Pollença, Mallorca: old town, Calvari and Sunday market

A small town at the northern end of the Tramuntana, set inland because the sea brought pirates for centuries. Climb 365 cypress-lined steps to the Calvari, browse the Sunday market on Plaça Major or watch the whole town re-enact a battle in August.

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Pollença

Location of Pollença

Pollença in 30 seconds

The essentials at a glance

Worth visiting for: A longer stay
Best for: Anyone wanting a town that would carry on without its visitors
Best months: January–June, September–December
Time to allow: Half a day for the town; a week as a base for the north

Without a car: Hire car recommended
Parking: Car parks around the edge of town are usually straightforward. Arrive early for Sunday's market. Driving into the old town to park is not a good idea.
Keep in mind: Anyone wanting the sea on their doorstep — it is six kilometres away
Access: Pushchairs: Plaça Major and the main lanes are manageable; the steps are not · Wheelchairs: The square is accessible; the old town is more restricted and the Calvari steps are unsuitable

Town

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Broad, pale-paved Plaça Major with plane trees, café tables and closed parasols, backed by Santa Maria dels Àngels church with its rose window and clock tower.

Locals say Plaça Major is Mallorca's loveliest market square. They have a point.

Close view of Santa Maria dels Àngels' west façade and stone rose window, with leafy plane trees and shaded café terraces in front.

Santa Maria dels Àngels' rose window looks different throughout the day from the café tables below.

Plaça Major in winter, with wet reflective paving, bare plane trees, people in coats and a child crossing the square; the café tables are occupied.

January, just after the square has been washed. The cafés are still busy — people live here all year.

Getting to know Pollença

Does Pollença suit your plans?

What to expect and what to know before you visit.

Who it suits

Anyone wanting a town that would carry on without its visitors
Walkers — Puig de Maria, Ternelles and the Tramuntana begin here
Anyone exploring the north — everywhere is within reach
Winter visitors wanting a town that stays open

Things to bear in mind

Anyone wanting the sea on their doorstep — it is six kilometres away
Anyone looking for peace in August, especially around the 2nd
Visitors with limited mobility — the old town is steep and cobbled
Anyone after cheap meals — Plaça Major prices reflect the setting

A glimpse of Pollença

Empty old-town lane with tall sandstone houses, closed wooden shutters and an iron balcony with a yellow and red ribbon; Can Llobera is written on a corner.

More photographs of Pollença →

Season guide for Pollença

November Worth a visit

Very quiet Some places closed

Worth a visit Worth considering Less suitable Closed

Worth visiting in January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November and December.

The town of 365 steps

Pollença lies around seven kilometres inland, between the last mountains of the Tramuntana. Finds in nearby caves show that people lived in the area two thousand years before Christ. The Romans later founded Pollentia, once an important centre of Roman Mallorca. Its excavations are outside Alcúdia, rather than here: the two places share a history through their names, but the Roman remains are elsewhere.

A parish church is recorded here in 1236. Until the plague of 1348, Pollença was one of the island’s most influential towns alongside Palma.

Why the town is not by the sea

It was a matter of protection. The coast remained unsafe into the 18th century, with regular Ottoman and North African corsair raids. Building beside the water left people exposed to attack, so the town grew inland, out of sight, with only a landing place on the coast.

After piracy declined, that landing place developed into Port de Pollença. A few kilometres away, Alcúdia and its port follow a similar pattern: the walled town inland, its harbour two kilometres away.

It helps explain why town and port feel so different today. The town has an eight-hundred-year head start.

Narrow uphill lane with ochre and natural stone façades, blue shutters, a street lamp and a bicycle leaning against a wall beneath a cloudy blue sky. — The old town slopes up towards the Calvari. You will certainly notice it on foot.

The Calvari

The climb starts just behind the town hall. 365 steps, one for each day of the year, lead between cypresses to a neo-Gothic chapel at around 170 metres. The staircase can seem endless, but the top rewards you with views over the town and Pollença bay, stretching to Cap de Formentor on clear days.

And yes, you have to walk those 365 steps back down. Fortunately, there are stone walls along the way where you can pause.

On Good Friday, the staircase takes on a different role. The Davallament, or Descent from the Cross, is re-enacted at the top. The figure is then carried down in a silent torchlit procession. It is a moving occasion, with visitors watching quietly.

Paved uphill passage between stone walls with cypresses, cycads and large pots of agaves, a heavy wooden door and houses with green shutters behind. — The way to the Calvari starts gently. Round the corner, you see just how long the staircase is.

