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Pollensa, or Pollença, is one of Mallorca’s most popular destinations. The town is located in the north of the island and has an exciting annual calendar of events as well as plenty of things to see and do on offer, making it an ideal place to stay no matter what time of year you visit.
If you’re planning a trip and are trying to decide when to visit, here’s a month-by-month breakdown of the best time to visit Pollensa.
The start of the year is a really busy time in Pollensa. The average temperature is around 9°C during the day and can drop to below freezing at night, so it’s not a time to plan a beach holiday. It will be very quiet in Mallorca however as January falls in the off-season for tourism, so this is a great time to visit if you like to avoid crowds and high prices for accommodation and flights.
Historically, the Three Kings Parade is Spain’s equivalent of Christmas Eve. On the evening of the 5th of January, the town sees the arrival of the three kings in a colourful parade through the town, the kings throw sweets to the watching crowds. The kings, like Santa Claus, come bearing gifts for the town’s children
Local Pollensa youngsters come to the Plaza Mayor to greet the kings and give them a list of presents that they would like to receive. The children leave a clean pair of shoes or slippers outside their doors, and in the morning they receive presents if they have been good or coal if they have been naughty.
Each child has a favourite king; Melchoir (from Arabia), Caspar (from the Orient) or Balthazar (from Africa). The children also leave carrots, food and drink for the tired camels that transport the Kings.
The second day of the “Fiesta de los Reyes” begins in the morning with children opening their presents and families gathering for drinking and eating. The traditional cake Roscon de los Reyes, a sweet circular bread covered with sugar and dried fruits, is shared.
Baked inside each cake is a small plastic crown, and whoever finds it becomes king or queen for the day and is entitled to be waited on hand and foot. There is also a bean inside the cake, and traditionally whoever finds the bean has to buy the cake the following year.
Some bakeries will bake money or real jewels inside to encourage people to choose their shop to buy their cakes (at inflated prices of course.)
Many people’s favourite fiesta. The evening of the 16th of January is the eve of Sant Antoni, which sees bonfires built around the town. Sant Antoni is the Patron Saint of Animals and the fiesta has its roots in the island’s farming community.
There is a prize from the town hall for the best bonfire. In recent years there has also been a parade of the ‘Demonis’; demons are said to symbolise Christian’s eternal struggle between good and evil.
On the 17th of January, the day starts in the main square where you can see the locals bring an array of animals to Mare Deu Dels Angels church for blessings. Expect to see anything from dogs and cats to donkeys, sheep and pigs being brought to be blessed.
The locals then make their way up to the Ternelles estate to the north of the town, where a large pine tree has been felled in a separate event earlier in the month and is prepared to be transported and paraded around the streets. In the Ternelles Estate, which is opened especially for the event and the only time you can visit it without specific consent, there are usually several thousand people congregated in the hall providing food and wine, and many families and friends enjoying cooking their lunches on open fires (weather permitting).
At around 2pm, the journey of the pine commences towards the town. The procession can take 5 hours or more to reach the Plaza Vell, where it is erected and the young people of the town compete to be the first to reach the top and claim the prize of several hundred euros, which replaced the original prize of a live cockerel many years ago.
The procession is enjoyed by the villagers and there are several bars and restaurants en route that provide special dishes to celebrate the day. By the time the pine reaches the Plaza Vell, there will have been a lot of drink consumed on the way and the initial clamour to climb the pine is usually a raucous battle between hopeful adolescents with health and safety taking a back seat and medical staff and paramedics on standby in case of any unfortunate accidents!
The tree has been stripped of all branches and bark and is greased and soaped before being erected. Often it takes a concerted effort from a coordinated team for one person to reach the top and claim the prize.
It’s truly a sight to behold, although you can also retire to one of the many local bars and watch the whole event on the local IB3 TV channel. Throughout the fiesta lots of fireworks, firecrackers and rockets will be set off, so be prepared for a noisy fiesta that’s well attended and enjoyed by all.
The 20th of January sees the San Sebastia Fiesta, which is celebrated with a procession through the town where local people are dressed as horses. It’s a small parade, followed by the main San Sebastian celebration which happens in Palma with concerts and multiple music events held around the city.
From the end of January and throughout February, Mallorca’s countryside comes alive with the white-pink flowers of the almond blossom trees. There are more almond trees in Mallorca than there are tourists in the peak season, with over 7 million of the beautiful species found across the island.
The sight and scent often attract out-of-season visitors who flock to see the floral sensation. Coupled with the mild weather with average temperatures of 16°C in February, the almond blossom season is also a great time to visit to take advantage of the many hiking and walking routes that are on offer that start or finish in or around the town of Pollensa.
Mid-February often sees the ‘Carnival’ Fiesta take place, celebrating the start of Lent. The exact date changes depending on the date of Easter, but eight weeks before Easter the town hosts a parade and large fancy dress party in the Sant Domigo’s cloisters.
