When to cycle in Mallorca

Mallorca is one of the great European cycling get-aways. But with super hot summers & a burgeoning family tourism industry, cyclists are finding that some weekends are better than others. Here we investigate on the ground, and show you exactly when to ride Mallorca.

Mallorca has 2 peak cycling seasons; from February to the end of May, and September to the end of November. We'll help you figure out which is best for you, but it's really not an exaggeration to say that with short flights and cheap accommodation - a lot of people go for both!

Back to blog

Why cycle in Mallorca?

It's easy to get too. Just off the East coast of Spain, amongst the Balearic islands in the Mediterranean Sea. It's nestled in between Ibiza & Minorca, about 2 hours flight from the UK & Germany, or an overnight ferry from Barcelona.

It is famous for cycling. With 300 sunny days per year, reasonable prices (though these are on the rise) and absolutely epic cycling it's easy to see why Mallorca has such a great reputations for cycling.

Why is it so good for cyclists? Big mountains with winding descents & beautiful sunsets, good road surfaces, friendly traffic, plenty of support infrastructure (eg: bike rentals) and some big cycling events. Pro Teams Ineos Grenadiers & Soudal QuickStep have had their winter training camps in Alcudia for years - so if it's good enough for them...

When is the best time to cycle in Mallorca?

There are a lot of things to think about, and we've tried to cover all of them for you here:

#1 Weather

Temperatures in Mallorca rarely go below 10', so you can cycle here pretty much all year round. That said, you should prepare differently for the seasons.

Winter months will average 10-15', and whilst there's no sign of freezing temperatures or icy roads you will get some stronger winds & humidity. Extra training for the winter Zwift race season?!

On the flip-side peak Summer months get really hot, with mid day temperatures hitting 40C. We see less cyclists during July & August, and those that do come typically stick to early mornings and late afternoons. Great excuse to relax by the pool!

But if like us your'e from northern Europe - UK, Germany, France, Netherlands etc and like you're weather 'just right' then Spring and Autumn are the ideal times for you. Expect daily temperatures from 15' to 20', gentle winds, cooler sunrises and comfortably warm afternoons. Make sure you pack a gilet though as you could still catch a nippy nippy early morning breeze now and then.

#2 Peak busy periods:

For general tourism (think family with 2.4 children) the peak season is July and August. Either side of this you'll see a drop in traffic, which combined with milder weather and lower prices again makes it ideal for cyclists,

Something worth highlighting is the considerable drop in overall tourist traffic from October to November. It literally a drops off by two-thirds, and with lower demand comes lower prices. So if you like great deals and quiet roads, you should take a look at early November.

Our theory is that as the clocks change in the end of October, a lot of people batten down the hatches for winter and any holiday planning looks forward into the Spring... But this could be the ideal way to sign off the cycling season! When November kicks in and we're all getting a shortage of sunlight, what better time to pop over to Mallorca for a final dose of mountain climbs and toasty sunsets?! Let us know what you think, and we might organise an end of season soiree.

#3 Accomodation

Some great news is that Mallorca has plenty of fantastic options for accommodation. Being a medium size island there's no end of beach towns to choose from, ports and mountains, or even the urban centre of Palma. Cycling however tends to focus around the East Coast town of Alcudia so we'll focus there for now.

In Alcudia and you can find anything from the low cost (but very modern and clean, high quality hotel rooms) right up to super luxury villa's with swimming pools and private beaches.

Average costs during peak summer months of July and August are crazy money - even for a basic 2 person room expect to pay anything from €500-€1000 per night.

But during Spring and Autumn room rates become cheaper just like the flights, with typical rooms (for 2x adults) costing from €120 to €300 a night. The summer rush is over and winter tourism hasn't arrived yet, so the island enjoys a brief few weeks of serenity. This leaves just the winter months of December, January & February which are the quietest and by far the cheapest times to stay. Expect to pay around €80 a night, though bear in mind that about half of the hotels close for the winter so the selection will be reduced.

Where to stay?

  • Alcudia is popular for it's prices, beaches, and short 15 minute flat cycle to the mountains. Hotels are also well equipped for the travelling cyclist.
  • Can Picafort is a few kms to the south and a popular place for training camps and cycling tour packages.
  • Port de Pollenca is just north of Alcudia, a little more expensive but has nicer hotels and a strip that is 90% restaurants. Expect slightly higher standards and an older demographic (mostly 50's +).
  • Pollenca 'old town' is a few km in land from the port, and is the more beautiful & quiet option if you fancy something a little more sophisticated
  • All of these are within 15/20mins rides from the mountains.

Specific hotels?

#4 Flights:

First and foremost you can secure the best prices by booking as far in advance as possible - at least 3 weeks to get lower prices, but ideally 2 months. For trips in Spring (peak) booking 6 months in advance is the way to go, so start planning in October!

Then make sure you do some proper price comparison research - there are still savings to be made when ever you book. We've found the best deals through SkyScanner, Kayak and Flights Finder.

Today Palma is one of the busiest airports in Europe, and there are a huge number of flights available overall. But availability can vary by the country you are flying from - good news if that happens to be the UK, Spain, Germany or France as they hold 60% of the European flight routes. The airlines with the most slots are Ryan Air, Lauda Europe, TUI and Air Hamburg (see graphics below), so make sure you check prices with them directly too.

Searching in August typical return flight prices look like:

  • London > Mallorca = £80 (Sept), £60 (Oct), £40-50 (Nov).
  • Berlin > Mallorca = €120-140 (Sept), €100-120 (Oct), €70-80 (Nov).
  • Paris > Mallorca = €60-70 (Sept), €50-60 (Oct), €50-80 (Nov).

