Mallorca in March (2024): Weather, Events, and Best Things to Do

Thinking of visiting Mallorca in March but don’t know what to expect? You’re in the right place! In this post you’ll discover: what the weather’s like in March, what to pack, the best things to do, plus special events and key dates.

There’s a lot to cover so let’s jump right in!

What’s the weather like in Mallorca in March?

Marking the official transition from winter to spring, Mallorca’s weather in March is a really mixed bag! 

When I wrote this blog post on the 3rd of March 2024, it was 14°C (but felt more like 10°C because of the wind), and we’d gone through several cycles of sun, cloud, and rain. Bundled up in an electric blanket, it felt like spring would never arrive. But just a few weeks later, we had a long spell of glorious sunshine, and highs of 24°C. I even enjoyed my first bracing swim of the year on Saint Patrick’s Day! 

The weather in March is unpredictable, so be prepared for any and all types of weather. On average though, you can expect daily highs of 18°C and lows of 6°C in the evenings. And while the sea temperature of 14°C is too cold for most, you’ll see plenty of people swimming, especially tourists from northern Europe.

March might leave you disappointed if you come for a beach holiday, but its mild temperatures and approximately 7 hours of daily sunshine make it a great month for hiking and sightseeing without the usual crowds. What’s more, with the clocks moving forward on the last Sunday of the month, you can enjoy longer evenings and sunset dinners. 😍

What should I pack for Mallorca in March?

Because of March’s changeable weather, it’s a good idea to pack a mix of summer and winter clothes. Think layers!

Some items you might want to pack include:

• Covered shoes to keep your feet warm and dry (especially in the evenings)
• Comfortable shoes or trainers for sightseeing
• Hiking boots to explore the island’s mountains
• A warm and waterproof jacket (There are an average of 5 rainy days in March)
• A light scarf
• Sunglasses
• A swimsuit and/or wetsuit if you’re determined to get your swimming fix!
• Jumpers
• T-shirts
• Shorts
• Long trousers
• Sun cream

As you can see, you need to be prepared for anything. 

Frustrating when you’re trying to pack light, I know!

Things to do in Mallorca in March

Whether you’re a culture vulture or love the great outdoors, March is a great time to take advantage of the mild weather and fewer crowds. Here are just some ideas of the things you can get up to in the first month of spring.

Go hiking

While the weather may not be quite warm enough yet to spend all day at the beach, March’s mild temperatures make it the perfect time to go hiking and enjoy the countryside when it’s filled with flowers and greenery! 

Want a challenging mountain trail? Mallorca’s got it.

Prefer a comfortable walk through an aromatic pine forest? Mallorca’s got that too. 

Would you rather explore Mallorca’s rocky coastline with spectacular views of the glittering sea below? Yep, that’s also for the taking. 

From coastal trails, to forest trails, to tricky mountain trails, there’s a hiking route for everyone. 
Get inspired and find some of the best trails in Mallorca here.

Get on your bike

With a mix of challenging mountain ranges, flat areas, and rolling hills, plus an extensive network of cycle routes and infrastructure, it’s no wonder that Mallorca’s a cycling Mecca.

February to May is the high season for cycle tourism, before the roads fill with summer rental cars and temperatures become sweltering. 

And don’t worry, you don’t have to be a cycling pro to enjoy Mallorca’s numerous cycle routes. 

One of my favourites is a fantastic cycle path about 15 km long between the German resort town of S’Arenal and Palma city centre. The route’s clearly marked, flat, and totally separated from road traffic. This makes the route a breeze to navigate as well as safe for both beginners and recreational cyclists. 

Honestly, it’s one of the most beautiful coastal cycle rides I’ve ever been on and there are plenty of restaurants, bars, and cafés along the route where you can stop to take a well-earned rest!

Go sightseeing

With milder temperatures and far fewer tourists, sightseeing in March is much more comfortable than in peak season. Here’s a few suggestions to get you started:

Go on a walking tour

A walking tour is one of the first things I do on my travels as it’s an interesting and budget-friendly way to get to know a city. You find your way around, learn more about the city’s history and culture, and get helpful tips from local guides on what to eat,drink,see and do.

