Spring is one of the best times to visit Mallorca with children. The island is green, the beaches are mostly empty, and the heat of summer is still weeks away. If you’re here for Easter, Semana Santa adds something worth building your week around – processions, pastries, and a version of the island most visitors never see.
- Watch a Semana Santa Procession
- Take a Boat Trip
- Explore Mallorca’s Famous Caves
- Day Trip to Alcudia Old Town
- All aboard the Train to Sóller
- Visit a wildlife park or animal experience
- Go for a cycle ride
- Adventure Days
- Head for a Hike
- Discover Dinosaurs
- Visit a castle
- Plan a Palma Day
- Rainy Day (just in case)
A few dates to know: Maundy Thursday (2 April), Good Friday (3 April) and Easter Monday (6 April) are all public holidays. Some shops and supermarkets will be closed, so stock up if you’re eating in. The island is busy this Easter – UK, Europe and Spanish school holidays overlap, so pre-book anything ticketed.
For the full Easter guide – procession times, routes, sweet treats and what to know with kids – head to our Easter in Mallorca family guide or read on for our top 12 things to do this spring.
1.
Watch a Semana Santa Procession
Worth seeing even if your family has no religious connection to Easter. Palm Sunday (29 March) is the easiest starting point – it’s celebratory, daytime, and children walk in the procession carrying woven palms. Maundy Thursday’s Sant Crist de la Sang (2 April, 19h) is the one to plan your evening around: up to 4,000 participants wind through Palma’s old town by candlelight, ending at the Cathedral. Full guide with timings and tips for watching with kids: Easter in Mallorca.
2.
Take a Boat Trip
The boat from Port de Sóller to Sa Calobra follows the Tramuntana coastline for around an hour, passing sea caves and sheer cliff faces before arriving at the base of the Torrent de Pareis gorge. From the beach you can walk into the gorge itself – the rock walls narrow as you go and it gets more dramatic the further in you walk. Take the morning departure and you’ll have time to make a proper day of it. Full guide: Port de Sóller to Sa Calobra by Boat.
On the other side of the island, Sa Dragonera in the southwest, is a protected island nature reserve just off Sant Elm, easily reached by a short boat crossing. Once you’re ashore there are walking trails with big sea views and the island’s own endemic lizards to spot. There’s no café, so pack a picnic. It’s wild, low-key, and good for children who like a bit of adventure without it being a big production. Check sailing times before you go: Cruceros Margarita.
3.
Explore Mallorca’s Famous Caves
If the weather turns, go underground. Mallorca has five accessible cave systems and they work for all ages. The Coves del Drac at Porto Cristo are the most visited – the tour ends on the bank of a large underground lake with a short classical music performance from a boat on the water – more of a tourist experience than the others, but a good one. Also in Porto Cristo, the Coves dels Hams have a seated light and sound show that makes them feel different – lots of steps on the descent however, so not ideal for tired toddlers. Dinosaurland is next door if you want to make a day of it.
Coves de Campanet in the foothills of the Tramuntana Mountains are smaller, quieter and self-guided, with good views from the café above – best reached by car. The Coves d’Artà near Canyamel are the most dramatic, with vast chambers and coastal views, and noticeably fewer crowds – you’ll need a car to get there. And if you’re based in Palma or the southwest, Coves de Gènova are small, easy and reachable by public transport or taxi.
4.
Day Trip to Alcudia Old Town
Spend the morning wandering the cobbled streets of Alcúdia’s Old Town, one of Mallorca’s most charming historic centres. Kids will love exploring the medieval walls, climbing the ramparts, and spotting the Roman ruins of Pollentia just outside the gates. The twice-weekly market on Tuesdays and Sundays is buzzy, with plenty of local snacks and souvenirs to browse. There are shaded squares for a slow lunch and mostly pedestrian streets perfect for little legs to roam freely.
Head to Port d’Alcúdia or Playa de Muro for ice cream and a splash after lunch or, while you’re in the area, visit Museu Sa Bassa Blanca. An art estate within a wildlife sanctuary, with a sculpture park full of large animal statues, a whitewashed Hispano-Moorish house, rose gardens and views over the bay. The sculpture park works well on a sunny afternoon with younger children; the guided house tour is better for ages eight and above. There’s a café in the courtyard and a picnic area in the park. Allow around 2.5 hours to see it all.
5.
All aboard the Train to Sóller
The vintage wooden train between Palma and Sóller has been running since 1912. It crosses the Tramuntana through tunnels and mountain cuttings, arriving in Sóller after around an hour – worth the trip for the journey alone. From there, an old tram runs down the valley to the port for lunch and a seaside stroll, perhaps even a splash. Carriages fill up quickly at Easter, go early to get a good spot on board. You can book your day return ahead at trendesoller.com, single tickets must be purchased at the ticket booth.
