Considering Mallorca
 

Thinking about a first-time, ten/twelve day trip to Mallorca around 20 March, 2023, and probably staying in Airbnb/Vrbo. We're in our mid-seventies, interested mostly in cultural and scenic attractions and relaxing. Plan to rent a car to see most interesting sites in and outside of Palma. What should we be aware of about car rentals, accommodations, etc.? Anything quirky to watch out for? What are the top must-see attractions? Thanks!

Car hire
https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...-hire-1710818/
Rentals everything has to be a licenced property.Advice is look for adverts with licence number.Then do a reverse search on it to see if it is associated with that property.
https://www.balearic-properties.com/...ce-in-mallorca
https://www.portamallorquina.com/blo...ulations-2018/
There are tourist taxes to pay. The adverted cost will not show these.
https://www.mallorca-now.com/mallorca-tourist-tax.html
https://www.majorcadailybulletin.com...-increase.html
top must-see attractions...... depends on what you like to see and do
https://www.abc-mallorca.com/best-places-mallorca/
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/mallorca/attractions
https://www.heartmybackpack.com/spai...o-do-mallorca/

Dietger,
We spent two weeks in Mallorca this past June, starting with one week in the Serra de Tramuntana section of the island, arguably, with the most dramatic mountain scenery. There we based in pretty (but busy) Sóller in a merchant's mansion, Mas Salvi, in the heart of the old town. We took the ancient tram/trolley down to the Port de Sóller several times for a stroll, drinks facing the water and dinner (beaches were very busy). Water sports abound. We could have taken the scenic train ride from Palma to Sóller, which many day trippers do, but we wanted a car to explore.

As to the car rental, we should have used ROIG, as mentioned in another thread.
From Sóller we took amazing drives to the highly picturesque, nearby Deiá, to Fornalutx and to very busy Valdemossa to visit its Cartuxa (made famous by Frederick Chopin and George Sand). The scenery here is stunning, the drives challenging! (a cycling paradise) and the towns picture-postcard perfect. Because the drive to the cala of Sa Calobra looked from videos so hair-raising (Mallorca's most famous, spectacular, toughest cycling climb), we skipped it, although our host would have driven us there, we found out upon check-out.

In Sóller we attended the lively Saturday market, enjoyed an evening classical concert at the lovely neo-Gothic Església de Sant Bartomeu and toured its excellent Museo Modernista Can Prunera. Great dining as well.

After 4 nights in western Mallorca we headed north, stopping at the Monastery of Lluc, to the charming town of Pollença for another relaxing 4-night stay on its square. Here we enjoyed the town's lively Sunday market, one of the largest on the island, visited Port Pollença, walked its "Pine Walk" along the bay and visited the picturesque medieval walled town of Alcúdia, with its Roman museum, gorgeous church of Sant Jaume and Tuesday market day.

Before our drive south to Palma we did stop at a couple of local wineries, the Can Vidalet and Can Axartell, recommended by the sommelier at Pollença's Q11 on the lovely square, where we dined twice. From Pollença we drove to the Palma airport to drop off our car before our 7-night stay in the capital.

Our stay in extremely busy Palma was partly business related, but we quickly found we could have done our sightseeing easily in 3-4 days instead of 6. We based in a fully serviced, well-equipped apartment, the Fil Suites (45-65 square meters) and walked everywhere.

Sightseeing highlights:
the hugely impressive cathedral (with audio guide), Arab Baths, the excellent Fundación March, the Miró Foundation (outside of town), strolling the boutique-lined Passeig del Born, the up-and-coming Santa Catalina district and its indoor market, the Sat. noon Changing of the Guard at Almudena Palace, the Castle of Bellver, temporary exhibit at the Caixa Forum. We found the current collection of the Museu Es Baluard a bit underwhelming. But again, all of this could be accomplished in 3-4 days.
For breakfast enjoying an ensaimada at the classic Ca'n Joan de s’Aigo, a local institution, was a must.

