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Banyalbufar’s stepped dry-stone terraces descending between pine trees to the rocky coast, with open sea and the Tramuntana slopes beyond.

Places / Serra de Tramuntana

Banyalbufar

Mountain village

A terraced village above the sea, shaped by Moorish farming and wine-growing. Around two thousand dry-stone terraces step down towards the water. The steep hillside still shows how much work farming this coast has always involved.

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Banyalbufar
Location of Banyalbufar in Mallorca
Location of Banyalbufar

Banyalbufar in 30 seconds

The essentials at a glance

Worth visiting for
A short visit
Best for
Terraced landscapes, sea views and village walks
Best months
February–May, September–November
Time to allow
Two hours for the village. Allow half a day for a walk towards Port des Canonge and back, with a substantial climb on the return.
Without a car
Hire car needed
Parking
Roadside spaces on the Ma-10 above and below the village. Very difficult from June to September; easier outside that period.
Highlight
Dry-stone terraces above the coast
Keep in mind
This is not a level seafront stroll
Access
A hillside village, with climbs on the paths down to the coast
  • Mountain village

Get a feel for Mallorca. Find your kind of place.

The cove below Banyalbufar, with a tall pale cliff, turquoise water and a narrow strip of pebbles.

The cove at the foot of the village. Port des Canonge is a longer coastal walk away.

A built waterfront path beneath the cliffs at Banyalbufar’s cove, beside clear green water and breaking waves.

The masonry path makes it possible to reach the water beneath the cliff.

Old vaulted boathouses with barred gates beside the water below Banyalbufar, with a stone ramp and breaking waves.

Boathouses built into the rock. Boats only head out from here in calm seas.

Drive from the airport

45 minutes

30 km

Bus connections

TIB services from Palma

Region

Serra de Tramuntana

Nearest beach

Port de Valldemossa

7 km

Elevation

100 m

above sea level

A glimpse of Banyalbufar

The cove below Banyalbufar, with a tall pale cliff, turquoise water and a narrow strip of pebbles. A built waterfront path beneath the cliffs at Banyalbufar’s cove, beside clear green water and breaking waves. Old vaulted boathouses with barred gates beside the water below Banyalbufar, with a stone ramp and breaking waves. A house with green shutters above Banyalbufar’s cliffs, with a bare tree and deep blue sea in front.

More photographs of Banyalbufar →

Season guide for Banyalbufar

November Worth a visit

My favourite month on this coast: clear light, rougher seas and very little traffic.

Very quiet Some places closed

Worth a visit Worth considering Less suitable Closed

Worth visiting in February, March, April, May, September, October and November. Less suitable in July and August.

Location

Location of Banyalbufar

Location of Banyalbufar in Mallorca Palma Alcúdia Sóller Manacor
Location of Banyalbufar
Population
520
Elevation
100 m above sea level
Airport
30 km , around 45 minutes
Hire car
needed
Worth visiting for
a brief stop
Coordinates
39.6869,2.5147

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A village of terraces

Banyalbufar’s name has been interpreted as a small vineyard beside the sea or built by people beside the sea. Either suits the setting. A main street and a few side lanes sit above around two thousand terraces, stepping down from roughly 100 metres above sea level towards the water.

Established during Moorish times, the terraces use cisterns and open channels for irrigation. Their walls are built from stone without mortar. UNESCO added dry-stone walling skills to its intangible cultural heritage list in 2018.

Until the 19th century, the terraces produced Malvasia, a sweet wine exported as far as England. Phylloxera devastated the vines. Since the 2000s, a few terraces have been replanted with Malvasia, but production remains very small.

Walking towards the coast

The old paths offer stone walls, patches of shade and sea views. A longer walk leads towards Port des Canonge, a small coastal settlement with fishermen’s huts and a pebbly beach. Don’t underestimate the climb back up, and take water.

The cove below Banyalbufar, with a tall pale cliff, turquoise water and a narrow strip of pebbles.
The cove at the foot of the village. Port des Canonge is a longer coastal walk away.

