Top Tips for Cycling in Mallorca

How To Get The Best Out Of Your Cycling Holiday In Mallorca

Mallorca has become one of the world’s great cycling destinations but if you only have limited time on the island, it's essential that you get the best out of your trip. We send thousands of cyclists to Mallorca every year and so we have the best knowledge, insight and tips, for you to make the most out of your holiday. Whether it’s your first cycling trip abroad or you're a Mallorca regular, a little planning goes a long way.

Our Advice on The Best Time of Year To Cycle in Mallorca

Mallorca is rideable almost all year round, but the best months for cycling are generally March to May and September to October. It's possible to ride outside of these months of course, but our advice is that for the best cycling tours in Mallorca, the shoulder seasons of Spring and Autumn are best.

What Should I Know About Cycling in Mallorca in the Spring?

During Spring, the island comes alive with mild temperatures, quiet roads and cyclists from all over Europe arriving for training camps and early season riding. There are a few pieces of key information for a Mallorca cycling tour in the Spring.

Whilst the hotels have begun to open earlier each, if you're heading to Port Pollensa, it can be pretty quiet early in the Spring season. If you're looking to get some serious miles in, this might be perfect for you but if you want a busier atmosphere, consider riding later in the season. We think that the best time to enjoy a Mallorca cycling tour is in April as temperatures have warmed up and the cycling scene really begins to come alive.

One really important tip for your Spring Mallorca tour is to avoid the last weekend of April which is when the Mallorca 312 takes over most of the island. Unless you're riding the event, we advise avoiding this weekend. Firstly, bike hire will be almost non existent during that period and secondly, most of the epic routes and roads of the Tramuntana, will be closed for most of the day. The Alcudia Ironman in May can also pose some challenges to regular riders. The course is nothing like the 312 and does not take over the island but it can cause some road closures in Port Pollensa, Alcudia and towards the mountains. You can check the route on the official Ironman page

Good Advice When It Comes to Cycling in Mallorca in the Summer

Summer in Mallorca is hot so there's really just one golden rule and that is to ride early. As long as you avoid the midday and afternoon sun, you can still enjoy a Mallorca tour in the summer. Just be extra prepared with high SPF sunscreen and plenty of water. We'd also reccomend plenty of electrolytes as you'll be sweating a lot. Listen to episode 4 of our Where We Ride podcast on the best advice when it comes to electrolyte and carbohydrate consumption on your bike.

Summer is also the perfect time to enjoy the flatlands of Mallorca. You can ride between boutique fincas, explore orange groves and cool off on Mallorca's famous beaches.

The Best Advice for Cycling in Mallorca in October

We think that a bike tour of Mallorca in October is probably the best way to see the island. Mallorca is quiet other than with cyclists as the summer and early Autumn crowds have dispersed. Unlike the Spring, there are no times to avoid.

If you're planning on cycling in Mallorca in October, you must book early. It's become one of the busiest months of the year for cyclists and the best bikes get booked up long in advance. We also have a very important tip for riding late in the Autumn and that is to make sure you're booking your Mallorca bike hire with a well reviewed cycling company . By the end of the season, rental bikes will have covered thousands of kilometres and naturally experienced a lot more wear and tear, especially on high use components like tyres, brake pads and drivetrains. Choosing a trusted provider gives you confidence that the bikes are being properly serviced, regularly inspected and maintained to a high standard throughout the year. The last thing you want on a big mountain descent is to discover your hire bike hasn’t been looked after properly.

Is It Possible To Ride in Mallorca in the Winter?

Winter is still a brilliant time for cycling in Mallorca, but one of our top tips is to manage your expectations around where you stay and the riding you want to do. Port de Pollença becomes very quiet in winter, with many hotels and cycling businesses closed, so accessing routes like Cap Formentor can mean some huge days on the bike.

Instead, we’d suggest staying in Sóller if you want easy access to the mountains. It stays lively through winter thanks to the local community and puts you right on the doorstep of Mallorca’s best climbs and the stunning MA10 coastal road.

Palma is another great option and stays busy year round. From here you can ride the flatlands inland or head towards Estellencs on one of the island’s most beautiful roads, a route many cyclists miss when staying in the north.

Our advice is also to come prepared for colder conditions, especially in the mountains and on descents. One final bonus of winter riding is that you’ll often see professional cycling teams training on the island, particularly in early December and late February when they avoid the busier months.

Our Top Tips and Advice for Riding Mallorca’s Most Famous Cycling Routes

Mallorca's cycling routes are iconic and we have a blog which covers our favourite Mallorca routes and climbs. However, there are some really key tips to make the most out of these routes, that many people don't know,

Top Advice When Cycling Cap Formentor

Cap Formentor is one of the most iconic cycling routes in Mallorca. One of our biggest pieces of advice for riding Cap Formentor is to take note of the road closure. Each year, between May and October, the Ma-2210 road to Cap Formentor is closed to private vehicles from 10:00am to 10:00pm. During these hours, only authorised vehicles, public transport, cyclists and pedestrians can access the lighthouse road, which makes it an even better ride for cyclists. Normally our advice is to ride early but if you ride after 10am, you can enjoy the road without any vehicular traffic other than public transport.