The Sunday market

The market fills Plaça Major and the surrounding lanes in the morning. Vegetables, cheese, olives, tools, clothes and leather goods sit alongside souvenirs, with local shoppers still very much part of the scene. Join the bustle or sit at the edge with a coffee and watch.

Come early, particularly if you want a parking space and a café table.

Plaça Major

Locals call it the loveliest market square on Mallorca, and they are not far wrong. It is broad, paved in pale stone and lined with plane trees. On one side stands Santa Maria dels Àngels, its rose window changing with the light as you watch from a café table.

In the evening, residents and local artists meet here, with visitors joining them. Even in winter, after the morning wash-down leaves the paving wet beneath bare trees, the cafés have customers. This is a lived-in town, rather than somewhere that depends entirely on holidays.

A couple of lanes away

Leave the square and it soon becomes quiet. Sandstone façades, wooden shutters, wrought-iron balconies and the occasional small shop with its goods outside in the lane. An open doorway may reveal a courtyard filled with terracotta pots and old climbing plants that you would otherwise miss.

The old town climbs towards the Calvari. You will feel the slope as you explore.

La Patrona

On 2 August, the town re-enacts the corsair raid in Moros i Cristians. The battle moves through the streets with an intensity that often surprises visitors; fireworks follow in the evening.

It recalls Pollença’s best-known attack, when more than a thousand corsairs landed and were driven back. For me, this is a very good reason to visit in August despite the crowds.

Easy things to miss

The Pont Romà, on the northern edge of town, is a two-arched stone bridge over the Torrent de Sant Jordi, traditionally associated with Roman origins. It is slightly out of the way, and many visitors miss it.

The Museu de Pollença occupies the former Dominican monastery. Its Santo Domingo cloister hosts the Festival de Pollença in summer.

Puig de Maria rises to 330 metres, with a former monastery and simple accommodation at the top. The climb takes around 45 minutes, and you can look over both the bay of Pollença and the bay of Alcúdia.

Two-arched stone bridge reflected in a nearly still stream, with two people on the bridge and wooded hills beneath a deep blue sky. — The Pont Romà on the northern edge of town, a reminder of the area's long history.

Photographs

Pollença in Mallorca

Rough stone house with an open archway, clothing rails and hat displays outside a small shop, and two older visitors browsing. — **Pollença**Small shops in old houses, with goods displayed in the lane rather than a shop window.

Sunny courtyard with weathered stone walls, climbing plants, dozens of terracotta pots on patterned pebble paving, a slender column and an arch. — **Pollença**You only glimpse Pollença's courtyards when a door is open. It is worth looking round the corner.

Old stone façade with a pale double wooden door, wrought handles and house number 42, weathered window shutters and climbing plants. — **Pollença**An ordinary doorway, and all the more typical for it. Almost every house has one like this.

Rusty, faded no-stopping sign with barely legible lettering in front of a rough stone wall, with a grey bin on the pavement. — **Pollença**This is Pollença too. Not everything that looks old is historic.

How much time do you have?

Things to do in Pollença

Three hours

Start at Plaça Major with a coffee beneath the plane trees, climb the 365 Calvari steps and come back down. Return through the lanes to the Pont Romà.

Half a day

Add the Museu de Pollença in the former Dominican monastery and the Santo Domingo cloister. Head down to the bay in the afternoon.

A full day

Explore town in the morning, then climb Puig de Maria to the former monastery at 330 metres. Allow 45 minutes uphill, with views over both bays. Return to Plaça Major for the evening.

On a rainy day

Museu de Pollença, Santo Domingo and the churches, followed by a long afternoon in a café on the square. There is a surprising amount under cover for a small town.

Local celebrations

Good Friday — Davallament The Descent from the Cross is re-enacted on the Calvari, followed by a silent torchlit procession down the 365 steps.
2 August — La Patrona — Moros i Cristians The town re-enacts the corsair attack, with a battle through the streets and fireworks in the evening.
July and August — Festival de Pollença Concerts in the cloister of the former Dominican monastery of Santo Domingo.

