5 Activities for Overcast Days in North Mallorca

Get an artist education in Pollenca

Soak up some culture with Pollenca’s art museums, check out the 17th century baroque cloisters of the Convent de Sant Domingo first and then head inside to the Museu de Pollenca, which houses rooms of art exhibits including a room of gothic pieces, modern art, a permanent collection of Atilio Bovery and the piece de la résistance the Buddhist Mandala given to the Museum by the Dalai Lama.

The free Museu Marti Vincenc located part way up the Calvari steps hosts a display of sculpture, textile and paintings by the Pollenca born artist, some of which were unpublished up until his death. Run now by Vincenc’s wife this small museum is contained in a 300-year-old house that was once a part of a large Franciscan Monastery and has several rooms showing Vincenc’s skill progression and artistic journey.

Casa-Museu Dionis Bennassar, this museum and former home of the artist Bennassar hosts a permanent collection of his works, again showing the styles and skills through which the artist progressed in his career.

Shop Shop Shop

If you can’t lie on the beach all day and you don’t fancy the museums and art galleries then check out Northern Mallorca’s shopping scene.

Ca’n Picafort to Port D’Alcudia is one long stretch of discount and duty free shops where you can pick up all manner of souvenirs and brand wear for less. Puerto Pollenca has a surfer chic vibe to it and you can hippy-up your wardrobe and home in little shops dotted around town. For something more up-market check out old town Alcudia or Pollenca’s many boutiques selling one off fashions, jewellery, and accessories as well as art and sculptural pieces.

Or you can follow the market trail, every day of the week there is a market happening in a town in the north with stalls of Mallorcan products from clothes and jewellery to olive wood carvings and leather goods, fresh fruit and veg stalls as well as Mallorcan meats, cheeses and olives to be tried and tasted. The atmosphere is always fun with artists working and selling their pieces and musician’s performing in the streets, whether rain or shine a day at the markets is always fun.

Bird watch in s’Albufereta Natural Park

This 688 hectares of protected wetlands is a birdwatchers paradise and with hiking and cycling routes as well as shady hides in which you can camp out with your binoculars and camera, this park is a great place to spend an over cast day, especially since the humid nature of the park is intensified by the direct sun so checking it out on a grey day is a good idea.

Pretend to be Indiana Jones in Alcudia and South of Ca’n Picafort

Alcudia is the site of the Balearic Islands most important archaeological site, the Roman ruins of Pollentia, a walk around which is not complete without stopping at the Museum Monografic de Pollentia where you can see personal, domestic and religious artefacts which have been discovered at the site.

If you want to branch out from the famous Pollentia and don’t mind a little hiking, head along the coast to just south of Ca’n Picafort where you will find several other archaeological sites including Es Figueral de Son Real, the site of a Talayotic settlement dating back to 1000 BC and also the Necropolis de Son Real, a grave site of 110 tombs where more than 300 people were buried, dating back to 7th century BC. This site also boasts great panoramic views of the surrounding area and coastline. Not far from here is the Illot dels Porros a small island just off the coast which also holds an ancient Necropolis, although since you’ll have to swim or row to get there perhaps save this one for a sunnier day.

Soak up some Café Culture

If all else fails a day spent café hopping through the patisseries and tapas bars of the north doesn’t sound too bad. Almost every restaurant offers a ‘coffee and cake’ deal and there are far worse ways to spend a morning. Break up the afternoon with a dish of olives or a different tapas dish in every restaurant and by the evening you’ll be ready for a glass of Mallorcan wine and some Paella in your favourite spot. If you’re going to sit for a while, pick a busy spot such as the plaza de Constitucion in old town Alcudia, the base of the Calvari steps or Placa Major in Pollenca, and while away an overcast day over good food, drink and people watching.

Keep an eye on the Mallorca weather forecasts here.