Alaró: villas and local guide

Alaró villas and area guide to a working Mallorcan town below Puig d’Alaró, with Plaça de la Vila, Sant Bartomeu, the market, Es Verger and the castell.

Set beneath the twin peaks of Puig d’Alaró and Puig d’Alcadena, Alaró balances village life around Plaça de la Vila and Sant Bartomeu with olive and pine routes to Es Verger and the rock castell above.

Alaró

Alaró is an inland municipality in Mallorca’s Raiguer, where the settled town stands below the twin silhouettes of Puig d’Alaró and Puig d’Alcadena. Its centre is a lived-in Mallorcan place rather than a resort, organised around Plaça de la Vila, the Ajuntament and the parish church of Sant Bartomeu. Older neighbourhoods, Los Damunt and Los Davall, developed on either side of the Na Marranxa torrent, while a legacy of oil, shoe-making, lignite and early electrification gives the town a more industrial story than its stone streets initially suggest.

Above it, the route through olive and pine country climbs towards Es Verger and the fortified Castell d’Alaró, a rock castle with long views across the Serra de Tramuntana and the Pla. The municipality is best understood through this contrast: village life and services below, then dry-stone paths, estates and protected mountain terrain above. Orient is a neighbouring valley destination, but it belongs to Bunyola municipality rather than Alaró.

At a glance

  • Azul Stays villas: 3
  • Palma airport (PMI): 34 min · 35 km
  • Palma city centre: 33 min · 30 km
  • Best for: Village-based families, Walkers and hikers, Food-focused couples

Approximate driving times without traffic, measured with Google Maps on 12 October 2026.

Part of Central Mallorca

Staying here

A villa stay in Alaró suits travellers who value a proper village, access to walking and a rural setting over being by the sea. Alaró village is the practical choice for families and groups who want the Saturday market, cafés and restaurants close at hand. Couples and food-focused guests can combine the square with a lunch at Es Verger, while walkers are well placed for the Castell d’Alaró route and the mountain landscape above the town.

Golfers have Golf Son Termes in neighbouring Bunyola; beach and boating days mean leaving the municipality, with Port de Sóller providing the north-west coast’s marina facilities. A car is strongly useful for country estates, shopping and trailheads, although the village itself is walkable. The Castell route includes an ascent on foot even for visitors who approach part way by vehicle; the upper access is rural and calls for care rather than a hurried arrival.

Spring and autumn are the more comfortable walking seasons; in summer, begin mountain activity early and reserve shaded lunch time for the village. Alaró is not a resort: it has no municipal beach, and the trade-off for its quieter, agricultural edge is that evening choice and services are concentrated in the town rather than spread across a coast.

Towns, villages and coast

  • Alaró village — The municipal centre around Plaça de la Vila, with the Ajuntament and the parish church of Sant Bartomeu, is the service, dining and market hub.
  • Los Damunt — The older uphill neighbourhood is associated with the original parish area and hosts the late-May Cossiers celebrations.
  • Los Davall — The lower neighbourhood developed from the mid-14th-century move of the parish centre and became the town’s commercial focus.
  • Camí des Castell, Es Verger and Castell d’Alaró — This upland approach from the town passes Son Penyaflor and Es Verger before the final climb to the castle; it is a rural route rather than a separate resort village.
  • Solleric valley — A rural valley within the wider Alaró landscape, visible from Castell d’Alaró and represented by traditional estate and agricultural scenery.

Highlights

The places we would not miss, from landmarks and beaches to walks and viewpoints.

  • Castell d’Alaró (Landmark) — The fortified rock castle, first recorded in 902 and declared a Bien de Interés Cultural in 1931, preserves walls, towers, the 1622 Oratory of Mare de Déu del Refugi and broad mountain-and-plain views.
  • Camí del Castell (Activity) — The signposted municipal route rises from Alaró through olive and pine country to the castle; the final approach is completed on foot.
  • Es Verger (Activity) — The mountain estate on the castle route is the natural stopping point for traditional Mallorcan cooking before or after the walk.
  • Plaça de la Vila and Sant Bartomeu (Village) — The civic heart combines the town hall, the central square and Sant Bartomeu, whose present church was begun in 1626 and built over several centuries.
  • Torre de l’Electricitat (Landmark) — The surviving chimney of Mallorca’s first power station, inaugurated in Alaró in 1901, stands on Avinguda de la Constitució.
  • Mercat d’Alaró (Market) — The weekly open-air market fills Plaça de la Vila with produce, artisan goods, textiles and other provisions every Saturday morning.
  • Son Penyaflor (Landmark) — This historic estate on the castle approach offers a guided estate experience by arrangement and is identified on the municipal Castell route.
  • Natura 2000 cliffs below Puig d’Alaró (Nature) — The cliff zone beneath the castle is included in the Natura 2000 network as a Site of Community Interest and a Special Protection Zone for Birds.

Events and festivals

What the municipality is known for through the year. Dates change every year, so check the official programme before you travel.

