10 Things to Do in Mallorca in November

It seems as if Mallorca closes its doors for the holidays at the end of the summer. However, the reality is that the island has a special charm in autumn and winter. Mallorca in November has a wide variety of plans and activities of all kinds, such as traditional fairs, boat trips or visits to museums.

In November, in addition to the best things to do in Majorca, there are a series of activities that will make your stay even better. If you travel during these dates, you will be able to discover the island's typical tapas, attend a fair or even see the snow in the Tramuntana mountain range.

On the occasion of All Souls' Day, the Nit de les Ànimes (Night of the Dead) is held in the Parc de Sa Riera, in the city of Palma. This event features different traditional Mallorcan cultural activities.

Three stages are set up in this park where various theatrical and musical performances take place. Different workshops are also held, and the children who attend can enjoy the work of storytellers.

To maintain the spirit of this day, a wall is set up in the park to leave messages for loved ones who have passed away, as the Day of the Faithful Departed, in the Christian tradition, is dedicated to remembering those who are no longer with us.

In Mallorca, this day takes on even greater importance. According to an old legend, it is on All Souls' Day that King Jaume I leaves his tomb, which is in the Cathedral (you may have seen it if you have taken a tour of Mallorca), to ride around the island on horseback.

On this festive day, relatives take the opportunity to visit the graves of their loved ones and present them with flowers.

On this occasion, I suggest an activity in Inca, the third largest city on the island and located in the northern part of the island. This is where the largest fair in Mallorca is held: Dijous Bo.

What started out as a cattle market is nowadays a meeting place that highlights the island's traditions.

During the fair, all kinds of activities are held, from rally races to chess competitions. You can also buy typical Mallorcan gastronomic products, handmade leather goods and handmade jewellery. This massive fair normally welcomes around 20,000 visitors from all over the Balearic Islands.

This is undoubtedly an ideal plan for families with children, as there are many activities designed for the youngest members of the family. If this is your case, you should also take a look at this list of the best things to do with children in Mallorca.

Practical information

• Where: all over the city of Inca
• When: mid-November
• Price: depends on the activities you want to take part in.

The boletus or mushroomseason begins in autumn. A very typical tradition on the island is to go mushroom hunting in the countryside. This is a very fun plan that will allow you to discover Mallorca's beautiful landscapes.

Among the most common mushrooms on the island are the blava, the picornell, the farinera, the esclata-sang and the peu de rata.

After the walk, it's time to cook the mushrooms and use them to make delicious Balearic dishes, such as sweet rice with sclata-sangs or stuffed trotters.

This plan is ideal for lovers of gastronomy and good food. TaPalma is the name given to Mallorca's Tapas fair. It is held during the month of November, generally on the penultimate or last weekend of the month.

The fair takes place in different areas of the city of Palma, with more than thirty bars and restaurants in Palma de Mallorca taking part. All of them fight for the gold medal in the competition every year.

This is undoubtedly the perfect opportunity to get to know Balearic gastronomy. It is also a great excuse to explore the streets of Palma, where you will find hidden treasures. If you like gastronomy, you can also take one of the best culinary tours in Mallorca.

Practical information

• Where: In addition to the Palma Conference Centre, the fair is held in various restaurants and bars around the city.
• When: Normally during the last weekend in November.
• Price: It all depends on how many tapas you want to try.

Another perfect plan to get lost in the Mallorcan nature and disconnect from the noise of the city. Depending on the rainfall and temperatures, if you go to Mallorca in November, you may be lucky enough to see the Sierra de Tramuntana mountains covered in snow. This is a spectacular image that you are sure to take more than one photo to remember.

These types of plans are ideal for you if you are looking for a trip to get to know Mallorca in depth. You will see the island beyond the superficial glimpse of the tourist and get to know it in all its splendour.

Palma de Mallorca is a culturally rich city. In addition to the most famous, such as La Seu, Bellver Castle and the Royal Palace of La Almudaina, Palma also has other monuments of artistic interest. However, many of them are closed to the public, so it is not possible to visit them.

However, if you go to Mallorca in November, you will have the opportunity to visit many of these places. This is possible thanks to the Openhouse Palma, an architectural festival that aims to highlight the city's heritage.

The institution behind this festival is the Asociación Cultural Open House Palma, which opens the doors of the city's best hidden treasures. The visits are guided by knowledgeable volunteers, who tell visitors the most interesting facts about the various monuments.

Among the buildings that are open to the public are the Círculo Mallorquín, the Portopí lighthouse, Ses Cent Caes, the Son Espases hospital and the Oceanogràfic de Balears centre. In addition to the visits, different activities are organised, such as bicycle routes, photography competitions, conferences and children's workshops.

Autumn brings a special colour and light to Mallorca and this is reflected in its gastronomy. Whatever the time of year, Balearic cuisine stands out for its delicious recipes. However, beyond sobrasada and cocas, there is a universe of autumnal recipes that you must try during your trip in November.

One of my favourites is the mushroom tart, which you can make yourself with the mushrooms you pick. There are also many dishes made with sweet potato, one of the main products of Mallorcan cuisine.

You should also try the chestnuts cooked over an open fire, the roasted Mallorcan sausage and the arrós brut.

