Stuff to Do in Magaluf: Beaches, Water Parks and When to Go

Magaluf is a small coastal resort in the municipality of Calvià, home to around 5,300 people, and it runs almost seamlessly into Palmanova, a slightly larger neighbour about a mile along the shore. Together they form one stretch of holiday coast on the bay west of Palma, which makes it easy to walk or take a short ride between the two.

The appeal is simple: beaches close to your hotel, family attractions a few minutes away, and an airport so near that transfer time barely registers. For a change of pace, the Castle of Bendinat stands about 3 miles away, and the Naveta Alemany, a protected archaeological site, is roughly a mile from the centre of Magaluf.

Staying in Magaluf itself puts you closest to Western Water Park and to Cala Vinyes, a small beach about a mile from the resort. It is the natural base if the water park and the Naveta Alemany are on your list.

Palmanova, around a mile away, has the wider choice of sand: Palmanova beach, which is really a group of beaches, plus Na Nadala and platja del Carregador all lie about a mile from its centre, with Son Caliu Beach and Platja de l'Hostalet a little further on. Marineland Mallorca is roughly 2 miles away, and for quieter coves Cala Comtessa and Caleta de Bendinat are 3 to 4 miles east towards Palma.

The best time to visit Magaluf is May or June. May brings highs of around 24°C and June about 29°C, with only five to seven rainy days a month, warm enough for the beach without the full heat of high summer.

July and August are the hottest and driest months, with highs of 32°C, lows of 23°C and just two to four days of rain. September stays warm at 28°C but turns noticeably wetter, with around ten rainy days, and October still reaches 24°C. Winter is mild rather than beach weather, with highs of 15°C to 17°C from December to February, which suits walking and sightseeing more than sunbathing.

Palma de Mallorca airport (PMI) is the gateway, with direct flights from the UK. The drive to Magaluf takes about 16 minutes and to Palmanova about 15, so a package transfer is among the shortest you will find anywhere in Spain.

If you prefer to drive yourself, car hire from the airport makes it easy to reach the coves towards Bendinat or explore further afield. Palma's ferry port is about 6 miles away, and Alcúdia's, on the north coast, roughly 39 miles, should you want to combine Mallorca with another island.

Most British travellers come on a package holiday, which bundles the flight from a UK airport, your hotel and the short airport transfer into one booking. You choose the board basis, from room only to half board or all inclusive, and prices generally rise during the UK school holidays, so May and June outside half term are worth checking. You can compare package deals from several providers on this page.

If you are arranging things yourself, you can also check hotel prices, compare car hire and browse tours and tickets for attractions such as Western Water Park and Marineland Mallorca, all from here.