Porto Cristo
Traditional beach resort on the east coast of Mallorca
Porto Cristo – also known as Portocristo – is a charming fishing village on Mallorca’s east coast, nestled at the end of a long, sheltered bay. With its Blue Flag sandy beach and clear turquoise waters, it has become a relaxed, family-friendly resort that makes the most of its idyllic setting.
Porto Cristo offers a charming mix of ancient stone houses and characterful modern villas. It's hard to imagine now, but this tranquil village was once one of the main tourist hubs on Mallorca’s east coast—a status that shifted with the rise of the large-scale resort Cala Millor. Today, the port remains the heart of the village, home to numerous local restaurants ideally positioned to soak up the midday sun.
Porto Cristo is a popular summer retreat for British, German, and Scandinavian visitors. Even if you're not staying in the village, a visit to the legendary Cuevas del Drach (Dragon Caves) is highly recommended—this spectacular natural wonder draws droves of day-trippers.
History & Culture in Porto Cristo
Porto Cristo's surrounding area is famous for its many archaeological finds, including the prehistoric burial sites of Sa Gruta and Son Moro. Within the town, a Roman Basilica can be found on Avinguda de Joan Amer and remnants of a Roman port dwell behind the existing harbour, where a few years ago remains of a Roman ship were discovered.
Porto Cristo means “Port of Christ” and the small fishing town was given its name when a boat with a crucifix washed up on the beach at the time of the Christian invasion. Once the port for Manacor, Porto Cristo was the only place in Mallorca to be caught up in the Spanish Civil War, when it was briefly captured by Republican forces in 1936. The late 20th century saw more tourists visiting the area but the town has managed to retain much of its original charm.
Sights & Attractions in Porto Cristo
The Cuevas del Drach or Dragon Caves are the most illustrious attraction in the area. These calcareous formations were created more than 11 and 5.3 million years ago, during the Miocene era. Within the caves is Lake Martel, said to be one of the largest underground lakes in the world. Each day there are visits to the cave, which consist of a tour and come complete with a classical music performance on the lake. The more modest Cuevas dels Hams, named after the Mallorquin word for ‘fishhooks’ due to the shape of its stalactites and stalagmites, are also nearby.
Within the town itself, one of the most beautiful buildings is the old church of the ‘Mare de Deu del Carme’, named after the patron saint of seafarers. The mermaid statue in Calle Ses San Jorge is also worth taking a look at. To the south of the town, on the coastline, the ancient watchtower of Torre des Falcons stands tall dominating the landscape. It dates back to 1577 and sits above a hidden cave, making it a point of interest for explorers.
Sights in Porto Cristo
See all Sights & Sites-
Cuevas del Drach (Dragon Caves)
Located in Porto Cristo
Dark and cool, these limestone caves on the edge of Porto Cristo have become one of Mallorca's top tourist sights. Groups walk along 1200m of smooth paths exploring the magnificent stalactite formations within.
-
Cuevas dels Hams
Located in Porto Cristo
You cannot miss these caves as you drive from Manacor to Porto Cristo. Most people only want to visit one set of caves during their time on Mallorca and the giant billboards and flags at the entrance are an attempt to ensure that this is the one. In fact you are better off continuing to the 'Cuevas del Drach' or up the coast to the 'Coves d'Arta'.
Beaches in Porto Cristo
The main beach in Porto Cristo is small but rather lovely and has sun loungers and pedaloes for hire. It can get quite busy in the summer months, luckily, the east coast of Mallorca has plenty of small sheltered sandy beaches and coves to enjoy. We would recommend visiting the nearby beaches of Cala Anguila, Cala Mendia and Cala Romantica.
Beaches in Mallorca
See all Beaches-
Cala Romantica, East Mallorca
Located 3.8 km away
Cala Romantica is a picturesque cala with turquoise water and golden sand on the east coast of Mallorca.
-
Sa Coma Beach, East Mallorca
Located 4.8 km away
Sa Coma is a large and popular beach located five kilometres from Porto Cristo in the east of Majorca. Being one of the island’s resort-based beaches, it is situated in a relatively built-up area which means it unsurprisingly becomes very busy at peak times.
-
Cala Millor Beach, Cala Millor
Located 7.2 km away
The largest of 8 beaches in the region, this beach spans over a kilometre in length and is approximately 30 metres wide. Whilst it’s fairly busy during the summer months, if you can visit during their ‘off-season’, you’ll find a generous white sand beach with beautiful turquoise water.