Another top tip is to bring lights, even in the height of summer. There are several tunnels along the route and visibility can be poor, especially during early morning rides or cloudy days. A good front and rear light will make you far more visible and much safer through the darker sections of the road. This advice is also important for cycling Puig Major and the Monnaber Tunnel.

How To Ride From Andratx to Port Pollensa

We have a whole blog on the Andratx to Port Pollensa route. This is not a ride you casually tick off on holiday. It’s a full day out in the saddle and one of the most memorable cycling experiences Mallorca has to offer.

Riding from Port d’Andratx in the south west all the way to Port de Pollença in the north takes you deep into the heart of the Serra de Tramuntana mountains, linking together dramatic coastal roads, long mountain climbs, fast flowing descents and countless sea views along the way. The roads are beautifully surfaced, the scenery constantly changes and there are plenty of villages and café stops to break up the ride. If you’re looking for a proper Mallorca challenge, this is as good as it gets.

The way to ride this is to take the private shuttle at around 7.15am from Port Pollensa to Andratx. You'll arrive just over an hour later and you can begin riding home from there. Just ask us to book this for you on your Mallorca cycling tour.

Tips on Avoiding the Crowds on Sa Calobra

Our biggest piece of advice for riding Sa Calobra is simple, start early. The road becomes much busier later in the morning with tourist buses, especially during peak season, so an early ride makes the climb and descent far more enjoyable. That can be difficult if you're riding into the mountains, long before you even arrive at the aqueduct which signals your start point for the descent into the port. We therefore have a great inside tip. You can actually reach Sa Calobra by ferry from Puerto Sóller with your bike. This is a brilliant option if you want to experience the famous climb without first riding deep into the Tramuntana mountains and descending all the way down to the coast before the climb even begins.

The early ferry also lets you arrive before most of the traffic, meaning quieter roads, cooler temperatures and a much better experience on one of Mallorca’s most iconic cycling climbs.

Remember That the Sóller Tunnel Is Closed To Cyclists

Cyclists are not allowed to ride through the Sóller tunnel, so if your route heads towards the mountains on that road, the only option is to ride over the Coll de Soller itself. While it’s a beautiful climb with countless switchbacks and incredible views, it does add a significant amount of elevation to your day, something worth factoring into your route planning before you head out.

Advice on Where To Stay

Port de Pollença and Alcúdia are widely regarded as Mallorca’s premier cycling hubs, offering the perfect balance of great hotels, cyclist friendly cafés and direct access to both coastal roads and the Tramuntana mountains. From here, you can easily ride iconic routes like Cap Formentor, Sa Calobra and Puig Major. If your focus is climbing, Sóller is another fantastic option, placing you right in the heart of the mountains with some of the island’s best ascents on your doorstep. For touring riders or those looking for quieter, steadier days in the saddle, the flatlands around the centre and south of the island provide smooth rolling roads, traditional villages and far less climbing, making them ideal for relaxed exploration.

Our Packing List For Your Mallorca Cycling Tour

Don’t assume that just because Mallorca is known for sunshine, you won’t need warm cycling kit. Weather in the Tramuntana mountains can change quickly, especially during Spring, Autumn and Winter, and long descents can feel surprisingly cold after hard climbs.

A lightweight gilet is usually perfect for the climbs, but we’d strongly suggest carrying arm warmers or a packable shell jacket for descents and cooler conditions in the mountains. Early mornings can also be chilly, particularly if you’re heading up towards Puig Major or riding coast roads exposed to the wind.

Our advice is to pack layers so you’re prepared for Mallorca’s changing mountain weather, even on days that start warm and sunny.

Other Key Pieces of Advice

Train before your trip

Mallorca is a cyclist's paradise but make sure you are fit and equipped for the task ahead. In order to climb some of Mallorca's more famous rides, we recommend some training to make the most out of it. Gradients are at between 6-8%, on climbs like Col de Soller and Puig Major and so not overly difficult but accessing them can make for a long day in the saddle.

Fuel Your Body

Make sure to leave with your energy levels high - eat and drink before your climb. Additionally, it's a great idea to pack some energy bars and gels in case you can't find a shop to source some from on your journey. There are some great cafe stops en route in the mountains so it's also wise to see how they fit into your ride. The small Cafe Escorca which is hidden between the tallest peaks of the Tramuntana mountains and nearby a beautiful ancient aqueduct is a great stop, as is the OJ shack at the top of Sa Calobra.

Correct Gearing

Climbing in Mallorca is inevitable and most riders will prefer a compact 50-34 chainset with an 11-28t cassette. For more assistance on steeper roads, you should go for A cassette with a 30 or 32 tooth sprocket which we can provide.

Checking Your Bike

Check your bike when you hire it. Whilst we set the bikes up for our riders, you might want to make small adjustments before you ride. We also have a support number ready in case of a mechanical emergency.