Formentor beach in Mallorca. What to expect, how to get there and when to go
Formentor beach is probably the most photographed beach in northern Mallorca. One kilometre of light sand, with pine trees reaching the shore and the cliffs of the Serra de Tramuntana in the background. The image is so well known that many travellers already have it in mind before they know exactly where it is.
What does not appear so often in the photos is that getting there can be complicated in summer. The road has traffic restrictions, the car park fills up before ten and in July and August the beach gets very busy. An alternative that avoids all of this is arriving by boat with our boat trip to Formentor beach and Cape Formentor, which departs from the Port of Alcúdia and lets you visit the beach and enjoy the coast without depending on traffic or parking.
Where is Formentor beach?
Formentor beach is on the Formentor peninsula, in the north-east of Mallorca, within the municipality of Pollença. It is about 10 km from Port de Pollença and 16 km from the Port of Alcúdia by road.
How to get there
By car
From 15 May to 15 October, between 10:00 am and 10:00 pm, the MA-2210 road is regulated. On the section from Port de Pollença to the beach, access is only allowed if there are free spaces; a sign indicates this at the entrance and a barrier prevents access if the car park is full. On the beach-lighthouse section, private vehicles are directly prohibited during those hours. Cameras record number plates and fines are high.
Parking is paid: around €4/hour, up to €15 per day. In high season it fills up before 9:30 am.
Shuttle bus
TIB line L-334 operates from 15 May to 18 October:
- First service around 9:30 am, last one around 9:10 pm, every 35 minutes.
- Stops: Alcúdia → Port de Pollença (free parking at the station) → Mirador d’Es Colomer → Formentor beach → Cala Murta / Cala Figuera → Formentor lighthouse.
- Price: €1.80-3 depending on the payment method.
By boat
From the Port of Alcúdia, the boat trip to Formentor by Alcudia Sea Trips sails along the coast of the peninsula with views of the lighthouse and the cliffs. It is the way to see Formentor without depending on traffic or parking, and the one that gives you the best perspective of the cliffs. For those who also want to explore nearby coves such as Cala Murta or Cala en Gossalba, private boat tours allow you to choose stops and timings.
What is the beach like?
The beach is approximately one kilometre long and has a relatively narrow strip of sand. The sand is fine and light-coloured, although there are pebbles in some sections of the shore.
The water is shallow close to the coast, and the colour goes from light turquoise at the shore to a deeper blue as the depth increases. The pine trees reach almost down to the water and provide natural shade along much of the beach. Behind it, the mountains of the Serra de Tramuntana rise towards the cliffs that close the horizon to the north, and they are what protect the beach from bad weather coming from that direction.
The orientation protects it from the north, north-east wind, west and south-west. The beach has a Blue Flag and is divided into three sectors with sunbed and parasol rental.
How to enjoy Formentor beach
Swimming is the main activity. The clean, shallow water makes bathing comfortable for almost everyone. For snorkelling, the areas with posidonia have varied marine life, although because it is a very busy beach there is less fauna than in more remote coves; if snorkelling is the priority, we recommend combining Formentor with Cala Murta, Cala en Gossalba or Cala Figuera.
On the beach, you can rent paddleboards, kayaks, pedal boats and catamarans. There is also windsurfing when the wind is right.
From the beach, trails lead to Cala Murta, Cala Figuera and Cala en Gossalba, 20-30 minutes on foot. They are smaller and quieter. Bus L-334 also stops there.
To visit Formentor lighthouse on the same day, the shuttle bus stops there. The Mirador d’Es Colomer, halfway along the route, has the best views of northern Mallorca.
Facilities and where to eat
The beach has quite complete facilities: sunbeds and parasols in three sectors, showers and toilets distributed along the beach, and lifeguards from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm in high season.
For food, there are two options directly on the beach: L’Espigó, for self-service, sandwiches and quick meals, and La Veranda, more of a sit-down option, with Mallorcan dishes and fish. Prices at both are high; we would bring food and water from outside if budget matters. The Four Seasons Resort Formentor, next to the beach, has higher-end restaurants.
Mobile coverage is good on the beach, although it may fail on some parts of the access road.
When to go
In our experience, arriving before 9:30 am or after 5:00 pm makes a real difference. Early in the morning, the beach is almost empty; late in the day, the light is better for photos and the beach gradually empties out.
If you can choose, September is the most balanced month. The water has been warming up all summer and is at its best, there are fewer people and traffic restrictions begin to ease. April and May also work well if the goal is to avoid overcrowding, although the water is cooler. Weekends in high season are noticeably busier than weekdays.
Tips to enjoy Formentor beach better
The most common mistake is trying to arrive by car in the middle of the morning in July. The road sign shows the available spaces. If it is full, the barrier will not open. There is no way to get in and the cameras record anyone who tries anyway.
In our experience, the most comfortable way to get to Formentor in high season is by boat.
From the Port of Alcúdia, our boat trip to Formentor sails along the coast of the peninsula before reaching the beach and continues to the lighthouse, adding views of the cape and cliffs to the journey.
Otherwise, the most sensible option is to leave the car in a car park in Port de Pollença and take the shuttle bus from there. Parking is free and the bus runs every 35 minutes.
Prices on the beach are high. Bringing food and water from outside is perfectly possible and many visitors do so.
To go to the lighthouse on the same day, bus L-334 stops there. The views from the Mirador d’Es Colomer are the best known in northern Mallorca.
Frequently asked questions
How can I get there without getting fined?
Between 15 May and 15 October, from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, the road is restricted with barriers and cameras that check number plates. The safest option is the boat: from the Port of Alcúdia, the Formentor trip by Alcudia Sea Trips follows the coast to the lighthouse. If you prefer to go by land, the shuttle bus from Port de Pollença or Alcúdia avoids the parking problem and the restrictions.
Where can you park and how much does it cost?
Is it better to go by car, bus or boat?
When is it less crowded?
What facilities does the beach have?
Is it suitable for children?
Can you snorkel there?
Can you get to the lighthouse from the beach?
Are there alternative coves if it is very full?
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