Looking for a short and sweet travel guide to Mallorca? I recently visited last month and share lots of tips, great places to visit, and eat. Mallorca still seems to be a hidden gem for many westerners. When I expressed I had a trip planned, most responses I got were either “where is that?” or “why there?” Truthfully, outside of just seeing pictures, I didn’t know much about Mallorca except that it looked exceptionally pretty and the color of the water was exquisite. And for me, that was enough to plan a last minute trip and explore somewhere new. I’ll go more in detail on why Mallorca has now become one of my favorite Euro destinations, but for now, just know that you need to visit. Mallorca has such an untouched beauty, one that seems to be diminishing in many other parts of the continent due to overtourism. The natural landscape offers stunning mountains, cliffs, tuscan-esque hills and villas, and unbelievably blue water. It is cleaner than many other European cities I have been to and I always felt safe. TIP: While I have no regrets at all going when I did, it is good to know that half of the island shuts down on November 1. I did not know this, despite my research! Some parts of the island like Palma are unaffected, but if you venture out into the smaller mountain or coastal towns, expect many restaurants to be closed. On the plus side, you’ll have the beaches to yourself! The season resumes March 1. Transportation: You will definitely need to rent a car in Mallorca! There is no reliable public transportation system and places can be pretty spread out around the island. I just used Centauro at the airport and it was easy peasy. Where I went: I only had a few days on the island so didn’t get to everything there is to see! We started out heading east over to Cala d’or, a famous beach town. Disclaimer! I went in November, the off season. I can only imagine how different the town would be in August. I would recommend visiting during the on season of March 1 - October 31. Cala d’or Cala d’or is on the eastern side of the island, famous for its many cove beaches that are ideal for swimming. For starters, let me just say the water is as beautiful in person as the pictures. I truly think these beaches deserve all the hype they get! The water was pretty chilly by this time of year, so it was less of a beach trip and more of a sight seeing trip. The town itself is primarily made of vacation resorts, nightclubs, and rentals, all which were empty and or being renovated (including the one we were at). It was a little eery at times and we ended up cutting our stay short by one day because in truth there just wasn’t anything to do there with the town shut down and cooler weather. Even all of the restaurants but two were closed! I’m sure if I went back in August it would be such a fun scene. However, I would probably stay in a different area! If you want to visit the beaches here it is still worth it though! Palma This is the capital and largest city on the island. While I don’t recommend staying in the city, it is worth it to explore at least for a day. The Old Town and its accompanying cathedral and palace are breathtaking architectural feats that you can tour, and the grounds offer gardens and stunning views of the ocean. I believe we spent around 20 euro for the cathedral and palace. You can easily book tickets online in advance or at the doors. There are also some different museums that we did not end up going to, but looked cool. Spend a couple hours exploring the area! If you visit Palma, you need to eat at Ristorante Finca 14. Every single tapas dish we had was fantastic and a good price for the high quality! It is located right by the Old Quarter on Carrer dels Apuntadors. Palma is also home to plenty of stores and shopping! It feels like any other upscale urban European city. Valldemossa If there is one thing you do in Mallorca, make sure it is visiting Valldemossa. It initally wasn’t even on my itinerary, but a local in Cala d’or recommended we visit and I am so glad we did. If this isn’t the definition of a picture perfect village then I don’t know what is! We spent a couple of hours just wandering the small streets, saying hi to all the local cats, and embracing the quiet, peaceful atmosphere. The town is also home to the Chopin Museum! We wanted to visit, but they only accepted cash and we hadn’t exchanged any yet. Outside of this place, we had no problems using our cards at places in Mallorca. Valldemossa