If you do decide to venture to the Tramuntana in March, you may find these villages very quiet, as the season doesn't begin until Easter. I have no info on vrbo or airbnb because we stayed in the B&B in Sóller and the Hotel Mon in Pollença on the square. I do know that finca rentals abound, but you would need a car.

Hope this "mini" TR helps.

For trip planning I used Rubicund's and BritishCaicos' (and others') contributions on this forum plus abc-mallorca.com and the blog of Helen Cummins,
https://www.helencummins.com/mallorca/

You don't say how mobile you are and how easily you can get get around but as you don't mention it I'll assume that you're OK. In March, I think I'd stay in Palma and take trips out to various parts of the island. Many of the resort areas will be very quiet at that time although we have stayed in Pollenca all year round and loved it. Culturally you might want to visit:

Palma Cathedral
Belvoir Castle
Lluc Monastery
Calvary steps in Pollenca
Roman Ruins at Alcudia

Fun things:
Thursday market at Inca
Caves of Drac
Pollenca Sunday market
Inca and Binisalem wines
Train from Palma to Soller
Town of Valdemossa--monastery where Chopin stayed

These are a few of the things to do and |I doubt if you'll have time to do it all. Pick out what attracts you.

March is too late for enjoying the seven million almond trees of Mallorca in full bloom.

Rubicund,
It's nice to know that you've stayed in Pollensa at other times of the year outside of high season and loved it.
We were hesitant to book in late March for fear that the area would be too quiet but might consider a re-visit in early spring.
Pollensa is a charming town.
I see that the beautiful Son Brull in early March could possibly fit in our (very) max budget.

Hi Maribel. Yes we have stayed in Pollenca many times and at different times of the year, from January right through to December. and enjoyed it each and every time. When we first started visiting, we stayed in a few rented apartments and a villa or two just outside of the town, but they are better in the summer if they have a pool.
Son Brull is excellent and you won't go wrong there.;We also found a small hotel with a pool two minutes walk from the Placa Major called the Hotel Son Sant Jordi. Lovely couple who own it and you can even get picked up from the airport-at a cost-if you wish. Over the years we've seen most of the island, even visited Palma Nova and Magaluf, albeit briefly though. You get your favourite spots to see and visit during that time, for instance;

The Placa Major in Pollenca-nothing is lovelier eating there or people watching with a drink.
Valdemossa;
Deia;
Andratx
Sant Elm--next to Andratx with several wonderful restaurants, well worth the drive down; to name but a few.

Enjoy your next trip.

Thanks, Rubicund for your feedback and the tip on the Hotel Son Sant Jordi.
Next time we'll try to get to Andratx and Sant Elm.
I sure do agree that there's nothing lovelier than dining or having a drink and people watching on Pollença's pretty Plaça Major!

Maribel, if you do get to Sant Elm, walk up the main street right up to the harbour and eat at Na Caragola. Both the view over the harbour and the food are excellent.

Cathedral Palma
 

Hi, I highly recommend to get your tickets for the cathedral online, in order to skip the line.
You can even do it while waiting in line. A friend of mine was so disapointed that she couldn't see the cathedral because she had to stay four hours in line.
That's why we booked them online and got in within minutes.

Beautiful island

Have a good time

We enjoyed our cycling tour of the island in November and apart from one day of heavy rain it was great.

Did you know the Islands were British for a period, watch out for the cricket pitch and a very few British post boxes?

I'll definitely put Na Caragola in Sant Elm on my "to do" list for a repeat visit. The setting looks delightful!

bilbo, I thought that us Brits only occupied Menorca some 300 years ago. Did you find that we got to Mallorca at that time? By the way, we had a nice lunch in your neck of the woods in Ilkley the other week. Much enjoyed.

I found an ancient cricket pitch and two post boxes, but no idea where. Never made it to Menorca.

Ilkley, there's posh ;-) if you get to Otley and you like Italian, Buon Apps is great