Where the Mediterranean Slows Down

Mallorca is far more than a summer island.

It is a place of honey-coloured villages, dramatic mountain roads, hidden coves and beautifully restored hotels where luxury is expressed through silence, space and a deep connection to the landscape.

One morning begins beneath the stone arches of Palma. Another is spent driving through the Serra de Tramuntana with the Mediterranean appearing between olive groves and mountain peaks. Afternoons disappear beside turquoise water, while evenings are reserved for long dinners, local wine and sunsets that seem to soften the entire island.

Mallorca reveals a different personality in every region.

There is the energy and architecture of Palma, the artistic spirit of Deià, the timeless beauty of Valldemossa, the quiet refinement of Santanyí and the wild northern coastline surrounding Formentor.

Rather than trying to see everything, choose a few exceptional places and experience them properly.

This is Levart’s guide to the very best of Mallorca.

LEVART RECOMMENDS

Ideal Length

7–9 Days

Perfect Itinerary

2 Nights – Palma

Begin with architecture, shopping, restaurants and the energy of the island’s capital.

2 Nights – Deià or Valldemossa

Experience the Serra de Tramuntana, mountain villages and Mallorca at its most romantic.

3 Nights – Santanyí

Stay at Can Ferrereta and explore the island’s most beautiful southeastern coves.

Optional Extension

1–2 Nights in Formentor for the wild northern coastline, secluded beaches and complete tranquillity.

Best Time to Visit

May to June

September to early October

These months offer warm Mediterranean weather with a calmer atmosphere than the height of summer.

Perfect For

Quiet Luxury • Boutique Hotels • Beaches • Coastal Drives • Food • Design • Romance • Wellness

EXPERIENCE

Lunch at Restaurante Illeta

Some restaurants are worth building an entire day around.

Restaurante Illeta sits on a small rocky island in the turquoise waters of Camp de Mar, connected to the beach by a narrow wooden walkway. Surrounded almost entirely by the sea, it offers one of Mallorca’s most recognisable and unforgettable dining settings.

Reserve a table for lunch, order Mediterranean seafood and stay long enough to watch the afternoon light move across the bay.

The food matters.

But the feeling of dining above the water is what makes Illeta essential.

It is not simply one of Mallorca’s most beautiful restaurants.

It is one of the experiences that makes the island worth travelling for. 

Drive Through the Serra de Tramuntana

The road between Valldemossa, Deià and Sóller is one of the most beautiful drives in the Mediterranean.

Stone villages appear between ancient olive terraces, mountains descend towards the sea and every curve reveals another reason to stop.

Rent a convertible if possible.

Leave early, drive slowly and allow the journey itself to become the destination.

The cultural landscape of the Serra de Tramuntana has been recognised by UNESCO, reflecting the centuries-old relationship between its mountain environment and the communities that shaped it. 

Take the Historic Train to Sóller

Since 1912, the wooden train between Palma and Sóller has crossed the Mallorcan countryside through tunnels, mountains and citrus groves.

The experience feels wonderfully removed from modern travel. Sit beside the window, enjoy the changing landscape and continue by tram towards Port de Sóller for lunch beside the marina.

It is one of the island’s most timeless journeys.

Discover Mallorca from the Water

Mallorca’s most beautiful coastline is often best seen from a boat.

Charter a small vessel from Port de Sóller, Palma or Port d’Andratx and spend the day moving between coves that are difficult to reach by road.

Swim where the water becomes impossible to resist, stop for a simple seaside lunch and allow the Mediterranean to set the rhythm of the day.

Watch Sunset at Cap de Formentor

The road towards Formentor leads through pine forests, elevated viewpoints and some of Mallorca’s most dramatic coastal scenery.

Arrive in the late afternoon and watch the northern cliffs change colour as the sun approaches the horizon.

This is Mallorca at its wildest.

EXPLORE

Palma

Palma deserves far more than an arrival and departure day.

