel and write about travel. I don’t use the services of travel agencies, I don’t like sights that everyone “must visit”, I don’t talk about “resorts with developed infrastructure". I share my experience on how to travel on my own.

Where is the best place to relax in Spain? Barcelona or Costa Brava or?. . Where is the best beach? and got the best answer

Answer from La rosa[guru]
in Barcelona

Answer from 2 answers[guru]

Hello! Here is a selection of topics with answers to your question: Where is the best place to relax in Spain? Barcelona or Costa Brava or?. . Where is the best beach?

Answer from Serg tihom[guru]
if you need a beach 100-200m wide and + sightseeing in Barcelona (i.e. drive closer),
then I recommend the town of Callela (Calella) - north of Barcelona, 40 minutes drive to Barcelona by train.
At the ticket office of the trains, buy a BONATREN ticket - and you will have inexpensive 5 round-trip trips to Barcelona (that is, only 10 trips and a big discount price).
All other beach villages are further away. In the north there is still Malgrat, Tossa. And in the South of Barcelona - Solow is known, but it is a 3-hour drive from Barcelona.

Answer from Filaret[guru]
In Barcelona, the city has a large wide beach, but the sea is a little dirtier.

Answer from Marina Anatolyevna[guru]
in Salou, silky golden sand, excellent beaches, near PortAventura.. . and Barca is only 110 km, an hour by train

Answer from Prischepka[expert]
Most best beaches on the islands of course! Mallorca is heaven on earth! I'm flying there myself next week 🙂 Ibiza is also good, but people fly there to hang out and it's insanely expensive there... And from Mallorca you can get to Barcelona, and to Ibiza if you want! Ferries run regularly plus domestic flights are inexpensive. A friend was vacationing on the Costa Brava, she didn’t like it at all ... too crowded and feels like Turkey. It's always better on the islands 🙂

The largest of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca, washed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. His geographical location contributed to the fact that at different times the island was owned by the Arabs, then the Carthaginians, then the Greeks. Mallorca is now part of Spain.

As soon as the island is called by those who visited it and fell in love with it forever, it is an ideal place for sailing, a piece of paradise, and the best beach resort.

If you are fed up with the noisy, many-sided Barcelona and have studied its sights, it's time to expand your borders and go further to Mallorca. In our article, we will tell you how to get from Barcelona to Mallorca and back and how to get from Palma de Mallorca Airport to the city center.

Distance from Barcelona to Mallorca- 203 km.

How can you get to the island? Of course, by sea. From Barcelona to Mallorca and back daily ferries run two companies Balearia and Acciona. Departure time from Barcelona at 23:00 - arrival in Mallorca at 06:30. From Mallorca to Barcelona, ferries leave at 12:30, arriving at 19:45. There are other flights - choose the appropriate time.

Ticket price one way to seat place- from 121 dollars in the hot August season, you can buy them right at the port of Barcelona (or Mallorca) just before shipping. You can book a ticket online, for example, through the website.

It is not difficult to do this - just enter the necessary data in the window on the left: from where and where you are sailing, the number of people, the date of the trip. The system also asks if you need a car and if you need a ticket back (or only one way). Finally, having seen the proposed ferry raids, you can choose the right one and pay for tickets online (bank cards are accepted for payment). Don't forget to print the email you received. e-ticket!

Redemption of "cabin" places is possible, for a night's rest. If you decide to immediately buy a round trip ticket, there is a chance to get a significant discount. On the ferry, you can not only enjoy the beautiful views passing overboard, but also listen to music, watch a movie, sit in a bar with a glass of cocktail.

Vacationers, for the most part, are very satisfied with ferry trips:

Many people praise the cabins and overnight stays, speaking positively about the comfortable stay and delicious food served on board.
Others say that sailing on the ferry is easy and pleasant. In addition, everything went without delay and clearly on schedule.
Still others mention that the deck is very clean, the seats are comfortable, and the staff is polite, employees help to get on board, bring luggage.

