This December long weekend you simply must visit Mallorca! But why? Here at Hotels VIVA we'll tell you the main reasons with our special guide for the whole family that we've put together for you. We hope you find it useful!
Mallorca during the December long weekend: What to do on your visit?
Experience the magic of Christmas in Palma
The long weekend in December is a short pre-Christmas break on the Spanish mainland and islands, and many cities organise fairs or themed activities at this time of the year.
If the Christmas spirit has already knocked on your door and you're in Palma during the long weekend in December, then we recommend the following:
- Visiting one of our Christmas markets to put the finishing touches to your Christmas decorations. You can find them in Plaça Mayor, Las Ramblas, Porta Pintada and Plaça d'Espanya.
- Going to Passeig del Born and combining your Christmas shopping with a sampling of the typical products on its popular terraces.
- Taking a stroll and enjoying the Christmas lights, which are usually switched on at the end of November.
Going to see some of Palma's nativity scenes that are open to the public (Cort's Nativity Scene in the hallway of the Town Hall, the Neapolitan Nativity Scene of the March Foundation, the Hebrew Nativity Scene of Sant Antoniet, the Capuchinas Nativity Scene, the Nativity Scene of artisan trades, etc.).
- Spending an afternoon at the Ice Park, which is found in the Parc de Ses Estacions. This ice rink opened in November and has more than 400 square metres of skating area.
- Eating roasted chestnuts and freshly baked buñuelos (fried dough fritters) at one of the street stalls in the centre, while strolling through the illuminated historical city centre.
Other things to do in Mallorca over the long weekend in December:
Get to know the heart of the island
During December, the caves in Mallorca are open to the public and it's a good time to visit them with fewer people than during the summer months.
The Genova caves are located on the outskirts of Palma, and you can reach them using the local bus.
The Hams Caves, in Porto Cristo, and the Campanet caves, are other attractions you can visit in Palma during this December long weekend.
Discover Mallorca on foot
December is ideal to do some hiking in Mallorca. It isn't too cold, and there are still enough sunny days to enjoy nature and outdoor activities.
We suggest two routes: the Vell de Lluc trail, which follows a pilgrims' path that used to lead pilgrims from Palma and Inca to the Lluc Sanctuary, and the Trapa route starting from Sant Telm, which offers incredible views of the southwest coast of Mallorca, the island of Dragonera, and the valley of Sant Josep.
Estellencs and Banyalbufar
The long weekend in December is a good time to visit some of the most mysterious and little-known spots in Mallorca.
Among them, we'd like to highlight the agricultural areas of Estellencs and Banyalbufar, which, with their pools, fountains, and paths, make up one of the most attractive dry landscapes on the island.
You can also visit Es Collet, with its 17th century defence tower, declared a National Heritage Site, or the tower of Es Rafal, also known as Torre de Ses Ánimes, built in 1579 and from where, people say, the souls in torment weave invisible nets on winter nights!
From here you can see one of the most beautiful sunsets in Mallorca.
A trip to la Cartuja de Valldemossa
Valldemossa is one of the most beautiful villages in Mallorca, and can be a nice trip on your long weekend in December.
Located just 17 kilometres from Palma and surrounded by mountains, Valldemossa preserves the spirit of the villages of yesteryear, and that is one of its greatest charms.
Besides exploring its old quarter and cobbled streets, we recommend a visit to the Royal Carthusian Monastery of Valldemossa, a former 14th-century monastery where the musician Frédéric Chopin and the writer George Sand stayed in cell number 4.
A family visit to the planetarium
During the long weekend in December, all the main tourist attractions in Mallorca remain open, and you can take advantage of this to arrange some great family activities.
In addition to places like Marineland Mallorca and Forestal Park (an adventure park with zip lines where children will have a great time) we suggest a visit to the Astronomical Observatory of Mallorca to discover outer space from our island.
If you're lucky enough to go on a clear day, you'll be able to admire everything the Mallorcan sky has to offer through a telescope.
A great combination of fun, knowledge, and wonder!
