Mallorca’s favourite resorts with German visitors
Eight different resorts where German is widely spoken.
In some Mallorcan resorts, menus are in German, hotel staff speak German and the people at the next table are discussing their flight from Düsseldorf. Some visitors enjoy that familiarity; others would rather stay somewhere different. Either is fair enough.
These eight places are well known for their German following. Here is what each resort is like, how far it is from the airport and whether you can manage without a hire car.
What are Mallorca’s German-speaking resorts like?
This is not a statistical league table. The selection comes from what I have seen and heard on visits: German menus, German-speaking staff and conversations at neighbouring tables. For an English-speaking visitor, that helps explain a resort’s atmosphere, but it does not mean you need to speak German to enjoy a holiday there.
The route runs clockwise from Peguera in the south-west to Port d’Alcúdia in the north. These are eight quite different places: a whitewashed resort planned in the 1930s, a working fishing harbour, a long beachfront close to Palma and a southern harbour with boats to Cabrera.
For each one, you will find airport transfer guidance, advice on managing without a car and an idea of who it suits. Whether you feel at home has much more to do with the kind of holiday you want than the language spoken at the next table.
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1. Peguera
Three sandy bays, rocky headlands with pines between them and a broad boulevard shaded by plane trees. Peguera makes a beach holiday straightforward, without pretending to be an untouched fishing village.
It is an easy choice for families, with gently shelving beaches, lifeguards in season and plenty within walking distance. Cala Fornells is just nearby, and Andratx makes a simple outing. I particularly enjoy April and October, when there is more room on the boulevard and the beaches are quieter.
- Airport transfer
- Roughly half an hour by road, depending on traffic
- Without a car
- Yes — beaches, the boulevard and restaurants are close together
- Best for
- Families, short walks and a quieter winter break
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2. Platja de Palma & S'Arenal
Around six kilometres of sand stretch east of Palma, from Ca’n Pastilla through Platja de Palma to S’Arenal. The atmosphere changes along the bay. Some areas are quiet and well kept; others are associated with the German party scene known as Ballermann.
For decades, I did not come to Mallorca because that was the only picture I had of the island. It was a mistake, and it cost me years of exploring. My honest view is that a day and a night here will tell you whether it suits you. Just do not let one stretch of beach put you off all the other places Mallorca has to offer, as I once did.
- Airport transfer
- Very close to the airport; journey time depends on your hotel, with the A2 airport bus serving the resort
- Without a car
- Yes — local EMT buses connect the resort area with Palma
- Best for
- A short transfer, a broad beach and a lively break
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3. Colònia de Sant Jordi
A former fishing harbour in the south, now a well-established seaside town with a promenade, hotels and several small beaches close by. Its greatest strength is the location rather than the architecture.
To the east are coves with shallow, exceptionally clear water. To the west, you can walk towards Es Trenc without having to park beside the beach. Boat trips to Cabrera National Park leave from the harbour. Popular departures can sell out in high season, so book ahead if that is an important part of your holiday.
- Airport transfer
- Around 50 km, roughly 45 minutes via Campos
- Without a car
- Possible for a beach holiday; check bus connections via Campos for wider trips
- Best for
- Families, Cabrera boat trips and coastal walks towards Es Trenc
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4. Cala d'Or
Cala d’Or began as a planned resort in the 1930s, with an Ibizan influence: white walls, simple shapes and low buildings. That look still distinguishes it from many of the island’s larger resorts.
Small turquoise coves are scattered between the different neighbourhoods, with a marina adding another place to stroll and eat. You can walk between nearby beaches or use the seasonal tourist train, but distances and beach entrances vary. If steps or long walks are difficult for you, choose your accommodation around a particular beach rather than assuming the whole resort is equally accessible.
- Airport transfer
- Around 60 km, roughly 55 minutes
- Without a car
- Yes for a local beach holiday; check distances between the separate neighbourhoods
- Best for
- Families and visitors who prefer small coves to a long open beach
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5. Cala Millor
Almost two kilometres of pale sand, a traffic-free promenade and hotels behind it. Cala Millor grew largely as a holiday resort in the 1960s and 1970s. Come for the beach and the convenience rather than an old town or fishing harbour.