Cruise Barcelona - Mallorca

Now more and more often choose short cruises on mediterranean sea. The amenities on the liner are the same as in expensive hotel and the atmosphere is romantic and mysterious.

For example, lasting 4 days will allow you to see several seaside cities. All day the liner will stay in a picturesque bay, you can have a good time, swim and sunbathe, and all transfers are carried out at night.

Thus, you significantly save on hotel and ground transportation.

For those who are not afraid to fly and want to save time by leaving it to explore unexplored places, there is an excellent option for traveling from Barcelona to Mallorca and back by plane. Travel time is from 45 minutes to 1 hour - agree, this is quite a bit.

Ticket price also very sparing - about 30 euros one way. There are plenty of airlines offering their services for flights from Barcelona to Mallorca and back, among them such as Vueling, Air Europa, Air France, Iberia, Air France, Niki, Ryanair, etc.

Flights operate daily from 7 am to 10 pm, so choosing the time that suits you and booking tickets is not difficult. We advise you to opt for trusted low-cost airlines (for example, Iberia or Vueling) - tickets are inexpensive and travel time is less than an hour.

List of airlines flying to Mallorca and the approximate cost of tickets (August, one way for one passenger):

Iberia	from 37 euro
Ryanair, Vueling	from 19 euro
Air Europe	from 47 euro
Niki	from 217 euros
british airways	from 230 euros
Air France	from 234 euros
Swiss Air	from 257 euros
germanwings	from 261 euros

And now a few words about where and how to buy a plane ticket from Barcelona to Mallorca and back. The most convenient way is to use Internet services that specialize in finding tickets for specified conditions (route, dates, fares).

We advise you to pay attention, for example, to aviasales.ru. On the main page, it is enough to enter the point of departure and arrival, the date of the flight, the number of passengers and the class (economy, business, etc.). The search engine will select all possible flights, and you, in turn, choose the one that suits you in terms of time and price by going to the seller’s website (as a rule, the sellers are the air carriers themselves - Ryanair, Vueling, Iberia, etc.).

Further - it is quite simple, it is enough to check everything again and pay online (bank cards are accepted for payment). An e-ticket will be sent to the mail you specified, which must be printed before the flight and presented at the airport.

Barcelona-Majorca: by ferry or plane?

Often, travelers face the question, what is the best way to use to get from Barcelona to Mallorca and back, by ferry or by plane?

Ferry fares more expensive than by plane. Travel time also varies - by plane 40 minutes-1 hour, and by ferry about 7 hours 30 minutes. So, if you are running out of time, you should choose a plane.

If there are plenty of free days left, and you are not afraid of seasickness, you can safely take ferry tickets and enjoy the seascape and the bright sun. However, we note that it makes sense to go by ferry to Palma de Mallorca for more than one day. True, there is also a “combined option”: sail to Mallorca by ferry, fly back to Barcelona by plane.

How to get from Palma de Mallorca airport to city center

Palma de Mallorca Airport (or Son San Juan Airport) is 8 km from the city centre. You can get from the airport to the center and back by taxi or public transport.

Bus number 17 takes you from the airport to the city center for 3 euros. And by bus number 1 - from the airport to Plaza España and the port for 2.5 euros. Movement interval public transport- 15-20 minutes.

If you want to travel with great comfort and not tire yourself waiting for the bus, you can take taxi or rent a car.

It is more convenient to order a taxi by phone or online, through the official websites of companies. A trip from Palma de Mallorca airport to the city center will cost you 30-40 euros (depending on the location of your hotel).

Taxi in Palma de Mallorca

It is most convenient to order a taxi on a Russian-speaking service, where you can clarify your wishes and choose a car class. The prices for taxis and transfers in Mallorca are reasonable. Use:

KiwiTaxi (transfer cost from 42 euros)
(from 10 euros for shuttle bus transfer)

Car rental in Mallorca

Another option for moving from Palma de Mallorca Airport to the city center and back is by renting a car. Rental services are provided directly at the airport.

You can see all the offers of international and local car rental companies, find free cars and book online on the website