We spent a family week in Mallorca during the October half-term holidays, and we were delighted with our choice! It completely reconciled us with the destination. Our previous summer experience in Mallorca had been our worst encounter with overcrowding anywhere in the Mediterranean. We had truly never seen anything like it! Yet the island is undeniably beautiful and has a great deal to offer. We therefore chose to return to Mallorca in October, and absolutely loved it. We enjoyed it so much that I want to share all the advantages of visiting Mallorca at October half-term and everything you can do there with children at this time of year. Pretty stone villages, cultural attractions, natural beauty, walks and hikes, with the sea never far away — not forgetting the delicious food, lively markets and charming accommodation (those beautiful fincas!). The largest of the Balearic Islands offers a wonderfully varied programme for the whole family.
Children’s ages: Titpuce was 11 and Ticoeur was 13.
Travel dates: the final week of October.
Weather: we had wonderful weather, with temperatures a little above 20°C throughout the week, plenty of sunshine and a little wind — although I cannot promise you the same, as it remains unpredictable!
Visitor numbers: far from the summer crowds, but still lively. The perfect balance!
Eight days in Mallorca at October half-term
We had eight full days on the island. As an example, here is our day-by-day itinerary. Be warned that some days are busy because we get up early and are not very good at simply lounging around! We improvised completely once we arrived, so feel free to adapt everything to your own constraints, pace and interests.
Our itinerary
- Day 1: Sineu market, the village of Artà, Capdepera and a swim at Cala Gat (centre and east)
- Day 2: Camí de Cala Bóquer hike, Pollença and Cap de Formentor (north-west)
- Day 3: Alcúdia, Penya des Migdia hike, and the Yannick and Ben Jakober Foundation (north-west)
- Day 4: Sa Calobra and the Torrent de Pareis hike, followed by the northern villages of Fornalutx, Deià and Valldemossa (north)
- Day 5: La Trapa hike, followed by Palma de Mallorca and the salt pans at the end of the day (south-west and south)
- Day 6: the Three Peaks hike and the village of Sóller (north)
- Day 7: Punta des Caló hike and a swim at Cala Mesquida, followed by the Drach Caves (east)
- Day 8: walks along the southern coast, including Cala s’Almunia and Caló des Moro, followed by Cala Figuera (south)
You will find full details of the villages and beaches we visited below.
Our car hire in Mallorca
To get around, we hired a car at Palma de Mallorca airport. We had a small Dacia for €65 for the week.
Discovering Mallorca’s most beautiful villages
In October, the sea plays a smaller part in the trip, making it an ideal time to enjoy Mallorca’s magnificent villages. Temperatures are pleasant and the villages remain lively without being crowded. You can enjoy the different markets and still have lunch outside. Of all the Balearic Islands, I think Mallorca has the prettiest villages and most beautiful traditional houses. Here are our favourites:
Our eight favourite villages in Mallorca
In the north…
Valldemossa
I loved this village! I think it was my favourite. Admittedly, I am slightly biased because I am a Chopin fan, and this is the village where Chopin and George Sand spent a winter in the hope that the climate would improve the composer’s health. Chopin worked on his famous Preludes here. The village is full of charm, with its old stone buildings, little square and beautiful setting. As you can see, the landscape is still wonderfully green in October:
Fornalutx
Very small but incredibly pretty. I loved it! It was the perfect lunch stop, as there are attractive terraces in the village centre. I recommend the tapas bar Can Benet. Once again, you could have told me it was spring and I would have believed you!
Sóller and Port de Sóller
From Sóller, you can take a wooden tram to Port de Sóller on the coast, or drive there. We had already visited in summer. Both the inland town and the port are pleasant.
Among the well-known northern villages, there is also Deià, although we liked it less than the others. It is still pretty, but if you are short of time, this is the one I would remove from the itinerary.
Pollença
Possibly Mallorca’s best-known village, and definitely not to be missed. We had already visited during a summer holiday, when it was packed. Pollença is famous for its Sunday market and its beautiful narrow streets and steps. Here is a photo from six years ago — it does not make us feel any younger!
Artà and its fortress
Artà is a sizeable, charming and lively town. We walked along the medieval fortifications and around the Sanctuary of Sant Salvador:
After a few tapas, we continued to a neighbouring village, Capdepera. This one was much too quiet for us. Perhaps it is better to visit on Wednesday for the market.
In the centre of the island…
Sineu and its market
Sineu lies right in the middle of Mallorca. Its Wednesday morning market feels very traditional and includes a livestock section.
Cala Figuera
It was about time I mentioned a village by the sea! Cala Figuera is a beautiful fishing village set around a rocky inlet. The photo lets the scenery speak for itself. Not far away, beside the next cove, we had lunch outside at Es Pontas Bar y Cerveceria. It was very good.
Also by the sea, we enjoyed an evening walk around Portocolom harbour, followed by dinner at El Baul.
Can you swim in Mallorca at October half-term?
Swimming was not our priority on this trip, which was probably for the best because good swimming conditions at October half-term are not guaranteed. That said, the sea is normally still warm enough in October. During our stay, the water was 20–21°C, very close to the air temperature. Papa Voyage found it too cold, but it was perfectly fine for me, the children and quite a few English visitors who were there :-). Either way, it is naturally much warmer than in spring.
