Get to know the island
What to know before your Mallorca holiday
Twelve guides to the questions that go beyond a single place — from getting around to choosing your evening meal.
Do you need a hire car, or will buses and trains do? Which cove suits the wind today? Where does the GR 221 go, and how long are the stages? What is Mallorcan food, and how do you recognise it on a menu? Where is market day today? When are the main festivals, and could a sporting event affect your journey? And why do the signs say Sóller, with an accent?
You’ll find practical advice for your holiday here, alongside my own experiences and links to official information.
Mallorca’s history
From the talayots to Jaume I: discover the island’s past and the places where you can explore it today.
Weather and climate
How warm will your Mallorca holiday be? Choose your month to see typical daytime, night-time and sea temperatures.
Getting to and around Mallorca
From the airport to your accommodation and around the island: when public transport works well and when a hire car helps.
Car hire in Mallorca
Insurance, excess, deposits, fuel policies, collection and return: the details that can turn a cheap deal into an expensive one.
Buses and trains
TIB routes by region, seasonal services and practical advice on paying and changing buses.
Weekly markets
Find a market day for shopping or a wander, with weekly, flea and evening markets around the island.
Festivals through the year
From Sant Antoni to the grape harvest: annual celebrations, where they happen and what to know before you go.
Major sporting events
Mallorca 312, Ironman and sailing regattas: 2026 dates and what they mean for your journey and accommodation.
Walking in Mallorca
The GR 221 and Tramuntana’s dry-stone paths, organised by place rather than difficulty.
Choosing a beach or cove
Wind, access, time of day and what is underfoot: four things that tell you more about a cove than a rating.
Food and drink
Sobrassada, tumbet, pa amb oli and more: find your way around a Mallorcan menu.
Language and place names
Why the city is called Palma, and why the road signs are in Catalan.
Twelve guides to the island. You won’t find restaurant rankings or hotel reviews here: names, prices and offers change too quickly for those lists to stay useful.