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Palmanova and Magaluf: where to stay and how to get there

Palmanova and Magaluf in Majorca: direct summer flights from six Irish airports, beaches, best months and which area suits families or groups.

Updated Saturday 17 October 2026

Why go

Palmanova and Magaluf sit side by side on the south west coast of Majorca, in the municipality of Calvià. Palma is about 15 km away and the airport is a 20 to 25 minute drive. You lose very little of your holiday to transfers.

The two resorts feel different. Palmanova is the calmer one, with three sandy beaches and plenty of family hotels. Magaluf is busier and louder, but it also has the big family attractions. Pick your base by the kind of evening you want.

Getting there from Ireland

Direct flights run from six Irish airports, all on the summer timetable only:

  • Dublin: Aer Lingus and Ryanair, about 2 hours 35 minutes
  • Cork: Aer Lingus and Ryanair, about 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Shannon: Ryanair, about 2 hours 40 minutes
  • Knock: Ryanair, about 2 hours 45 minutes
  • Belfast International: Jet2.com, Ryanair, TUI and easyJet, about 2 hours 45 minutes
  • Belfast City: easyJet, about 2 hours 45 minutes

TUI is due to start flying from Cork in May 2027. Check flight times on the airline’s site, as schedules change each season.

From the airport, Palmanova is roughly 26 km away, or 20 to 25 minutes by car. The A11 express bus links the airport with Palmanova, Magaluf and Santa Ponsa. It only carries passengers to and from the airport, so it is quick.

When to go

Figures below are 1991 to 2020 averages for Palma, from Wikipedia’s AEMET-based climate table. Sea temperatures come from seatemperature.org.

  • May and June: highs of 23°C to 27°C. The sea warms from about 19°C to 22°C. Good for families with young kids who don’t want the peak heat.
  • July and August: highs around 30°C and the sea at 25°C to 26°C. The hottest and busiest weeks.
  • September: still about 27°C, with the warmest sea of the year at around 25°C. A strong month for couples.
  • October: highs around 24°C and the sea near 23°C. Quieter, and many attractions run on shorter hours.
  • Winter: highs of about 16°C, and no direct flights from Ireland.

Where to stay

  • Palmanova: three beaches, Es Carregador, Palmanova and Son Matías, and a relaxed feel that suits families.
  • Magaluf: the liveliest base, with Western Water Park and the indoor Katmandu Park close by.
  • Santa Ponsa: a wide bay a few kilometres further west, on the same airport bus route.

Good for

  • Families who want a short flight and a short transfer
  • Groups who want nightlife within walking distance
  • Couples who travel in late spring or September
  • First-timers to Majorca who want plenty of choice

Families should know that Magaluf has a strong party reputation. Since 2020, a Balearic law has targeted drink-fuelled tourism in set zones, including the Punta Ballena strip in Magaluf. Happy hours, pub crawls and party boats are banned there, and shops can’t sell alcohol between 9.30pm and 8am. All-inclusive hotels in these zones are limited to six alcoholic drinks a day.

Late deal tip

If a late deal is flight and hotel only, don’t pay for a private transfer by reflex. The A11 express bus runs from the airport to Palmanova and Magaluf, from early morning until close to midnight. If the kids want a water park, check opening dates first. In 2026, Western Water Park opened on 2 April, so an early Easter trip could miss it.

Sources

More guides nearby