Although we were not planning a beach holiday, it was lovely to take an occasional dip, especially after our hikes. Mallorca has an enormous number of beaches and coves. We chose them according to our itinerary and the conditions. Sometimes, despite passing beautiful coves, we did not swim because of the cool breeze. These are the three places where we had the opportunity to swim:
Cala Gat
A very pretty cove. It was actually the busiest one we saw, although, as you can see in the photo, it was still very reasonable.
Cala Mesquida
A more traditional beach that is very child-friendly because the water stays shallow for several metres.
Cala Bóquer
We swam here during the hike that leads to the cove. It makes a motivating destination!
Family attractions in Mallorca
The Drach Caves
Even in October, they were busy. The caves contain beautiful formations, with particularly delicate stalactites and stalagmites. We enjoyed the short classical concert at the end of the tour and the brief boat ride. Allow around one hour for the entire visit. Information and reservations are available on the Drach Caves website.
The Es Trenc salt pans
We did not take the visitor tour, so I cannot tell you whether it is worthwhile. The salt pans were not far from our second accommodation, however, and we stopped for a few photos before sunset.
Alcúdia
Alcúdia’s old town is very charming and stands beside the remains of the Roman city of Pol·lèntia. Construction of its medieval walls began around 1300 and continued through the 14th century. Walking along them gives you lovely views over the town. Alcúdia is perfect for a stroll and a glass of sangria outside!
Sa Bassa Blanca Museum — Yannick and Ben Jakober Foundation
Not far from Alcúdia, we visited this art foundation, which displays several entertaining works in its gardens. The octopus was the children’s particular favourite!
Cap de Formentor
This headland is magnificent and not to be missed in Mallorca. The panoramic road has several viewpoints where you can stop for photos. The peninsula also has several attractive coves.
Palma Cathedral
This time, we made only a brief visit to Palma de Mallorca, just long enough to see its magnificent cathedral and the surrounding neighbourhood again:
Hiking in Mallorca at October half-term
Hiking was the main purpose of our Mallorca holiday. The October temperatures were perfect; summer is far too hot for walking. Spring is probably another good season for hiking in Mallorca. I have written a complete article about our seven family hikes in Mallorca. All take around two to two and a half hours, apart from the final, more demanding route. Children who enjoy walking can complete all of them. The article contains full details of these hikes:
- Torrent de Pareis in the north (2½ hours, with an option to extend the route)
- Camí de Cala Bóquer in the north-east (two hours return)
- Penya des Migdia in the north-east (two hours return)
- La Trapa in the north-west (2½ hours return)
- Punta des Caló in the north-east (two hours return)
- From cove to cove in the south (several 30-minute walks)
- The Three Peaks of the Serra de Tramuntana (five-hour circular route)
Where to stay in Mallorca with children at October half-term
One advantage of October half-term is the wider choice of beautiful places to stay at much gentler prices than in summer. We did not try to minimise driving distances because everywhere can be reached by car on a day trip. Above all, we wanted to stay in traditional buildings, which are one of Mallorca’s distinctive features. They often have swimming pools, although the water is too cool at this time of year — even the sea was warmer. Here are two places we liked:
A very secluded property in the centre of the island near Petra: Agroturismo Son Burgues. It is a finca, a traditional country property, and therefore very beautiful from the outside. The interior was not to our taste, but it was extremely clean and spacious. It was perfect, and we loved eating breakfast overlooking the pool. The owners’ farm is right next door.
A guesthouse in the south-west, near Campos: Finca Sa Canova. Once again, it consists of traditional stone buildings. There are several guest rooms, small but charming, and shared areas including a pool, which was too cool at this time of year. Breakfast is incredible and the welcome is warm.
If you stay there, or elsewhere in the area, I recommend the excellent restaurant Es Moli de Vent for traditional food in an old windmill — Mallorca has many historic windmills.
Finally, you will have noticed that most of our excursions were in the north of the island. It would make sense to add accommodation there and divide the trip among three bases. If you do not like moving frequently, however, you can also choose a single base and drive a little farther each day.
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In conclusion, it was a beautiful trip, and the October sunshine and pleasant temperatures did us the world of good: a real lift between the return to school and winter. The whole family enjoyed this Mallorca holiday. We discovered sides of the island beyond its beaches, focusing on hikes, villages and a few attractions for the children. As on our previous visit, we ate very well and loved having lunch outside. It was a wonderful way to extend the feeling of summer as it faded away.
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So, who would like to discover Mallorca at October half-term?
You may also want to reread our article about our summer family holiday in Mallorca to discover other places and sightseeing ideas. We definitely preferred this October half-term trip to our earlier visit, however.
Also worth reading
A week in the sunshine of Tenerife with the familyDiscovering Tenerife with the children : tourism, hiking, swimming and whales
7 family hikes in MallorcaOur 7 hikes as a family in Mallorca during the autumn term-break
A week in MenorcaAll you need to know to spend your family holidays in Minorca !
5 hikes in Tenerife with the kidsOur family hikes in Tenerife in the Teide and Anaga national parks
10 days in Madeira: our practical guideMadeira with kids: our trip during the Easter holidays
12 family hikes in MadeiraAll the details for our numerous hikes with the kids in Madeira
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