 Before moving to Mallorca, my husband and I took a free walking tour of Palma Old Town with Mallorca Free Tours. We learnt a lot from our local guide, Esperança, and we would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Mallorca! (By the way, I don’t receive a commission for any of my recommendations – if I share a tip it’s because I genuinely enjoyed it!)

Visit Les Coves del Drac

Les Coves del Drach (The Drach Caves) are a complex of fantastical underground caves filled with stalagmites and stalactites and home to one of the largest underground lakes in the world. I’ve written a blog post all about why the Drach Caves are definitely worth visiting, but let’s just say for now that they make for a unique day-trip or half-day excursion.

 This is a great activity if it’s raining as you can take shelter deep in the caves where the year round temperature remains between 17°C and 21°C. Plus, if you visit in March you can get your tickets at a reduced price before the rate increases in April. Sure, it’s only a 50-cent saving, but every little helps!

Visit Palma Cathedral

As one of the island’s main attractions, no trip to Palma is complete without visiting Palma Cathedral. Visible for miles around, Palma Cathedral (known locally as La Seu) cuts an impressive figure on the city’s skyline. Palma’s largest architectural landmark, it’s also one of the largest Gothic churches in Spain. 

Equally impressive inside and out, the cathedral is a must-see and the perfect place to escape a spot of spring rain! What’s more, with reduced visitors numbers in low season, you can enjoy La Seu without the crowds.

Go wine tasting

If you ask me, every month is a good month for wine tasting, but visiting in March does have a couple of advantages:

1. There are often fewer crowds so you can enjoy tours and tastings with smaller groups and get more personalised attention. 
2. Wine tasting isn’t dependent on changeable springtime weather. Come rain or shine, you can drink wine!
3. You’re drinking wine. Enough said!

Unlike in Barcelona, where I can recommend several wineries (see my top 5 here), I’ve only been on a couple of wine tours/tasting sessions in Mallorca. But so far my top choice on the island for a winery visit would have to be Macià Batle.

Located just a stone’s throw from Santa Maria train station, the award-winning winery offers a wine tour and tasting of 5 wines (plus ample snacks) for 25 Euros. I went with a group of friends and we all agreed that:  the wines were delicious, we all enjoyed ourselves, and it was well worth the money.

What’s on in March in Mallorca? Key dates and special events

1st of March — Día de Les Illes Balears

The 1st of March kicks off the month’s events calendar with Día de Les Illes Balears. This festivity celebrates Balearic island culture, gastronomy, and history, and commemorates the date the Balearic Islands became an autonomous community (which basically gives the islands more control over their own affairs). 

On this day (or often longer if it falls on a weekend), you can expect to see live music, sporting events, dance performances, and fabulous markets offering everything from local food to handicrafts, jewellery, toys, wine, and more.

While Día de Les Illes Balears is celebrated across the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera), the vast majority of events take place in Palma de Mallorca and is a real treat for both residents and tourists. To check out the full lineup of events, check out the official programme.

March 17th — Saint Patrick’s Day

Okay, this isn’t a Mallorcan holiday, but who doesn’t love an excuse to party? 

Home to one of the biggest Irish contingencies in the Balearic Islands, Santa Ponça is the place to be when March 17th rolls around. While it may be no match for the celebrations in Ireland or New York, Santa Ponça does host the biggest Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations in Mallorca. 

Santa Ponça’s Saint Patrick’s Day Festival 2024 kicks off at 10am on Sunday 17th March and includes a special Saint Patrick’s Day market selling a range of handicrafts and traditional Irish food, live music, free activities for children, a street parade… And of course, all the Irish bars will be open to serve you those obligatory pints of Guinness!

So what are you waiting for? Put on your best green clothes, grab a group of friends and get ready to party!