-
Cala Varques Beach, East Mallorca
Located 7.9 km away
Cala Varques (also known as Cala Barques) is a quiet, untouched beach about 12 km south of Porto Cristo, on the east coast of Majorca. This beach continues to grow in popularity, with more visitors now than ever before. Despite the summer crowds and 15 minutes’ walk to get there, this beach is well worth your visit.
-
Canyamel Beach, North-East Mallorca
Located 15.4 km away
Canyamel beach gives visitors a small but perfectly formed, golden sandy beach within the quiet holiday resort of Canyamel.
-
Cala Sa Nau Beach
Located 18.9 km away
Escape the crowds on the beaches of Cala d'Or by heading 3 km north to the bay of Cala Sa Nau. This relaxed beach is surrounded by pine trees and is very picturesque.
Events in Porto Cristo
Along with many of the towns and villages on the island, Porto Cristo hosts an array of festivals and fairs throughout the year. One of the village's most popular events is the Festes del Carme in July, featuring concerts, markets, family entertainment and usually ending with a bang in the form of fireworks and Correfoc.
The Sant Antoni festival is another event to watch out for. On January 16th locals light bonfires and cook ‘botifarrons’ (locally made blood sausages) while singing and devil dancing take place. On the 17th, a parade is held in the streets followed by a blessing of animals by the local priest.
Dining in Porto Cristo
There is a wide range of cuisines on offer at Porto Cristo's restaurants, from local fare made with regional produce to international specialities.
Mediterranean cuisine
Set against the stunning backdrop of Porto Cristo Bay and Mallorca’s east coast cliffs, Flamingo Restaurant is a relaxed coastal restaurant offers scenic views, a sea breeze, and a simple menu featuring traditional paella and gourmet burgers. Friendly service, easy access, and a welcoming atmosphere make it a favourite among both tourists and locals.
International cuisine
Roland Restaurant is a wonderful bistro-style international restaurant furnished in contemporary décor and smartly laid tables. It's on a pedestrianized street but has a small terrace, perfect for an outdoor dining experience in the summer. Quince Restaurant & Cantina is a colourful boho-chic restaurant with a fabulous terrace overlooking the harbour. It prides itself as a lover of different cultures at local, regional and international levels, with fresh seafood, pasta, gyozas and ceviche on the menu.
Casual cafés
For something a little more laid-back, Vibes by Quince offers elevated seafront views in the heart of Porto Cristo with street food inspired dishes. The rustic-chic interior creates a relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere, serving beautifully presented Asian fusion, international, and local dishes, with highlights like slow-cooked pork bao and Galician octopus. Vibes also caters for private events with flexible, flavourful menus for all occasions.
Restaurants in Porto Cristo
See all Restaurants-
Vibes by Quince Restaurant
Located in Porto Cristo
Located in the heart of Porto Cristo directly facing the sea, Vibes capitalise on their pleasant sea views by putting their restaurant up on the first floor.
-
Flamingo Restaurant
Located in Porto Cristo
Superb views of Porto Cristo Bay to be enjoyed alongside Mediterranean paella and sangria.
-
Quince Restaurant and Cantina
Located in Porto Cristo
Combining flavours from the Mediterranean, Asia, Europe and America, this restaurant offers a creative menu, always made with fresh, local products and with lots of choice for vegetarians.
-
Roland Restaurant
Located in Porto Cristo
Serving a combination of Mediterranean, Asian and European cuisine, this restaurant benefits from having both indoor and outdoor seating available.
Things to do in Porto Cristo
Porto Cristo's location make it a lovely get-away-from-it-all resort appealing to families and those seeking a relaxing holiday in the sun. However, there are plenty of things to do in the area.
Aquarium
Porto Cristo has a small aquarium located near the famous Dragon Caves. Great for families looking to escape the heat of the day or even the odd day of rain on the island. It has a selection of exotic fish, including electric eels and piranhas.
Boat trips
A great way to explore the eastern coastline is by boat. From Porto Cristo, there are boat cruises travelling between the surrounding coves including Cala de Mallorca, Cala Millor, Cala Bona, Cala Romantica and Canyamel, all of which have stunning cliffs and beautiful clear blue seas.