is about a 20 minutes drive from Palma, and the drive itself puts you in awe. I would love to stay in Valldemossa for a couple days the next time I visit! Deia One of the prettiest drives I have ever taken was the route from Valldemossa to Deia and on to Soller on the MA10. I definitely recommend getting to the towns this way! The route was pretty calm compared to other “mountain roads” I have been on (its not nearly as terrifying as the Amalfi Coast road!) We also happened to be driving near golden hour/sunset which couldn’t have been any prettier. Deia is a similar charming mountain town to Valldemossa. When we went, not much was open (again, I’m wondering if the town would be more lively in the summer.) Valldemossa was still very much alive and places were open, so in comparison Deia was definitely sleepier. We didn’t stay for too long other than to take about 20 minutes walking through the town. Sollér Ok, now I remember how I first discovered Mallorca! Back in 2018-19, I randomly started seeing pictures of this little town on my Instagram. I thought it was such a charming, beautifully designed community. After finding out the location was in Mallorca, a place I had never even heard of until that point, it suddenly intrigued my interest and never dissipated in the years to follow. SO naturally, I knew that I definitely wanted to stay in Soller during our trip. We found the cutest Airbnb right in the city center and it was a perfect location. Compared to the other towns we went to, Soller was definitely the most lively/open. It is big in the art scene, has great restaurants, and is also just a short tram to the beach. We spent the most time in Soller, so I will include a 2 day itinerary (2 days should be long enough to see the town/area!) Day 1: Arrive in Soller and explore the main town. Walk down the Commercial district on Carrer de sa lluna for lots of window shops, clothing boutiques, art galleries, and cafes. Its fun to spend a couple hours just wandering the city! Maybe stop for a fresh glass of orange juice, a famous delicacy in Soller. Speaking of delicacies, we tried the Ensaïmada, a pastry filled sweet dough that can come with a variety of fillings. We tried the one with sweet custard on top, which was delicious. Visit any bakery to find them! Visit the Ca’n Prunera Modern Art museum. This was was one my favorite things to do in Soller. It is a modern art museum housed in a historic mansion right off the commercial district. I won’t spoil it for you, but once you get inside, the gardens and hosue offer stunning views of the mountainscape. Tickets were very affordable, only 7 euro. Free Picasso Ceramiques and Miro Art Museum. you will find this riht by the trm station in the main square. Spend 20 minutes exploring this free mini art museum of Picasso and Miro, who both frequented and lived in Soller! Have dinner at the Soller Main Square. There are several resturants available to choose from! We went to Sa Granja and I had probably the best steak of my entire life. So get the steak with the almond sauce! Lol. Day 2 Take the tram to Port de Soller! The train runs every hour, and make sure to head to the station a little early in case there is a line, it might fill up! We just purchased tickets on the tram, it was 7 euro I believe each way. It was about a 15 minute journey to the port, and it is a beautiful one! Once you get the port, you can have brunch, walk the promenade, and lay out on the beach! Maybe you even rent a catamaran, hike up to the lighthouse, or take a swim. Enjoy the day in this beautiful coved beach town! We had brunch at ——. uper yummy! There are several restaurants that are in the Port, so you can definitely have all of your meals there. Enjoy a fun day at the port and head back to the city center via tram. Just make sure you pay attention to when the last tram leaves! Other highlights about Mallorca! It seemed family friendly compared to other places I have travelled in Europe! Lots of parks, tourists with kids, etc. The smoking wasn’t nearly as bad as I have experienced in other European countries as well! Everyone we met knew English. We never had any difficulties communicating with anyone. The roads were very nice and easy to navigate. Overall, the island is in very good condition and seemed taken care of! I can’t wait to go back to Mallorca and explore even more. Tickets can get as low as then $400s roundtrip, so keep an eye on them and make Mallorca your next vacation!