Begin beside La Seu, the monumental Gothic cathedral overlooking Parc de la Mar. Its interior includes artistic interventions by Antoni Gaudí and Miquel Barceló, while its position above the water makes it one of the Mediterranean’s most striking religious buildings.

Continue through the old town, discovering hidden courtyards, sandstone façades, independent boutiques and the atmospheric streets surrounding La Lonja.

In the evening, move towards Santa Catalina for restaurants, wine bars and a more contemporary side of the city.

Deià

Deià has long attracted artists, writers and travellers searching for something quieter.

Set between the Tramuntana Mountains and the sea, the village feels intimate and beautifully preserved. Walk its stone streets, enjoy lunch overlooking the valley and descend towards Cala Deià for an afternoon beside the water.

Nothing here needs to be rushed.

Valldemossa

Valldemossa is one of the island’s most romantic villages.

Honey-coloured houses, flower-filled streets and mountain views create an atmosphere that feels almost too perfect. Arrive early before the village becomes busy and stop for coffee and a traditional coca de patata.

Sóller and Port de Sóller

Sóller is surrounded by mountains and citrus groves, while its historic centre combines elegant architecture with a relaxed village atmosphere.

Continue by tram to the port, where restaurants line the horseshoe-shaped bay and boats leave for the wilder coves of the northern coast.

Santanyí

Santanyí offers a quieter interpretation of Mallorcan life.

Its golden-stone streets, weekly market, small galleries and proximity to beautiful coves make it an ideal base for the southern part of the island.

Spend the morning in town before continuing towards Cala Llombards, Caló des Moro or the long sands of Es Trenc.

Cap de Formentor

The northern peninsula feels entirely different from the softer landscapes of southern Mallorca.

Here, pine-covered mountains descend into the sea, roads follow dramatic cliffs and the coastline feels wonderfully remote.

Stay until sunset if time allows.

EAT & DRINK

Restaurante Illeta

Mallorca’s most iconic lunch.

The setting alone makes it unforgettable, but the ideal experience is simple: seafood, chilled wine and several unhurried hours surrounded by the Mediterranean.

El Olivo

Set within La Residencia in Deià, El Olivo offers refined Mediterranean dining in one of the island’s most romantic settings.

The historic atmosphere, mountain surroundings and sense of occasion make it ideal for a special evening.

Sea Club at Cap Rocat

Facing the water within the secluded surroundings of Cap Rocat, Sea Club celebrates seasonal Mediterranean ingredients and locally sourced Mallorcan produce.

Come for lunch and remain as the afternoon light softens across the Bay of Palma.

Palma’s Market Ritual

Spend one morning at Mercat de l’Olivar or Santa Catalina Market.

Order fresh seafood, share several small plates and allow the market to become your lunch rather than simply another stop on the itinerary.

STAY

Can Ferrereta

For Levart, this is one of Mallorca’s defining hotels.

Set inside a restored 17th-century mansion in Santanyí, Can Ferrereta offers 32 rooms and suites, a serene spa and a garden pool surrounded by olive trees and cypresses. The result feels intimate, beautifully designed and deeply connected to its setting.

The luxury here is quiet.

Mornings begin slowly, afternoons are divided between nearby coves and the hotel pool, and evenings unfold within the golden streets of Santanyí.

It is the perfect base for travellers who value architecture, wellness and a more considered way of experiencing Mallorca.

Cap Rocat

Built within a former military fortress, Cap Rocat occupies a secluded position in a 30-hectare nature reserve beside a protected stretch of coastline.

Its dramatic architecture, privacy and uninterrupted relationship with the sea make it one of the Mediterranean’s most distinctive hotels.

Choose it when the hotel itself is intended to become part of the journey.

La Residencia, A Belmond Hotel

Set within the artistic village of Deià, La Residencia captures the romance of the Tramuntana Mountains.

Stone buildings, gardens, art and mountain views create a hotel that feels rooted in the village rather than separate from it.

