A Canberra Girl’s Guide to Mallorca’s East Coast
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El sol es la major medicina – the sun is the best medicine.
If your TikTok and Instagram feeds are usually flooded with Euro summer content the second it starts to cool down in Australia, there is a high chance you’ve been served footage of Mallorca before.
Famous for its turquoise waters, sandy white beaches, and high-end restaurant scene, this Balearic Island is one of the most popular destinations for Europeans and long-distance travellers to visit in the Mediterranean, and after holidaying here back in July, I now understand why.
While Palma is the capital of this Spanish getaway, we decided to escape the city for the majority of our girl’s trip and spend three days along the island’s southeast coast. And boy oh boy, do I recommend this!
Check out below how we explored Mallorca’s east, covering all things accommodation, food, and beaches.
Day one.
How we got there
Getting to Mallorca is quite easy from most European cities, with major airlines running direct flights straight to Palma de Mallorca Airport each day during the peak season.
Flying from Stockholm Arlanda, I took the cheapest route with RyanAir, however, in hindsight, I do think it is worth the money flying with a mid-tier airline such as Scandinavia Air (SAS).
Tip: If you are under 25, SAS offer a select amount of youth tickets each flight and these can save you a lot of dollars.
Landing in Palma Airport and getting the keys to our hire car for the next couple of days was relatively straightforward. We hired our vehicle from Goldcar, although there are a number of hire companies to select from at the airport terminal.
Note: If your plan is to venture outside of Palma and along the coast like we did, you have to hire a car to get around the island.
Checking into our accommodation
For our stay, we rented a small Airbnb just outside of Santanyí in Cala Llombards and this was approximately a 45-minute drive from the airport.
This villa was absolutely perfect for three guests with a loft bed and large sofa for sleeping and an amazing outdoor entertainment area/rooftop for pre-dinner drinks. If you’re travelling in a small group you can check out this villa option here.
Cala Llombards
Fortunately, this Airbnb was located in the perfect spot along Mallorca’s east coast with all the major beaches being only a short walk or drive from the residence, so we headed to Cala Llombards straight after checking-in.
This secluded cove beach was a ten-minute walk from our accommodation and a great place to kick start the trip, especially after an early-morning flight. Unlike some of the beaches along Mallorca’s east coast, Cala Llombards is solely a relaxation spot, so rest assured (get it?) you can soak up the sun and dive in the crystal blue waters without being disturbed by energetic party-goers.
Cala d’Or
If there is one thing you need to prepare yourself for when visiting Spain in the summer, it is the extreme heat. While lounging in the morning sun in Mallorca is an absolute delight, by afternoon the want for a siesta becomes more of a need, with the high temperatures draining all of your energy. Even if you are not usually a napper, like myself, there is something so relaxing about embracing this midday Spanish tradition while on holiday.
Following the siesta period, we headed into Cala d’Or in the late evening.
I will admit Cala d’Or was not my favourite spot that we visited on our trip, but this tourist hub was a still fun place to tick off the list. And if you don’t mind a crowd, this is the place to go if you’re looking for a vibrant nightlife, evening shopping and live music.
Day two.
Sublims Gourmet Coffee Shop
To kick off day two of our trip, coffee was very much needed, so Sublims Gourmet Coffee Shop in Santanyi was the perfect find for this morning fix.
What we liked most about Sublims Gourmet was their local focus, with most if not all of the items being sold coming from Mallorca producers or made in-house. With temperatures already rising to 26 degrees by 9 am, we ordered deliciously refreshing iced-lattes from this corner coffee shop and dabbled in their apricot Ensaïmada’s – a Mallorca pastry speciality that you must try!
Cala s’Almunia
Recommended by locals and featured all over Instagram is Cala s’Alumnia. We got lucky when visiting this popular Mallorca treasure as the parking permit our AirBnB host provided, allowed us to park right near the entrance (if you don’t have a permit, it is about a 15-minute walk, if you manage to score a spot in the public parking).
Despite being a small beach with no sand and lots of rocky ledges to rest on, the views are like no other at Cala s’Almunia. From old fisherman houses to water so clear you can see right to the bottom of the ocean floor, this picturesque spot is a true Spanish escape, where it’s pretty much impossible to take a bad photo. During our holiday this spot goes down as my favourite beach hideout.
Tip: As a small cove, this place fills up so try get here as early as possible to secure parking and a spot to soak up the Spanish sun.
Restaurant Es Molí De Santanyí
For our final night along the east coast, we treated ourselves to a meal at Restaurant Es Molī in Santanyí. This Spanish restaurant is located in a refurbished mill in the town’s centre and serves traditional tapas plates inspired by seasonal produce. During our visit we were sat in the restaurant’s courtyard that was decorated with festoon lighting – the perfect setting to socialise with the girls on a warm Spanish evening.
While choosing what to order was a tough decision (as all the plates sounded amazing), I ordered the homemade lemon iced tea, vegetarian ravioli, Spanish meatballs, and the strawberry tiramisu for dessert. And let me tell you, there were no regrets with these choices, with each plate offering a unique twist on traditional dishes while being packed with fresh flavours.
Day three.
Santanyí Markets
While heading to Sublims Gourmet for another morning coffee, we also made a pit-stop by Santanyí Markets.
These weekly markets run on both Wednesday’s and Saturday’s from 9 am selling everything from local produce, crafts, and jewellery, and are totally worth a visit.
Running over multiple streets, these large markets are one of Mallorca’s most popular attractions during the summer and spring season, welcoming all kinds of life to this small town. From delicious olives that could be smelt from a mile away to hand-painted ceramics, this market was a great way to experience Spanish culture and support locals.
Cala Sa Nau
Our final beach destination on Mallorca’s east coast was Cala Sa Nau. Approximately a twenty-minute drive from Santanyí, with plenty of free parking, this sandy white beach with limestone cliffs was another calm swimming spot to sit back and read a book in the sun.
While being one of the quieter beach hideouts on this side of the island, this spot does have a beach bar and sunbeds for hire, so if you forget to pack snacks, they’ve got you sorted. Open from 9 am to 9 pm, Cala Sa Nau beach bar serves everything from your classic burger and chips to fresh poke bowls, and while I didn’t indulge in one myself, I’ve heard they also do some darn good summer cocktails!