Warm weather and low rainfall attract a lot of cyclists to Pollensa during March, with well-maintained roads, mountain climbs and low traffic making cycling in Mallorca a fantastic experience for many serious cyclists. Its popularity has grown significantly over the years, with many UK groups now joining the famous German groups in enjoying the early start to the season in March.
Pollensa enjoys welcoming cyclists to the town during this time and it provides some hotels and holiday villas with the chance to open early for the cycling season. If you’re not too fussed about high temperatures and want to spend lots of time outdoors, it’s a fantastic time to visit.
The start of the main tourist season in Pollensa usually begins in April. Most seasonal restaurants and shops will open in April, including the large restaurants on the plaza major, with the town fully open it starts to attract more visitors. The Sunday market in Pollensa increases in size with the return of mainstream tourism and all shops and facilities should now be open.
Bird watchers often come in April to see the array of bird wildlife that often use Mallorca as a stop-off point on their migrations to and from the North of Europe. The proximity of the Albufera National Park offers marsh-type terrain that is an ideal location for these migrating species to stop over to replenish their energy. Pollensa is an ideal location for “twitches” or “birders” to stay whilst following their passion for spotting unusual species they wouldn’t necessarily see in their homelands.
The famous Semana Santa, or Easter parades often happen in April in Pollensa, although the dates differ every year and can sometimes fall in March or May. Maundy Thursday is followed by the larger Good Friday Parade in the town, which attracts large crowds from around the island and further afield.
The weather usually gets warmer in May in Pollensa, with average daily temperatures of 20°C and around 9 days of the month seeing rain. It can still be a good time to cycle and for walking, especially in the early part of the month when the tourist levels in the town are still reasonably low.
The first triathlon (Ironman) of the year usually happens around the beginning of May in Mallorca. Starting and finishing in the close-by town of Alcudia, Pollensa is an ideal location to stay if you’re participating or want to watch the event.
Tourist season starts picking up during June, making it a favourite time for families with preschool children and couples without children who aren’t tied to school holidays can enjoy the warmer weather and nearby beaches of Cala Sant Vincente and Puerto Pollensa. Temperature can reach up to 27°C at this time of year and there are only usually 6 days of rain, so it’s a brilliant time to plan sightseeing and trips from Pollensa to nearby coastal towns.
Sixty days after Easter Sunday, which usually falls in mid-June, is the parade of Corpus Christie; the ‘Ball de les Arguiles’ (dance of the eagles). Two young people dressed in white with gold jewels perform a simplistic dance around the town. The parade symbolises the day of Corpus Christie in 1614, when it is said a great Eagle flew above the town.
July sees summer tourists start to pour into Mallorca as the weather really heats up, with average daily temperatures often reaching 29°C towards the end of the month. The very beginning of July is a little quieter, but once most schools break up for the summer you can expect to see plenty of families around Pollensa and a fair increase in prices for accommodation and activities.
However, if you’re looking for guaranteed sunshine and very little rain, this is definitely the time to visit.
Mid-July is the first fiesta of Virgen del Carmen in nearby Puerto Pollensa. Virge de Carme is the patron saint of seafarers, and each year a program of events is organised which often includes concerts in the main Puerto Pollensa square and a party with DJs on the beach. The final day sees a large firework display on the same beach at midnight.
July the 26th sees the start of the week-long Patrona Festival in Pollensa’s old town. Each year there is a programme of events during the day and through the evening.
Usually, the start of the festival is very relaxed, with traditional Mallorcan dancing and music, and activities and games for children including a foam party and disco. The local tourist information office usually has a translated version of the programme available the week before the fiesta.
At the end of July, Pollensa’s main square is transformed into a Super Club. DJs perform sets of dance and disco music and everyone ( we mean everyone) dresses head to foot in white. It’s often referred to as white night’ by the tourists and is an incredibly popular event.
August is undoubtedly one of the busiest months in Pollensa, not only because of the weather but also because of the famous La Patrona Festival which attracts tourists from all over the island. Don’t be put off by the crowds and high temperatures however; it’s a cultural event that you won’t want to miss.
August 1st is the eve of the ‘battle’ that takes place to mark the La Patrona Festival. All the squares in Pollensa are turned into concert venues, with different genres of music being played in each location.
The events carry on throughout the night until dawn, when at 5.00am the town band appears on the stage in the main square and plays the town’s traditional anthem “Alborada”. The band carry out a tour of the town, repeating the musical piece at every open bar, they take the bus to the port and repeat the same.
For some, it’s a 24-hour event and there is not much time to sleep before the important battle later that day.
The Patrona Festival involves the re-enactment of the battle(s) between the Moors or Corsairs (Pirate invaders) and the Christians (Town Folk) that occurred on May 30/31 in 1550.
The story tells that Dragut and his Corsairs invaded the town after docking near Cala San Vincente and being led into the town by a local traitor. The town’s hero, Joan Mas, wakes up the town’s militia with a loud call from the street by the Plaza Almonia: “Help us Our Lady of Angels, wake up Pollencins – The Moors are here!”.
