Mallorca—the largest of the scenic Balearic Islands—sits off of Spain's Costa Blanca (White Coast). Because it’s an island, getting to Mallorca is not as straightforward as driving your car. However, there are plenty of flights and ferries departing from Spain's mainland each day.
Flying is the fastest way to reach Mallorca, best done via one of Spain's larger cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia. Direct flights from these cities range from 1-1.5 hours.
If you prefer to reach the island by ferry, there are two ports on the mainland. These include Denia and Valencia. Ferries take about 5 hours from Denia and 8-9 hours from Valencia. Both cities are well-connected to Madrid by car, public transportation, and/or plane. Ferries also run from Barcelona's port, although they take a bit longer at 7.5 hours.
If you're looking to extend your trip and want to see more of Spain, this 21-day itinerary combines Barcelona and Madrid with Andalusia and the Balearic Islands.
From Barcelona
Duration: 1 - 7.5 hours
Barcelona is directly connected to Mallorca by plane and ferry. RyanAir offers several daily 1-hour flights. But if you prefer to go by ferry, you can take an afternoon or overnight sailing. Ferries depart Barcelona at 1:00 pm and 10:00 pm, arriving in Palma (Mallorca's main port city) 7.5 hours later.
You can shorten the sailing to six hours by opting to land in Mallorca's northern port, Alcúdia. But keep in mind that only the overnight sailing stops in Alcúdia, so you'll arrive very early in the morning. If you have a few extra days to extend your trip, you might be interested in this 10-day itinerary exploring both Mallorca and Barcelona.
Once in Mallorca, regional buses and shuttles reach most of the other towns around the island. However, it’s best to explore its scenery by car as there are numerous beaches and hiking areas not serviced by buses. Rental cars are available in Palma, in the city as well as at the airport. You can also book private transfers, tours, and scooters.
From Valencia
Duration: 1 - 9 hours
Valencia is one of Spain's largest coastal cities, complete with an airport and a large port. The fastest way to reach Mallorca from Valencia is by plane. Direct flights—operated by RyanAir, Air Europa, and Vueling Airlines—take just one hour.
Although it's much slower and not as convenient, you can also reach Mallorca from Valencia by ferry. Ferries range from 8-9 hours and usually depart at night, arriving in Mallorca between 6:00 am and 7:00 am.
For more information on travel around the island of Mallorca, see the previous option.
From Madrid
Duration: 1.5 hours
The fastest way to travel to Mallorca from Madrid is by plane. Direct flights leave early in the morning or late at night and take about 1.5 hours. In addition to the other airlines, Norwegian Air and Iberia also serve this route.
For more information on travel around the island of Mallorca, see the first option.
From Denia
Duration: 5 hours
Denia is a port city set on the Costa Blanca just south of Valencia. Regular ferries depart from Denia, arriving in Mallorca and other Balearic Islands. Ferries depart in the evening and take about five hours to reach Palma.
For more information on travel around the island of Mallorca, see the first option.