Practical details

Parking: Car parks around the edge of town are usually straightforward. Arrive early for Sunday's market. Driving into the old town to park is not a good idea.
Public transport: Services from Palma, Inca and Alcúdia, with frequent summer buses to the port
Time to allow: Half a day for the town; a week as a base for the north
Good to know: Puig de Maria, at 330 metres, has a former monastery with simple accommodation. The climb takes 45 minutes, with views across both bays.
Bus: Route 301 to Palma via Sa Pobla and Inca; 322 to Port de Pollença, Alcúdia and Port d'Alcúdia. In summer, 231 crosses the mountains to Lluc and Sóller, while the 334 Formentor shuttle leaves from the port.
Shops and services: Supermarkets: Several in town, open year-round · Pharmacy: Several in the centre · Medical care: Health centre in town · Cash machines: Around Plaça Major · Fuel: On the road out towards Port de Pollença
Access: Cobbled lanes, some steep; natural stone steps on the Calvari · Pushchairs: Plaça Major and the main lanes are manageable; the steps are not · Wheelchairs: The square is accessible; the old town is more restricted and the Calvari steps are unsuitable · Dogs: On a lead; dogs are a common sight at the market
What you will not find: A beach or direct access to the sea · Peace on 2 August · Low prices on Plaça Major
Coordinates: 39.8769,3.0161 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.

Ironman 70.3 Alcúdia-Mallorca Triathlon · 9 May 2026

Temporary closures and extra crowds affect the start, finish and race route. Check access to your accommodation and the course map, especially if you have an airport transfer.

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.

Town or port — where should you stay?

	Pollença	Port de Pollença
Character	Old town with local life and a market	Seaside resort and sailing base
Sea	Six kilometres away	On your doorstep
Winter	Open and lively	Partly open and quiet
Prices	Mixed with higher prices on the square	Generally higher
Best for	Walkers and cultural or longer stays	Sailors and beach holidays with a quieter atmosphere

The bus takes fifteen minutes and runs frequently in season. If you cannot decide, I would stay in town. It is easy to head down to the sea; if you stay at the port, you may forget to come up.

Within reach

Places to visit

Nearby

A concrete path on a narrow rocky ridge leads to a round viewing terrace with railings and many visitors, with deep blue sea on the left and Formentor’s rugged cliffs on the right.

Mirador Es Colomer 30 minutes by car · 9 km north-east

Mallorca’s best-known viewpoint stands 232 metres above the sea on the Formentor peninsula. A terrace occupies a …

via Port de Pollença; in summer, access after 10am only when the barrier is open

Broad stone steps leading towards the Coves de Campanet entrance, bordered by dry-stone walls, cypresses and plane trees.

Coves de Campanet 10 km south-west (straight-line distance)

A quieter cave visit near Campanet, with limestone formations rather than a boat ride or colourful show. Allow …

The Roman archaeological site of Pollentia near Alcúdia, with two surviving column stumps in the foreground, low walls, cypress trees and the cemetery church behind.

Pollentia 15 minutes by car · 10 km east

The remains of an important Roman town just outside Alcúdia. An urban centre developed here after the conquest of …

in Alcúdia

The old pale-stone church of Sant Miquel near Campanet, with a bell gable and cypress trees beneath a blue sky.

Sant Miquel de Campanet 10 km south-west (straight-line distance)

One of Mallorca's oldest churches, standing alone among the fields outside Campanet. Built on the site of a mosque …

The small pale chapel of Crestatx, with an arched entrance and bell gable among tall pines and cypresses.

Ermita de Crestatx 11 km south (straight-line distance)

A small pilgrimage chapel among pines near Sa Pobla, on the site of an older settlement. A paved path leads up to …

The substantial rubble-stone building of Ermita de la Victòria, with a pale sundial on its side wall, old pine trees and a paved forecourt. Parasols at the adjoining café stand to the right.

Ermita de la Victòria 30 minutes by car · 13 km east

A pilgrimage church on the Victòria peninsula, seven kilometres north-east of Alcúdia. The road ends at a …

via Alcúdia, then a narrow mountain road

Lluc's Baroque church façade, clock and bell gable framed by a dark stone archway.

Santuari de Lluc 13 km south-west (straight-line distance)

Mallorca's spiritual centre, a sanctuary at 525 metres in the heart of the Tramuntana, with guest rooms, a …

The road to Cap de Formentor passing between pale rock faces, with the white lighthouse on a bare hill above the sea.

Cap de Formentor 45 minutes by car · 16 km north-east

Mallorca's north-eastern tip, reached along a rocky peninsula with a lighthouse at its end since 1863. The …

summer access restrictions from Platja de Formentor

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

Elevated view of a Cala de Sant Vicenç cove, with turquoise water, a pale beach and parasols, white hotel buildings and bare mountain slopes behind.

Cala de Sant Vicenç 6 km north-east (straight-line distance)

Four small coves beneath the dramatic cliffs of Cavall Bernat, rising around 300 metres above the coast. Houses …

View from a wooded hill across Pollença bay, with pines and houses, anchored sailing boats, the long waterfront and layers of Tramuntana mountains.