What to expect

There’s no museum, monastery complex or ticketed viewing tower in the village. If you want a major historic attraction, try Valldemossa. Come to Banyalbufar to see the steep terraced landscape and how people have lived and worked on this coast for centuries.

For public transport, check the current TIB timetable, including your return journey.

A narrow Banyalbufar lane between ochre houses with peeling plaster, green shutters and a street lamp.
Weathered plaster is part of the village’s appearance; not every wall has been tidied up for visitors.

Photographs

Banyalbufar in Mallorca

The cove below Banyalbufar, with a tall pale cliff, turquoise water and a narrow strip of pebbles.
BanyalbufarThe cove at the foot of the village. Port des Canonge is a longer coastal walk away.
A built waterfront path beneath the cliffs at Banyalbufar’s cove, beside clear green water and breaking waves.
BanyalbufarThe masonry path makes it possible to reach the water beneath the cliff.
Old vaulted boathouses with barred gates beside the water below Banyalbufar, with a stone ramp and breaking waves.
BanyalbufarBoathouses built into the rock. Boats only head out from here in calm seas.
A house with green shutters above Banyalbufar’s cliffs, with a bare tree and deep blue sea in front.
BanyalbufarThe village faces north-west, with low afternoon light across the water.
A narrow path beside Banyalbufar with a wall and palms, houses behind and open sea stretching to the horizon.
BanyalbufarFrom the village edge, terraces fill the space between you and the sea.
A narrow Banyalbufar lane between ochre houses with peeling plaster, green shutters and a street lamp.
BanyalbufarWeathered plaster is part of the village’s appearance; not every wall has been tidied up for visitors.
An ochre stone house in Banyalbufar with green shutters, a wrought-iron balcony and vine leaves across the façade.
BanyalbufarStone walls, green shutters and vines are familiar features along this coast.
An uphill stepped lane between stone houses in Banyalbufar, with the church wall and wooden doorway on the right.
BanyalbufarThe centre has one main street and a handful of lanes branching off it.
A pale sandstone vaulted passage in Banyalbufar opening onto a sunny courtyard with palms and potted plants.
BanyalbufarA vaulted passage leads into one of the old courtyards.
A red Vespa outside wooden doors on an uphill Banyalbufar lane, beside greenery and stone walls.
BanyalbufarA scooter is a more practical choice than a car in these lanes.

Practical details

Parking
Roadside spaces on the Ma-10 above and below the village. Very difficult from June to September; easier outside that period.
Public transport
TIB buses serve the village from Palma. The journey itself offers lovely coastal views; check the current service rather than relying on an old timetable.
Time to allow
Two hours for the village. Allow half a day for a walk towards Port des Canonge and back, with a substantial climb on the return.
Good to know
Torre des Verger, 2 km west, is a lovely sunset viewpoint, but its parking area is tiny.
Bus
TIB services from Palma; check the current timetable and return connection.
Coordinates
39.6869,2.5147 Google Maps Apple Maps

Dates that change the town

When a race comes to town

Mallorca 312 Road cycling · 25 April 2026

Road closures begin in the morning. The affected roads and reopening times follow the organiser’s traffic plan. Allow extra time for transfers and day trips.

The season guide describes whole months. A race weekend can transform a normally quiet town for a couple of days. Find the dates in our guide to Sporting events.

Within reach

Places to visit

Nearby

A round stone watchtower on a high, vegetated rocky outcrop above deep-blue sea, with the coast fading into haze behind. Torre des Verger 1 km south-west (straight-line distance)

A round 16th-century watchtower on an isolated rocky outcrop above the west coast. Climb the stone steps to the …

 La Granja’s pale manor house and loggia surrounded by dense trees and hillside gardens in the Serra de Tramuntana. La Granja 4 km south-east (straight-line distance)

A historic country estate near Esporles, with a manor house and gardens. Public access hasn’t been confirmed, so …

 Looking from Mirador de Ricardo Roca across deep blue sea towards the wooded cliffs and successive headlands of the Tramuntana coast. Mirador de Ricardo Roca 7 km south-west (straight-line distance)

The first major viewpoint on the west-coast road after Andratx. Stone steps climb from beside a road tunnel to a …