Easter celebrations

In 2024, Easter falls at the end of March, so you’re in for a treat this month. In Spain, Semana Santa (Holy Week) is one of the biggest religious celebrations of the year, with Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday all celebrated as public holidays in Mallorca (as well as many other regions). Honestly, I could write an entire blog post about Easter in Spain, but for now, here’s a few highlights:

Palm Sunday — 24th March 2024

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week in Mallorca with processions taking place at churches all over the island. Palma’s procession begins at 6pm at Sant Jaume Parish Church. On this day, it’s common to see spectators carrying palm leaves that have been blessed by the priest. After the procession, the blessed palm leaves are taken home and placed over the door or balcony to protect the household from evil spirits.

Throughout the week there will be several other processions, with one of the most impressive being the Crist de Sang (Blood of Christ) procession on Maundy Thursday…

Maundy Thursday – 28th March 2024

Maundy Thursday’s Crist de Sang procession is undoubtedly one of the week’s most important and has been celebrated on the island since 1564. On this evening, you’ll see brotherhoods of penitents wearing hooded robes. If you’re unfamiliar with the tradition, you might mistake them for KKK members, but rest assured they have nothing to do with the racist organisation! In fact this causes confusion for foreign tourists every year. You can read more about it in this news article.

Each hooded brotherhood, often barefoot or shackled, carries religious statues on ornately decorated (and very heavy) floats. Equally impressive and eerie, the sombre procession is definitely quite the sight!

This year’s procession starts at the Church of the Annunciation of Mary at 7pm and often continues until well past midnight.

Good Friday — 29th March 2024

Good Friday is marked with two major events. The first is a reenactment of  the Passion of Christ, held at 12 pm on the steps of Palma Cathedral. 

The second is the sorrowful procession of The Holy Burial (Sant Enterrament) starting at the Basilica of Sant Francesc at around 7 pm.

And the Easter celebrations aren’t just restricted to Palma! 

The northern town of Pollença is known for its particularly moving reenactment of Jesus’ Descent from The Cross, known as “devallament”. Home to the oldest devallament on the island, dating back to 1650, Pollença draws in huge crowds to watch as a venerated statue of Christ is silently lowered down a steep 365-step staircase, one for each day of the year, until reaching the Virgen de los Ángeles Church.

Other notable Balearic devallaments are held in Felanitx and Artá.

Easter Sunday — 31st March 2024

Easter Sunday celebrates the Resurrection of Christ with several special services and parades. The largest mass is held in Palma Cathedral and is often attended by the Royal Family. In this service, the reunion of the Risen Christ and his Mother is reenacted. A group of men carry a statue of Jesus towards a group of women bearing a statue of the Virgin Mary, which bobs up and down to depict her joy at seeing her resurrected son.

The pros and cons of visiting Mallorca in March

Pros

• The weather’s not too hot – March’s mild (albeit unpredictable weather) means it’s cool enough to go sightseeing, hiking, and cycling without drowning in a puddle of sweat!
• Fewer crowds and lower prices – As March is still the low season, you’ll find fewer crowds and often lower prices for everything from car rentals to hotel stays, and even some attraction tickets. 

Cons

• The weather is unpredictable – In March, you can experience all weather in one day. This makes it hard to pack light and means you shouldn’t count on having a sunny beach holiday. But if you can be flexible with your planning, you should find there’s a fair amount to do.
• Not everything’s open yet – As it’s still low season, not all hotels and restaurants are open yet, so do call ahead first!

Is Mallorca worth visiting in March?

While I think it’s worth visiting Mallorca any month of the year, it’s not the ideal month for a beach holiday (unless you’re used to cooler temperatures and are lucky with the weather!). But March is a great month to visit Mallorca if you’re into hiking, cycling, or sightseeing.

Not only does the milder weather make for a more comfortable visiting experience, it’ll keep the crowds away, and the prices down. 

To summarise, if you’re not afraid of a bit of rain, enjoy being active and exploring without the crowds, March can be a great month to explore Mallorca and save a bit of money too.

If you found this article useful, please let me know in the comments. And if you’ve been on the island in March, I’d love to hear what you think!