The island of Mallorca can best be explained with a photograph. The one we all have in mind when we think of the words “paradisiacal beach”: white sand, transparent waters, an almost indefinable blue, the whitewashed white houses, the llaüts (the fishermen’s wooden boats) floating on the Mediterranean… This image doesn’t change even when we think of family plans and activities for all ages because Mallorca offers a mixture of nature, culture and leisure that is perfect for everyone.
Mallorca: Much More Than Just a Beach
We are no strangers to the obvious: summer holidays are synonymous with beach walks, burying your feet in the sand, endless dips and that delicious saltpetre that smells so much like the months of June, July and August. But beaches aren’t everything in Mallorca. Culture is the hallmark of an island where exhibitions, concerts, art galleries and plans for the whole family are more vibrant than ever in summer.
For example, an unmissable visit to the Pilar and Joan Miró Foundation or Bellver Castle, watching films in summer cinemas (which in Mallorca have an absolutely magical location), and loads of theatre performances and activities for the kids at CaixaForum Palma, among others. A long list that is complemented by a wide range of entertainment options, such as aquaparks and go-karting circuits. Shall we start our engines?
Summer Plans for Families in Mallorca
Mallorca offers a wide variety of plans for families, with a great number of experiences that enrich family holidays. In this list we will go through theme parks, water parks full of fun and adrenaline, but we will also explore the nature of the island with its great World Heritage Site, the Sierra de Tramuntana. It boasts trails adapted to all ages, as well as routes and visits to villages, beaches, monuments that breathe the Mallorcan essence.
Aquatic Thrills
Take to the water, mates! We’re here to let off some adrenaline and to feed all the members of the family with memories. The curiosity of this island is that it is full of water parks, where the attractions are the protagonists beyond the beaches. They can be found in areas such as Magaluf, El Arenal and Costa d’en Blanes.
One of the stars of the island to visit with children is Aqualand El Arenal, a paradise of 19 water attractions, being the largest on the island. Visitors can enjoy a network of slides and wave pools in which attractions such as Banzai (see picture) with two vertiginous slides, the renovated Tsunami (a 15-metre half pipe where you can slide down with a float) or entire areas adapted to the youngest members of the family such as Dragonland or Polynesia stand out.
In Magaluf you’ll find several parks such as Western Park, a space-time journey to the Wild West. How does “Tornado”, “Boomerang”, “The Beast” or “The Hurricane” sound? These are just some of the water attractions you’ll find in this corner of Mallorca, with 30-metre vertical drops, 60-metre-long water tubes, and the list goes on! What’s more, for the little ones, there are three areas full of slides and fun pools with water jets.
Without leaving Magaluf, you’ll find Katmandu Park, with 4D experiences, a tremendous themed mini-golf course, peculiar attractions such as the “upside down” house, a laser tag game, as well as a swimming pool to cool off in between slides.
Located in the Port of Alcudia, is Hidropark, an area of more than 40,000 square metres and with a host of attractions like wave pools, play areas for the little ones, high-speed slides.
For sea lovers, there is an experience that takes you through the beauty of the marine world with educational exhibits. Home to Mediterranean species (and others from different parts of the world), Marineland Mallorca is located in Costa d’en Blanes, just 20 minutes from La Palma. It contains an amalgam of ecosystems with aquariums, terrariums, large open spaces but also gastronomic areas, play areas and entertainment for the whole family.
If you prefer green getaways, you’ll find you refuge in Jungle Parc Mallorca, a 9-hectare pine forest (in Santa Ponsa), boasting 134 platforms, high games among zip lines, bridges, lianas, etc. And yes, children are more than welcome there with three adapted trails for kids.
Speed and Adventure: Karting in Mallorca and Outdoor Activities for Families
Mallorca is a great setting for the adventurous families who like active holidays. Thus, race lovers can enjoy the numerous karting circuits on the island, such as Magaluf, Can Picafort, Xtremkart Mallorca, as well as eKarts Mallorca, the first indoor electric karting circuit in the area. All in all, they are places where you can take part in some friendly competition with your family or simply enjoy a few laps on these circuits adapted to all ages.
Biking is another outdoor activity, perfect for cycling fans, with numerous routes on the island, where you can exercise while enjoying the scenery. We highlight Port de Pollensa to Cap de Formentor, one of the most famous biking routes that is ideal for enjoying nature, as well as the one from Palma to El Arenal, perfect for making a few stops along the way in the most touristy area of the island.
Another essential outdoor activity is hiking. There is always the option of going on your own or going the organised route with hiking trails, ideal if you go with small children. Mallorca has hiking trails for all levels, such as the Puerto de Sóller-Deia trail, suitable for everyone, or the Pollensa summits trail, which requires more preparation. If you have several days available, the Ruta de la Piedra is a must, a trail in stages that will take you to the most beautiful corners of the Sierra de Tramuntana mountain range.
Whether you go by bike or on foot, all these trails can be complemented with a stop at some of the best beaches in Mallorca, from the paradisiacal coves of Cala Agulla (Artà) and Cala del Mag (Portals Vells) to Cala Tuent (in the heart of the Tramuntana, ideal for snorkelling).You can also choose larger beaches such as Es Trenc (Colonia de Sant Jordi), Formentor (on the cape of the same name) or Muro (Alcúdia), the longest beach in Mallorca. Certainly, you can always combine activities such as paddle surfing (available on most beaches) with the history and culture of Mallorca.
