Mallorca (Majorca) in January – The Best Things to See and Do
The month of January can best be described as a little depressing in the British Isles and northern Europe in general. Christmas is over, the new year celebrations are but memories and the days are short and generally wet and cold. Mallorca, on the other hand, has much to offer for a short break. There are surprisingly many things to see and do in Mallorca in January. So prepare yourself a cup of green tea, hot chocolate or amazing wine and enjoy our expert´s guide about Mallorca in January.
Mallorca Weather in January
The weather in Mallorca in January is mild and occasionally chilly. During the day it’s recommended to spend time outdoors and take advantage of what sunshine there is to be had. With approximately 9 hours of daylight the days are still relatively long and the nights can be chilly and occasionally cold.
- How hot can it get in January?
Mallorca is not hot in January, There may be days you can go to the beach but these are few and far between. And sunbathing is for the adventurous spirit. On average, the daytime temperature is 13 degrees. At noon it can reach 17-20 degrees, and at night time 5-8 degrees and on a rare occasion freezing.
- Can you sunbathe in Mallorca in January?
Let’s be clear, it’s wintertime and nothing can get away from that. That been said on a clear sunny day you may be fooled into thinking it’s summer, but a few minutes in swim shorts on the beach will set your thinking straight. The water is cold and atmospheric humidity is such that even with a light breeze you will feel the chill.
- What should I pack with this weather?
In your suitcase to travel to Mallorca in January, you will need light trousers and jumpers for during the day. It’s better to be prepared for all eventualities, layer up and if you need to take something off or vice versa then you can. Toeless sandals won’t be necessary.
- Will it rain in Mallorca in January?
Rain is guaranteed in January, and sometimes snow. The average snowfall days are 2 days per year in January. There will be no skiing though as the snowfall in mainly in the mountain region and it does not last long.
- What time are the sunset and the sunrise in January?
The Sunrise is at around 08:30 and the sunset at 17:00 approximately.
You can check the average temperature on the official website of AEMET. This is the official website of the state meteorological agency. Here you can find useful statistics on temperature and average rainfall.
What to See and Do in Mallorca in January
January is a busy month in Spain. In northern Europe Christmas is celebrated on the 25th of December and whilst this holiday is celebrated in Spain the main event does not happen until the 6th of January. On this day the 3 kings arrive and that is the special day for the children regarding present giving, etc. There are also many fiestas and local celebrations that we will mention.
What can I do with children during January?
As previously mentioned the celebration of the arrival of the three kings has to be the highlight of the month. If the kids have had a visit from Santa Claus in their home country then it would not be fair to forget the visit of these three wise fellows on your visit to Mallorca. The excitement will be clear as all the children are well aware of what will await them on the morning of the 6th of January.
What are the three kings (Los Reyes Magos) and where can I see them?
The three kings or the three wise men are the fabled magi who traveled to Bethlehem to find the baby Jesus on the feast of the epiphany which is celebrated 12 days after Christmas on the 6th of January. The Spanish custom is that the children leave their shoes by the door and the kings will leave the presents inside the shoes and bigger presents nearby of course. On the previous evening in most villages of Spain, there will be a procession, and the three kings Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar arrive (usually on horseback) to much fanfare and excitement.
If you have children it is a must-see as the atmosphere is electric with all the little faces and their anticipation. Afterward, there will be liquid refreshment but usually not too late as bedtime beckons. As mentioned most villages and towns have their procession. It’s not advertised as the grapevine knows about this but best to check with a local beforehand as sometimes presents are handed out by the kings. It would be an unfortunate miscalculation to make that error if you just show up with children in tow.
The fiestas of St Antoni in Pollenca
The feast of Saint Anthony, the patron saint of animals and lost things are celebrated in January. All villages of the islands have their parties with great bonfires to celebrate these dates with correfocs and demons and fogerons etc. Many locals use this as an opportunity to get their pets blessed. Also and this can be a curious spectacle outside the local church. All manner of four-legged and other breeds of companions are turning up for the consecration.
