Routes

A compact training loop that packs several cols into just 52km — nearly 950m of climbing means a high density of effort with little flat to hide on. This is the route for intervals and hard repeats close to base. The climbs come thick and fast, so it's ideal for structured work or simply hammering yourself before lunch. Each col is short enough to attack but long enough to hurt, which makes the whole loop a useful gym session on the bike. Because it's short you can ride it without a lot of food, but still carry water on warm days. Quiet roads make it good for repeated efforts. Works well year-round, and the brevity makes it a solid option even in marginal weather.

A short Tramuntana loop of just over 50km that captures the mountain scenery without committing to a full day in the saddle. With around 850m of climbing, it's an accessible introduction to the range or an easy day between bigger efforts. The route rolls through the foothills with enough climbing to feel like you've earned your coffee, but nothing that requires deep reserves. The views toward the higher peaks are excellent for the modest distance. It's a good choice for a recovery spin, a shorter morning, or a first ride to find your legs. Quiet roads and easy refuelling in the villages make it relaxed. Ride it any time of year when the weather's clear.

The road up Puig Major, the highest paved climb on the island, in a focused 66km loop. With 1143m of climbing it's all about the long grind to the top and the fast descent back down. Puig Major is a steady, relentless ascent through tunnels and exposed mountainside, topping out near the peak before a sweeping descent. It's less about hairpins and more about sustained climbing rhythm. The summit is high and exposed, so carry a layer for the descent even on warm days — it can be markedly colder up top. Refuel before the climb as there's nothing on the mountain. Best in spring and autumn; in cooler months check for wind and low cloud at altitude.

A shorter, punchier version of the big Tramuntana traverse — 67km with 1361m of climbing, linking several passes around the Sóller area into a dense climbing loop. Short on distance, heavy on vertical. The constant climbing and descending mean you're working the whole time, with almost no flat to recover. It's a great option when you want a hard mountain day but not a marathon, packing the elevation into a tighter route. Refuel in Sóller or the towns at either end, as the passes themselves offer little. Take care on the technical descents between climbs. Spring and autumn give the cleanest roads and coolest air for a route this steep.

This is the northwest coast in concentrated form, hugging the cliffs between Valldemossa and Deià before turning inland. It never gets brutally long but the constant up-and-down adds up fast — there's barely a flat kilometre anywhere on the route. The climbing is split across several short, sharp ramps rather than one big col, so you spend the day shifting gears and never quite settling into a rhythm. The road surface along the coast is good but narrow, and the bends come blind, so hold your line. Water and coffee are easy in Deià and Valldemossa, but stretches in between have nothing, so top up when you can. Go early — the coast road gets busy with cars and buses by mid-morning, and the light on the sea before then is worth the alarm.

A quieter way into the Sóller valley, climbing the Coll de Claret rather than the busier main pass. Around 80km with 1264m of climbing packs plenty into a compact route. The Claret is a lovely, lightly trafficked climb through woodland, and dropping into Sóller from the back side feels like a local's secret. The town is the obvious place for coffee and oranges before heading back over the mountains. The descents are narrow and tree-lined, so stay alert for oncoming cars and gravel on the bends. Ride it in spring or autumn for the best surface and cool air on the climbs; summer afternoons get hot in the valley.

A loop centred on the Coll d'Honor and the beautiful Orient valley, one of the quietest and prettiest corners of the Tramuntana. At 80km with 1272m of climbing, it's a satisfying mountain day without the extremes. The climb up to Orient and over the Honor is steady and shaded, winding through woodland and old stone villages. The descent the other side runs down toward Bunyola, smooth and flowing. Orient is tiny but has a stop or two; otherwise refuel in the larger towns at either end of the loop. The road surface is good throughout. Best in spring and autumn, though the shade on the Honor makes it pleasant even on warmer days.

A more direct way to Sa Calobra than going over Puig Major, keeping the day to around 80km while still delivering nearly 1500m of climbing. The famous descent and climb from Coll dels Reis are still the heart of it. The shorter approach gets you to the top of the descent fresher, but the climb back out from the sea is the same brutal, beautiful test of stacked switchbacks. Save something for it — it's a long way back up. Start at first light. By mid-morning the road fills with buses and the narrow hairpins become a slow, frustrating crawl. There's a café at the bottom for water and a breather, but carry enough to get you back over the top.

Built around the old Coll de Sóller — the original pass before the tunnel — with its tightly stacked hairpins on both sides. Around 88km with nearly 1400m of climbing makes for a properly mountainous day. The Coll de Sóller is a joy now that most traffic uses the tunnel below: you get the switchbacks largely to yourself. Sóller in the valley is the natural stop, with plenty of cafés around the square. The descents are smooth but technical, so enjoy the hairpins without overcooking them. Go early in summer to escape the heat in the valley, or ride it in spring and autumn when the climbs are at their best.

This strings together the major Tramuntana passes into a relentless climbing day — just under 2000m packed into 95km. There's almost no recovery; you're either going up or dropping toward the next climb. The route links the big-name cols of the range, and the scenery is the best the island offers, but this is a day for riders with the legs for it. Pace the early climbs conservatively because the back half doesn't ease off. Food and water stops are limited up in the mountains, so plan around the villages you pass and fill up whenever you can. Spring and autumn are best — the cooler air makes the long climbs far more bearable than midsummer heat.