If we want to enjoy somewhat quieter outdoor activities for children, there are always other options. Who can resist a good summer cinema session? Cinema a la Fresca will turn Palma and Pollença into outdoor cinemas, where the smell of popcorn is replaced by the aroma of saltpetre. The cycle kicks off this July with auteur cinema and will last throughout the summer.
Cultural and Educational Experiences: Museums, Parks and Festivals for Children
If you want to enjoy the performing arts at Caixaforum Palma, as well as seeing the usual exhibitions, you can enjoy nights of music, circus, comedy or dance thanks to all the activities programmed for this summer. You can also go to the Auditorium, which offers a wide variety of shows. Another option is the Trui Teatre, which specialises in concerts and comedy shows.
Art lovers have plenty of options in Mallorca: the Miró Foundation, Es Baluard (modern and contemporary art), the Royal Palace of the Almudaina (Gothic and Islamic art), the Sa Bassa Blanca Museum (with an animal sculpture park and a rose garden that will delight the youngest visitors), and many more.
These visits can be complemented with other educational activities, such as visiting the island’s most famous monuments. Both the Bellver Castle, in whose territory you’ll find several playgrounds and trails for the whole family, and the Cathedral-Basilica of Santa Maria de Mallorca are two essential destinations that will fascinate adults and children alike.
Of course, the good weather invites you to enjoy parks, gardens and other green spaces. In this case, we recommend a visit to the Alfabia Gardens or to discover the island’s interior in two of its most famous caves: Genova and Campanet, a perfect escape from the hot summer sun.
Like all Mediterranean islands, Mallorca is full of festivals and fairs this summer. You can’t miss the different Moors and Christians festivals (Sóller, Pollensa and Santa Ponsa) or the Fiestas de San Bartomeu (Sóller).
Additionally, Sóller offers a very picturesque activity, a ride on a historic train. Especially when you consider how many children are obsessed with trains and locomotives, they will be amazed by the Sóller tram. Since 1913, it has been inviting us to experience this journey through all the Mallorcan landscapes, from the bay and the port with the sea in the background to the rural territory full of orange and lemon trees (Es Camp de S’Oca).
Why Is Mallorca a Perfect Destination for a Family Holiday?
Summer with the family evokes a collective imagination, in which outdoor activities are the protagonists. Mallorca’s offer, in this sense, is immense, both regarding nature and entertainment. The many coves and beaches, with access to services to be able to plant the umbrella with the little ones of the house and the green trails that present paths adapted to all ages, are pure entertainment and culture.
The water parks that speckle Mallorca, such as Western Park or Aqualand El Arenal, and the karting circuits, activities for lovers of adrenaline and endless outdoor fun, are also worth mentioning. But summer on the island is also full of popular festivals and indoor cultural activities, including visits to monuments, museums and cultural centres.
Indoors or outdoors, sea vs. mountains, more relaxed activities or plans packed with adrenaline: Mallorca offers experiences for all tastes and types of families. And all with the Mediterranean as the undisputed protagonist of these memories that brings families from all over the world back to the island every year.
Tips, Tricks and Recommendations
To get the most out of a day out at an aquapark or go-karting circuit, it is essential to plan ahead. Here are a few tips!
- First of all, safety first. Many attractions like the pools or go-karting vehicles have a minimum age or height limit, especially in the areas of slides and deep pools. Safety and hygiene rules must be followed to the tee.
- Don’t sleep on sun protection. The sun in Mallorca is special in every way and, although you should always wear sunscreen whatever the activity, if you are in a water park like Aqualand El Arenal, this sun protection should be waterproof, easy to apply and quickly absorbed.
- Hydration and snacks. The day at a water park can be very long. Hydration is a must, because although we are soaking in water, we do not hydrate ourselves via osmosis, but we must be equipped with water and snacks so that the party does not stop. The parks have a restaurant and bar area, where you can recharge your batteries at any time of the day. Take note: a pit-stop is a must.
Accommodation and Gastronomy
Mallorca is synonymous with gastronomy. You can’t leave the island without trying some of the typical dishes, such as arrós brut, a spicy rice dish with pork, tumbet, a Mallorcan ode to vegetarianism with seasonal vegetables (usually tomato, red pepper and aubergine), or pica-pica, cuttlefish stewed with pine nuts, garlic, chilli, paprika, sultanas and onion. Finally, to round off a lunch or dinner with an island spirit, you can’t miss the ensaimadas, which can be served for breakfast, dessert, as a snack or as a treat. This is the island’s best-known product.
One of the water parks mentioned, Aqualand El Arenal, is in a strategically located area. After a long day of activities, El Arenal has the best restaurants on the island, where you can try the local food in variats, which consists of putting several tapas on the same plate at the same time. Here sobrasada is a must.
Aqualand El Arenal is very close to the beaches of Caló de Sant Antoni and Sa Cova Baixa, so accommodation is pretty commonplace, with an outdoor swimming pool and views of the bay of Palma for the most part.
About half an hour’s drive from El Arenal is Aromata, one of the best restaurants on the island. Opened in 2014 by Mallorcan chef Andreu Genestra, it has been awarded a Michelin star and several Repsol Suns. Its tasting menus for all ages are an unmissable option to get to know the local gastronomy in the best possible way.