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Exploring Mallorca by hire car

Whoever thinks of Mallorca only as the notorious Ballermann, underestimates the Balearic island enormously.

Because Mallorca has much more to offer. From the lively island capital Palma over mountainous hinterland to dreamlike beaches the bandwidth reaches.

And the best way to explore the many facets of Mallorca is by hire car. We have put together a few tips for your trip.

airport info

22.8 million passengers were handled at Palma de Mallorca Airport in 2013. And many of them continued their journey by hire car. No wonder the hire car stations at the airport are perfectly organized. Most of the rental stations are located on level 0, and with many rental companies you can already pick up the car key while waiting for your luggage.

Hire car station at the airport?

Before booking the hire car, you should make sure to book with a rental company that also has its office right in the airport. This is because there are rental stations whose office is only near the airport. In this case, you might have to wait for a shuttle to take you to the rental station. This costs valuable holiday time and a lot of nerves.

Language difficulties

Normally, you will have no problems communicating in Mallorca. Nevertheless, it can not hurt to save the phone number of the national center of your hire car company in the mobile phone. There, in case of emergency, they can mediate between you and your hire car station.

Extra costs accessories

Before you finally book the car, you should consider whether you need any accessories for the trip. After all, rental companies sometimes charge quite hefty fees for extras such as child seats or navigation devices. Only when you have calculated everything together, you know for sure which offer is the cheapest.

hire car price comparison Majorca

Extra costs age

Young drivers under 25 are also often charged an extra fee. Find out before you finally book the car.

All kilometers free?

Mallorca is more extensive than many people think. On a round trip with a hire car a lot of kilometers come together very quickly. Therefore, hire car with all kilometres driven included to avoid extra costs.

Bail only blocked?

If you have a low account balance, you should find out from your rental company whether the amount for the deposit is only blocked or actually debited. If this is the case, the money will not be refunded to you until you return the car, and your account may slip into the red.

The right hire car

The diversity of Mallorca makes it not so easy to choose the right hire car. It is best to think about what you want to do with your car before you start your trip. If you plan to explore the island’s beautiful golf courses, your car will need to have enough storage space to accommodate your golf bag and caddy as well as your luggage. A station wagon might be the best choice then.

It’s a completely different story if you want to explore mountains, small villages and the cities of the island. In this case, the hire car should be small in order to master narrow serpentines without any problems and to find a parking space everywhere.

The best time to travel

In Mallorca, there is actually a good time to travel all year round. Even in summer, there is usually a pleasant breeze blowing along the coast. Then the hire car may be primarily used to conquer the island’s beaches for extended swimming fun.

Spring and autumn, on the other hand, are perfect for a trip into the interior of the island to get to know the diverse landscape and picturesque villages. And even if you are travelling by hire car in winter, isolated showers are usually quickly followed by sunshine again.

Traffic rules

The traffic rules are no different from those in mainland Spain. You can find them in our country description.

Prices hire car

The competition among hire car companies on Mallorca is fierce. This lowers the prices. Only in the high season in the summer it can come to bottlenecks and correspondingly high hire car prices. Book your hire car well in advance of your trip to get a good price.

Customer reviews hire car companies

Most customers are satisfied with the hire car companies on Mallorca. But of course there can always be black sheep here. It is best to read the current customer comments on this portal.

Safety Hire Car

The hire cars on the island usually have a good standard of safety. Nevertheless, before your first drive you should check that the seatbelts are working and check that the lights, including the brake lights, are working. During the first drive, it is advisable to test that the brakes are working well when the road is clear.

Top destinations

Of course, the whole of Mallorca is worth a visit. But two places every traveller should have seen.

Palma de Mallorca: Lively island capital
In Palma de Mallorca you can spend a whole week without getting bored. Absolutely worth seeing is the mighty cathedral, the landmark of the city. The foundation stone was laid in 1230 and construction work began in 1306. But it should take until the beginning of the 20th century until the works were finished with the completion of the main facade. The result was an enormous building complex. The interior in particular, with its filigree columns and colourful rosettes, captivates visitors.

After the church visit, a visit to the market halls of the Mercat de l’Olivar is recommended. Especially the fish hall with its endless variety is exceedingly impressive. The produce is so fresh that you may find one or two sea creatures still moving.

Afterwards, just drift through the alleys of the old town to enjoy everyday Mallorcan life. And don’t miss visiting a bar to sample the island’s specialities over a glass of local red wine.

Deià: artists’ village with charm
Early in the 20th century, the charming village of Deià attracted Europe’s international artistic scene. The actors Sir Peter Ustinov and Ava Gardner, the artists Pablo Picasso and Ulrich Leman as well as writers like Anaïs Nin and Robert Graves met in the small town. Today, the town is still popular with celebrities such as actors Pierce Brosnan and Michael Douglas. In Deià, you can enjoy the sleepy atmosphere of a mountain town and take in the stunning scenery.

Find the special hotel

Countless dream hotels make it hard to choose in Mallorca. We recommend Son Brull Boutique Hotel and Spa in Pollensa. In this converted 18th-century convent, you can unwind in a historic building. The rooms, on the other hand, are modernly furnished and offer every comfort. The attentive service reads the wishes of the guests from the eyes and ensures that the Son Brull Boutique Hotel and Spa is one of the best houses on the island.

Find the special restaurant

Astonishingly, a German is one of the island’s best chefs. At the Tristán restaurant in the marina of Portals Nous, top chef Gerhard Schwaiger serves imaginative high cuisine that is famous all over the island.

The ideal round trip

Don’t try to conquer the whole island in one day. Mallorca is so big that you would fail in this endeavour. Instead, plan numerous excursions with short drive times between destinations.

Paguera: Lively tourist town
A first round trip could start in Paguera. Here you will experience the lively atmosphere of a typical tourist town. Nevertheless, Paguera is not as crowded as the notorious beach resorts Playa del Palma and El Arenal.

Puigpunyent: Small village in enchanting landscape
From Paguera, your journey could take you to Puigpunyent next. In half an hour you have mastered the 18 kilometers. In the small village in the interior of the island with its just over 2,000 inhabitants, you can primarily enjoy the pleasant tranquility and the charming landscape.

Valldemossa: Here already Chopin
Valldemossa could be the last stop of a first round trip. The small town is 20 kilometres from Puigpunyent. The driving time is again half an hour. If the landscape in Puigpunyent is still quite lovely, it becomes wild and mountainous in Valldemossa. Especially the Valldemossa Charterhouse, a former monastery, attracts visitors. In the cells number two and four the composer Frédéric Chopin and the writer George Sands spent the winter 1838/39. The manuscript of the book “A Winter in Mallorca”, which Sands wrote at that time, can still be seen in the monastery today.

Conclusion

The whole beauty of Mallorca can really only be grasped after several visits. Do not take on too much, but plan your round trip in several individual stages. This way you can enjoy the magic of the island in a relaxed way with your hire car.

Hire car Mallorca