Northeastern Mallorca

The place where the morning sun first makes landfall on Mallorca, the island’s northeastern corner is a refreshingly low-key area where the rough, sheep-scoured Sierra Llevant mountains rise from fields of fig and almond, and march towards the broken coast. There's great hiking, swimming, horse riding and bird-watching in the northeast, yet its attractions aren't solely natural. The medieval hill towns of Artà and Capdepera retain countless antique treasures, while the raucous resort town of Cala Ratjada is a reminder of what much of Mallorca's eastern coast has become.

Explore Northeastern Mallorca

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Northeastern Mallorca.

  • Castle

    Castell de Capdepera

    Lording it over Capdepera is this early-14th-century fortress. A walled complex built on the ruins of a Moorish fortress, the castle is one of the best…

  • Historic Building

    Sa Torre Cega

    Named for the 15th-century 'blind tower' (unsighted by similar watchtowers) at its centre, this coastal estate was built in the early 20th century by the…

  • Castle

    Santuari de Sant Salvador

    Rising high and mighty above Artà, this walled fortress was built atop an earlier Moorish enclave and encloses a small church. The 4000-sq-metre complex,…

  • Archaeological Site

    Ses Païsses

    Just beyond Artà proper lies the remains of a 3000-year-old Bronze Age settlement, the largest and most important Talayotic site on the island's eastern…

  • Cave

    Coves d’Artà

    Head 1km north of Canyamel and pass through an unassuming fissure in the rock wall that buffers the coast and you'll find yourself in a stunning warren of…

  • Beach

    Cala Mesquida

    Cala Mesquida's beautiful sweep of sand (nearly 300m long) and nearby dunes and pine scrub are not just appreciated by human visitors. The area is…

  • Christian Site

    Ermita de Betlem

    Founded in 1805, Ermita de Betlem is still home to hermits who live a life of seclusion and self-sufficiency. The alluring views over country and wind…

  • Church

    Transfiguració del Senyor

    This church, built atop the foundations of a Moorish mosque, was begun soon after the Christian reconquest, although the restored facade dates to the 16th…

  • Lighthouse

    Far de Capdepera

    This lighthouse on Mallorca's easternmost tip is the endpoint of a lovely drive, walk or cycle through pine forests, around 1.5km east of Sa Torre Cega…

  • Castle

    Torre de Canyamel

    Just 3km inland from Canyamel and signposted off the main coast road, the striking Torre de Canyamel – a 23m-high, restored 13th-century defensive tower…

  • Museum

    Museu Regional d'Artà

    This little museum opens a window on Artà's fascinating past. There's a natural history section, and another tracing the development of the city through…

  • Beach

    Cala Matzoc

    Eleven kilometres from Artà, or a 20-minute trek along the coast from Cala Estreta, Cala Matzoc comes into view. A quiet cove of sand and stone, it backs…

  • Church

    Ermita de Betlem

    At the top of a steep climb and approached through a row of cypresses, this charming small church of stone dates to the early 19th century and contains a…

  • Beach

    Cala Mitjana

    To the landward end of a long, cliff-lined inlet you'll find this little patch of golden sand. A 20-minute walk from the car park at Cala Sa Nau deters…

  • Beach

    Font de Sa Cala

    South of Cala Ratjada is Font de Sa Cala, where the crystalline waters are perfect for snorkelling. The serene, 100m-long beach is surrounded by a harshly…

  • Beach

    Cala Gat

    East of Cala Ratjada harbour, beyond Sa Torre Cega, this fine little cove has a pretty 40m beach backed by pine forests and receives far fewer visitors…

  • Viewpoint

    Mirador de la Ermita de Betlem

    Breathtaking viewpoint (not just for exhausted cyclists) high up on the way to the Ermita de Betlem, with glorious views of the Badia d'Alcúdia and Cap…

  • Museum

    La Antigua Farmacia Melis Cursach

    The former home and workplace of Antònia Melis Cursach, bequeathed to the city on her death, is now a museum, preserved to look just as an 18th-century…

  • Beach

    Platja de Cala Agulla

    At the northern edge of town this horseshoe-shaped beach wraps around a calm, pale-sand bay lapped by turquoise waters on the edge of a pine-cloaked…

  • Beach

    Platja de Canyamel

    Backed by the comparatively low-key resort town of Canyamel, with low pine-covered hills beyond, this broad stretch of parasol-shaded sand gets very…