Try this one-day driving route through the Serra de Tramuntana! At ROIG, we’re bringing you a fantastic road trip through the mountain range declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Cultural Landscape category. The Serra de Tramuntana is a landscape of rock, olive groves, and cliffs, and stone villages that seem frozen in time.
Driving the length of this mountain range in a single day is one of the best ways to enjoy an unforgettable experience, full of nature and adventure. While it’s true that the Tramuntana deserves more time, if you only have a day, a well-planned driving route will let you enjoy its most famous sights and feel the essence of Mallorca at its wildest.
Why drive through the Serra de Tramuntana in a single day
Discovering the Serra de Tramuntana by car is the best way to have complete control over your time. Public transport in the mountains runs at very limited frequencies, and tourist coaches force you to make stops you might not want and to rush unnecessarily.
Choosing our car hire in Mallorca service gives you the freedom to stop at that breathtaking viewpoint, linger over a coffee in a village square, or change your route on the fly if you fancy something different.
What to expect from Mallorca’s most beautiful road
The main road through the mountains is the Ma-10, a spectacular route of just over 110 kilometres that winds between mountains and cliffs.
Driving here is a delight for motoring enthusiasts, but it demands attention: you’ll encounter sharp bends, narrow stretches, cyclists tackling the gradients, and passages between monumental rock faces. It’s a road to enjoy slowly, where the journey itself is part of the experience.
What time to set off to make the most of the light and avoid traffic
The golden rule for completing this one-day driving route through the Serra de Tramuntana is to set off very early (ideally between 8:00 and 8:30 am). Leaving first thing gives you three crucial strategic advantages:
- Guaranteed parking: Car parks in mountain villages such as Valldemossa and Deià are small and fill up quickly from 10:30 am onwards.
- Smooth traffic: You’ll avoid the heavy flow of tour coaches and cyclists on the narrowest stretches of the Ma-10.
- Perfect light: The soft morning light brings out the green of the pine forests and the ochre of the stone, ideal for your photographs.
Setting off westward between Valldemossa and Deià
The south-western stretch of the Ma-10 is the perfect introduction to the Tramuntana landscape. Here, the vegetation is lush, traditional architecture remains intact, and the blue of the sea starts to peek through the pine tops.
Valldemossa
Located just 20 minutes from Palma, Valldemossa is a fairytale village tucked into a valley surrounded by mountains. You can leave your car in the municipal car park in the centre and wander through its cobbled streets, adorned with flowerpots on every façade.
You can’t leave without visiting the exterior of the Royal Charterhouse (where the composer Frédéric Chopin and the writer George Sand lived during the winter of 1838) and stopping at one of the traditional bakeries to try the famous coca de patata, a soft potato bun, paired with a coffee or a local almond horchata. It’s one of the best experiences in Mallorca for getting to know the most traditional and authentic side of inland life.
Deià
Continuing north along the Ma-10, a journey of barely 15 minutes, you’ll reach Deià. This small hillside village has long been a refuge for artists, writers (such as the British poet Robert Graves), and musicians from around the world.
Park in the designated area beside the main road and walk up to the church at the top of the village, along with its cemetery. The views from up there offer one of the most poetic sights on the whole island.
The Sa Foradada viewpoint
Between Deià and Valldemossa (very close to the historic Son Marroig estate, once owned by Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria) lies this viewpoint, a must-stop on the route.
From here, you can make out a rock jutting into the sea, marked by a gigantic natural hole around 18 metres in diameter. It’s the perfect spot for a quick pause on the way, to breathe in the salt- and pine-scented air, and to photograph one of the most famous sights on the Mallorcan coastline, before continuing towards the Sóller valley.
The orange grove valley of Sóller
Leaving the coast of Deià behind, we continue this one-day driving route through the Serra de Tramuntana, taking in views of Puig Major, the island’s highest peak. Below lies the valley of Sóller, a green oasis famous throughout Europe for its citrus orchards and Modernist-influenced architecture.
A stroll through the old town and the tram to Port de Sóller
Park your car in one of the designated areas on the outskirts and walk to Constitution Square. There, you’ll be greeted by the imposing Modernist façade of the church of Sant Bartomeu, designed by Joan Rubió (a disciple of Gaudí). It’s the perfect moment to sit down at a terrace and enjoy a freshly squeezed orange juice.
