Mallorca excursions: which organised day trip to choose and where from

An organised excursion wins in three situations: when the destination has narrow mountain roads (Sa Calobra, Formentor), when parking is scarce in high season and when the day combines several types of transport, such as coach, tram and boat. It is also the sensible choice if you are staying in Playa de Palma, Cala Millor or Alcúdia and do not want to drive.

A car wins if you want to stop wherever you like, set off early to beat the groups or spend longer in one village. A middle ground is a private minibus tour, with a small group and a flexible pace. Before booking, check three things on the listing: where you are picked up, how much free time you get at each stop and which tickets or meals are not included.

This is the most popular excursion of all. The most complete version we list is Click Mallorca's Grand Tour: free time in Valldemossa, the wooden tram from Sóller down to the port, a boat to Sa Calobra and the return by coach over the hairpin road. It takes about eight and a half hours and gets busy in season; our listing rates crowding as high.

If the villages are enough, there are simpler options. The Sóller and Valldemossa day trip sold via Hellotickets lasts about eight hours, with pick-up from Palma hotels, a guide and a 30-minute tram ride. Click Mallorca runs a coach trip to Valldemossa and Port de Sóller from 38 euros per adult and 20 per child aged 3 to 12, according to its website. For a quieter day, Elysee Tours covers the route by minibus with a tapas lunch and free time in Deià, and No Frills runs a five-hour private tour for up to eight people.

You can also go independently on the historic train from Palma to Sóller, which has its own guide on Atlas de Mallorca.

Northern excursions usually pair the Formentor peninsula with a market. Barceló Experiences runs a full day with Alcúdia market and a boat from Pollença towards Formentor if the sea allows; lunch is not included. Alcúdia market is held on Tuesdays and Sundays according to the local guide we cite, so match the date.

If you are staying in the north and short on time, No Frills Excursions offers four hours: coach around Pollença Bay, a stop at the Es Colomer viewpoint, about an hour on Formentor beach and a boat back to Port de Pollença. From the east and south-east, ROIG Bus combines Port de Pollença, Formentor, the Roman ruins of Alcúdia and Sineu market, which is on Wednesdays; you book by contacting the company. Click Mallorca advertises a version with Sineu, Formentor and a boat ride at 49 euros per adult, but the dates on its website looked out of date, so confirm them.

In the east, the big draw is the Caves of Drach in Porto Cristo, with their underground lake and a short live concert. Entry is by timed slot, so booking ahead is wise. Many eastern excursions include the caves or offer them as an add-on.

Click Mallorca runs a panoramic open-top bus trip from Cala Ratjada, Cala Mesquida and Canyamel: 90 minutes free in Porto Cristo, a pass through Manacor, a brief stop in Capdepera and an arrival in Artà. You can add entry to the Caves of Drach. The same company advertises the East Xperience, open-top bus plus boat between Cala Ratjada and Cala Bona, at 33 euros per adult and 16.50 per child aged 3 to 12, although its website showed it as unavailable. For families, the Land Rover safari with barbecue at Rancho Grande in Son Serra de Marina is a two-to-three-hour alternative.

The south is flatter and more about beaches. On Wednesdays, ROIG Bus links Santanyí market with Es Trenc beach; the price is not published and you book by phone or email. Santanyí market runs on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, according to the guide we cite.

The big southern excursion is Cabrera, a land-and-sea national park reached by boat from Colònia de Sant Jordi. Trips last roughly 3 or 6 hours, and you should take water and food. Our Cabrera guide has the full details.

If you are staying in Palma, you do not need to go far for a good day. The old-town free tour lasts about two hours, runs from Plaza Mayor to the cathedral and the walls, and works on a voluntary tip. For something memorable, Helicopter Centre Mallorca takes off from Son Bonet with flights from 8 minutes over the city up to an hour that adds Sa Calobra, Lluc and Andratx.

For something with more adrenaline, Buggy Tours Paguera takes two-seater buggies through Calvià, Andratx and Sant Elm for four hours; our listing shows 158 euros per buggy, not per person, and the driver needs a Spanish category B licence. For a sunrise outing, Illes Balears Ballooning flies from the Capdepera area, wind permitting.

Many excursions are built around a market, and the day of the week decides everything. According to the sources in our listings: Sineu on Wednesday mornings; Santanyí on Wednesday and Saturday mornings; Alcúdia on Tuesdays and Sundays. If your excursion does not fall on market day, you lose half the appeal.

A practical tip: markets fill up by mid-morning. Bring cash for small stalls, a reusable bag and comfortable shoes. If you drive, park on the edge of town and walk in.

Most excursions in our listings run from April or May to October, and those with a boat depend on the sea. In winter you are mostly left with independent visits and private tours. May, June, September and October are the best months: less heat in the mountains and shorter queues in Valldemossa and Sa Calobra.

On prices, here is what our data shows: coach to Valldemossa and Port de Sóller from 38 euros, Sineu and Formentor with a boat at 49 and the East Xperience at 33. Many other excursions only appear in dollars or with figures that differ between platforms, so check the current price on the listing. Bring water, a cap, sun cream, comfortable shoes, swimwear if there is a boat and some cash for coffee, the tram or tickets that are not included.