Port de Pollença 7 km north-east (straight-line distance)

A quieter, more expensive neighbour to Alcúdia bay, with the waterfront Pine Walk, a royal yacht club and reliable …

Formentor beach with turquoise shallows and a pale crescent of sand, a white lifeguard tower beneath pines and the peninsula's wooded ridge behind.

Platja de Formentor 11 km north-east (straight-line distance)

One of the north's best-known beaches: pale sand beneath old pines, the peninsula's mountains behind and water in …

A broad, almost empty sandy beach beneath clouds, with a low vegetated dune to the left, surf to the right, two walkers and the Alcanada headland and mountains on the horizon.

Platja de Muro 11 km south-east (straight-line distance)

A long sandy stretch of the Bay of Alcúdia, with protected dunes and pines at Es Comú rather than a continuous …

Explore from here

Port de Pollença 7 km Alcúdia 9 km Cap de Formentor 16 km Sa Calobra 19 km

Your questions answered

Your questions about Pollença

How many steps are there on Pollença's Calvari?

365 — one for each day of the year. The staircase starts just behind the town hall and climbs between cypresses to a neo-Gothic chapel at around 170 metres. From the top you can see the town, Pollença bay and, on clear days, Cap de Formentor. Remember that you have to walk all 365 steps back down. Fortunately, stone walls along the way offer somewhere to pause.

When is Pollença market?

Sunday mornings on Plaça Major and the surrounding streets. It is one of Mallorca's best-known markets, with plenty of everyday shopping alongside souvenirs. Arrive early for a parking space and a café table.

What is the difference between Pollença and Port de Pollença?

Six kilometres and two very different places. Pollença is the old inland town, with Plaça Major, narrow lanes and the Calvari. Port de Pollença is the seaside resort that developed in the 20th century. For both, stay in town and head down to swim — the bus takes fifteen minutes.

Why is Pollença inland?

For protection. Ottoman and North African corsairs regularly raided the coast, which remained unsafe into the 18th century. The town was built six kilometres inland, out of sight from the sea. The port developed after piracy declined. You can see a similar arrangement at Alcúdia and its port.

What is La Patrona in Pollença?

The Moros i Cristians festival on 2 August, when the town re-enacts the corsair attack of 1550. The battle moves through town with an intensity that often surprises visitors, followed by fireworks in the evening. For me, it is a very good reason to visit in August despite the crowds.

What is the Davallament?

The Good Friday procession. The Descent from the Cross is re-enacted on the Calvari, then the figure is carried silently down the 365 steps by torchlight. It is a deeply moving religious event, with visitors watching quietly from the sidelines.

What is the Pont Romà?

A two-arched stone bridge over the Torrent de Sant Jordi on the northern edge of town. Traditionally considered Roman in origin, it recalls the area's long history. The Roman city of Pollentia itself was near present-day Alcúdia, where you can visit its excavations.

Is Pollença worth visiting in winter?

Yes. While the port winds down between December and February, the town carries on, with shops open, Sunday market and cafés on the square. It makes a particularly quiet northern base for walkers.

Practical questions

When is the best time to visit Pollença?

Recommended months: January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November, December. The town carries on while much of the port closes. A very peaceful base for walkers.

Is Pollença worth visiting in July and August?

July: worth considering with some reservations. Usually busy. The Festival de Pollença brings concerts to Santo Domingo's cloister. The port is busy. August: worth considering with some reservations. Usually very crowded. On 2 August the town re-enacts the pirate attack in Moros i Cristians. A memorable spectacle, with huge crowds.

How far is Pollença from Palma airport?

About 60 km from Palma airport. Allow roughly 55 minutes by car. Explore the town on foot. A car is useful for the rest of the north. Arrive early on Sundays, when market shoppers fill the car parks on the edge of town.

Do I need a hire car for Pollença?

A car is useful Route 301 to Palma via Sa Pobla and Inca; 322 to Port de Pollença, Alcúdia and Port d'Alcúdia. In summer, 231 crosses the mountains to Lluc and Sóller, while the 334 Formentor shuttle leaves from the port.

Where can I park in Pollença?

Car parks around the edge of town are usually straightforward. Arrive early for Sunday's market. Driving into the old town to park is not a good idea.

Can you swim at Pollença?

There is no beach here. See the nearby swimming options on this page.

Can I visit Pollença with a pushchair or wheelchair?

Cobbled lanes, some steep; natural stone steps on the Calvari Pushchairs: Plaça Major and the main lanes are manageable; the steps are not Wheelchairs: The square is accessible; the old town is more restricted and the Calvari steps are unsuitable

Are dogs allowed at Pollença?

On a lead; dogs are a common sight at the market

Pollença features in our Mallorca highlights

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