 A Gothic arcade with slender stone columns in Miramar’s garden, covered with red leaves and flowers. Monestir de Miramar 11 km east (straight-line distance)

Ramon Llull founded a school for Eastern languages here in 1276. Six hundred years later, Archduke Ludwig Salvator …

 White circular pavilion with columns and a dome on a terrace high above the deep blue sea at Son Marroig, with the steep Tramuntana coast behind. Son Marroig 12 km north-east (straight-line distance)

Archduke Ludwig Salvator's country estate above the west coast, with a white marble pavilion on the edge — the …

 Raixa's manor house behind an orange grove and tall cypresses, with the wooded Serra de Tramuntana slopes beyond. Raixa 13 km east (straight-line distance)

A country estate near Bunyola, transformed by an 18th-century cardinal into an Italian-style villa. A terraced …

 The circular Gothic Castell de Bellver in pale stone, with round towers and enclosing walls on a wooded hill above Palma. Castell de Bellver 16 km south-east (straight-line distance)

A striking circular Gothic castle, built above Palma between 1300 and 1311. Inside is a two-storey round …

 The pale sandstone wall of Sant Pere’s Renaissance bastion in Palma, with tall palms and a path in front. Es Baluard 17 km south-east (straight-line distance)

Sant Pere bastion, built in the late 16th century on the western edge of Palma’s old town, became home to a …

Distances without a driving time are measured in a straight line. The road journey can be much longer; known driving times are shown alongside.

Where to swim nearby

Beaches and swimming nearby

Looking down the cliffs to the tiny settlement of Port de Valldemossa, with stone houses, boat slipways and deep-blue sea. Port de Valldemossa 7 km north-east (straight-line distance)

A tiny fishing settlement beneath the cliffs, reached by six kilometres of tight hairpin bends. A few stone houses …

Explore from here

Estellencs 5 km Esporles 6 km Mirador de Ricardo Roca 7 km Valldemossa 10 km

Your questions answered

Your questions about Banyalbufar

What are Banyalbufar’s terraces?

Around two thousand dry-stone terraces step down from roughly 100 metres above sea level towards the water. They were established during Moorish times, watered through cisterns and open channels, and built without mortar. UNESCO added dry-stone walling skills to its intangible cultural heritage list in 2018.

What is the story of Malvasia wine here?

Malvasia sweet wine was grown on the terraces and exported as far as England until the 19th century, when phylloxera devastated the vines. Since the 2000s, Malvasia has been replanted on a few terraces, producing only small quantities.

Can you walk from Banyalbufar to the sea?

There are paths down towards the coast, and a longer walk towards Port des Canonge, a small coastal settlement with fishermen’s huts and a pebbly beach. Expect stone walls, shade in places and sea views, but leave time and energy for the uphill return. Bring water.

Are there major visitor attractions in Banyalbufar?

There’s no museum, monastery complex or ticketed viewing tower in the village. Its appeal is the landscape and the way people have lived and farmed on this steep coast for centuries. Valldemossa is a better choice if you want a major historic attraction.

What does the name Banyalbufar mean?

It has been interpreted as either a small vineyard beside the sea or something built by people beside the sea. Both suit the landscape you see today.

Practical questions

When is the best time to visit Banyalbufar?

Recommended months: February, March, April, May, September, October, November. Almond blossom may fall in this period, depending on the winter. There is no fixed flowering date.

Is Banyalbufar worth visiting in July and August?

July: another month may suit you better. Usually busy. The Ma-10 becomes congested around midday, and village parking is very difficult. August: another month may suit you better. Usually very crowded. The busiest month. I would choose another time to enjoy the village.

How far is Banyalbufar from Palma airport?

About 30 km from Palma airport. Allow roughly 45 minutes by car.

Do I need a hire car for Banyalbufar?

A car is needed TIB services from Palma; check the current timetable and return connection.

Where can I park in Banyalbufar?

Roadside spaces on the Ma-10 above and below the village. Very difficult from June to September; easier outside that period.

Banyalbufar features in our Mallorca highlights

Words and photographs: . Exploring Mallorca since 2013 — by bike, on foot and with a camera.