Cala D’Or: Where the Crowds Meet the Crystal Waters
A tourist hotspot in the heart of Mallorca
In Mallorca, there’s a beach for everyone – from secluded coves to bustling bays. During our girls’ trip exploring a small part of the island with my mom and toddler, we planned a few beach days. Which ones should you include in your itinerary and which ones you can skip? Read all about it in my honest review series of Mallorca’s popular beaches.
Discover more beaches in this series :
A morning stroll in a little town
Porto Petro
We started our day with a visit to the nearby town of Porto Petro, arriving a bit too early to head straight to the beach. Porto Petro is a charming town, perfect for a leisurely morning stroll. I can imagine a bigger crowd around dinner and sundown, the town seemed still asleep by 11am. As most locals enjoyed their first morning coffee at a local café, we enjoyed the nice temperatures while going on a stroll. The seaside promenade allowed us to enjoy serene views of the sea, as we wandered around the port.
There’s not much to do here, beyond strolling and grabbing a coffee, but for us, it was the perfect start to ease into the day to come.
A crowded Cala D’Or
By midday, we made our way to Cala d’Or. When driving into the town, you can pick out one of the many bays lying in front of us. Maybe our research wasn’t thorough enough, but we weren’t quite sure where to head. We took a guess and ended up parking our car near Cala Gran, the biggest cove in town.
Unfortunately, Cala Gran wasn’t quite the place we hoped for. The beach was packed to the brim with families, couples, and groups of friends. Finding a spot to lay down a towel felt like solving a puzzle. We squeezed into a small space by the border walk, trying to enjoy the surroundings.
A bay
of beauty
A crystal clean beach
While the crowds weren’t what we’d hoped for, our little one loved the place. She eagerly played in the sand and splashed in the water. And well, we didn’t mind, with the water being crystal clear and the beach nice and clean. We couldn’t resist a dip, enjoying the refreshing waves despite the bustling surroundings.
The touristy side of Mallorca?
One advantage of Cala d’Or is its proximity to amenities. The area is lined with small bars and restaurants, making it easy to grab a snack or meal without straying far from the beach. With dozens of small streets zigzagging into town, you can get lucky and find a close parking spot.
However, the heavy tourist presence and the number of hotels and apartments nearby make this beach feel far removed from Mallorca’s more picturesque gems.
The review
Cala d’Or
Cala d’Or has its crystal clear waters and family-friendly amenities, but it felt too crowded and touristy to my liking. I’d give this beach a 5 out of 10. If you’re someone who enjoys lively beach vibes and doesn’t mind sharing the sand with hundreds of others, Cala d’Or is probably worth a visit. But if you prefer quieter, less commercialized places, this might not be the spot for you.