Platja de Formentor
One of the north's best-known beaches: pale sand beneath old pines, the peninsula's mountains behind and water in shades of blue ahead. Summer road access needs planning.
Platja de Formentor
Platja de Formentor in 30 seconds
The essentials at a glance
- Worth visiting for
- A short visit
- Best for
- You need beach shade; the pines reach almost to the water
- Best months
- March–May, October–November
- Time to allow
- Half a day, or a full day with a peninsula excursion
- With children
- Very good in suitable conditions
- Without a car
- Hire car recommended
- Parking
- Paid car park behind the beach, often full during summer mornings. When full, road access is stopped at Port de Pollença.
- Getting into the water
- Gently shelving and sheltered, suitable for children in calm conditions
- Keep in mind
- You want to turn up spontaneously by car in high summer
- Access
- Pushchairs: Possible to the beach edge · Wheelchairs: Access to the promenade; beach access limited
Get a feel for Mallorca. Find your kind of place.
From above you see how limited the beach is — around 800 metres for such a well-known destination.
Lifeguards watch the beach in season.
The rocky edges offer clear water for snorkelling.
Getting to know Platja de Formentor
Does Platja de Formentor suit your plans?
What to expect and what to know before you visit.
Who it suits
- You need beach shade; the pines reach almost to the water
- You like the idea of arriving by boat from Port de Pollença
- Families with children; the beach shelves gently in a sheltered bay
- Snorkelling; the rocky edges have clear water
Things to bear in mind
- You want to turn up spontaneously by car in high summer
- You want a long beach walk; the sand only stretches a few hundred metres
- You expect peace and quiet at this well-known beach
- You want inexpensive food
Drive from the airport
70 minutes
70 km
Bus connections
Seasonal route 334 from Port de Pollença and Alcúdia stops at the beach
Region
Serra de Tramuntana
Nearest beach
Port de Pollença
5 km
Elevation
2 m
above sea level
Season guide for Platja de Formentor
November Worth a visit
Very quiet Mostly closed
Worth visiting in March, April, May, October and November. Less suitable in July and August. Mostly closed in January, February, March, November and December.
Location
Location of Platja de Formentor
- Region
- Serra de Tramuntana
- Municipality
- Pollença
- Elevation
- 2 m above sea level
- Airport
- 70 km , around 70 minutes
- Hire car
- recommended
- Worth visiting for
- a brief stop
- Coordinates
- 39.9325,3.1289
What makes this beach special?
The shade. Old Aleppo pines stand directly above the sand, almost at the water’s edge. Add a shallow crescent around 800 metres long, the peninsula’s ridge behind and water changing from pale green through turquoise to deep blue, and you can see its appeal.
There are lifeguards in season, loungers, a bar and a restaurant. What it doesn’t have is a village: supermarkets, pharmacies and cash machines are back in Port de Pollença.
The hotel behind the beach
One of the Mediterranean’s famous hotels stands behind the sand. It opened in 1929 as Hotel Formentor and for decades welcomed well-known guests including Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn.
After a lengthy closure and complete redevelopment, it reopened on 16 August 2024 as Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor. It has 110 rooms, including 31 suites, on a 40-hectare private estate with mature trees and a vineyard. A full spa followed in 2025.
It is the luxury hotel directly at the beach; further options are in Port de Pollença and Pollença, roughly twenty minutes away.
The beach itself is public. You do not need to stay at the hotel to swim here.
Road access in summer
The beach is small, the road narrow and summer demand high. In 2026, restrictions run from 15 May to 18 October, daily from 10am to 10pm, in two sections:
- As far as Platja de Formentor, private cars are allowed while the beach car park has capacity. When it fills, the barrier at Port de Pollença closes.
- Beyond the beach towards the lighthouse, access is restricted to buses, bicycles and authorised vehicles during these hours.
Outside those hours, the seasonal restriction does not apply. Dates are set afresh each year.
An easier arrival
Boats run from Port de Pollença several times daily in season, taking around twenty minutes. You avoid parking and barriers and see the coast from the water. Many cyclists use the boat in one direction.
If driving, plan an early visit and check the rules for any section you intend to use, or come outside the restricted season.
When to go
March and October after the restrictions end are favourite times: open peninsula roads, a quiet beach and clear light. Early May is another good option. July and August bring the crowds that come with the beach’s fame; boats help with access but also have busy periods.
Photographs
Platja de Formentor in Mallorca
How much time do you have?
Things to do in Platja de Formentor
Three hours
Take the boat from Port de Pollença, spend time on the beach and return on a later sailing. There needn't be more to it.
Half a day
Beach in the morning, lunch near the landing stage, then follow the shore east towards the rocks and clear water.
A full day
Combine the beach with Mirador Es Colomer and the lighthouse. During the restriction period, use the bus for restricted sections; if driving early, check when you must leave them.
On a rainy day
Nothing much here. Head to Pollença or Alcúdia.
The beach at a glance
- Underfoot
- Fine pale sand, with some seagrass in the water
- Getting into the water
- Gently shelving and sheltered, suitable for children in calm conditions
- Length
- Around 800 metres in a shallow crescent
- Shade
- Plenty; old Aleppo pines reach almost to the water
- Wind
- Usually sheltered, with the peninsula blocking northerly winds
- With children
- Very good in suitable conditions
- Facilities
- Loungers and parasols for hire · Beach bar and restaurant · Lifeguards in season · Landing stage for boats from Port de Pollença
Practical details
- Parking
- Paid car park behind the beach, often full during summer mornings. When full, road access is stopped at Port de Pollença.
