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Inca

Commercial town with a weekly market in central Mallorca

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Inca
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Inca lies halfway up the motorway between Palma and Alcudia, almost at the centre of the island and at the foot of the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range.

Inca is Mallorca's third-largest town, best known as the 'city of leather' owing to a lengthy history of leather making that continues nowadays. The town is steeped in history and, whilst not as pretty as some of the other towns on the island, features some lovely architecture. The local market taking place every Thursday is one of its main tourist attractions, otherwise, it remains a sleepy local town. There’s also a good number of boutique and high-street fashion shops, cafes and a selection of well-known cellar restaurants (old wine cellars turned into restaurants) worth exploring.

It’s largely a residential town, full of native Mallorcans living alongside a small expat community and has brilliant public transport links connecting it to the rest of the island. If you come on an organised tour, it’s more than likely you will be taken to a leather factory. Shop around, as there are still a few bargains to be had.

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  1. Events in Inca
  2. History & Culture in Inca
  3. Sights & Attractions in Inca
  4. Beaches in Inca
  5. Dining in Inca
  6. Things to do in Inca
  7. Cycling in Inca
  8. Hiking in Inca
  9. Yachts & Sailing in Inca
  10. Watersports in Inca
  11. Families in Inca
  12. Villas in Inca
  13. Holidays Rentals in Inca
  14. Hotels in Inca
  15. How to get to Inca

Events in Inca

Inca, being a large residential town, has a thriving events calendar with theatre, exhibitions, live music concerts and sports events taking place throughout the year. Here are just a couple of the biggest and best to keep an eye out for.

Dijous Bo

Inca hosts Mallorca's biggest autumn fair, known as the Dijous Bo or Good Thursday. It was originally an agricultural fair that has grown to include exhibitions, music concerts, fireworks and all-night parties. It takes place across various weekends in October and November.

Inca Jazz festival

Throughout July, Inca puts on a spectacular jazz festival within the historical building of Claustre de San Domingo which is a huge draw for jazz music lovers on the island at this time of year. Keep an eye on our events calendar for the dates.

Inca market

Inca is home to one of Mallorca's biggest markets. Every Thursday, the streets around Plaça d'Espanya are taken over by row upon row of stalls. You will find plenty of leather here, plus jewellery, carved olive wood, lace and fresh produce from across the island. If you appreciate a good flower arrangement, make sure you head to Plaça d'Espanya as it transforms into an open-air flower show.

Events in Inca

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History & Culture in Inca

Inca's early history

Inca has its place in Mallorca’s early history as the home to several Talaiotic settlements which were inhabited way back before the Romans occupied the island. During the Islamic period, the town was known as ‘Inkán’ and, from this time some traces remain such as the "sinies" and the "ganats" or "foggara", different systems employed by the Arabs to draw underground water.

Winemaking and leather craftsmanship

Inca and its surrounding area were mass producers of wine between the 17th and 19th centuries but the plague of phylloxera destroyed the industry. This is when its residents focused on tanning and leather craftsmanship. With the implementation of the rail system and a gas factory, this industry boomed.

Traces of its wine producing are still very much on show as many old wine cellars have been converted into restaurants and ooze character thanks to the original winemaking artefacts on display. They are known as ‘cellar’ restaurants and are best known for serving authentic Mallorcan food. The good news is that wine production in the area is on the rise again and already producing some top quality wines.

Sights & Attractions in Inca

History, architecture and culture

Inca’s quite a mish-mash of architecture and there are a few buildings and other sights and attractions of interest to culture vultures visiting the area. 

The churches are the main attraction, particularly the Baroque-style parish church of Santa Maria Maggiore which was originally built in the year 1248. However, the present building dates back to the 18th century and is the third one occupying the same site. 

Other historical places of interest in the municipality of Inca, equally Baroque, are the Convento Dominicano de Santo Domingo, the Church of San Francisco and its cloister, the Puig de Santa Magdalena and the Convento de Sant Bartomeu.

The main square, Plaça d'Espanya is home to the town hall, the legendary Spanish steps, and plenty of nice cafes. It’s a great place to kick back with a coffee and watch the world go by. 

The museum of footwear and leather ‘Museu del Calçat i Ia Pell d'Inca’ exhibits machinery and other objects related to the leather industry.

Beaches in Inca

Beaches in Mallorca

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Dining in Inca

Inca is famous for its ‘cellars’, old wine-cellars turned into characterful restaurants featuring traditional dishes at reasonable prices. You can expect homemade hearty food from which you will come away feeling more than satisfied.

Away from these establishments are contemporary places serving high-quality, locally inspired dishes with a modern twist, often with a lunchtime menu that you'll find particularly popular amongst tourists and locals. 

For a more casual vibe go modern and try the latest international food trends - there are plenty of restaurants offering these.

Restaurants in Inca

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Things to do in Inca

Inca is a year-round destination. The town and its surrounding villages provide an attractive base for those keen to immerse themselves in some genuine Mallorcan culture as well as those who like to indulge in outdoor pursuits. So enjoy some wine tasting and vineyard tours, or go shopping for leather goods. 

Shopping

Leather is the word in Inca. You will find leather shops littering the town, while Thursday’s market offers lots of options of varying quality with some bargains to be had. Alternatively, visit the large leather outlets on the outskirts of town. For high-street shopping, head to Avinguda del Bisbe Llompart which has famed Spanish brands along with some independent shopping stores. Carrer des Hostals, adjacent to Plaça d'Espanya, is where you will find boutique shops selling international designer labels.

Cycling in Inca

Cyclists will enjoy the rolling country lanes within close proximity to Inca, which is also within easy reach of the craggy Serra de Tramuntana for thigh-busting climbs and some of the most famous cycling routes on the island.

Cycling Routes in Mallorca

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Hiking in Inca

There are plenty of charming hill villages close to Inca such as Lloseta, Selva or Mancor de la Vall. These are good places to start hikes and explore the countryside.

Walking Routes in Mallorca

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Yachts & Sailing in Inca

Watersports in Inca

Watersports in Inca

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Villas in Inca

Villas in Inca

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Holidays Rentals in Inca

Staying in short-term rental accommodation is a wonderful way to experience your holiday in your own time and space. With the freedom to cook, relax and come and go as you please, there are a number of beautiful rural establishments in the surrounding countryside, along with some lovely private fincas available to rent, ideal for larger groups.

Holiday Rentals in Inca

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Hotels in Inca

There are very few hotels in Inca itself, but there are boutique hotels dotted around the outskirts of the town that are within walking distance. 

Hotels in Inca

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How to get to Inca

By car

Inca is just under a 30-minute drive from Palma airport. Head towards Palma along the Ma-19, then use the Ma-20 ring road around the city before taking the Ma-13 all the way to Inca. Alternatively take the hassle out of driving and book a private transfer.

Public transport

There is a direct bus to Inca from the airport. 

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Latest News & Reviews

Find out all about what is happening in Mallorca and how to make the most of your time here. The latest news, reviews of fun activities, fabulous beaches, current events and the trendiest restaurants, as well as interviews with leading locals, insider's guides and our top choices for things to do, see, and experience on the island.

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Upcoming Events

The island hosts all sorts of events, including agricultural fairs in the spring and autumn, live music and DJs in the summer, religious fiestas and international sporting events. Some of the most popular are the Mallorca 312 cycling race in April, the Copa del Rey sailing regatta in July and the Moors vs Christians mock battle in September.

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Classical Music Festival, Port de Soller
Halloween at Katmandu Park, Magaluf
Halloween at BCM, Magaluf
Halloween at Pueblo Espanol,
Halloween at Palma Aquarium, Palma de Mallorca