If Barcelona isn’t the chicest, artsiest city in Europe then I don’t know what is! There are no shortage of museums, stunning architecture, trendy window shops, and phenomenal cuisine. I felt safe as a female traveler, had an easy time communicating (everyone we met spoke English), and the public transportation was great and easy to navigate. Barcelona is definitely a must visit city at least once in your life! Of all major European cities I have visited, Barcelona by far had the best food. I hadn’t had much experience with Spanish cuisine but it blew my expectations away! Everything from the tapas, sangria, and traditional dishes were cooked to perfection and every restaurant we tried delivered an exceptional experience! I only spent three days in the city, and would love to go back and see even more! Here are some Barcelona MUSTS: What to See: No doubt Barcelona’s crowning attractions are the works of Antoni Gaudi - namely the Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, and Casa Batllo. As an art historian buff, I could not have been more enthralled with the unique, surrealist buildings I used to learn about. Even if you don’t care much for art history, these three sites are all worth your time. The Sagrada Familia is a towering, world famous cathedral that has become an icon of the city. Parc Guell offers stunning views of Barcelona with a great combination of nature, playful buildings, and stunning colors. Color is rampant throughout the city of Barcelona. Tiles and ceramics, murals, and flowers are at every corner. For some of the most ornate and stunning colors, head over to the Palau Musica Catalana. Tours begin at 16 euro, but if you are lukcy enough to see a show there, definitely go for it. Even if you take an hour to look at the dazzling interiors, it is quite a spectacle worth seeing. View of Parc Guell in Barcelona Montjuic is a hill section of the city that offers great views of Barcelona, the Mediterranean, is home to the famed Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Botanical Gardens, and more. Just take the subway to Plaça d’Espanya and spend the day exploring. El Born: This is the neighborhood that I stayed in during my trip. It was a great, centralized location that felt safe and chic. I was super impressed by the cool shops, vibrant art scene, and incredible restaurants and museums that were just a few minute walk away. It also felt a little tucked away and not over crowded with tourists! Walking the streets definitely made me feel like a local. It is bordering the Gothic Quarter, and amazing to wander the little side streets that offer hidden gems you might not find on other mainstream travel blogs. My El Born recommendations! Syra Coffee Metro Cuadrado Shop Tapeo (book a reservation in case!) MOCO (Museu of Contemporary art) Tablao Flamenco, Palau Dalmases Nonna’s Brunch (go here for breakfast!) There were so many window shops that didn’t have names- I recommend just strolling the streets and seeing what you stumble across! Just keep in mind that some stores were only open later in the day or during the week. Flamenco Show: Can you even go to Spain without seeing a Flamenco show? Even if these are a ‘tourist trap’, it was one of my favorite things we did! We went to the evening show at Palau Dalmases - a historic theater right by our Airbnb. Shows are about an hour long and were very entertaining. We purchased the tapas and drink combo as well and were very pleased with the food! Great show and dinner all in one. Tickets were about $45 for the show + dinner, so a pretty good deal! Where to Eat: I know there are so many great restaurants in the city I didn’t make it to and I want to go back and find more! Luckily, all of the ones we did eat at were AMAZING, included the ones we tried on our local food tour. Tapas Tapeo - Order the skirt steak and tomato burrata if nothing else. Life changing. Located in the El Born neighborhood. We got lucky and were able to get a spot at around 4pm on a Saturday, but every other time we walked by there was a huge line out the door. Reservation just in case! Tosca Palau- A fantastic option for dinner with several tapas options (vegetarian friendly as well). Also located across the street from Palau Musica, so hit both! Some of the highlights were the Tuna Tartare, Vegetable Lasagna, and Steak with Almond Sauce. Los Juanele, Tast, and Pepa Tomate: These local restaurants were part of the Food Tour we did (booked under Airbnb experiences!) Our tour guide, a Barcelona native, brought us to these spots that locals frequent. You get a true taste of the authentic Barceloneta cuisine! Side note, I always recommend doing a food tour the first day you visit a new city. It is a great way to familiarize yourself with the city, try amazing food, get recommendations from the tour guides, and meet other people! Coffee/Breakfast Syra Coffee El Avocado La Estrella Bakery Nonna’s Brunch - A trendy option for breakfast/brunch. Familiar western dishes and coffee options that remind you of home while providing Public Transportation Barcelona has a great public transportation system that will get you to all of the places you will want to see! I recommend purchasing the Barcelona Card- on top of getting you into the Gaudi sites, it includes a 72 or 96 hour subway pass. This was really helpful to have as Barcelona is a large city and some spots were 45-60 minutes walk from each other! TIP: Learn from our mistake! If you purchase the Barcelona card online, it will send you an email confirmation with a QR code/what appears to be your ticket. This is NOT your ticket! You have to show this code to one of the kiosks in the city (we went to the one at Plaça de Catalunya). We had one scary incident where we had used the subway before activating our card (completely unaware our ticket didn’t count). We were stopped at the exit ticket check and once we showed our “online ticket”, were immediately met with demanding workers saying we needed to give them our passports and pay the hefty fines for illegally riding the train. Luckily another worker stepped in and explained we just have to go upstairs and activate the card to continue using it… anyway, now we know! I felt like I was able to hit a lot of the main points of Barcelona in a few days, but there is still so much I want to go back and see! There are so many other towns and coastal areas to venture out too- I can’t wait until I get to go back. The Spanish people are very welcoming and I look forward to spending more time in Spain!