Watersports
The network of nooks and crannies along the eastern coastline of Mallorca makes it an ideal place to try out scuba diving, snorkelling, canyoning and kayaking.
Safari Zoo
Porto Cristo is home to some exotic animals at the Safari Zoo Mallorca where you can see lions, giraffes, tigers, monkeys and various other species.
Shopping
Being a sleepy fishing village, there isn’t much to offer in the way of shops except for a few convenience stores where you can pick up your holiday essentials. Sundays is market day in Porto Cristo, but be sure to head down early as market traders tend to work between 08:00 and 13:00. If you are keen to indulge in some good high-street or designer shopping, Manacor is just down the road and is easy to access by public transport.
Golf
Two widely popular golf courses are within easy reach of Porto Cristo. Pula Golf appeals to the more experienced golfer as it has hosted the PGA European Tour Mallorca Classic and boasts some challenging holes. Vall d’Or Golf, on the other hand, is an easier course close to Cala d’Or offering impressive sea views.
Things To Do in Porto Cristo
See all Activities & Trips-
Full Day Boat Trip
Located in Porto Cristo
This excursion onboard Nereida - the Hanse 630e sailing yacht - will take you along the Eastern coast of Mallorca where you will discover its numerous stunning coves with their turquoise waters.
Hotels in Porto Cristo
There is no shortage of hotels on offer in Porto Cristo. THB Felip – Adults Only offers typical tourist accommodation and attracts return visitors year after year. Here you have everything at your fingertips, including the beach, an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, a spa area, buffet and a la carte restaurants. If you want something with a bit more charm, Hotel Rural Son Mas is a stylish hotel occupying a 17th-century mansion just outside of town. The outdoor swimming pool offers spectacular views of the countryside and the indoor spa has a hydromassage tub, a pool and offers massage and yoga classes.
Just down the coast is the Insotel Cala Mandia Resort, famous for its family-friendly, all-inclusive deals. With a spa and beauty centre, four outdoor pools, sunbathing terrace, three restaurants and cafes and bars, there is plenty to do here. If that’s not enough, there’s also a small water park suitable for children of all ages.
Hotels in Porto Cristo
See all Hotels-
Son Mas Hotel
Son Mas is located in a serene rural area, just inland from the coast. The hotel inhabits original 17th-century structures that belonged to a Mallorca posesió (farm), and the buildings have been lovingly restored and equipped with every creature comfort.
Price: €3,080
-
Mallorca Palace Hotel, Sa Coma
Located in Sa Coma
Nestled in Sa Coma cove and only 250m from Sa Coma beach, this 5 star hotel enjoys a beautiful location and views. Styled with traditional materials but with modern fittings, the hotel also features works by Mallorcan artists.
How to get to Porto Cristo
By car
By car, it takes just under an hour to get to Porto Cristo from the airport. Follow the Ma-19 towards Palma, then take exit 6 for the Ma-30 towards Inca before hopping on the Ma-15 towards Manacor. At Manacor, take the Ma-4020 all the way to Porto Cristo.
By public transport
The A42 is a direct bus that travels between the airport and Porto Cristo a few times per day and takes around an hour. If this doesn’t fit in with your timings, we would recommend grabbing bus number 1 from the airport to Plaça d'Espanya in Palma. From there, the TIB 412, which runs throughout the day, connects Porto Cristo to Manacor along with various other tourist hotspots like the Cuevas del Drach, Cala Millor and Son Servera.
Transfers for Mallorca
See all Airport Transfers-
Luxury Chauffeur Services & Airport Transfers
Experience luxury and convenience with this company. Arrive at your yacht charter, sunset tour or boat trip in unparalleled style in a Rolls Royce Ghost.
-
Janer Bus Airport Transfers
The established company have been offering a reliable, reasonably priced, private transfer service in Mallorca since 1993.
-
Taxi PMI
Taxi PMI is the Association of Taxi Drivers of Palma de Mallorca, who provide visitors with an efficient and reliable airport transfer service, whilst also eliminating the need to stand in a queue and wait for the next available taxi.
-
Easy Majorca Taxi
A group of taxi drivers with many years of experience in the sector of airport transfers in Mallorca. You can book online in advance or call to book last-minute.
-
MajorCabDriver Taxis
The only British taxi driver in Mallorca, offering airport transfers to destinations throughout the island.
-
Majorca Taxis Company Transfers
Multilingual company offering transfers from the airport to your destination.