The historic wooden tram, inaugurated in 1913, runs right through the square. If you fancy a break from driving, you can hop aboard for the 25-minute journey through orange groves to Port de Sóller, a round natural bay surrounded by restaurants and jetties.
Fornalutx
Just 10 minutes by car from Sóller, up the mountainside, lies Fornalutx. Featured on lists of Spain’s most beautiful villages, this place is a monument in its own right.
Stone streets, hand-painted rooftops, flowers on every corner, and the scent of orange blossom wrapped around it all. A stroll through its narrow lanes will connect you with the most authentic rural architecture of the Tramuntana.
The legendary bends and the northern side of the range
Leaving the Sóller valley behind, the Ma-10 climbs in altitude. You head into the wildest, most monumental part of the Tramuntana, where the Cúber and Gorg Blau reservoirs reflect the range’s highest peaks.
Sa Calobra and the Nus de sa Corbata
One of the most spectacular driving landmarks in the world. At a well-signposted junction off the Ma-10, the Ma-2141 begins, an engineering feat designed by Antonio Parietti in 1932.
This road drops 800 metres in elevation over just 12 kilometres, through a series of seemingly impossible bends. Its most iconic point is the Nus de sa Corbata (the “Tie Knot”), a 270-degree bend where the road passes beneath itself.
Take the drive slowly, enjoying panoramic views of the north coast until you reach the lower car park. If you choose our car rental in Mallorca, you’ll enjoy top-quality, new cars, fully prepared for driving this route. Not in the mood to drive through the mountains? Don’t worry: at ROIG, we offer a chauffeur-driven car service in Mallorca or an airport transfer service in Mallorca for your ultimate comfort.
The Torrent de Pareis from the cove
At the end of the Sa Calobra road lies a small fishing hamlet. From there, a footpath runs through tunnels carved into the rock.
The cove of Sa Calobra is where the Torrent de Pareis meets the sea, a canyon with sheer stone walls over 200 metres high that opens onto a pebble beach with clear, turquoise waters. It’s the perfect spot for a refreshing swim after the winding drive.
The Monastery of Lluc
Back on the Ma-10 and continuing north-east, you’ll reach the Sanctuary of Lluc, set in a peaceful valley surrounded by mountains. Considered the spiritual heart of Mallorca, this Renaissance monastery houses the image of the Mare de Déu de Lluc (the “Moreneta”), patron saint of the island.
It’s a place of absolute peace, perfect for strolling through its botanical garden, admiring its basilica, and recharging in the shade of its centuries-old holm oaks.
Heading to Pollença and Cap de Formentor
The final stretch of the range leads to the northernmost tip of Mallorca. Pollença is a village steeped in history, with a charming old town. If you’re feeling up to it, climb the 365 steps of the Calvari for privileged views over the village and the coast.
To put the finishing touch on the day, continue to where the Tramuntana meets the sea at Formentor. The road to the lighthouse runs along breathtaking cliffs and past viewpoints such as Es Colomer. Watching the sun sink over the Mediterranean from this headland is the best possible farewell to an unforgettable road trip.
At ROIG, we offer activities in Mallorca, with excursions and tours so you can discover these spots with tour guides.
Driving tips and how to hire with ROIG
To make the most of your one-day driving route through the Serra de Tramuntana, it’s important to make good logistical decisions so the experience is an absolute success:
- Choose the right vehicle: The Ma-10 has narrow stretches and plenty of bends. A dynamic compact car or a mid-size SUV with good visibility and a responsive engine will give you the safety and manoeuvrability you need. If you’re used to driving automatics, don’t hesitate: it’ll save you hundreds of gear changes on the slopes.
- Bear refuelling stops in mind: Petrol stations are conspicuously absent along the central stretch of the mountains. Make sure you set off with a full tank from Palma or your starting point, so as to avoid any surprises in the middle of the range.
- Drive with caution: The Tramuntana is a paradise shared by cyclists, hikers, and local wildlife (such as wild goats). Stick to the speed limits, keep a safe distance, and use the signposted lay-bys if you want to stop for photographs.
At ROIG, we make it easy so that your only job is to enjoy the trip. We offer the best car hire deals in Mallorca with amodern fleetsuited to mountain routes.
Experience an unforgettable day through the heart of the Serra de Tramuntana!