Best beaches and other recommendations near Pollensa, Mallorca?

[AnonyLonnymouse]

Hello, we are due to stay in Pollensa (near old town) in the summer (slightly off peak) and, having read all the recommendations on MN over the years, I am really looking forward to it.

Where would you recommend in terms of a visit to a soft sandy beach? We tend to like an open, sandy beach with some facilities around. Would be happy to go to a beach club for a day if anyone could suggest one.

Or other ideas for day trips? We are also visiting Palma briefly.

I had been looking forward to experiencing the fabled charms of Puerto de Pollensa, but there are some off-putting Tripadvisor reviews about water pollution (yes, I am afraid so...😟) and the Playa de Pollensa beach failing water quality tests in Autumn 23 - does anyone know if this has changed in 2024?

I realise that this is a first world problem and I am making my own 'contribution' to the issue while visiting Mallorca, but it would be great to have some other suggestions.

Any other suggestions for trips, restaurants or things to do, both in Pollensa and Palma would be great! Thanks.

Do you have DC? We went to a lovely cafe called toboggan which has a water slide, small pool and play area and really great cocktails

We've been going every year since 2009 and only had an issue last year when a boat sank and leaked diesel.

At the moment, though there's an ongoing issue with the issue of the contract to provide beach facilities - sunbeds, parasols, toilets etc. There are beachside restaurants and bars and the beach itself is lovely.

Nearby beaches worth exploring are Muro and Formentor is lovely but busy so best to get there early, then leave before it gets crazy busy.

Other places worth visiting are Alcudia old town, Soller, Deià. My favourite thing to do it to hire a boat and het out into the bay - it's very pricy though.

Thanks both - yes, a DC with us. They are a bit older but would enjoy that waterslide!

Unfortunately the reports are of effluent rather than diesel...🙁

Which part of Playa del Muro would you favour? I know it is very long.

There are two tiny bays nearby at Cala San Vicenc with the most beautiful clear, shallow water.

Following for ideas. We are also going to the same area.

I see a trip to Soller regularly gets mentioned, it’s a specific tour by bus and train, although it might be from Palma

I live near pollenca old town (it’s lovely). The beach is all green flags at present in the port and I’ve been swimming there - it’s fine. I also recommend paddle boarding there which is great fun and easy. There is drama over the sun beds etc not being out yet (blame the local authorities) but supposedly it should be sorted by next month. Maybe. It’s always mañana!

cala san Vicenç also has no sun beds but it’s a lovely spot. You can get there by bus.

personally I swim at alcudia and puerto pollenca, formentor beach is small and rammed with people in summer. Alcudia beach is long and lovely and does have sun beds and is great for kids but gets very busy.

you can go by bus from the port to Palma which is lovely for a day out. The shopping is great in Palma but not so sure what kids do there.

if you have a car you can pootle all over the island but the drivers are mostly mad, the cyclists all suicidal and there is absolutely nowhere to park. So I mainly use the bus in summer.

https://www.barespanya.es/
this is a fantastic place for pinchos and tapas in Palma. Very reasonably priced too. But you have to get there soon after it opens every evening as it fills up very quickly.
Bar Nou in old town Pollensa doesn’t look much but does great tapas too. Lots of the restaurants are good.The Sunday morning market is lovely .
Cala sa vincente has 2 small but nice beaches and is between Pollensa and Puerto Pollensa. It’s a quiet place.
Personally I find Puerto Pollensa very touristy. Pollensa is much nicer.
Old town Alcudia is nice to wander round and there are some good restaurants. Avoid the “Blackpool” parts of Alcudia .

The beaches at Cala San vincente have lovely clear water. My kids didn’t really like the beach at puerto pollensa. It was quite windy

Thanks, all great tips! We will have a hire car but I am also quite happy to take the bus. Is Puerto Pollensa the main centre for buses?

That's good news about the water - the reports from autumn 2023 were not good! I suppose no-one ever reports that the water is fine, only the reverse.

Where do you recommend in Alcudia for the beach please?

Mal pas beach /platjja de sant pere near Alcudia is lovely, as are the two beaches at Cala San vicenc, we always tended to go to Cala Molins and have an excellent burger at Bar Mallorca.

Soller - I have heard about it on here but never quite understood. Is it a ‘swim in the sea’ or ‘walk about the streets in a summer dress’ kind of place please? And how does the tram fit in to it all?

You could drive to Bunyola and pick up the little wooden train to Soller (town). It’s charming and the views are lovely but it does get very busy. You have to book a return ticket. In soller you can hop on a tram and go down to the port de soller, which is like a marina with lots of restaurants and a little bit of beach. Tram is quite expensive so if you want to do the whole lot best get a package ticket if you can.

In short, it’s both depending on which bits you want to go to!

Is Soller a ‘must not miss’ if I am already likely to be visiting Alcudia old town and Pollensa of course?

Oh and are mozzies a big problem inland as well as by the sea?

I vowed never to go back to Alcudia old town, which was like Blackpool. Very brits abroad and their German equivalents. Soller is nicer IMO

Deia is also lovely

I think puerto Alcudia is very tacky, but the old town is nice for a wander. Soller is very nice too and has gorgeous Moorish gardens just outside, at the mouth of the soller tunnel if travelling by car.

https://www.jardinesdealfabia.com/en/?gadsource=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwjqWzBhAqEiwAQmtgT9lT-cBHg0Qkx40H7HU4Utlxz9Uk2L8jSWGqy1LjgqUnysw8M8FUvRoCHYoQAvDD_BwE

@whirlyhead I’m heading to pollensa in July staying in the Font area, can you advise please what the main road where the Lidl is like? We’re not getting a car so dcs and me will be crossing over it to get to pollensa old town and Lidl . It’s hard to tell on Google maps !

Not that poster but have stayed in Sa Font area many times. It's a busy road but if you're careful it's absolutely fine to cross. Walking into pollensa town is fine as depending on where you are you can get to the town via the Roman bridge. You're also near (imo) the best bakery in Pollensa, c'an xim.

If you use the zebra crossings you will be fine as everyone stops for people on them. Legally you have to stop, as you do in England, but they are far better at stopping here (though far worse at driving around roundabouts!). The road where the Lidl is is quite busy. Watch out for pick pockets around those supermarkets though (the Eroski is worse) so make sure you have a secure bag.

Alucudia beach - it's a long beach so you can go anywhere down it and it's nice but it gets very busy in summer. There are lot of ok restaurants around there on the sea front which is useful. Muro beach is also nice but the tide comes in.

Old Alcudia town is lovely but rammed in summer. It is a bit tacky in the beach area, but it has its charms.

Puerto Pollenca is just lovely but it does get windy later in the day. Mornings are fine.

Deia is lovely but the last time I was there it just rained on me and it's no fun in the rain. Lots of great restaurants though and it is worth a look.

The trouble is in summer everywhere is really busy and you just have to accept that. If you live here you just stay at home and wait for September!!

Any advice on the markets? I believe PP is a Wednesday, is that still correct?

Are others worth travelling to, or are they all the same?

Yes, and Pollenca town is Sunday. Pollenca is better imo but it depends what you're looking for. It has more fruit, veg, olives, pastries etc than arts and crafts, though it does have a lot of that too.
Again, be very careful of pickpockets especially in the PP market.

They are pretty much all the same. Alcúdia old town is a Tuesday and Sunday, Pollenca town is a Sunday and the port is still Wednesday