Stay here for slow mornings, long lunches and the feeling of being surrounded by one of Mallorca’s most beautiful landscapes.

Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor

Formentor has welcomed writers, actors and international travellers since the original retreat opened in 1929. Reimagined by Four Seasons, the resort sits between pine forests, a golden beach and the dramatic landscapes of Mallorca’s northern coast.

It is ideal for those seeking a more secluded conclusion to the journey.

SHOP

Mallorca’s finest discoveries are often local.

Explore:

• Independent fashion and design boutiques in Palma

• Artisan ceramics in the old town

• Woven baskets and traditional textiles

• Galleries in Deià and Santanyí

• Local produce at Santa Catalina Market

• Olive oil, sea salt and Mallorcan wines

THE LEVART EDIT

Stay

Can Ferrereta

For thoughtful design, extraordinary calm and one of the island’s most beautiful settings.

Secluded Escape

Cap Rocat

For privacy, dramatic architecture and uninterrupted Mediterranean views.

Lunch

Restaurante Illeta

For the unforgettable experience of dining almost entirely surrounded by the sea.

Dinner

El Olivo

For a romantic evening in the mountains of Deià.

Village

Valldemossa

For stone streets, mountain air and timeless Mallorcan beauty.

Beach

Cala Deià

For clear water beneath the Tramuntana Mountains.

Journey

The historic train to Sóller

For one of the island’s most charming traditions.

Scenic Drive

Valldemossa to Deià

For the moment when the Mediterranean appears between the mountains.

Memory

Leaving Illeta after a long lunch as the afternoon light reflects across Camp de Mar.

LEVART TIPS

Rent a car.

Mallorca’s greatest beauty lies beyond the main resorts, and the freedom to stop along the coast transforms the journey.

Reserve Restaurante Illeta well in advance during summer.

Stay in at least two regions.

Combining the Tramuntana Mountains with Santanyí or Palma reveals completely different sides of the island.

Visit Valldemossa and Deià early in the morning.

Keep swimwear in the car.

The most inviting coves often appear when you least expect them.

Do not plan every hour.

Mallorca is at its best when lunch lasts longer than intended and the road convinces you to change direction.

A PERFECT EIGHT-DAY ESCAPE

Days 1–2 | Palma

Begin with La Seu, the old town, La Lonja and the hidden courtyards of the historic centre.

Spend one morning exploring the markets before enjoying dinner in Santa Catalina. On the second day, drive towards Camp de Mar for an unforgettable lunch at Restaurante Illeta.

Days 3–4 | Deià and Valldemossa

Follow the mountain road into the Serra de Tramuntana.

Explore Valldemossa early, continue to Deià and spend an afternoon at Cala Deià. Stay at La Residencia or another intimate mountain retreat and reserve one evening for dinner at El Olivo.

Days 5–7 | Santanyí

Check into Can Ferrereta and allow the pace to slow.

Explore Santanyí, Cala Llombards, Caló des Moro and the southern coastline. Leave one full afternoon for the hotel pool, spa and gardens rather than trying to visit another destination.

Day 8 | Formentor or Sóller

For a northern finale, drive towards Cap de Formentor and remain until the light begins to fade.

Alternatively, return to Palma and take the historic train to Sóller, continuing towards Port de Sóller for one final lunch beside the sea.

THE LEVART PERSPECTIVE

Mallorca reminds us that Mediterranean luxury was never meant to be complicated.

It is found in a stone house surrounded by olive trees.

A mountain road with the windows open.

A table suspended above the sea.

A hidden cove discovered without planning.

And an afternoon that becomes evening because nowhere else feels more important.

Stay longer in fewer places.

Swim before breakfast.

Drive without rushing.

Reserve the table at Illeta.

Because Mallorca is not defined by how much of the island you manage to see.

It is defined by how deeply you allow yourself to experience it.

The Art of Travel starts here.