November is undoubtedly the perfect month to visit the centre of Palma de Mallorca, as you won't have to deal with the heat or the tourists.

Mallorca, apart from its incredible beaches, is famous for its cultural richness. The old town of Palma de Mallorca is worth seeing, preserving the typical essence of the Balearic Islands.

There are many monuments that make Palma a city with a unique artistic heritage. For this reason, I recommend that you dedicate part of your holiday itinerary to enjoying this great city. Lose yourself in its cobbled streets, either on foot, by bicycle or on a Segway, and get to know its local shops and visit the main monuments.

Taking a boat trip around Mallorca is, without a doubt, one of the best things you can do on the island. This activity allows you to get to know the island's coastline, which hides some dream coves. However, the vast majority of companies that organise boat trips suspend their activities from October onwards.

However, there is a boat trip that you can take during the month of November. It departs from Port Soller and has its destination in Sa Calobra, a cove located under the Tramuntana mountain range. Ideally, you should do this excursion on a sunny day to make the most of the trip.

The excursion lasts one hour and runs along the north coast of the island. Although you can also go to Sa Calobra by bus or car, the truth is that the road is somewhat uncomfortable because of the curves, especially for those who get dizzy easily. On the other hand, if you arrive by boat, you will enjoy privileged views and avoid this inconvenience.

What is the boat trip to Sa Calobra like?

During the trip, you will see the pretty white houses that loom over the bay, as well as the boats that sail through its waters. In addition to the island's coastline, you will also see the mountain range of the Sierra de Tramuntana, creating a contrast of sea and mountains that you will surely want to immortalise in more than one photo.

Once you have arrived at Sa Calobra, you can go to the bay of Kieselstein and the Paradise Gorge, one of the most impressive natural formations in Mallorca.

You can also hike up to the village of Sa Calobra from the bay, although the route requires good hiking shoes. However, if you want to complete the excursion this way, you will have to arrive at Sa Calobra early, so I recommend that you book the first excursion of the day.

If you are spending several days in Majorca in November, I recommend that you explore as much of the island as possible. It has charming villages that you will love to get lost in.

For this reason, one of the best plans you can make is to hire a car and drive around the island. Depending on the time of year, some villages are more recommendable than others. For the month of November, Valldemossa, Sóller and Esporles are not to be missed.

Valldemossa

Valldemossa is a beautiful village located in the Tramuntana mountain range, which has a special glow in November. It is very close to Palma, only 20 kilometres away, and it is surrounded by an incredible vegetation in which olive trees and cypresses are the protagonists.

This Mallorcan village began to become a tourist attraction in the 19th century. At that time, it was a place of retreat for internationally known artists, such as Frédèrich Chopin. Today, Valldemossa still attracts big celebrities, such as the actor Michael Douglas, who has an estate in the village's municipal boundaries.

Sóller

Sóller has also been the devotion of historically important figures, such as Archduke Ludwig Salvator. This town is located in a valley of orange trees and has great artistic importance thanks to the architectural legacy left by Rubió i Bellver, an architect and disciple of Gaudí.

I recommend that you stroll through its streets, where you will discover a cocktail of architectural influences from different periods, such as typical French palaces and modernist buildings. Of all the places to see, I recommend the Church of San Bartolomé, the Banco de Sóller and the Plaza de la Constitución.

Esporles

The last village I recommend is Esporles, a municipality located in the Tramuntana mountain range. It is very close to the island's capital, just 12 kilometres away.

You will love its stone houses and winding streets. During your visit, it is highly recommended that you visit the Granja de Esporles, an old mansion that today serves as a museum. If you are a wine lover, you will also like to visit the Es Verger winery, which focuses on the production of organic wine.

The next activity I suggest is great for anniversaries and birthdays and, without a doubt, one of the best activities you can do in Mallorca.

Depending on the company you hire, the trip will depart from one place or another, although one of the most common take-off points is Cala Millor. The experience includes a flight over the island, where you will be able to see from its wonderful coastline to its incredible mountains. At the end, you will celebrate the famous baptism of the air and receive a flight certificate to remember.

In addition to the above, you can also include in your booking a buffet breakfast, as well as the transfer from the hotel. However, these extras are often not available from November onwards, depending on the company you choose to travel with.

In addition to the above, it is possible to take a balloon ride at sunrise or sunset.

Although the weather in Mallorca in November usually allows for many outdoor activities, it is always possible that a rainy day may come. In that case, one of the places you can visit is the Palma Aquarium, an aquarium located in Palma.

It is made up of different areas, all of them designed to give visitors an in-depth knowledge of the marine universe. The tour begins with the Mediterranean Sea, an area where you can see different types of corals, as well as anemones, starfish and sea urchins.

The tour continues with a sector dedicated to tropical seas, where you can see curious fish up close, such as the surgeonfish.

Finally, Palma Aquarium has an outdoor area where you will find entertainment staff for the little ones. In this part you can also see a pond with carp, sea turtles and rays. There is also a restaurant where you can have a drink at the end of your visit.

Practical information

• Where: Carrer de Manuela de los Herreros, 21,
• Opening hours: 9.30am-6pm, every day of the week.
• Price: Tickets for adults cost around €28, while children pay around €17.