Andratx

Andratx (pronounced Andratsh) is a town in the Serra de Tramuntana area at the southwest tip of Mallorca. Together with its harbour of Port d'Andratx, the beach resort of Camp de Mar, and smaller villages such as Sant Elm, the population was 11,800 in 2023.

Understand

Serra de Tramuntana is the rugged backbone of Mallorca, forming its north coast. At Andratx it plunges into the sea, re-surfacing briefly as the island of Sa Dragonera, then continues southwest underwater to Ibiza. As elsewhere on Mallorca, the main village was several km inland for fear of seaborne attack, with a separate small port: the Romans called it Andrachium and left a few coins and potshards but no grand ruins. Traditionally this area had subsistence farming and fishing, but was hampered by poor roads and limited harbours. In the late 20th century it turned to tourism, but the only spot with mass appeal was Camp de Mar, with a small sandy beach on an otherwise rugged coast. So the big hotels are there, while Port d'Andratx and Sant Elm have holiday homes for prosperous mainlanders, and the hills to the north are sparsely populated.

Get in

By road from Palma is 30 km: take Ma-1 west. From the airport use Ma-20 to bypass the city.

TIB Bus 101 runs roughly hourly from Palma, taking 50 min to Andratx and Port d'Andratx.

Bus 121 runs hourly from Sant Elm and S'Arraco to Andratx. Bus 122 runs hourly from Santa Ponca and Peguera.

Port d'Andratx is the starting point of the GR 221 long-distance hiking trail ("Ruta de Pedra en Sec - route of the dry stone walls"), which leads over nine stages along the northwest coast and through the Serra de Tramuntana mountains to Pollença.

Get around

You need your own wheels to see the area properly. Car hire is best arranged at Palma airport or city.

See

• A total solar eclipse on Wednesday 12 Aug 2026, starting at 20:31 and lasting 90 seconds. The chances of a clear sky are 65%, but you need to be on the coast with a clear view to the horizon, as the sun will be setting over the sea. A few minutes later, sunset ends the show.
• 1 Castillo de Son Mas sits on a hilltop on Av de la Cúria. It was built in the 16th century but its present gothic-cum-arabesque appearance is a 20th century invention. It's now the city hall and tourist office, try looking in during office hours in case there's an exhibition.
• Santa Maria d'Andratx 200 m northwest of the castle was founded in 1248 but the present building is 18th century. It's rarely open, even on Sunday.
• 2 Molí de Sa Planeta is a well-preserved windmill built in 1784 on the ridge north of town. The access track is rough and there's no interior access.
• 3 Centro Cultural Andratx (CCA), Estanyera 2, ☏ +34 971 137770. Tu-Sa 11:00-17:00. Gallery with changing exhibitions of contemporary art. Adult €10, conc €5, child free. (updated Sep 2024)
• Nuestra Señora del Carmen is in the pedestrian centre of Puerto de Andratx. It was consecrated in 1918.

Castillo de Son Mas

• 4 Studio Weil, Sant Carles 20, Port d'Andratx, ☏ +34 634 147814. Sa Su 11:00-14:00. Futuristic building by Daniel Libeskind showcasing the art of Barbara Weil (1933-2018). In summer they have jazz concerts. (updated Sep 2024)
• 5 Mirador de la Mola is a viewpoint at the head of the rocky peninsula, reached by C Magraner.
• 6 Església del Sant Crist in S'Arracó was built mid-20th century in traditional rustic style. It's only open for Sunday Mass at 10:00.
• 7 Sant Elm is a small harbour, sheltered by the islet of Pantaleu.
• 8 La Trapa is the shell of a Trappist monastery, reached by a hiking trail 4 km north of Sant Elm. The monks came here in 1810 to escape anti-clerical Revolutionary France, farming the land, until they abandoned it mid 20th century and it fell derelict. In full it's El Monasterio de Santa María de la Trapa, but of course the monks weren't allowed to say so.
• 9 Sa Dragonera is an uninhabited island 4 km long by 0.5 km wide, named for its serrated profile. It's within kayaking distance from Sant Elm and boat trips visit, though there's not much to do except hike the lane that straggles its length - wear stout boots, and water shoes if you bathe. It's nowadays a nature reserve inhabited by thousands of lizards. In 1974 a developer sought to build a tourist resort: he eventually lost a ten-year legal battle, yet one that probably saved him losing even more money on an ill-judged scheme.

Do

Town centre

• Beaches: the only sandy beach is Camp de Mar, the rest are rocky.
• Golf: Golf de Andratx is in Camp de Mar, white tees 6089 m.
• Marina: Port d'Andratx is the only harbour on this rugged coast. Yachts moor south side by the old centre or anchor in the bay, larger craft and floating gin palaces moor north side.

Buy

• Lots of small stores. Eroski at the south edge of Andratx is a large supermarket open daily 09:00-21:30.
• Market day in Andratx is Wednesday 09:00-13:00.

Eat

• Andratx itself has Sa Somera, La Tapa Granaína, Bar Parada, Auriazul Pizza and Mesón Can Paco.
• The port has Maria Maria, Llamp Gastrobar, Can Pep, Marisquería Galicia, No 11, La Universal and Hidden Kitchen.
• Camp de Mar has Gran Sol, Meson El Quijote, Chiringuito, Campino, Maria 5 Beach, Urbano, and Illeta out on the islet.
• Sant Elm has a dozen places lining the waterfront.

Drink

• Wine: Terra IóN is a vineyard 2 km north of Andratx offering tours. Most of Mallorca's wine comes from further inland around Inca.
• Bars: several in each village.

Sleep

Guardians of Dragon Island

• 1 Grupotel Playa Camp de Mar, Av Gabriel Covas Alemany 1, Camp de Mar, ☏ +34 971 235025. Relaxing quiet hotel by the beach, adults only and draws an older crowd. B&B double €200. (updated Sep 2024)
• H10 Blue Mar, C Salinar 8, Camp de Mar (200 m east of Grupotel), ☏ +34 971 235100. Good value hotel right on the beach. B&B double €200. (updated Sep 2024)
• Zafiro Palace, C Cromlec 3, Camp de Mar (200 m south of Steinberger), ☏ +34 971 235500. Splendid resort hotel, by the golf course on the slopes above Camp de Mar beach. B&B double €350. (updated Sep 2024)
• 2 Steinberger Resort, Taula 2, Camp de Mar, ☏ +34 971 1355. Resort hotel and spa by the golf course, some facilities tired but overall good scores. B&B double €160. (updated Sep 2024)

Connect

As of Sep 2024, Andratx and the road from Palma have 5G from all Spanish carriers, but the signal fizzles out as you go further north onto the coast.

Go next

• Palma de Mallorca the capital needs a couple of days to explore.
• Valldemossa to the north has a former monastery and an art exhibition.
• Magaluf is the place for party animals.