Island feeling on four wheels - clear, genuine and without detours
Mallorca is bigger than many people think. If you only commute between hotel, beach and town, you'll miss a lot. The true beauty is revealed on the way: on winding country roads, in small towns without a postcard view - or when you stop because someone is selling oranges.
A rental car is more than just a means of transportation. It is the key to understanding Mallorca. To feel the island. And to decide for yourself where to go.
We have put together five routes that feel good. For explorers, connoisseurs, families and those seeking peace and quiet. Not catalog tours, but routes that tell a story.
🛣️ Route 1: The coastal road Ma-10 - Andratx to Pollença
This route is not a secret route. But it is an experience.
The Ma-10 (Sa Calobra) winds its way through the Tramuntana like a scar - from the southwest all the way up to the north. The view changes again and again: Sea, steep cliffs, olive groves. Then forest again, then a village that looks as if it has simply stood still.
Start is in Andratxa place that is often overlooked. Then it's off towards Estellencs. If you set off early, you will have the road almost to yourself. The section to Banyalbufar is narrow but spectacular - driving here is part of the experience.
From Valldemossa it becomes gentler. The road becomes wider, the bends more rhythmic. In Deià, it's worth stopping to stroll through the alleyways or ponder briefly at the Mirador. If you want, take a short turn off at Sóller to the port - or continue straight on towards Lluc and Pollença.
👉 Ideal for: People who like to look, stop and drive on.
👉 Time of day: Early morning or late afternoon (due to light & traffic)
👉 Tip: Take a cool box with you - there are lots of lovely picnic spots.
🍇 Route 2: The wine route around Binissalem - enjoyment with depth
Mallorca is not a wine region, some say. That's true - if you only know the supermarket shelves.
But if you drive out to Binissalem, Santa Eugènia or Sencelles, a different truth emerges. Between dry stone walls, almond trees and vines, wine is produced here that is not loud - but quietly impressive.
The circuit starts in Binissalemthe center of Mallorcan viticulture. If you like, stop by the "Bodega Ferrer" or "Jose L. Ferrer" - both offer guided tours and small tastings. Then continue along quiet country roads to Santa Maria del Camí. Here, crafts and culinary delights come together: pottery stores, market halls, small cafés with terraces in the courtyard.
Continue towards Alaró it is worth stopping at the "Bodega Castell Miquel". If only because of its location - on a hill with far-reaching views as far as the plain. If you want, you can turn off towards Orient from here: a tiny village with old stone, old doors and the feeling that the world is ticking slower.
👉 Ideal for: Gourmets who don't just want to drink, but want to discover.
👉 Time of day: Late morning to early evening (wineries usually open from 10 am to 6 pm)
👉 Tip: If you drive, you should be allowed to spit. Or have a spitting passenger.
🌾 Route 3: Through the heart of the island - Sineu, Petra & the Pla
If you want to know what Mallorca is really like, go to the center.
No mountains, no sea. Instead, fields, windmills, farms. Old men on rickety bicycles. And in the middle of it all: places where life simply goes on - regardless of whether it's the season or not.
The starting point of this tour is Sineuknown for its market (always on Wednesdays). There are tractors next to ham stalls, sandals and soap. Continue to Petra, the birthplace of Junípero Serra, with its cobblestones, wide open skies and honest bakery.
Stopover: Sant Joan, Montuïri, Porreres - all small towns, all quiet. If you like, turn off somewhere, leave the sat nav off and drive by sight. The roads are good, orientation is easy: if you get lost, you'll usually find something.
👉 Ideal for: Anyone who wants to experience Mallorca beyond the postcard.
👉 Time of day: Morning to sunset - lots of light, little shade
👉 Tip: Take bread, cheese and olives from the market - and eat where it's nice.
🌊 Route 4: The east coast tour - small bays, great tranquillity
The east coast of Mallorca has its own rhythm. It is less dramatic than the west coast, but more open, brighter and lighter.
Here, bay follows bay without having to constantly negotiate hairpin bends. If you prefer swimming to winding roads, this is the place for you.
Let's go in Cala d'Orwhere the houses are white and the water turquoise. From there, the route heads north via Porto Colom - a harbor town that has retained its everyday life despite tourism - to Cala Murada and on via Cales de Mallorca to Portocristo.
Spontaneous stops in between are worthwhile. For example, at Cala Varques - within walking distance, but only if you park your car properly. Or at small farm stores with fruit stalls. Portocristo itself has more to offer than the famous dragon caves. If you like it quiet, simply drive on via Son Servera to Artà - one of the most beautiful places on the island if you want to spend an afternoon wandering through the alleyways and don't want much other than peace and quiet.
👉 Ideal for: Bay hoppers:inside, families, people with a bath towel in the trunk
👉 Time of day: From late morning - with swimwear and patience for parking spaces
👉 Tip: In Portocristo, there are small fish restaurants serving lunch - without an Instagram menu.
🕊️ Route 5: Monastery Route & South Mallorca - slower, further, easier
Some areas of Mallorca seem to breathe.
The south is such a place: wide skies, flat landscape, salty air. If you're traveling here by car, you don't need a destination - but we suggest a few.
Let's go in Llucmajorwhere market halls, butchers' stores and old houses await you for a stroll without a plan. Continue towards Randa, where the "Santuari de Cura" monastery sits enthroned on a mesa. If you drive up there, you get a view, history and a bit of peace and quiet.
From there, head towards Campos via Algaida and Porreres - or even further to Ses Salines. This is where the rural Mallorca that hardly anyone knows begins. If you like, you can end up on the coast: Es Trenc, Cala Pi or Sa Ràpita. Everything within easy reach. All places where you can just sit.
👉 Ideal for: Anyone who doesn't need sights to be out and about.
👉 Time of day: Start early - it can get hot on the mountain at midday.
👉 Tip: In Randa there are honey stands with homemade Flor de Taronger.
🧩 Recommendation: discover the island at your own pace
Five routes, five moods - and each an argument for a rental car.
Mallorca is not made for moving from stop to stop. It is an island that has to be experienced - in the best sense of the word.
If you travel by car, you see more. Decide for yourself. And experience the island at exactly the pace that suits you.
Our tip: Book the rental car directly via isla-travel.com/car-rental - with fair conditions, clear advice and partners like Sunny Cars that you can rely on - without dubious scams and pitfalls!
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