The beach is broad, with shallow sections and lifeguards in season. The level promenade is particularly useful with a pushchair or wheelchair and connects with neighbouring coastal areas. Some businesses stay open through winter, though November to March is much quieter and many hotels and restaurants close.
- Airport transfer
- Around 65 km, roughly an hour by road
- Without a car
- Yes — local facilities are walkable, with buses for trips inland and along the coast
- Best for
- Families, a level promenade and a quieter out-of-season stay
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6. Cala Ratjada
Cala Ratjada has two sides. There is a working fishing harbour, with wooden boats and the old white lobster-storage buildings along its eastern side. There is also a busy holiday resort that generations of German visitors know well.
A morning by the harbour shows a different place from the evening bars. Several swimming coves are within walking distance, and there are coastal paths and a nineteenth-century lighthouse to explore. I would not choose to stay here in July or August, but I would happily come in May or October.
- Airport transfer
- Around 80 km; allow roughly 80 minutes and check your transfer fare in advance
- Without a car
- Yes — the harbour and nearby coves are walkable; the lighthouse involves a longer uphill walk
- Best for
- Coastal walks, a working harbour and holidays outside peak season
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7. Can Picafort
Can Picafort grew from a small fishing settlement into a busy holiday resort. It is compact and easy to get around on foot, with bars, restaurants and nightlife in season.
The sandy coast continues north through Platja de Muro towards Port d’Alcúdia, making it a good base for long beach walks. Quieter stretches lie beyond the busiest central area, though they are not necessarily just a few steps away. Outside the season, expect many tourist businesses to close; the town still has residents and everyday services, but it feels very different from summer.
- Airport transfer
- Around 55 km, roughly 50 minutes; check the seasonal A32 airport bus
- Without a car
- Yes — a compact resort with more frequent buses in season
- Best for
- Families, evenings out and long beach walks
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8. Port d'Alcúdia
A long stretch of pale sand, gently shelving water and hotels, bars and shops behind the beach. The shallow shore is a major reason Port d’Alcúdia is so popular with families, though children still need close supervision.
Buses make a car-free beach holiday practical; check the current airport service and timetable for your dates. If you want to explore farther afield, hiring a car for a day or two may be enough. Alcúdia’s medieval old town is only a couple of kilometres inland and makes a lovely change from the seafront. Along the beach, numbered balneari facilities can be useful meeting points.
- Airport transfer
- Around 58 km, roughly 50 minutes; check the current airport bus timetable
- Without a car
- Yes — seafront facilities and buses around the bay
- Best for
- Families with young children, water sports and cycling holidays
Questions about resorts popular with German visitors
Where is German widely spoken in Mallorca?
German is common in hotels, restaurants and shops in these eight resorts, particularly Peguera, Cala Ratjada and Platja de Palma. This is a personal assessment of what you encounter locally, not an official ranking of visitors by nationality.
Which of these resorts is best for families?
Port d’Alcúdia has a long, gently shelving beach. Cala Millor offers a level, traffic-free promenade, Cala d’Or has small coves, and Peguera keeps beaches and restaurants close together. The best choice depends on your children’s ages and how much walking you want to do.
Which resort is closest to the airport?
Platja de Palma is the closest, with transfer time depending on which part of the bay you stay in. Peguera is also straightforward to reach by road. Cala Ratjada is among the farthest of this selection, at around 80 km and roughly 80 minutes by car.
Do I need a hire car in these resorts?
You can have a beach holiday in all eight without a car if you choose your accommodation carefully. For inland villages or the Tramuntana, consider hiring one for a day or two, or use buses where the route and timetable suit your plans.
Which resorts stay open in winter?
Peguera and Cala Millor have some year-round restaurants and everyday services. Across all these coastal resorts, many hotels and tourist businesses close between November and March. Can Picafort and parts of the Bay of Alcúdia can feel particularly quiet. Check your chosen hotel and nearby restaurants before booking a winter stay.
Make time to explore beyond your resort
These places make useful bases. From Peguera, explore the south-west; from Port d’Alcúdia, head into the north and towards Formentor; from Cala Ratjada, visit Artà and the Llevant peninsula. Set aside a couple of days to see more of the island as well as enjoying the beach.
Every recommendation on this page comes from a personal visit. Words and photographs are by Friedhelm Fischer, who has been exploring Mallorca on foot, by bike and with his camera since 2013.