Mallorca is synonymous with cycling. Few places in the world have such a well-developed cycling tourism as this island. In every village you can rent a bike, find specialized workshops and enjoy cozy specialty cafés. There are many reasons that attract cyclists from all over the world: its favorable climate, quiet roads, imposing mountains, dreamlike beaches and, of course, the unique magic that surrounds the island.
In this new Gateway, from Gobik, we will recommend you the best routes to know and enjoy the island on your bike, as well as places to complement the experience with a good coffee or enjoying the local gastronomy.
Route 1: Serra de Tramuntana South (Sóller - Andratx)
Departing from Palma, this is the fastest option to enjoy the Serra de Tramuntana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A chain of mountains that grow from the sea with rocky landscapes and low vegetation that hide beautiful villages among its valleys.
The first ascent that we will find entering the Serra is one of the best known worldwide: The Coll de Sóller. Going up from Palma, its horseshoe curves remind us of the Alpe d'Huez, but with much less slope and length. Be careful on the descent, especially in the cold months, as it is a road where the sun hardly shines all day, the humidity of the island causes moss to grow on the asphalt and can be a trap for your tires.
After passing the picturesque village of Sóller, we take the most famous road of the island, the MA-10, a winding road that runs through the Serra de Tramuntana from end to end crossing all its mountains and villages.
In 40km accumulating much unevenness based on short climbs, we will cross Deià, Valldemossa, Banyalbufar and Estellencs, before arriving at Andratx. Rolling all the time parallel to the sea, we will find endless viewpoints to stop and enjoy the incredible scenery. We recommend the Mirador de na Foradada, just at the end of the climb between Deià and Valldemossa.
An ideal place to make a stop with a good coffee is the Forn de Deià a very authentic old Mallorcan bakery, run by the former professional cyclist Vicenç Reynés, where you can find the most typical products of the island in an idyllic place like Deià, residence chosen by many great characters such as Pablo Picasso, Pierce Brosnan or Michael Douglas.
We will leave the MA-10 in Andratx, where, after passing other beautiful villages such as Es Capdellà or Calvià, we will reach Palma again through the Coll de Sa Creu.
A demanding route because of the slope but with views that will not leave you indifferent. The best times to do it are the months of autumn or spring. If you are going to do it in summer, try to avoid midday hours due to the high heat and heavy tourist traffic.
- Distance: 126km
- Elevation gain: 2.265m
Route 2: Serra de Tramuntana north (Sóller - Puig Major - Calobra)
We start climbing again the Coll de Sóller and descending towards the village of Sóller. It is better to take this first ascent with calm because once in Sóller we find the first big challenge of the day: the Puig Major, the longest and highest mountain pass of Mallorca. As we ascend, the views captivate us: green valleys, imposing mountains and a silence that is only broken by the sound of our bikes. Reaching the reservoirs of Cúber and Gorg Blau is a perfect reward, a place of tranquility surrounded by the majesty of the Serra Tramuntana.
After a fast and technical descent, we take the detour to the Coll dels Reis, where after 2km of ascent we descend to Sa Calobra, a road that will leave us speechless. Designed by the engineer Antonio Parietti, its famous "tie knot" and the curves that wind between the cliffs make us feel as if we were filming in a movie set. The history of the place adds a special touch: Sa Calobra, besides being the mouth of the spectacular Torrent de Pareis (a natural corridor with two huge rock walls that climb the mountain from the sea), was used during the Civil War and the following years as a strategic point for smuggling, thanks to its difficult access and isolation.
Of course, be very careful on the way down to Sa Calobra, especially if you go in summer, where there are many tourist cars.
Arrived at Sa Calobra, we pause to enjoy the environment. We are surrounded by a landscape that mixes mountains and sea in a unique way. Once we have enjoyed the scenery, we face the climb along the same road that we have descended. This mythical pass, with an average gradient of 7% and ramps of 12%, tests our legs and our mind. Its rocky landscape is imposing and makes you feel a real privileged while the kilometers go by.