The full Sa Calobra experience, approached over Puig Major — the highest road on the island — before the famous descent and climb back up from Coll dels Reis. Nearly 1800m of climbing in under 95km makes this one of the hardest short days you can ride here. Puig Major is a long, grinding haul through tunnels before you even reach the turn-off for Sa Calobra. The descent down to the sea is the iconic part, all stacked hairpins, but remember every metre down has to be climbed straight back out. Start very early — the Sa Calobra road gets clogged with tour buses and cars by late morning, which makes the narrow climb miserable. Carry plenty of water; there's a café at the bottom but the climbs in between are long and exposed.

Two distinct mountain sections in one big loop: the Coll d'Honor above Orient in the north, and the climbs around Galatzó in the southwest. With 1670m of climbing across 105km, it's a serious day that shows off two different faces of the Tramuntana. The Coll d'Honor is a gorgeous, quiet climb through the Orient valley, while the Galatzó roads in the southwest are wilder and more exposed. Linking them means a fair bit of transfer between, so settle into a steady rhythm. Orient has a couple of small stops worth using, as services thin out elsewhere. The descents are technical and the roads narrow — ride within yourself. Spring and autumn give the best conditions for a route with this much climbing.

The centrepiece is the climb to the Cura sanctuary on top of Puig de Randa, a lone hill rising out of the central plain southeast of Palma. The approach is flat and fast, then the road kicks up through switchbacks to the monastery at the summit. It's not a long climb but it's steady and rewarding, with the whole island laid out below you from the top. The descent is technical in places, so take care on the hairpins. Around 1000m total over 109km makes for a manageable but satisfying day. There's a café and water at the summit, which is handy given the dry plain below. Best ridden in cooler months or early morning — Randa sits in open country and the climb bakes under midday sun.

A gentle loop into the agricultural heart of the island around Sineu, one of the oldest villages in central Mallorca. With under 900m of climbing over 115km, this is flat tempo riding through quiet farmland and small villages. The roads are narrow lanes with little traffic, perfect for a relaxed day or a group rolling along together. Sineu's old centre makes a fine stop, especially on market day when the place comes alive. Wind is the only real challenge out here on the open plain, so plan accordingly. This one works year-round and is an ideal choice when the mountains are wet or you simply want kilometres without the climbing.

A central-island loop built around the market town of Inca, mixing flat plain roads with rolling foothill sections. At 127km and just over 1000m of climbing, it's a steady endurance day rather than a climbing test. The terrain is mostly forgiving, which makes it a good route for putting in distance at tempo or riding in a group. Inca itself is the natural midpoint, with plenty of cafés and a proper town atmosphere for a stop. The open central plains catch the wind, so think about your direction and save energy for any exposed return. Good in most seasons — even in winter the central roads stay rideable when the high passes don't.

This is the flat south of the island — wide open agricultural land around Llucmajor and Campos, dead straight roads and big skies. With only 815m of climbing across 130km, it's a route for steady tempo and group riding rather than testing the legs on a col. The terrain is gentle but exposed, which means wind is the real difficulty. Get a rotation going and share the work; alone into a southerly it can feel a lot harder than the profile suggests. Campos and the smaller villages have good cafés and quiet streets for a stop. This is a fine winter or early-season route when the high passes are cold or wet — the southern plain stays mild and dry far longer.

A classic run up to Pollença in the north and back, taking in rolling foothill roads at either end. The 1300m of climbing is spread out rather than concentrated, so it rides more comfortably than the number looks — good for a solid day in the saddle without a summit finish. The stretch approaching Pollença under the Tramuntana is the highlight, with the mountains rising to your left. The town itself is the natural turning point and a good place to refuel before the return leg. The roads here are well surfaced and popular with cyclists, so you'll rarely ride alone. Watch the wind on the return across the flatter middle section. Spring and autumn are ideal; in summer leave early to beat both heat and traffic.

A long day built around the Ma-316 and the northern coast, this loop links the inland plain with the quieter roads under the Tramuntana. At 160km it's about endurance more than steep climbing — the gradients stay gentle but the distance is real. You'll roll through a string of market towns before the road starts to tilt toward Pollença and the foothills. Pacing matters here: it's easy to push too hard on the flat early sections and pay for it in the last 40km. Stock up properly — there are good stops in the towns but long gaps in between. The flat plains can get windy in the afternoon, so plan your direction to keep any headwind for the fresher legs. Spring and autumn suit this one best.

The longest and toughest day on the list, reaching the remote Betlem hermitage in the northeast. Nearly 175km with close to 1900m of climbing, this is a route for riders who want a genuine all-day effort. The road out to Betlem is the prize — quiet, exposed and dramatic, dead-ending at the hermitage above the bay. Getting there means a long traverse across the island first, so manage your effort and don't burn matches early. The northeast is sparsely served, so carry food and fill bottles at every chance before the final spur. Aim for spring or autumn and start at first light — you'll want the daylight margin and cooler hours for a ride this long.