10 Things To Do In Mallorca On A Rainy Day

While Mallorca boasts 300 days of glorious sunshine every year, that still leaves 65 when the weather inevitably turns wet as the clouds roll in. Fear not, however, as it presents the perfect excuse to explore numerous other experiences the island offers away from its beaches. We’ve compiled some of the more interesting activities available to get you thinking outside of the (sand) box.

Fill up at the Mercado Gastronómico San Juan

Market

Courtesy of Mercado Gastronómico San Juan

With enough on offer to tickle even the most demanding taste buds, the San Juan food market is a superb rainy day option for eating, drinking, and socializing. Tapas stalls overflow with gastronomic delights: oysters and cava on ice, freshly-sliced sushi, mini-burgers, French pastries, and of course plenty of traditional pintxos. This bustling indoor market often plays host to craft beer and artisan food festivals and offers a range of cookery classes from top local chefs in the upstairs gallery kitchens. And if that’s still not enough to keep you occupied, make a date at the cozy art-house cinema onsite.

Learn about traditional weaving at Teixits Vicens

Shop

Inspired by the legacy of the first Balearic settlers, and influenced by the ancient silk trade, the “Cloth of Tongues” (or “Roba de Llengues”) is a world-renowned Mallorcan product. The traditional “Ikat” method for producing this artisan fabric is characterized by the resist-dyeing of fibers before being intricately woven. One of the few places still manufacturing these materials authentically is the family-run workshop Teixits Vicens. Doors open throughout the week for guided tours where you can discover more about the fascinating history, witness the passion and skill of the textile artists, admire the looms in action, and purchase gorgeous handmade products from the onsite shop. http://instagram.com/p/BGyr244uwU7/

Explore the local sea-life at Palma Aquarium

Aquarium

Palma Aquarium is the perfect place for families to while away a few hours indoors. Explore the many fascinating exhibits including the largest shark tank in Europe, which you can float across in a glass-bottomed boat, and a jungle pathway with cascading waterfalls and noisy parrots. At feeding time you can watch fully scuba-clad humans dive into the tanks with huge turtles and colorful sea-life, along with informative talks about the different species. In addition, for the livelier kids aged three and up who need to let off some steam, you will find a huge indoor soft-play area.

Get a pampering at Palma Hammam

Spa

Why not swap the the storms outside for the calm of these wonderfully tranquil Arab baths. Slip into an aromatherapy pool, before sweating it out in the eucalyptus scented steam room, and finish the experience off with an invigorating – or sensual – massage. Lit by candlelight and immersed in gentle music, this promises to be one of the more relaxing ways to spend a rainy afternoon. Slots last around an hour and include fresh mint and honey teas.

Descend into the Cuevas del Drach

A trip to Mallorca – rain or shine – is incomplete without a visit to one of its world-famous limestone caves, and the Cuevas del Drach in Porto Cristo are particularly memorable. Guided tours through the illuminated caverns encourage you to imagine the experience of discovery by Édouard Martel in the late 19th century. There are thousands of romantically-named stalagmites and stalactites to see, and visitors are even treated to a classical music concert performed from little row boats on Europe’s largest underground lake.

Underwater lake with pillar, Cuevas del Drach, Mallorca

Crack the code at the Adventure Rooms

One of the most adrenalin-pumping family attractions on the island, the Adventure Rooms offer a real-life escape-the-room gaming experience. As a small group of detectives, you must use puzzle-solving skills to find a way out of a locked room within 60 minutes. Cracking codes and beating the clock takes teamwork, intuition, and patience. Celebrate your achievements in the adjoining Adventure Café next door where you’ll find more puzzles to solve and plenty of souvenirs.

Visit the Pilar and Joan Miró Foundation

Joan Miro’s close ties to Mallorca, particularly his love of the light on the island, can be seen in the collection at the Pilar and Joan Miró Foundation. With over 100 paintings, sculptures and studio pieces on display you are certainly immersed in the artist’s popular work and colorful passions. Don’t miss the opportunity to see the cherished and legendary workspace with sketches on the bare walls and which has remained untouched since his death.

Go on a traditional glass-making tour

The earliest recorded glass furnace in Mallorca dates back to 1327. Artisans have honed their craft over the centuries, importing Venetian creations throughout the 16th and 17th centuries in order to examine, imitate and perfect their techniques. Today, the island is home to three glass-blowing factories: Menestralia, Gordiola, and Lafiore. Visitors can watch master craftsmen blow the molten glass into incredible forms – a skill which takes many years to perfect. No two pieces are identical so every decorative keepsake taken home will be entirely unique.

Menestralia, Carretera de Palma-Alcúdia, Campanet, Spain, +34 971 87 71 04

Gordiola, Ctra. Palma – Manacor Algaida, Spain, +34 971 66 50 46

Lafiore, Carretera Valldemosa, S’Esgleieta, Spain, +34 971 61 18 00

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Bounce around at Palma Jump

Tireless toddlers, adventurous teenagers and active adults alike will not fail to enjoy a few bouncy hours here discovering their inner gymnast. Palma Jump offers springy floors, 57 trampolines, balance beams, inflatable cushions, sponge pits, basketball pitches and a dodgeball court all under one roof. Parkour and free-running enthusiasts will appreciate the padded walls and high-sloped jumps, while those looking for a good heart-pumping workout will not be disappointed with the fitness classes on offer.

Learn how to cook at The Gallery Club and Lonja 18 Open Kitchen

Choose from an array of cookery courses at these two culinary institutions in Palma de Mallorca. Aspiring chefs, foodies and kitchen novices alike will be immersed in a jam-packed day of gastronomy. Visit the local markets to purchase fresh produce before heading back to the school for practical lessons in preparation right through to presentation. The workshops culminate with a three-course meal that you have produced alongside your newly inspired and skilled classmates.

The Galley Club, Carrer de Cotoner, Palma, Spain, +34 662 34 83 06

Lonja 18 Open Kitchen, Carrer de la Llotja, 18, Palma, Spain, +34 665 91 59 64

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About the author

Leon Beckenham

A dyed-in-the-wool Londoner now firmly rooted among the cobbled streets of old town Palma de Mallorca, left a piece of himself in Mexico some time in the last millennium and had a previous existence touring the world with a band you've probably never heard of.