Once crowned, we reach Coll dels Reis and begin the long descent to Inca. In the middle of the descent we pass the Coll de Sa Bataia, a good place to stop for coffee at the restaurant. Es Coll de Sa Bataia .
After regaining strength, we descend towards Inca, from where we will return to Palma after 30km completely flat.
This route is very demanding and requires a high level of cycling to complete it. We recommend not to do it in summer due to the amount of cars you will find in Sa Calobra. If you do it in winter, it is important to keep in mind that the descents are very wet and cold.
- Distance: 137km
- Elevation gain: 2570m
Route 3: Badia Pollença: Formentor and Ermita de la Victoria (Victory Chapel)
In this route we will cross the "Badia de Pollença", one of the most spectacular places in Mallorca. With landscapes that seem to be taken from a postcard, we will discover the famous Far de Formentor and the not so famous but equally impressive ascent to the Ermita de la Victoria.
Leaving from the town of Alcudia, we arrive at Puerto de Pollença on a completely flat road on the seafront that offers us a privileged view of the bay. Arriving at Puerto de Pollença, we begin the ascent of the day towards the Faro de Formentor.
The road to Formentor is a real spectacle. From the beginning, we know we are entering a special terrain: tight curves, demanding climbs and technical descents that keep us attentive while we enjoy breathtaking views. We start climbing towards the Mirador des Colomer, the first big challenge of the day. From this viewpoint, the views of the Badia de Pollença and the cape of Formentor are breathtaking.
We continue moving towards the Faro de Formentor, an icon of the island and the northernmost point of Mallorca. The way there is demanding but spectacular: cliffs that plummet into the sea, pine forests that offer shade and viewpoints that invite us to stop and enjoy the scenery.
Each curve brings us closer to the lighthouse, where the effort of the climb is rewarded with 360-degree panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea. Be careful with the famous goats of Formentor. They are residents of this place and walk along the road without any fear of cars or bicycles. A word of advice, do not feed them, unless you want them to stay with you all day.
After reaching the lighthouse, we took a break. The feeling of being at the "end of the world" is unique, with the sound of the wind and the waves as the only soundtrack. sonora. But the trip does not end here: we return along the same road, enjoying the descent and the views from a new perspective. We pass again by the Mirador des Colomer, to go back down to Pollença.
From Pollença, we return towards Alcudia by the same road, but just before arriving, we turn off towards Aucanada, where we start a short ascent by a narrow and winding road towards the Ermita de la Victoria. This road passes through the Malpás cove, an impressive place where, on the way back, we can stop for a bite to eat to celebrate the end of the route at the 5 Oceanos Restaurant. A chill out on the seafront specializing in Sushi which is owned by the singer Antonio Orozco.
This route is not as demanding as the previous ones, however it has some hard climbs and it is necessary to be in good shape. Unlike the previous ones, you can do it without any problem in summer as the Formentor road is closed to cars from June to September.
- Distance: 70km
- Elevation gain: 1200m
Route 4: Artà - Serra de Llevant (Betlem Hermitage)
The Serra de Llevant, less known than the Tramuntana, offers a different but equally spectacular route. Here, the landscape changes: softer mountains, roads surrounded by fields and views that range from the interior of the island to the coast. The climb to the Ermita de Betlem, leaving from Artà, is one of those hidden gems that every cyclist should discover.
We start in the charming village of Artà, known for its tranquility, its traditional character and its imposing Castell de Sant Salvador at the top of the old town. We start riding on secondary roads that take us directly to the heart of the Serra de Llevant. This first stretch is a good warm-up, with small steep slopes and open views of the Mallorcan countryside.
Soon we reach the turnoff to the ascent to the Ermita de Betlem, where the landscape begins to change. The road, narrow and winding, takes us through a Mediterranean forest, with pines and oaks that offer shade on the first ramps. The climb is not very long, but demanding in some sections, with gradients ranging between 7% and 10%. As we gain altitude, the views become increasingly spectacular: the Bay of Alcúdia unfolds before us, and on clear days you can even make out the island of Menorca on the horizon.