6.
Visit a wildlife park or animal experience
More options here than most families expect. Reserva Park near Puigpunyent is a forest nature park with goats, peacocks and donkeys, a zip line and a playground, around 30 minutes from Palma. Artestruz near Campos is Mallorca’s ostrich farm with Easter activities planned (see Easter in Mallorca for Easter event details). Sa Cabreta Goat Farm near Pollença is a working farm where you can meet the animals and buy the cheese they produce – lower key than a nature park, but tastier for it. Mad Donkey Café at Finca Ca’n Sureda near Pollença is a finca stop and donkey sanctuary with cake, ice cream and a shop.
7.
Go for a cycle ride
Cycling in Mallorca isn’t just for the speedsters in lycra. Spring is the best time for relaxed rides before the crowds arrive – the dedicated cycle paths are quieter and the temperatures are right. For families, flat routes with sea views and café stops are the ones to go for. Three good options: the Port de Pollença seafront (best for slightly more confident riders – the lycra crew will pass you at speed), Cala Bona to Sa Coma on the east coast (great for beginners, best before June when it gets busy), and the Palma seafront to Arenal (long and scenic, though busier at weekends).
For wetlands and wildlife, the cycle path at S’Albufera Natural Park is flat, easy and brilliant for flamingo spotting in spring. Full guide: Exploring S’Albufera by Bike.
8.
Adventure Days
One for the thrill-seekers. Rock and Water Mallorca run family coasteering sessions for ages eight and above (competent swimmers only) – a mix of cliff jumping, sea caving and rock climbing along the coastline including Cala Romantica. Tours normally start at 10h and last around four hours; meeting points vary by tour and are confirmed on booking. They also run caving, climbing and abseiling if coasteering isn’t quite right for your group. Wetsuits provided.
9.
Head for a Hike
Spring is the best season for walking in Mallorca. The Tramuntana is at its greenest, wildflowers line the paths, and you can cover real ground before the heat arrives. There are flat nature trails that work for toddlers, coastal routes with a cool off splash at the end, and proper mountain walks for older children. Our family hikes guide covers 12 routes with route notes, parking and age guidance. For coastal walks specifically, see the best coastal walks for families.
If you’d prefer to walk with an expert, The English Walking Guide offers private family hikes.
10.
Discover Dinosaurs
Dinosaurland is a must for young dinosaur fans. Walk through the park at your own pace tracking down over 100 life-sized dinosaur models. There’s a smash burger restaurant on site, and the Hams Caves are a three-minute walk away if you want to make a full day of it. Good for younger children and any child going through a dinosaur phase, which in our experience covers most of them.
11.
Visit a castle
Mallorca has more castles worth visiting than most families realise, and several are free. Capdepera Castle in the northeast is a well-preserved walled fortress with walkable ramparts, spiral staircases and views to Menorca on a clear day. Castell de Sant Salvador above Artà is a free hilltop climb – 180 steps from the old town, with a small café at the top. For something that combines a hike with history, the walk up to Castell d’Alaró in the Tramuntana is one of the better days out for older children, with lunch at Es Verger restaurant where you park. For more historic day trips; Castles, Forts & Historical Day Trips in Mallorca.
12.
Plan a Palma Day
Palma works well as a full day out whatever the weather. Wander the cobbled streets of the old town, stop by Mercat Olivar for fresh fish and a sushi snack, and climb the Cathedral terraces for city and sea views (over 9s only) – pick up an ice cream at Riva Reno on the way down and let the kids loose in the playground at Parc de la Mar below. Nearby, the Museu de la Mar is new and worth a visit. In the centre of town, the Caixa Forum usually has something fun on for families and is worth checking times or booking tickets in advance.
After lunch, Bellver Castle is a short bus ride from the centre – a unique circular castle with plenty of space to explore, and a great wooden adventure playground a ten-minute walk downhill. And if you need a reliable half-day whatever the weather, Palma Aquarium has Europe’s deepest shark tank, a jellyfish tunnel and a soft play area for smaller children.
13.
Rainy Day (just in case)
The Bonus one! If the weather turns, the caves (see above) are the obvious first call. But the popular tours can get very busy so it’s worth having a longer list to hand – we’ve pulled together 25 options in our rainy day activities guide, from pottery workshops to the Rafa Nadal Museum in Manacor. And if you’re still in planning mode, a hotel with an indoor pool is always a good call in spring – here’s our pick of hotels with indoor pools in Mallorca.
Planning a trip to Mallorca and not sure where to start? We put together bespoke family itineraries Get in touch: hola@familyfriendlymallorca.com