  • Sant Antoni, 17 January — The preceding evening brings street bonfires, grilled sausages and the first annual appearance of the Dimonis d’Alaró; pet blessings follow on the feast day.
  • Verge de Maig i Cossiers, last Saturday of May — The Cossiers dance through Los Damunt with the Dama and Dimoni in one of their two annual village performances.
  • Sant Pere, 29 June — The patronal celebration of the Los Damunt neighbourhood is marked by activities and open-air festivities in the days before 29 June.
  • Festes de Sant Roc, week preceding 16 August, culminating on 16 August — Alaró’s main patronal week commemorates Sant Roc and features Cossiers, Carreres de Joies, floats, giants, Dimonis, processions, concerts and revetles.
  • Fira Gremial d’Artesania d’Alaró, 4 October 2026 — The 27th artisan trades fair was officially scheduled from 09:00 to 19:00 on 4 October 2026.
  • Mercadet de Nadal, 5 and 6 December 2026 — The 14th Christmas market was scheduled across Plaça de la Vila and Plaça de Sebastià Jaume.

Where to eat

Restaurants checked as open in 2026. Michelin distinctions are taken from the 2026 Michelin Guide.

  • Es Verger (Es Verger, Alaró · Traditional Mallorcan) — The mountain restaurant on the castle route is known for wood-roasted Mallorcan dishes including lamb shoulder, suckling pig and kid.
  • Traffic Restaurant (Alaró village · Traditional Mallorcan) — At Plaça de la Vila, 8, Traffic states that it has served Mallorcan food made with local and seasonal produce since 1991.
  • Restaurante Gallardo (Alaró village · Italian-influenced Mediterranean and Roman-style pizza) — At Plaça Mercat, 2, Gallardo serves seasonal Italian-influenced cooking and pizza alla pala, with house-made bread, focaccia and pastries.
  • Vila Cinc (Alaró village · Mediterranean) — This Plaça de la Vila restaurant offers Mediterranean cooking, including seafood, steaks, pizzas and a terrace on the main square.
  • Sa Tafona (Alaró village · Mediterranean) — Sa Tafona at Carrer de la Verge del Refugi, 1 serves Mediterranean dishes including artichokes, lamb preparations and tuna tartare.
  • Bar Restaurant Ca’n Punta (Alaró village · Mallorcan and international) — On Plaça de la Vila, Ca’n Punta offers traditional Mallorcan cooking alongside international dishes, with terrace seating on the square.

Practical services

Markets, health care, golf, marinas and everyday essentials.

  • Weekly market: Mercat d’Alaró — Every Saturday, 08:00–14:00, at Plaça de la Vila; the council lists produce, artisan products, textiles and footwear among the stalls.
  • Supermarket: Agromart Alaró — Produce and provisions shop at Carrer de Llorenç Rosselló Escultor, 1; its published schedule is Monday–Saturday 08:00–21:00 and Sunday 08:00–14:00.
  • Health centre: UBS de Alaró — The local basic health unit is at Plaça Gaspar Perelló, 5 and is listed by IB-Salut as open Monday–Friday, 08:00–15:00.
  • Hospital: Hospital Comarcal d’Inca — The public hospital at Carretera Vieja de Llubí, Inca has a 24-hour Urgencias service, according to IB-Salut.
  • Golf: Golf Son Termes — The nearby 18-hole, par-70 course is in Bunyola; its official site lists online bookings, practice ground, shop, hire, restaurant and changing rooms.
  • Marina: Marina Tramontana, Port de Sóller — For the north-west coast, this Port de Sóller marina offers moorings, diving, charter and waterside food-and-drink facilities.

Getting there

  • Palma airport (PMI): 34 min · 35 km
  • Palma city centre: 33 min · 30 km

Approximate driving times without traffic, measured with Google Maps on 12 October 2026.

Discover other municipalities

Every municipality where Azul Stays has villas, on Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca.

Photo credits

Photographs from Wikimedia Commons, resized and in some cases cropped, used under the licences shown.

Sources

Facts checked on 12 October 2026.

Questions guests ask

How far is Alaró from Palma de Mallorca Airport?

About 34 minutes by car (34.6 km) from the centre of Alaró to Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI), measured on Google Maps without traffic. Allow extra time in July and August.

How far is Alaró from Palma?

About 33 minutes by car (30.4 km) from the centre of Alaró to Palma city centre, measured on Google Maps without traffic.

When is Alaró’s weekly market?

It is held every Saturday from 08:00 to 14:00 in Plaça de la Vila.

When are the Festes de Sant Roc?

Alaró’s patronal festivities take place in the week before 16 August and culminate on Sant Roc’s day, 16 August.

Is the walk to Castell d’Alaró suitable for a day out?

Yes. The council describes the signed route as easy to medium; it rises from the town and must finish on foot, with historic structures and viewpoints at the top.

Does Alaró have a beach?

No. Alaró is an inland Raiguer municipality; beach and marina facilities lie outside it. Port de Sóller is a north-west coast option with a working marina.

Is there golf near Alaró?

Golf Son Termes in neighbouring Bunyola is an 18-hole, par-70 course with online visitor booking, practice facilities, equipment hire and a restaurant.

What is the best time to plan the Castell d’Alaró walk?

Spring and autumn are generally the more comfortable seasons for the exposed climb; in summer, the local 2026 route guidance recommends an early start and careful planning around heat.

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