The arrival at the Betlem Hermitage is magical. This small monastery, founded in the 19th century, is surrounded by an environment of absolute peace. We take a moment to rest, recharge our batteries and enjoy the silence. From here, we can also explore the surroundings on foot and enjoy some natural viewpoints that offer panoramic views.
After the break, we start the descent, technical but very fun, always with the views of the bay accompanying us. Back in Artà, we take the opportunity to walk through its streets and, if there is time, enjoy a coffee on one of the terraces in the center, surrounded by the characteristic calm of this corner of Mallorca.
As you will see, this is a much less demanding route than the previous ones. Designed for those who want to enjoy cycling in Mallorca without demanding so much. It can also be combined with other routes to make it longer, for example, if you cycle 20km from Artà to Alcudia, you can combine it with the previous route. Being a less known area, it can be done in summer without fear of overcrowding. Just keep in mind that on Tuesdays there is a market in Artà, it is one of the most famous markets in Mallorca and the town is usually full on that day.
- Distance: 20km
- Elevation gain: 420m
Where to have coffee in Mallorca?
Although on the island you will find endless possibilities to have a good coffee, we recommend the following coffee shops with a "cycling mood".
Cycling Planet (Alaró) A bike store and cafe located in Alaró. Owned by world champion track cyclist David Muntaner, it offers a wide range of services for cyclists, including repairs and bike rentals. His café is known for its cozy atmosphere and specialty pa amb oli, sandwiches, pastries, gluten-free and vegan options, as well as specialty coffee. The friendliness of the cafeteria staff has made it in a few years a reference point among local cyclists, being very difficult to find a table on weekends due to the large number of groups that make their stop for the day there.
La Bicicletta (Artà) Located in Artà, La Bicicletta is a restaurant with incredibly good artisan ice cream. They also have a store dedicated to the sale, rental and repair of bicycles.
Plumo (Palma) Plumo is a cafe and bike store located in the heart of Palma. It combines the passion for cycling with the love for specialty coffee, offering a space where customers can enjoy a moment of tranquility among the hustle and bustle of the city. Its modern and cozy atmosphere makes it an ideal meeting point for cyclists and coffee lovers. In addition, every Friday at 7 a.m. they have a social run open to everyone.
Sa Mola 13 (Sineu) Sa Mola 13 is a coffee shop located in Sineu, an inland town in Mallorca (the "deep" Mallorca). It offers a wide variety of breakfast and lunch options, with a focus on fresh, local ingredients. It is an ideal place to relax and enjoy Mallorcan hospitality.
Where to eat in Mallorca?
As with the cafés, the restaurant options are endless. Our recommendations, of diverse options and prices:
Tomassini (Sineu) : Located in the picturesque village of Sineu, Tomassini is an Italian restaurant known for its delicious and gigantic pizzas and handmade pastas. It is important to note that they do not accept reservations and payment is cash only. Its authentic atmosphere and the quality of its dishes make it an ideal place to go with friends, of course, go hungry, the portions are very generous.
Can Uetam (Valldemossa) Located in a charming manor house in the heart of Valldemossa, Can Uetam offers a unique dining experience with dishes made from fresh, local ingredients. The creative tapas options and main dishes that fuse tradition and modernity stand out. The atmosphere is warm and relaxed, ideal for enjoying a quiet meal in an authentic setting.
DINS (Palma) DINS, directed by chef Santi Taura, is a haute cuisine restaurant located in Palma that offers a culinary experience based on the Mallorcan gastronomic tradition. With a Michelin star, its tasting menu stands out for reinterpreting traditional dishes with contemporary techniques, using local seasonal products. Advance reservations are recommended due to its popularity.
Sa Sini (Santa Maria del Camí) Sa Sini is a restaurant located in Santa Maria del Camí specializing in Mallorcan food. It stands out for its cozy atmosphere and a wide variety of dishes, including vegetarian and gluten-free options. It is renowned for its homemade desserts and a selection of local wines, offering a complete gastronomic experience in a charming setting.
From Gobik, we hope this Gateway Mallorca will inspire you and help you to enjoy the island on your bike. See you on the roads!