- Public transport
- Seasonal route 334 stops at the beach
- Time to allow
- Half a day, or a full day with a peninsula excursion
- Good to know
- The boat from Port de Pollença avoids summer parking and road barriers; the crossing takes around twenty minutes.
- Bus
- Seasonal route 334 from Port de Pollença and Alcúdia stops at the beach. Boats from Port de Pollença take around 20 minutes.
- Shops and services
- Supermarkets: None; nearest in Port de Pollença · Pharmacy: None · Medical care: None · Cash machines: None · Fuel: In Port de Pollença
- Access
- Tarmac approach to the beach edge, then sand · Pushchairs: Possible to the beach edge · Wheelchairs: Access to the promenade; beach access limited · Dogs: Not allowed in season
- What you will not find
- A village · A supermarket · Year-round services · Peace and quiet in high summer
- Coordinates
- 39.9325,3.1289 Google Maps Apple Maps
Within reach
Places to visit
Nearby
Mallorca’s best-known viewpoint stands 232 metres above the sea on the Formentor peninsula. A terrace occupies a …
Check the current access rules; bus and cycle options during restrictions
Mallorca's north-eastern tip, reached along a rocky peninsula with a lighthouse at its end since 1863. The …
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A pilgrimage church on the Victòria peninsula, seven kilometres north-east of Alcúdia. The road ends at a …
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Distances without a driving time are measured in a straight line. The road journey can be much longer; known driving times are shown alongside.
Other beaches to consider
Beaches and swimming nearby
A quieter, more expensive neighbour to Alcúdia bay, with the waterfront Pine Walk, a royal yacht club and reliable …
Around 20 minutes by boat
Four small coves beneath the dramatic cliffs of Cavall Bernat, rising around 300 metres above the coast. Houses …
Five kilometres of pale sand shelving gently into the sea, backed by hotels, bars and shops. A classic beach …
A quieter alternative to Port d’Alcúdia, 3 km to the east. Low villas sit among pines beside a pebbly, sandy shore …
Explore from here
Your questions answered
Your questions about Platja de Formentor
Can I drive to Platja de Formentor?
Outside the seasonal restrictions, yes. In 2026, restrictions apply from 15 May to 18 October, daily from 10am to 10pm. Cars may reach the beach while its car park has space. When it fills, the barrier in Port de Pollença closes. The road beyond the beach towards the lighthouse is closed to unauthorised private traffic during these hours.
How do I reach Platja de Formentor by boat?
In season, excursion boats run several times daily from Port de Pollença to the beach landing stage, taking around twenty minutes. They avoid the road barrier and parking problems of high summer.
Is there shade at Platja de Formentor?
Yes. Old Aleppo pines grow almost to the water, providing natural shade that is unusual on Mallorca's sandy beaches. Arrive early to find a place beneath them.
Is Platja de Formentor suitable for children?
Yes, in suitable conditions. It shelves gently in a sheltered bay, has seasonal lifeguards and pine shade for a break from the sun. July and August crowds are the main drawback.
Is parking at Platja de Formentor free?
No. The car park behind the beach charges and often fills during summer mornings. Without an early start, the boat from Port de Pollença is usually the less frustrating option.
Practical questions
When is the best time to visit Platja de Formentor?
Recommended months: March, April, May, October, November. Access and opening are limited in January, February, March, November, December. See the visiting advice on this page. Unrestricted peninsula access, an empty beach and clear air.
Is Platja de Formentor worth visiting in July and August?
July: another month may suit you better. Usually very crowded. The car park fills in the morning, the barrier closes and the beach gets crowded. August: another month may suit you better. Usually very crowded.
How far is Platja de Formentor from Palma airport?
About 70 km from Palma airport. Allow roughly 70 minutes by car. In 2026, restrictions apply daily from 10am to 10pm between 15 May and 18 October. Private cars may reach the beach while the car park has space; when full, the barrier in Port de Pollença closes. Beyond the beach, the lighthouse road is restricted to authorised traffic during these hours.
Do I need a hire car for Platja de Formentor?
A car is useful Seasonal route 334 from Port de Pollença and Alcúdia stops at the beach. Boats from Port de Pollença take around 20 minutes.
Where can I park in Platja de Formentor?
Paid car park behind the beach, often full during summer mornings. When full, road access is stopped at Port de Pollença.
Can you swim at Platja de Formentor?
Yes. Fine pale sand, with some seagrass in the water Gently shelving and sheltered, suitable for children in calm conditions Around 800 metres in a shallow crescent Plenty; old Aleppo pines reach almost to the water Very good in suitable conditions
Can I visit Platja de Formentor with a pushchair or wheelchair?
Tarmac approach to the beach edge, then sand Pushchairs: Possible to the beach edge Wheelchairs: Access to the promenade; beach access limited
Are dogs allowed at Platja de Formentor?
Not allowed in season
Platja de Formentor features in our Mallorca highlights
Words and photographs: Friedhelm Fischer. Exploring Mallorca since 2013 — by bike, on foot and with a camera.