Three days is not long for an island this varied, but it is enough to taste the best of Mallorca if you plan it well. This is roughly how we would spend a long weekend, mixing the city, the mountains and the coast so you never feel like you have seen the same thing twice.
Day 1: Palma and the city
Morning. Start in Palma. Walk up to the cathedral, La Seu, when it opens and the light comes through the great rose window. From there, lose yourself in the old town, where the narrow streets open onto quiet courtyards and small squares.
Afternoon. Stop for a long lunch of tapas somewhere off the main drag, then wander the boutiques and galleries. If you have energy left, Bellver Castle above the city gives you a full circle view over Palma and the bay.
Evening. Head down to the marina as the light softens. This is a good night to eat seafood by the water and go to bed early, because tomorrow involves mountains.
Day 2: The Serra de Tramuntana
Morning. Drive north into the mountains. The village of Valldemossa, all stone houses and green shutters, is a lovely first stop. Take your time with a coffee before the tour buses arrive.
Afternoon. Continue toward Soller, ideally on the vintage wooden train if the timing works. The valley of orange groves around it is beautiful, and the tram down to the port is a small joy in itself.
Evening. Watch the light go over the harbour at Port de Soller, then eat somewhere simple and local. The mountain air makes everything taste better.
Day 3: The coast and the coves
Morning. Trade mountains for water. Head for one of the calas, the small turquoise coves the island is famous for. Go early, before the sun is high and the parking fills up.
Afternoon. Swim, read, do very little. If you want one more sight, the drive down to Sa Calobra through the mountains is unforgettable, though not for nervous drivers.
Evening. Back toward Palma for a final dinner. Order the local wine, you have earned it.
This is a framework, not a rulebook, and half the fun is wandering off it. To build your own version, our Mallorca Travel Map has the coves, viewpoints and restaurants above already pinned in Google Maps, so you can swap and reorder as you go.
