Island guide 2026
Mallorca tickets: what to see beyond Palma Cathedral
Mallorca doesn't end at the city walls. Within two hours of La Seu you have caves with underground lakes, the stone villages of the Serra de Tramuntana, catamarans crossing the bay and three parks that rescue any family day. This hub sorts the island by type of plan, with online tickets and realistic routes based out of Palma.
ⓘ Independent guide. Not the cathedral’s official website.How to use this guide
The strategy is simple: sleep in Palma and fan out. The capital concentrates the island's bus network, the Sóller railway, the marinas where the catamarans depart and most tour pickups, so you never need to change hotels to reach every corner. Start with Palma Cathedral on day one — it anchors any trip — then split the remaining days between mountains, sea, caves and parks depending on the weather and who's travelling with you.
Every ticket on this page books online with a date and, in most cases, flexible cancellation. In July and August that's not a nicety — it's the difference between getting in and being turned away.
Caves: Mallorca underground
Cuevas del Drach (Porto Cristo)
The island's most famous caves sit on the east coast in Porto Cristo, a bit over an hour from Palma by motorway. The walk ends at Lake Martel, one of Europe's largest underground lakes, where the visit closes with a short classical concert performed from boats drifting across the water. Count on half a day including the drive — and since weather is irrelevant underground, keep it in reserve as your rainy-day card.
Génova Caves, ten minutes from La Seu
Smaller, far less known and much closer: the Génova Caves are in the hillside district of the same name just above Palma. Stalactites and stalagmites on a compact route of around an hour. A cathedral + Génova Caves combo ticket turns them into a full Palma day without transport headaches: La Seu in the morning, caves in the afternoon and dinner in Génova, a neighbourhood famous for its grill restaurants.
Serra de Tramuntana: Valldemossa, Sóller and the vintage train
The mountain range walling off the island's northwest is a UNESCO World Heritage landscape and holds Mallorca's most photographed villages. Valldemossa, whose Carthusian monastery hosted Chopin and George Sand, is half an hour from Palma by car or public bus. Sóller and its port deserve their own day — and the point is getting there on the historic Sóller train, a wooden railway running since 1912 that climbs through the sierra from Palma and connects in Sóller with a tram down to the harbour. Fares are set by the Ferrocarril de Sóller itself and change by season, so check prices and timetables on their official site before you go.
A sequencing tip: don't attempt Valldemossa, Deià and Sóller in one car-free day. With a car it's a classic one-day loop; on public transport, pick one village per day and you'll enjoy it twice as much.
On the water: catamarans and bay cruises
Seeing La Seu from the sea resets your sense of its scale — the cathedral rises over the old wall like the city's prow. Boat trips from Palma range from short bay loops to half-day sails with swimming stops; the sunset departures are the first to sell out in summer. To bundle it all into one booking, the cathedral + catamaran combo pairs the monument with the sail on a single ticket.
Photographers: late-afternoon light hits the cathedral's southern facade straight on. The photo guide to La Seu maps the exact angles from the water and from Parc de la Mar.
With kids: Marineland, Aqualand and Palma Aquarium
Three parks cover the family front, each with its own crowd:
- Marineland Mallorca (Costa d'en Blanes, west of Palma): the classic marine park with dolphins, sea lions and shows built for younger children. The Marineland + cathedral combo splits culture and park across two days with one purchase.
- Aqualand El Arenal (Playa de Palma): a pure water park — slides, wave pools, kids' zones. Summer season only, and it lands best with older kids and teenagers. It also comes as a combo with the cathedral.
- Palma Aquarium (Playa de Palma): a major aquarium with one of Europe's deepest shark tanks. Open year round — the island's best plan B when the weather turns.
Which activity for whom: quick table
| Activity | Best for | Best season |
|---|---|---|
| Palma Cathedral + old town | Everyone | Year round (go at opening) |
| Cuevas del Drach | Everyone; great in bad weather | Year round |
| Génova Caves + cathedral | Couples, short stays, cruise passengers | Year round |
| Sóller train & Tramuntana | Couples, photographers | Spring and autumn |
| Bay of Palma catamaran | Couples, groups of friends | May–October |
| Marineland | Families with young children | Spring–autumn |
| Aqualand El Arenal | Families with older kids and teens | Summer |
| Palma Aquarium | Families; rainy-day plan B | Year round |
Routes from a Palma base: how many days for what
A split that works in practice, easy to reshuffle with or without kids:
- Day 1 — Palma: cathedral at opening time (check the opening hours first), La Almudaina and the old town. The full route is in things to do in Palma.
- Day 2 — Tramuntana: Sóller train out, tram to the port, bus back; or Valldemossa as a half day.
- Day 3 — Sea: a morning catamaran plus a free beach afternoon, or a sunset sail after a day of coves.
- Day 4 — East coast: Cuevas del Drach and Porto Cristo.
- Days 5–7 (if you have them): a family park, a southern cove, and a rerun of whatever felt too short.
Want the full menu? The complete catalogue of Mallorca attractions lists castles, museums and experiences across the island with real-time availability. And for airport transfers and city logistics, the getting there page covers buses, parking and cathedral entrances.
Mallorca tickets and sightseeing: FAQ
How many days do you need for Mallorca?
Four days cover the essentials: one for Palma and the cathedral, one for the Serra de Tramuntana, one on the water and one for the caves on the east coast. With a week you can add a family park, a couple of coves and a slow village day.
Do I need to rent a car in Mallorca?
For the Tramuntana villages and remote coves, yes — buses run, but timetables are tight. For Palma itself, Marineland, Aqualand or a catamaran cruise you can manage fine with city buses, included transfers or taxis.
Drach Caves or Génova Caves — which should I pick?
They are different plans. The Drach Caves in Porto Cristo are the famous ones, with an underground lake and a live concert: a half-day trip from Palma. The Génova Caves sit ten minutes from the city and take about an hour; a combo ticket pairs them with the cathedral for a full Palma day.
What can you do in Mallorca when it rains?
Caves work in any weather, Palma Aquarium is open year round, and the cathedral plus the Museum of Sacred Art fills half a day. Save the catamaran and the Tramuntana for the first clear morning.
Which activities sell out first in high season?
Sunset catamaran cruises and morning boat departures in July and August, plus the first time slots at the cathedral. Book those a few days ahead. Family parks usually have availability even same-day.
Can you visit the Serra de Tramuntana without a car?
Yes, with limits. The vintage Sóller train runs from Palma across the mountains, and a public bus reaches Valldemossa. Chaining several villages in one car-free day is hard — pick one village per day or join an organised tour.
Palma Aquarium, Marineland or Aqualand — which one with kids?
It depends on age and weather. Palma Aquarium is the most complete and opens all year; Marineland is the classic pick with younger children; Aqualand El Arenal is a pure summer water park, best for older kids and teens.
Facts last reviewed: August 2026. Cathedral data cross-checked with the official site (catedraldemallorca.org) and Tiqets.