If you’re wondering which activities or visits you should opt for over the Easter holidays to make the most of the precious time you have to spend with your loved ones, family, or friends, don’t miss this guide to everything Easter in Mallorca.
There’s not long left before the long-awaited Easter holidays are here, and you’ll want to have everything planned in advance this year. Save the dates: Easter in Mallorca begins on the 2nd of April, Palm Sunday, and ends on the 10th of April, Easter Monday. Local school holidays run from the 6th to the 16th of April. In this blog, we’re going to provide some suggestions for things to do with your loved ones over the holiday period, with lots of activities and ideas for you all to enjoy:
- There are many fantastic hiking routes to enjoy if you’re a fan of the great outdoors.
- Let’s not forget family activities and ideas to keep the kids entertained over the holidays.
- Easter processions and ‘pancaritats’ will give you an idea of the idiosyncrasies of the various villages across the island.
Hiking routes in Mallorca
Easter brings longer days and getting out into nature, away from the city and the daily routine, to get some fresh air is really appealing. Mallorca has innumerable hiking routes that will take you through the mountains, forests, or along the coastline. The sea and the mountains are the island’s major attractions. Alaró castle offers a fairly easy hike with stunning views, Ses Fonts Ufanes, with its intermittent spring after heavy rainfall, is popular with children. The nature reserve of s’Albufera in Alcúdia is a lovely day out, and visiting Cala Varques beach in the Llevant part of the island or the Lluc sanctuary is also a great idea for a trip to enjoy peaceful surroundings in nature. History buffs will enjoy a day visiting the Pla de Mallorca, starting at Sencelles and following a route that combines agricultural landscapes with historical sites where you can see talayots and other archaeological remains dating back to prehistoric times. The archaeological route from Sencelles to Costitx will take you to see the Cova del Camp del Bisbe, the talayot at Son Fred, the sanctuary at Son Corró, Es Turassot prehistoric settlement, the talayot at Binifat and Ses Talaies in Can Xim.
Processions and ‘pancaritats’ in Mallorca
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, when the brotherhoods in each village celebrate their processions and ‘davallaments’ (Christ’s descent from the cross), on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. In the island’s capital, Palma, thousands of people gather to watch the processions, and the town of Sineu is home to the oldest procession in Mallorca. Alcúdia and Pollença also have interesting religious festivals. Since the beginning of the fifteenth century, the procession of Sant Crist de la Sang has taken place on Maundy Thursday in Palma, organised by the Sang brotherhood, and it is one of the most colourful, multitudinous, and venerated on the island, along with the Virgen de la Salud, the patron saint of the city, and the Virgen de Lluc, patron saint of Mallorca.
Good Friday is the day of the Davallament de la Creu in Pollença and Via Crucis on the steps of Palma cathedral or at Ses Voltes Park, where it was celebrated in 2022, a performance based on the sonnets written by Llorenç Moyà, a poet from Binnisalem.
The “pancaritats” or pilgrimages are worth seeing, usually taking place on the outskirts of villages around the island, close to monasteries and shrines in the areas known as the Part Forana. These popular occasions bring people together to perform traditional dances and share typical Easter food, such as the ‘panades’ and ‘robiols’, which are a kind of pasty. Bellver Castle in Palma hosts the traditional Diumenge de l’Àngel, and the Ermita de Crestatx just 4 km from Sa Pobla, or the Ermita de Sant Miquel in Campanet, also host emblematic gatherings.
Easter activities for children
A visit to the “Ram” Fair is unmissable at Easter. It is located in Son Fusteret, near Son Castelló industrial estate in Palma, and although the exact dates haven’t yet been confirmed, it was open from the 25th of February until the 24th of April last year. The fairground is a delight for children and adults alike, with almost 200 attractions to visit. There is parking available for up to 2,000 vehicles nearby, although it’s easy to get there on the number 10 bus. You can’t miss it!
If the weather is good, you could visit the Reserva del Puig del Galatzó, a nature reserve in Puigpunyent, and enjoy the scenery and the chance to see some of the island’s native wildlife. Palma Aquarium, Katmandú Park, Forestal Park, Marineland, or Golf Fantasía are other attractions worth visiting, or maybe you fancy some pony-trekking in Son Serra de Marina or a wander around Sa Punta de n’Amer, an area of exceptional natural beauty between the beaches at Cala Millor and Sa Coma.
Guided tours of Palma
The capital offers Tours of the Jewish Quarter to learn more about the history of the Jewish people and culture in the city. You can also visit the most important monuments and discover interesting facts about Mallorcan life and history. There are even evening tours with tales of intriguing legends and mysteries that will definitely capture your imagination.
The Ayuntamiento de Palma or Govern balear websites have plenty of tourist information and helpful guides to help you plan activities over the Easter holidays.
Caves and beaches to visit at Easter
The Drach caves, the Hams caves, Campanet caves, and the caves at Génova are all open to the public over Easter. And let’s not forget the wonderful beaches in Mallorca: Playa de Muro, Port d’Alcúdia, Son Serra de Marina, Es Trenc, Ses Salines with its lighthouse … you’ll be surprised how beautiful and peaceful they are at this time of year.
