Located in the Mediterranean Sea, Majorca is the largest island in the Balearic archipelago in Spain. Majorca has steadily grown as a popular holiday destination for couples and families since the 1950s, due to the warm weather, great choice of tourist amenities and fabulous beaches.
Because they are so popular with holidaymakers and visitors, many of the beaches in Majorca offer lots of facilities and services, with several boasting the Blue Flag award, too. As well as being the ideal locations to soak up the sun, the beaches in Majorca are also fantastic for scuba diving, thanks to the great visibility and mild sea temperature during the summer.
Lively beaches
Situated a few kilometres to the west of Palma de Mallorca, Cala Major has recently been regenerated with fine white sand which stretches on for 200m, next to clear and calm waters. This beach can get very crowded with both tourists and locals during the summer months, especially on a weekend. There is a great choice of bars and restaurants nearby, where you can enjoy a snack or refreshing drink, as well as sun beds, shades, toilets, showers and lifeguards onsite.
The beach at Port de Pollensa is another great choice when it comes to lively beaches. This wide white sand beach has great views up to the Sierra de Tramuntana Mountains and has calm, shallow waters ideal for children. Facilities include sun loungers and shades, as well as sailing, scuba diving, snorkelling and windsurfing. There are loads of shops, restaurants, food kiosks, bars and supermarkets along the promenade.
Family-friendly
The Blue Flag Cala Santanyi beach is found on a quiet resort in the south of Majorca. Lined with cliffs and pine trees, this bay has soft golden sand and sheltered waters which are ideal for swimming or snorkelling. There are many facilities available, including pedalo hire, sun loungers, shades, showers, toilets and a lifeguard during the summer months, as well as a few restaurants, bars and supermarket nearby.
Located on the east coast of Majorca, Cala d'Or beach is a Blue Flag bay tucked into a small cove. With soft, golden sand and gentle, shallow waters, this beach is perfect for families with young children. As well as a beach bar, there are sun loungers, shades and pedaloes, although they are a challenge to get a hold of during the busy summer months.
Water sports
Situated close to Puerto de Pollensa, Alcudia beach is considered to be one of the best in Majorca. This long beach has soft white sand and shallow water with a playground at one end for children. All kinds of waters sports are available, including water skiing, jet skiing and paragliding. Facilities include sun loungers, parasols, toilets, showers and lifeguards. There is also a great selection of bars, restaurants, shops and hotels nearby.
Magaluf beach is another popular choice for those wanting to try their hand at water sports. Here you'll find 900m of fine sand and gentle clear waters. There are loads of facilities available here, including sun loungers, parasols, toilets, changing rooms and lifeguards. Water sports are also in abundance, with water skiing, jet skiing, banana boats, pedaloes, paragliding and even a water ski training school.
Diving beaches
El Toro beach is a popular place for divers, with the Mar Balear dive centre being based at the Port Adriano here. The Marine Reserves of El Toro and Malgrats are full of sea grass and a variety of marine life. The beach itself has calm shallow waters, making it ideal for children. There is also a selection of restaurants, shops and a supermarket in the area.
Cala Bona is another great beach for diving and is where you'll find the Albatros Diving centre. The rocky seabed creates fantastic conditions for diving, with loads of tropical fish in the area. Cala Bona beach offers a number of facilities including sun beds, shades, toilets, showers and lifeguards, as well as a number of supermarkets, shops, cafes, bars and restaurants in the area.
Surf beaches
Because the sea surrounding Majorca is so calm, surfing opportunities are limited. When it comes to riding the waves, Cala Mesquida is one of the best Blue Flag beaches for the sport in Majorca. Here white sands stretch on for 350m, with large dunes heading from the beach inland. Cala Mesquida is unprotected from the wind, which creates the large waves that attract surfers from all over the island. There are a handful of facilities, including sun beds, shades and pedaloes, as well as one restaurant and a few bars in the area.
Pebble beaches
In the north west of Majorca, Cala Tuent is a semi-circular shingle beach with great views of Puig Major the highest mountain in the Balearic Islands. The clear water is ideal for swimming or snorkelling, although there are no services or facilities available. There is a nearby restaurant which offers a selection of Spanish dishes.
Cala Deia is a small beach mostly covered by pebbles and rocks. Although the slope to the sea is steep, the water is very clear and ideal for swimming. Due to the small size of the beach, there are no facilities available, with the exception of two restaurants.
Secluded
The secluded Blue Flag beach at Cala Mondrago is flanked by two rocky headlands and boasts calm, clear waters ideal for swimming. There is free parking available in the area, as well as pedalo hire, bar/restaurant, sun beds, parasols and a hotel nearby. Despite its off-the-beaten-track location, this beach gets very crowded on a weekend.
Naturist beaches
Located south of Magaluf, Playa del Mago is considered to be the first naturist beach on the island. Despite its small size, this white sandy bay features sun loungers and parasols, as well as a beachside restaurant. The shallow waters make the beach great for swimming, but its size means it quickly gets crowded.
Arguably the most famous beach in Majorca, Es Trenc is one of the largest unspoilt bays on the island. Here you'll find over 2km of fine golden sand, alongside clean and clear waters. This is one of Majorca's official naturist beaches and although there are no water sports on offer, there are sun beds and parasols.