10-Night Honeymoon in Mallorca: Mountains, Sea & Slow Mediterranean Magic

We arrived at the Palma airport and snagged our rental convertible from SIXT. Consider a compact car a necessity, as it will make the winding mountain roads and narrow alleys manageable, while providing an amazing view.

Our first five nights were spent at Hospes Maricel. If there is a place designed for unwinding after months of wedding planning, this is it.

The hotel sits directly on the sea, tucked into a small inlet where stone platforms step down into the water. Most days unfolded slowly: drifting between the ocean, the pool, and a lounge chair with a drink in hand.

Every evening, just before sunset, a man and his dogs would swim across the inlet and back, floating in front of a bobbing sailboat that doubled as someone’s home. It was peaceful. The kind of quiet moment that makes travel feel cinematic.

When we did venture out, Palma was only a 15-minute drive away. Wandering its streets in the evening—when the heat softens and tapas bars begin to fill—became one of our favorite routines.

It rarely rains in Mallorca, but when it rains, it pours and the whole island nearly shuts down. Our second day was accompanied by a torrential downpour, which turned out to be the perfect excuse to spend hours in their incredible spa—sauna, steam room, massages, and an indoor outdoor lap pool, with the sounds of raindrops coming down.

That evening, the concierge sent us to Puerto Portals. A port for a slew of extravagant yachts and marina-front restaurants. We had sushi at Lucy Wang and it was the second best sushi I’d ever had. The first… just happened to be around the corner!

Eventually, we had to leave our lounge chairs behind. To Soller and Port de Sóller we go.

About 35 minutes from Palma, tucked into the mountains, is the charming town of Sóller. Its cobblestone streets, old trams, and surrounding olive groves feel like stepping into another era.

After an olive oil tasting and mill tour, we boarded the town’s iconic wooden train to Port de Sóller.

Yes, it’s touristy—but it’s touristy because it’s fun!

The port is a cove of vibrant fishing boats, filled with people. Sightsee, but skip dining in Port de Sóller. Instead, we drove a few minutes inland to Puigpunyent, a quiet village near the beautiful Hotel Gran Son Net where the restaurants felt more local—and the meals more memorable.

We woke up early to watch the sunrise with our feet hanging over the rocky edges into the sea, then took the hour drive to Santanyi.

Open Wednesdays and Saturdays, at the Santanyi market, you’ll find local artisans selling cured meats, local cheeses, fresh pastries, and handmade goods.

If you pack well, you’ll have time to stop by one of the smaller, less crowded calas for a dip in the water before your drive back to the hotel for dinner.

We returned to Palma before retreating to the mountains for the remainder of the trip. The Catedral-Basílica de Santa María de Mallorca is a must see. Its vastness can’t be overstated. On our way, we stopped at Fika Farina for a pastry. I can still taste the delicious pistachio croissant months later. Bellies full, we strolled through the Almudaina Palace, listening to the audio tour, before heading to our next stay, Finca Albellons.

This hotel, just north of Selva, is nestled into the mountains with views of peaks and valleys from every room. The echo of sheep and birds flows through the mountains as you sit at the pool, and every room has an outdoor patio and lounge bed to privately enjoy the nature that surrounds you.

Finca Albellons rents e-bikes to guests, and if you’re looking for a relaxing—at times challenging—way to see the mountain towns, farms, and biggest olive trees you’ve ever witnessed, this is the way to get around. Along the way, we made friends with the many horses, donkeys, and sheep that line the farmland.

Nearby, Selva is home to a small square where you can enjoy a limon—beer mixed with a lemon soda that will quench your inevitable thirst from biking. For dinner, don’t pass up a steak at Es Parc Selva.

Mallorca’s north coast feels wilder and quieter than the south. We spent a day snorkeling, exploring underwater caves, and kayaking. It was a beautiful way to view parts of the island that go unseen by land dwellers. The north side of the island holds quiet beaches and locals. Places where you can see the sun set over the sea and rams roam the mountains all in one snapshot.

After a long sun-kissed day, we stopped in Alcudia—a bustling walled city which you can walk on top of—filled with tasty restaurants and shops.

One of the most unforgettable experiences in Mallorca was simply driving. We drove through the mountains slowly, cheering on the bikers who trekked their way to the top. Descending down the mountain, we were greeted by rolling hills and eventually the sea—all on our way to Sa Calobra.

A swim in Sa Calobra was like magic, the towering mountains on either side as we waded through the impossibly blue waters. There were plenty of people, given that it was shoulder season in early September, but there was room for everyone, all collectively there to enjoy where the sea meets the gorge. The same gorge, which you can hike or watch swell with water in the wet season.

On our last full day, we visited Fornalutx, often considered one of the prettiest villages in Spain.

Stone streets wind through quiet corners of the town, with small cafés serving some of the island’s best croquetas. It’s the perfect place to wander slowly—the kind of town that invites you to linger.

That evening we returned to the finca for one final sunset by the pool, listening to the mountains settle into evening.