The first battle takes place in the street between Dragut, the Corsair’s leader, and Joan Mas. There is then a ferocious coming together of the two sides and the battle commences. Eventually, the Pirates retreat to the square at the hotel Son Sant Jordi, where they clash again and the men from the town council and mayor join the battle.
The town’s women and children are released from the chapel where the Chairs have been holding them prisoner. The Christian cannon is fired to celebrate the release of the prisoners.
The invaders are then pushed back to the old football ground of Can Escarrinxo by the roundabout on the edge of the town. After a 3rd battle, the Corsairs are eventually defeated and the Christians capture the Corsair’s flag and return to the Parish church to celebrate by singing a Latin hymn as thanks to the actions that led them to victory.
The evening concludes with fireworks that are set off from the base of the Puig de Maria.
Not to be confused with the La Patrona, The International Classical Music Festival is one of the oldest annual festivals dedicated to classical music. Founded in 1962, the festival has run every year in Pollensa, with the 2020 and 2021 taking place virtually due to Covid.
You can visit the organiser’s website for details and tickets. The concerts themselves take place in the magnificent Sant Domingo Cloisters and often draw in big crowds.
After the chaos of the high season and festivals, Mallorca falls back into more serenity
during September. The peak season temperatures fall back to the mid 20°C range and the crowds on the beaches and at the restaurants are subdued to reasonable levels.
September can be a great time to visit and is often a favourite for families with preschool children and couples without kids to enjoy the island. The sea and pools are still warm from the summer sun and accommodation have been reduced to more reasonable prices, so if you can visit during September then there is not much not to like.
If you visit towards the end of September you are more likely to catch some unsettled weather but, like anywhere in the Mediterranean, you can find places where the weather and temperatures can hold out for the duration of the season.
The temperatures continue to drop to an average of 18°C during October and it can be a great time to come to the island for some more strenuous activities. It’s a great month for cycling, or hikers can return to try out some of the many mountain routes and trails, and the Ironman Triathlon returns at the end of October for another race starting in Alcudia.
For many, it’s the last chance in the year to visit the tourist resorts before they pack up for the end of the summer season at the end of October. Many of the tourist beach resort restaurants and shops will hibernate until April the following year. Most of Pollensa will remain open, but there are a few of the larger restaurants in the main plaza that will finish for the winter at the end of October.
In October, many bird watchers return for the migration of the birds that passed through in April on their return journey back to the warmer winter climates of North Africa, stopping off on the island for a rest.
In November the main tourist season is over, but don’t let that put you off visiting. High temperatures can still reach 18°C and it rains for less than half the days of the month, so you’ll likely still come across some sunshine when you visit.
The second Sunday of November usually sees La Fira visit the old town of Pollensa. Originally an agricultural fair for the farmers and smallholding owners to buy products for their businesses, La Fira is a traditional market that now includes lots of demonstrations and displays from suppliers.
Now expanding and selling lots of local products and culinary delights, it’s a 3-day event with Sunday as the main day for events and product demos. A fair accompanies the event, which makes it a lovely place to attend with family.
December is the countdown to “Navidad”. Pollensa carries on with its usual village life; there are bars, restaurants and shops still open. Now the cooler weather has arrived, the outside terraces are more limited, but with the help of outdoor heaters, al fresco dining and drinking are still commonplace during the day.
Temperatures can still reach the low 20s in December. Walking, cycling and outdoor activities can be undertaken in the mild weather climate.
For anyone wanting to escape the commercialised Christmas we see more in the UK and other countries, Pollensa is a nice place to celebrate with family and friends. You will find properties that are for rental all year round and you can choose a villa that has central heating or a wood-burning stove to keep you cosy during the evenings when the temperatures can drop to single digits.
Christmas (Navidad) is less celebrated in Mallorca than in other European countries and tends to stick with the more traditional method of celebrating the 12 days, starting on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day on the 25th is more of a family celebration, and a lot of the businesses around Pollensa will be closed for the day.
As you can see, Pollensa is a town in Mallorca that has plenty going on throughout the year. The summer months are fantastic for families and those wanting to get involved with local festivals and traditions, whilst the months in the shoulder seasons for tourism are brilliant for enjoying the outdoors and appreciating Mallorca’s landscapes.
If you’re planning a visit to Pollensa and are looking for somewhere to stay in the area, Vida Villas has a fantastic selection of accommodation to choose from. Browse our selection here, or get in touch and talk to our team about what you’re looking for.
Best Things To Do To In Pollensa
Best Places To Visit In Pollensa
Image Credits:
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/pollenca-old-village-on-island-palma-2010916790
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/yachts-bay-port-pollensa-on-island-1553946875
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/port-de-puerto-pollensa-small-town-777514084
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/picturesque-stone-stairs-pollensa-calvary-traditional-2052532679
