The 8 Most Emblematic Lighthouses of Mallorca: History, Routes and Sea Views

Mallorca, an Island of Lighthouses with History

There is something deeply romantic about a lighthouse. It stands at the edge of land where the rock meets the sea, built to serve a single, vital purpose: to guide sailors home. Mallorca, an island whose entire existence has been shaped by the Mediterranean, has more lighthouses per kilometre of coastline than almost anywhere in Spain — and each one tells a story that goes far beyond the beam of light it casts into the night. For centuries, Mallorca sat at the crossroads of some of the busiest shipping lanes in the western Mediterranean. Phoenicians, Romans, Moors, Catalan traders, Barbary pirates and Royal Navy frigates all navigated these waters, and the island's jagged cliffs, hidden shoals and sudden storms claimed more vessels than anyone cared to count. The first serious attempt to light the coast came in the early seventeenth century, but it was the great lighthouse-building programmes of the mid-nineteenth century — driven by Spain's Commission of Lighthouses — that gave Mallorca the sentinels we see today. What makes the Mallorcan lighthouses so special is not just their engineering or their history. It is where they stand. These are not flat, featureless headlands. They perch on 300-metre cliffs, crown tiny islands surrounded by turquoise water, guard the entrance to fjord-like bays and mark the southernmost tip of the island where the sea stretches unbroken to North Africa. Visiting them means hiking dramatic coastal paths, driving winding mountain roads and, in many cases, seeing them as they were meant to be seen — from the water. In this guide we take you through the eight most emblematic lighthouses of Mallorca: from the world-famous Formentor to the lesser-known gems that even many residents have never visited. For each one, you will find its history, how to reach it, what to see around it and — because we are Coral Boats, after all — how some of them look from the deck of a boat sailing along the spectacular north coast of Mallorca. Whether you are a history lover, a hiker, a photographer chasing golden-hour light or simply someone who appreciates a good view with a side of maritime drama, Mallorca's lighthouses will not disappoint you. Let's start at the most dramatic of them all.

Formentor Lighthouse — The Most Dramatic Lighthouse in the Mediterranean

If you could only visit one lighthouse in Mallorca, this would be the one. The Far de Formentor (Faro de Formentor in Spanish) sits at the very tip of the Cap de Formentor peninsula, perched on a cliff that plunges more than 300 metres straight into the sea. It is, without exaggeration, one of the most spectacularly located lighthouses anywhere in the world.

The lighthouse was built in 1863 during Spain's great programme of coastal illumination. Its construction was an extraordinary feat of engineering and human endurance. The peninsula was (and largely still is) wild and roadless, a spine of jagged limestone mountains covered in Aleppo pines and low scrub, battered by the Tramuntana wind and accessible only by mule track. Everything — stone, cement, glass, metal, tools, provisions — had to be carried in on the backs of mules or hauled up from the sea by rope. The original light source was an oil lamp with a rotating Fresnel lens, which was visible at a distance of approximately 20 nautical miles. The light was modernised several times over the following decades, switching to acetylene in 1927 and finally to electricity in 1971, when it was also automated. The lighthouse keepers left, and the building fell into disuse until it was restored and converted into a small museum and café.

Today, reaching Formentor by road is an experience in itself. The Ma-2210 is a legendary 22-kilometre road that winds along the mountain ridge from Port de Pollença, passing through 13 tunnels carved through the rock, with vertiginous viewpoints at every turn. The most famous is the Mirador d'es Colomer, a stone platform jutting out over a sheer drop with views that stretch across the entire northern coast. In high season (July and August), access to the road beyond Playa de Formentor is restricted to buses, taxis and bicycles between 10:00 and 22:00, so plan accordingly.

But there is another way to experience Formentor — and many would argue it is the better one. From the sea, the scale of the cliffs becomes almost incomprehensible. You look up and the lighthouse is a tiny white speck hundreds of metres above you, clinging to a rock face that drops straight into deep blue water. Our morning boat tours from Alcudia sail along this coast, giving you views of the Cape and its lighthouse that are simply impossible to get from land. It is one of the most photographed moments of the entire trip, and one that our passengers talk about long after they return home.

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Alcanada Lighthouse — The Little Island Sentinel of Alcudia

If Formentor is all about drama and grandeur, the Far d'Alcanada is its gentle counterpart: a small, elegant lighthouse standing on a tiny rocky island just 400 metres offshore from the northeastern tip of the Bay of Alcudia. It is a picture-postcard scene that perfectly captures the quieter, more intimate side of Mallorcan coastal beauty.

