Formentor Beach, Mallorca
The verdict
- Best for: Beauty seekers who want pine shade, fine white sand and clear turquoise water at a dramatic, less developed cape.
- Best spot: A towel under the pines toward the eastern end, with the Four Seasons Resort sitting behind the central sand.
- Know this: Summer car access to the cape is restricted, so plan to take the shuttle bus or arrive by boat in peak season.
Published 11 April 2026. Last reviewed 26 May 2026
Formentor is the beach people mean when they say Mallorca has a wilder, more beautiful north. It lies along the great rocky cape that points off the island's northern tip, a long ribbon of fine white sand backed by umbrella pines that throw real shade right down to the water. The sea is shallow and clear near the shore and shades into a turquoise that genuinely earns the photos. After a run of coarse harbour sand and rocky coves on the northwest coast, Formentor feels like a reward.
Behind the central stretch of sand sits the grande dame hotel of the cape, recently reborn as the Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor, which lends the beach a quiet glamour without walling it off, since the sand itself remains public. Spread out under the pines, especially toward the eastern end, and you get shade, soft sand and clear water in one place, which is a rarer combination on Mallorca than you would think.
The honest catch is access. To protect the narrow cape road, car access is restricted in the high season, and most visitors take a shuttle bus from Port de Pollensa or arrive by boat. That single fact reshapes your day, so plan around it. Who it suits is anyone chasing the island's best mix of beauty, shade and clear water, and who does not mind a little logistics. Who should skip it is the traveller who wants to roll up by car at noon in August, because that option is closed when it matters most.
Photo: Jan Bartůněk via Google Maps
Clubs on this beach
The honest picture of what is, and is not, on the sand here.
The club layer
Formentor is a natural, pine backed beach rather than a club strip, with a couple of beach bars and the Four Seasons Resort behind the sand. For daybed beach clubs you look to the southern resorts; see our Mallorca beach clubs directory.
Formentor lies on the cape northeast of Port de Pollensa, in the Pollensa municipality at the north of the island, roughly an hour by car from the Alcudia resorts when the road is open. In high season, car access to the cape is restricted, so the practical options are the shuttle bus from Port de Pollensa or a seasonal boat across the bay.
Plan the journey before the beach day, not after. Bring water, sun cream and a packable parasol in case the rented shade has gone, and aim to arrive early so you can claim a spot under the pines and beat the access squeeze.
Reserve a day at Formentor Beach
Tell us the date and party and we will match you to a club on or near Formentor Beach and pass on your request. No charge to enquire.
Common questions
Why is Formentor Beach so highly rated?
Because it combines things that rarely sit together on Mallorca: fine white sand, real pine shade down to the water, and clear turquoise sea, all at a dramatic, less developed cape. After the coarse harbour sand elsewhere on the north coast, it feels like a genuine standout.
Can you drive to Formentor Beach in summer?
Often not directly. To protect the narrow cape road, car access is restricted in high season, so most visitors take the shuttle bus from Port de Pollensa or arrive by boat. Always check the current access rules before setting out in July and August.
Is Formentor Beach good for families?
Yes, the sand is soft, the water is shallow and clear near the shore, and the pines give shade. The main consideration is logistics, since summer access relies on the shuttle or a boat. Check the daily flags before letting children swim.
Is the Four Seasons hotel right on the beach?
The hotel, recently reopened as the Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor, sits behind the central stretch of sand. The beach itself remains public, so you can enjoy the setting and the pines without being a hotel guest.
When is the best time to visit Formentor?
June and September give you warm, clear water with easier access and fewer people than the August crush. Whenever you go, arrive early to claim a shaded spot under the pines and to stay ahead of the summer access restrictions.
