When you travel to the island of Mallorca to discover all its hidden charms, the most appropriate thing to do is to opt for a hire car, as public transport is not a viable option for tourists and travellers due to the fact that the price is quite high and the frequency of journeys is quite low. In addition, night-time public transport is also lacking.
So if you don’t opt for a rental car, you may find yourself stranded or forced to rush to see it all. In that case, we can assure you that hailing a taxi at night to get to your hotel is not a cheap option. In short, to be able to visit the island without worrying and without having to keep an eye on public transport timetables, it is necessary to get around by car.
For this reason, we have talked to the experts at Autos Mallorca, who have years of experience in this field, to give you some useful tips for driving on the island of Mallorca. This way, you will be able to prevent possible mishaps and enjoy a much more relaxed and organized trip. Discover the charms of this island regardless of the season in which you visit alone or on a family trip or with friends.
Take seasonality into account
When you travel to Majorca, you should take into account when the high season months are, especially if you want to drive with more peace of mind. Remember that, in summer, this island is full of tourists, especially between July and August. For this reason, if you want to avoid encountering too many tourists, both in the places of interest, but want to enjoy the good weather, we recommend travelling between the end of May and the beginning of June and from September to mid-October.
However, if you want to travel to Mallorca in low season, the winter months are also an excellent option and the driving will be much quieter. Likewise, you will hardly encounter any tourists, so you will be able to enjoy the island’s charms much better.
Also, in autumn and winter, the landscapes look completely different and are perhaps even more attractive, especially for those who love the colder months of the year. In fact, towards the north, in the area of the Tramuntana mountain range, you will be able to enjoy completely wintry views, especially in the area of the Cúber and Gorg Blau reservoirs and in the nearby villages.
Organize your routes before you arrive
We know that many people prefer to let themselves go and leave everything to improvisation. However, if you don’t want to waste time and avoid a lot of unforeseen events, we advise you to organize your trip very well before you arrive. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the island and have a mental map of the main roads, as well as the places you want to visit. A good GPS can be a great option.
Bear in mind that there are some roads with huge drops in terrain and quite steep bends and even dead-end roads. You should also know the opening times of the main monuments and tourist attractions you want to visit. This way, you won’t get an unpleasant surprise when you arrive and discover that they have been closed for a couple of hours.
Therefore, knowing the opening times in advance will help you to prepare yourself much better and avoid speeding on the road. In this way, you can reduce the risk of getting into an accident or getting a ticket from an officer for breaking traffic rules on the road.
It is important to respect traffic rules
The previous point brings us directly to the fact that it is important to respect the traffic rules, mainly for safety reasons. However, it is also for economic reasons, as getting a fine can ruin your day, even if you are on holiday in Mallorca. The rules are very similar to those in the rest of Spain, but there are some nuances that you should bear in mind.
In short, it is important to respect the speed limits. For example, on motorways you should never exceed 120 kilometers per hour, but you should not go below 60 km/h either. In urban areas, the maximum speed has been greatly reduced and you should never exceed 40 kilometers per hour. Also, the use of seat belts is compulsory and, if children are travelling with you, they must be correctly seated in an approved seat that is perfectly adjusted to their age and height.
It is also important to remember that you should not take the car if you have drunk alcohol or taken any type of drug or medication that may affect your perception and your ability to react. In fact, the DGT can impose an administrative fine and even charge you with a criminal offense punishable by the withdrawal of points from your license and even prison sentences depending on the level of alcohol or drugs in your blood if you are breathalyzed.
Have your documents in order
When you travel to Mallorca -or anywhere else in the world- it is important that you have all the documents to prove that you are an accredited driver. Therefore, it is important to carry your driving license, ID card or passport, as well as your insurance papers in order. This can save you a lot of trouble during your holiday on the island, so we repeat that it is very important that you organize your trip weeks – or months – before you fly to Mallorca.
Drive with caution
Remember that, although the roads on the island of Mallorca are generally in very good condition, the ground is quite rugged. This is due to the fact that there are many unevennesses, so, especially when travelling in the area of the Tramuntana mountain range, you will find a lot of narrow roads with steep ascents and descents, as well as many sharp bends.
Also, in many coastal areas, you will find roads on the edge of cliffs, so although you don’t have to worry too much, we recommend that you drive with caution and a lot of care. So, while driving, try to avoid any distractions at the wheel.
Parking is not usually a problem
In most of the tourist sites on the island of Mallorca you will find parking as close as possible, so parking is not usually a problem on this type of trip. However, it is true that, to visit some of the quieter coves hidden in the southeast of the island, you won’t be able to park close by and will have to park several kilometers away and walk. However, some of the more secluded spots are also very worthwhile, as they are usually empty or almost empty of tourists.
Beware of cyclists
As we have already mentioned, in the Serra de Tramuntana you will find quite narrow roads and sharp bends that help to overcome the unevenness of the terrain. In addition, Mallorca is an island where it is quite common to travel by bike, so the Serra de Tramuntana is quite an important cycling route, so sometimes there are accidents with cyclists in which they can get hurt very badly.
For this reason, as we have also said before, it is better to sharpen your senses, avoid distractions and take extreme precautions when a cyclist is near you. Therefore, when this happens, the best thing to do is to slow down and overtake only when you can respect a distance of one and a half meters when overtaking.
Also, remember that cyclists have the right of way at junctions and operate as a single vehicle when in a group. That said, here’s the most important piece of advice: enjoy the journey!