The celebrations in Pollenca and its port are a highlight of the social calendar with processions and many interesting events. The festivities begin the previous weekend when the population sets up camp in Ternelles forest to choose a pine tree. After a torrada and much merriment the tree is transported back to the town and taken to the placa where its hoisted into place. The following weekend the townsfolk throw another big party and see who can climb to the top of the 20 meters greased pine tree first to liberate the waiting cockrel.
A visit to the foundation of Yannick and Ben Yackober in Alcudia
The foundation of Yannick and Ben Yackober is to be found near the town of Alcudia within the museum of Sa Bassa Blanca. The foundation was founded in 1993 by the couple and with philanthropic contributions from the banker Georges Coulon Karlweiss. Highlights of the visit include a collection of paintings of children from European royalty dating between the 16th and 19th centuries. These paintings were said to be commissioned by the respective families to be sent to their counterparts to arrange marriages. It was the norm at that time so to ensure the continuation of the respective royal families.
The main building which is a spectacular white villa was designed by Egyptian architect Hassan Fathy and made use of an existing farmhouse and is an outstanding feature of the landscape. It is the only example of a building from this architect to be found in western Europe.
Located within the house gardens a zoo can be found consisting of many animal sculptures. They are inspired by archeological pieces that can be found in museums around the world. Mostly in granite these sculptures include dog, bull, cat, elephant, horse, hippo, ram, rhino and goddess.
Spotlight on Gastronomy - what’s interesting to eat in Mallorca in January
Mallorca’s traditional baked bread
Traditional bread-making in Mallorca is enjoying renewed status that celebrates the island’s traditional baking techniques and the wheat grown here. As a result, there is a variety of beautiful bread available, the production of which is centered on the traditional peasant culture based on the xeixa grain that was introduced to Mallorca by the Romans. Have a look on the traditional bread prepared by one of our best local experts below 😉 Bravo Juan!
Highly resistant to drought, the xeixa type of wheat flourished, which resulted in the salt-free ‘pa de pagès’ (farmer or peasant bread) and ‘pa Moreno’. It is the brown version, which is considered to be essential for the making of pa amb oli (bread and oil).
A love for pa amb Oli
Combining olive oil and bread may well have been occurring for centuries, but there was an ingredient missing, and that was the tomato. It was the Spanish who introduced the tomato to Europe from Mexico. Although the Aztecs had been eating tomatoes and using them in cooking with few apparent ill-effects, a European view was that they could be poisonous. Indeed they could be if they absorbed lead contained in pewter plates, which were used in Europe. The highly acidic tomato absorbed the lead. Once this was realized, the tomato started to gain greater acceptance.
At some unknown point in history, someone in Catalonia hit on the idea of adding tomato to the oil and bread. Smearing tomato, apart from adding more flavour, also softened the bread. It might seem an obvious thing to have done, but there is no known written reference to what the Catalans called ‘pa amb tomàquet’ before 1884.
Pa amb Oli, plus tomato, is, therefore, a comparatively recent innovation, though it has created all kinds of culinary inventions. Very simple though it is, pa amb oil has been embraced by the world of gastronomy in Mallorca where it has been elevated to high culinary art.
Pa Amb Oli World Championship
In 2019, the first Pa Amb Oli World Championship was held in Palma during the four-day pa amb oli fair. The judges included a Michelin-starred chef, the president of the Traditional Bakers’ Association, and the president of the Mallorca Olive Oil DO regulatory council. The winning pa amb oli was prepared by a restaurant from Ibiza and the award was for pa amb oli with Formentera dried fish.
Ramallet tomato
The type of tomato used for pa amb oli is considered to be as important as the type of bread and olive oil used. The ‘ramallet’ has the distinction of being the essential tomato. In Mallorca, the ramallet tomato is so important it even has its own fair held in Maria de la Salut in August.
Places to visit in January in Majorca
Gardens of Mallorca
The Alfabia estate
The Alfabia estate in Bunyola offers one of the finest examples of landscape gardening in Mallorca. The estate dates from the Moors era (711 AD -1492). A wonder in ancient design and irrigation techniques, the gardens are the most beautiful in Mallorca.
