Family Tourism

To these advantages we must add a wide and colourful range of activities for children of all ages: beach, swimming pool, water parks, dolphinarium, aquarium, safari, horse riding, cycling, go karts, mini golf, a trip on an old train, canoeing, surfing courses… choosing is the hardest part.

During the warm months the beach is the top attraction for children and adults. Is there anything better than playing near the shore of a white sandy beach, swimming for hours in blue turquoise waters and letting your curiosity run free under the sun. All this while parents are enjoying the calm effect of being in direct contact with the nature of the Mediterranean. What if the children are a bit older and they would rather chase crabs between the rocks with their masks and fins? There is also a large choice of rocky coves.

In any case, the tranquility comes from knowing that the tourist infrastructure that you will encounter will make your days away from home much easier. For starters, the island’s hotels have a long experience, are well aware of the needs of family holidays and in many cases offer entertainment for children, ranging from outdoor games, painting workshops, balloon twisting, fantasy make-up, storytelling, percussion workshops, dance sessions and kindergarten.

The restaurant offer is very varied and adapts to the different members of a family. Therefore it is easy to find a good place where adults can taste the local gastronomy –“arròs brut”, Mallorcan “frit” or snails with garlic mayonnaise– and children can choose among the most common dishes of the international cuisine.

One of the advantages of a destination like Mallorca is that visitors can choose between the comfort of trips and visits organized by agencies and hotels or a holiday created independently and easily. It is a comfortable island where distances are short and a good road network that allows you and your family to hire a car and drive around the island at your own pace.

Children will most probably want to visit any of the water parks located around the island. They all have unique features. Some offer the great chance to swim with seals and others have the most exciting water chutes. A day in the dolphinarium or a visit to the aquarium where you can stand just a few metres from the sharks are always fun. The complementary offer of these facilities is increasingly more varied and families can devote a whole day to these visits, spending most of the day outdoors.

If parents want their children to burn a lot of energy, cycling is a great option thanks to the new routes for cyclists. You just have to find the most suitable route for your children. In fact, a cycle line runs along Palma Bay and some car parks offer users the opportunity of borrowing a bicycle. You can also rent a bike. You and your family set the pace and the distance, since you will be able to stop at the different promenades, children’s parks and bars along the largest bay of Mallorca.

Your options do not end here. The Mediterranean is also suitable for those travelling with children. You can take several boat tours from the harbours of Palma, Alcudia, Andratx, Sóller… In some cases, paella and drinks are included in the price which saves you having to organize your meal for the day.

Leisure boats take visitors daily from Colonia de Sant Jordi and Portopetro to Cabrera National Park. The archipelago has escaped land speculation and is practically unspoilt. The largest island contains a lot of history, a castle and a beach where you can swim. In the past it was a haven of Berber pirates and it was later used as a natural prison during the Spanish War of Independence. Now, after a few centuries, it is a peaceful destination for holidaymakers. In the return trip to Mallorca the boat stops at a unique site: Cova Blava, a huge cave where the water has a unique blue colour. The boat goes into the open cave so that everyone can take a swim. The Dragonera Island, off the coast of Andratx, is also a great visit. It includes a boat trip.

The more adventurous families have many options. How would you like to ride in a balloon and see Mallorca from the air? Another option is to fly over the sea while parasailing. Sea kayaking or an easy hike in the Tramuntana mountains are other possibilities for active holidaymakers with children aged 6 or more.

Even though the words history and tradition might sound boring for children, both them and their parents will fall in love with the traditional Mallorcan culture: a night of “correfocs” (fire run), “dimonis” (people dressed as devils) dancing to the sound of the drums and fireworks. Culture, like riding in a balloon, is all about being adventurous.

In any case, whatever activity you choose, the European standards of life that you will find in Mallorca will make it easier for you to move around even with a pushchair. Mallorca is a disabled friendly island. You will find plenty of pharmacies, products for babies, emergency health services, etc. Unlike other less developed destinations, the political and social reality of Mallorca makes the island a peaceful and safe destination for all ages.