What to Do in Mallorca on Rainy or Cold Days

Most of the year Mallorca is a sunny island, but between late autumn and early spring you will get the odd grey, wet or chilly day. That is no reason to feel short-changed. Some of the island’s best visits are under a roof, and a cool day is often the best moment for the things you skip in summer.

Here are our ideas for a rainy or cold day in Mallorca, from caves and museums to wine tasting and a slow day at the villa. Opening times change with the season, so we note what to check before you set off.

Ideas at a glance, by type of weather

• Rainy day: the Coves del Drac in Porto Cristo, Palma’s Cathedral and museums, Palma Aquarium and the covered markets.
• Cold but dry day: a village and its weekly market, a winery visit and a long lunch in a local restaurant.
• Heavy rain or a weather warning: stay close to the villa, book a private chef and check the roads before you drive anywhere.

Last updated: October 2026.

Visit the caves

Underground, the weather is irrelevant, so the caves are one of the best plans for a wet day. The best known are the Coves del Drac in Porto Cristo, on the east coast. The visit lasts about an hour and ends at Lake Martel, one of the largest underground lakes in Europe, with a short live concert and the option of crossing the lake by boat. The caves open through the winter with fewer tours a day, and close on 25 December and 1 January. Check tour times and book on the official website, and arrive about 15 minutes early.

Good to know: about an hour by car from Palma or from the north of the island. Booking ahead is recommended. Children usually love it, but the route has plenty of steps, so it is not suitable for pushchairs.

Spend a day in Palma

Palma has enough under cover to fill a whole rainy day, and the old town is compact enough to walk between showers.

The Cathedral

La Seu dominates the seafront, and the interior is just as striking: Gaudí worked on the restoration in the early 20th century, and Miquel Barceló’s ceramic chapel is one of the most unusual pieces of modern art in any Gothic cathedral. Tourist visits run Monday to Saturday, and in winter the Cathedral closes to visitors in the middle of the afternoon. Check the times on the Cathedral’s website before you go, as they change with the season and on religious holidays. Allow about an hour for the visit.

Museums and galleries

• Es Baluard, the museum of modern and contemporary art, sits in the Renaissance walls by the sea. It opens Tuesday to Sunday (mornings only on Sunday) and closes on Mondays. Visitor information.
• Fundació Pilar i Joan Miró, in Cala Major, is where Miró lived and worked for almost thirty years. You can see his Sert studio and Son Boter, an old farmhouse with his charcoal sketches still on the walls. In winter it opens Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00 and on Sunday mornings, and closes on Mondays. Visitor information.

Palma Aquarium

For families, Palma Aquarium in Playa de Palma is a safe bet on a wet day. It opens every day, and its huge Big Blue shark tank is usually what children talk about afterwards. Allow two to three hours, buy tickets online to skip the queue and check the official website for seasonal hours.

Covered markets

Palma’s covered markets, such as the Mercat de l’Olivar, open from Monday to Saturday and are a good place for a mid-morning snack among the stalls. See our guide to Mallorca markets by day of the week for the village markets too.

Go wine tasting

Mallorca has two wine denominations of origin: Binissalem, in the centre of the island, and Pla i Llevant, across the plain towards the east. Many wineries offer visits and tastings, which makes them a natural plan for a grey afternoon. Hours are often shorter in winter and some close on Sundays, so contact the winery to book before you go. If you are tasting, plan for a designated driver.

Explore a market town

Village markets work well on a cool day or during light showers, although most stalls are outdoors and the weather can affect the experience. Check local conditions before setting off. A morning in Sineu on Wednesday, Inca on Thursday or Pollença on Sunday, followed by a long lunch in a village restaurant, is a good way to spend a cool day. There are fewer stalls in winter, but the atmosphere is more local.

Take it slow at the villa

Sometimes the best plan for a wet day is not to go anywhere. A villa gives you space that a hotel room does not: a big kitchen, a living room for the whole group and big windows to watch the weather roll in. On an off-season trip, that is exactly why the choice of villa matters.

What to check before booking a villa off-season

• Heating. Ask what kind of heating the villa has and whether it covers the bedrooms as well as the living areas. Evenings are cool from November to March.
• A fireplace. A wood fire makes a wet afternoon feel like part of the holiday. Ask whether firewood is provided.
• Indoor space. In summer everyone lives outside. In winter, check that the living and dining areas are big enough for the whole group to spend a day indoors.
• A heated pool. Pool heating is usually available on request and may carry a supplement. We confirm the heating dates and any cost for each villa before you book. See our heated pool villas.

A full day without leaving the villa

• A private chef. A long lunch or dinner at the villa, cooked with local produce by someone else, is a very good way to spend a grey day.
• A massage. We can arrange a massage at the villa, the closest thing to a spa day without getting in the car.
• Babysitting. If the adults fancy a quiet dinner out, we can help with a babysitter.
• Plan for the next sunny day. Use the time to map out walks, beaches and villages for when the weather turns.

All of these can be booked through our services.

What to check before you go

• Opening days. Many museums close on Mondays, and some attractions close on 25 December and 1 January.
• Seasonal timetables. The historic Sóller train and tram may suspend services for winter maintenance. Check the official timetable before travelling, especially between late autumn and early spring.
• Outdoor parks. Water parks and many outdoor attractions are seasonal. Our guide to theme parks and water parks in Mallorca covers the main ones; check their dates before you go.
• Weather warnings and mountain roads. Check AEMET, the Spanish weather agency, for warnings, and after heavy rain take extra care on the Tramuntana roads.

Where to stay for rainy-day plans

• Near Palma. Villas around Palma and the south-west keep the Cathedral, the museums and the aquarium close by.
• The north. From Pollença or Alcúdia, the Sunday markets and the old towns are on your doorstep, and Inca is within reach.
• The east. A villa near Manacor or Artà puts the Coves del Drac in Porto Cristo close by.

Staying for several weeks? See our guide to longer stays in a Mallorca villa out of season.

Frequently asked questions

Does it rain a lot in Mallorca in winter?

Autumn and winter are the wettest times of year, but rainy spells are usually short and most days still have dry hours. Our guide to Mallorca in winter covers the weather in more detail.

What can I do with children on a rainy day?

The Coves del Drac and Palma Aquarium are the easiest options with children. At the villa, a private chef or a babysitter can make a wet day easier for the whole family.

Are the caves open in winter?

Yes. The Coves del Drac open through the winter with a reduced timetable. Check the tour times on their official website before you go.

Are museums in Palma open on Mondays?

Many are not. Es Baluard and the Fundació Miró both close on Mondays, so plan a Monday around the Cathedral, the covered markets or the aquarium.

Tell us when you are travelling and what your group enjoys, and we will suggest villas close to the things you want to do, whatever the weather. Contact our team.