The original landscaping was commanded by Benhabet, who was the Muslim lord of Pollensa (Bullensa), Inca (Inkan), and Alfabia, and also, the Governor of the whole of Mallorca outside Palma. Alfabia was his residence until the conquest by Jaume I in 1229. It is a fantastic treat for the eyes and senses and is well worth a visit.
There are vestiges of the first gardens, which benefited from the Arabian talent for irrigation, something that is evident elsewhere in the Tramuntana Mountains. The development of the gardens over the centuries has introduced features such as the water lily pond and the pergola walkway with its water jets, while the residence was influenced by architectural styles from medieval times (Gothic) through to the Baroque.
Raixa Finca
Lying only five kilometers from the wonders of Alfabia estate is Raixa Finca. A one-time Moorish farmstead, the main development was overseen by Antoni Despuig I Dameto, Cardinal Despuig. In the late eighteenth century, he built a grand mansion-villa in a neoclassical style. The principal house had been burnt to the ground during the “Germanies” (Brotherhoods) revolt between 1521 and 1523. The gardens feature fabulous terraces, a water fountain, an orange garden, a folly, a large pond, a grotto, and a staircase that is dedicated to the god Apollo.
The Raixa Finca was declared an asset in the cultural interest in 1993. In 2002 Council of Mallorca and the National Parks Foundation took over the estate and have preserved the amazing grounds and buildings.
Marivent Palace
The Marivent Palace in Palma is the Spanish Royal Family’s residence in Mallorca. The family comes to Mallorca twice a year – for Easter and summer holidays in late July/early August. The palace is owned by the Balearic Government, this being a legacy of it having been donated to the former provincial authority after its original owner died in 1963.
He was Ioannes Saridakis (referred to in Mallorca as Joan Saridakis). An Egyptian painter, he amassed a fortune as a mining engineer in Chile and commissioned the building of the palace in 1923. It took only two years to complete.
The provincial authority went against the wishes of the Saridakis estate that the palace should be an art museum freely open to the public. In 1973 (10 years before the Balearic government came into existence), the palace was made available to the crown – the former king, Juan Carlos, and Sofia, who is now the Queen mother. The art treasures were removed. The public no longer had access to the palace itself or to the gardens, but with the agreement of King Felipe, the gardens were opened to the public in 2017. They contain some 40 different plant species, most of them native to Mallorca, and sculptures by Joan Miró, which have been gifted by the Miró estate.The gardens are open all year except during the periods when the family is in residence.
Deia and its famous residents
The picturesque village of Deia lies on the west coast of Mallorca about an hour’s drive and 30km from the city of Palma. This mountain village has become famous throughout the years for its many famous foreign residents including film-stars writers and musicians. The village dates from the Moorish period and this is demonstrated by its name which is taken from Arabic, ad daia, and means place of residence or village.The moors planted the hillsides with terraced gardens and these well-maintained terraces can still be seen today although they have been replanted with olive trees and orange groves.
Useful information for visit in Deia
Parking in Deia is difficult at the best of times so January may be one of the best times to visit as at least there will not be too much competition for the limited parking there is. This is by the wish of the locals and the town council to keep visitors to a minimum.
The main attraction is the village charm and the chance to rub shoulders with the rich and famous. Previous residents include Robert Graves – the author of I Claudius- and Michael Douglas who has a home in the Estate of Son Marroig.
On a sunny day, it’s worth visiting Cala Deia, one of the most secluded calas on the island. In wintertime, it will be unusual to find the café open but it’s worth to take a picnic and enjoy the spectacular views and the fresh air.
We hope you have found this article about Mallorca in January useful, and that it helps you to plan your travel to Mallorca. If you liked the article, please share it on your social networks so other travelers can see it. If you have some extra suggestions for January in Mallorca, leave us your comment and we will add it to the article.
- Mallorca in January
- Mallorca in February
- Mallorca in March
- Mallorca in April
- Mallorca in May
- Mallorca in June
- Mallorca in July
- Mallorca in August
- Mallorca in September
- Mallorca in October
- Mallorca in November
- Mallorca in December
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