Searching in September typical return flight prices look like:

  • London > Mallorca = £160 (Sept), £110 (Oct), £60 (Nov).
  • Berlin > Mallorca = €120-140 (Sept), €100-200 (Oct), €100-150 (Nov).
  • Paris > Mallorca = €160-200 (Sept), €100-150 (Oct), €50-100 (Nov).

*** Flying home on Monday instead of Sunday will save an extra 20%.***

If you plan to visit as part of a larger adventure - it's good to know that you can also get a boat to Mallorca (Palma in the West and Alcudia in East) from Barcelona. You can travel on foot or take your car/bike, and you can book a cabin for the 8 hour overnight trip. Check out www.directferries.com for more information.

#5 Cycling Events:

Several key cycling events draw huge crowds through April and May, so you'll need to book 5-6 months in advance. Alcudia is absolutely buzzing with cyclists during this period, and the planning will be worth it!

  • Mallorca 312: 27th April, →167km, 225km or 312km, start & finish in Alcudia.
  • Kill the Hill: 4th May, →125km, start & Finish Playa de Muro.
  • Ironman 70.3 Mallorca: 11th May, →113km, start & finish in Alcudia.
  • Check out a full list of events on the island here.

Any one of these great events could (and should) drive your decision on when to ride in Mallorca!

#6 Bike Rentals:

6. Bike Rentals: There is no shortage of bike rental business across Mallorca, especially in the North East corner from Port de Pollença down to Alcudia and Can Picafort. Typically they close at the beginning of November as tourism dies down, but speaking to them on the ground many are now staying open to the middle of the month as the season is getting longer.

  • How much does it cost? Daily rates can be anything from €15 for a hybrid commuter, up to €120 for a Pinnarello F. As always shop around for the best prices. The majority of road bikes here are mid range - so if you want to try something special, book in advance!
  • Where are some good places to go? Well first off check with your hotel, as some have bike rental places onsite that offer special deals. Outside of this some of the safe bets include:

> Eco Bikes: Paco has been running this family business for 20 years, and the service is second to none. Really great guys. [Bikes are mostly Lappiere, WRC & Felt with di2 & electric options]

> Huerzeler Bike Experience: Avery well established business with many branches across the east coast and Palma. You'll recognise their blue/red cube frames all-over the place. [Bikes are mostly the Cubes, with Di2 and electric options.]

> Wheels Sports: Another long term small local business with several branches across the east coast. Also on site at Hotel Club del Sol. [Bikes are mostly Eddie Merckx & Orbea with Di2 options].

#7 Don't forget the clocks change!

For many the clocks change end of October, signalling the beginning of 7-12' temperatures & thoroughbred cycling sogginess. But sunny old Mallorca holds on to a much more reliable 17-20' with sunshine and gentle breezes. So if you suffer from a bit of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) this might be the perfect chance to grab that last bit of cycling sunshine before Christmas!

Sooo to summarise:

The big peak is March, April & May when you have the most people, the big events and a crazy 'Cycling-Mecca' atmosphere. But you should expect to have higher prices across the board with such high demand.

For this reason we recommend looking at the second peak, which runs from September to October. The majority of holidaymakers have left Mallorca and the resorts calm down. Prices in flights and hotels fall significantly, bike hire shops are still open, water temperatures are still above 20'. degrees & coastal towns have a pleasant late summer feel. Even self-catering apartments and houses are much cheaper.

But if you really want the best prices & quietest roads - come on the first week of November, once the clokcs have changed. The weather is still a steady 20' with nicely cooler mornings, the roads are almost completely empty, and the only people you'll see around are pro's taking their holidays!

Cut to the chase...
When should we ride in Mallorca?

The winner has to be the end of October, or beginning of November. The weather is a perfect 18-22' degrees, the island is quiet and the prices are low. You'll get the same incredible routes without breaking the bank, and be able to sign off your summer with style!

  • When? The first or second weekend of November.
  • Where? Alcudia or Can Picafort.
  • For how long? 4 nights, Thursday to Monday
  • When to book? 2-3 months in advance for the best prices.
  • Which routes?
  • When NOT to cycle in Majorca? The only really tricky time is mid August when the weather is hot hot (30-38') and muggy (60-90% humidity), the population is at it's peak & the prices are considerably higher. Stick to spring or Autumn if you want to save your wallet from a shock.

If you can book 6 months in advance, then a very close second is the peak around Mallorca 312 in April. The buzz and the sheer volume of cyclist is bananas:

  • When? the last weekend of April,
  • Where? Alcudia, because you'll be past the finish line, not in front of it (much quieter and easier to get around without loosing the buzz!).
  • For how long? ideally 5 nights, Thursday to Tuesday
  • When to book? 5-6 months in advance for the best prices.

Top Tips:

  1. Transfers from the airport: start with Mallorca Holiday Transfers,
  2. Hot tip for cycling clubs: Ineos stay at Viva from December into January, so stay close by for some cycling celebrity spotting!
  3. Transfers to Andratx: plenty of good and reliable options including Mallorca Cycle Shuttle, HC Cycle Tours.
  4. Local Organised Rides: Check out Pollenca Old Boys Cycling Club on Facebook, and give Bruce a call at Pro Cycle Hire in Porta Pollenca.

Helpful Links:

Back to blog

A quick note on the writing process

Everything we review, and the tips we provide are learnt through experience (often learning the hard way)! We are not sponsored and we aren't briefed. We write about the things that helped us, and we hope that they help you too!