The lighthouse was built in 1861, making it two years older than its famous neighbour at Formentor. It was designed by the engineer Emili Pou and constructed on the Illa d'Alcanada, a flat, low-lying islet of barely two hectares covered in scrub vegetation and surrounded by crystal-clear shallow water. The original tower is a modest 10 metres tall, built from local sandstone, and the light was designed to mark the entrance to the Bay of Alcudia for vessels approaching from the north and east. Today the light is automated and solar-powered, and the island itself is uninhabited and forms part of a protected natural area.

What makes Alcanada special for visitors is its accessibility and setting. The lighthouse is clearly visible from the mainland beach of Platja d'Alcanada, a beautiful, pine-backed cove of rocks and fine sand that is one of the most pleasant swimming spots in the Alcudia area. At low tide and on calm days, some adventurous swimmers and kayakers make the crossing to the island — though it is important to note that landing on the island is regulated, and during seabird nesting season (spring and early summer) access may be restricted.

From the water, Alcanada is even more charming. Our boat excursions from Alcudia pass right by the island, and it is one of the moments that passengers love the most: the little white lighthouse standing alone on its rock, the turquoise water all around, the pine-covered headland behind, and often a few cormorants drying their wings on the rocks. It is the kind of scene that makes you reach for your phone — and then put it down again because some things are better absorbed with your eyes.

The area around Alcanada is also superb for snorkelling. The seabed is a mix of Posidonia seagrass meadows and rocky patches teeming with wrasse, sea bream, octopus and, if you are lucky, the occasional cuttlefish hovering like a small alien spacecraft. The water clarity here is exceptional.

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Port de Sóller Lighthouses — Twin Sentinels of the Tramuntana Coast

Port de Sóller is one of the most beautiful natural harbours in the Mediterranean: a near-perfect horseshoe bay enclosed by the mountains of the Serra de Tramuntana, connected to the town of Sóller by the famous vintage tram. And standing guard at either side of the bay's narrow entrance are two lighthouses that together create one of the most photogenic scenes on the entire Mallorcan coast.

On the western headland stands the Far de Cap Gros, the larger and more prominent of the two. Built in 1842, it is one of the oldest lighthouses on the island. The original tower is a sturdy, whitewashed cylinder topped with a lantern room, standing 112 metres above sea level on the cliffs of Cap Gros. The views from here are extraordinary: to the north, the wild coast stretches towards Deià and Valldemossa; to the south, the bay opens up below you in shades of blue and green that seem almost artificial. The lighthouse was automated in 1961 and the keeper's quarters are now a private restaurant — a rare treat if you can get a reservation.

On the eastern side of the bay, the smaller Far d'es Bufador (sometimes referred to as the Torre Picada lighthouse) marks the entrance from the opposite headland. It sits at a lower elevation and is more modest in scale, but the walk to reach it follows a lovely coastal path with views across the bay to Cap Gros and the mountains behind. The path continues to the ruins of the Torre Picada, a sixteenth-century watchtower built to defend against pirate attacks — a reminder that these coasts were not always the peaceful holiday destinations they are today.

The best way to appreciate the Port de Sóller lighthouses is to combine a visit to both with a walk along the coast and a meal at the port itself. The Cap Gros walk starts from the Platja d'en Repic end of the bay and takes about 30–40 minutes each way on a well-marked trail. The Bufador/Torre Picada walk starts from the opposite end and is slightly more challenging, with some rocky sections, but rewards you with dramatic clifftop views.

Port de Sóller is also a gateway to some of the most beautiful villages in the Tramuntana. Don't miss the opportunity to explore the prettiest villages of Mallorca while you are in the area.

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Porto Pi Lighthouse — One of the Oldest Working Lighthouses in the World

While most of Mallorca's lighthouses require a hike, a drive along winding coastal roads or a boat trip to reach them, the Far de Portopí sits quietly in the heart of Palma, just a few hundred metres from the bustling port, and it holds a distinction that puts it in a league of its own: it is one of the three oldest working lighthouses in the world.

The history of Porto Pi as a navigational aid goes back to the fourteenth century, when a signal fire was maintained on this headland to guide vessels into the port of Palma. The current tower dates from 1617, when it was rebuilt and fitted with an oil lamp and reflector system. That makes it contemporaneous with the Tower of Hercules in A Coruña and the Lanterna of Genoa — and, remarkably, it has been in continuous operation, in one form or another, for over four hundred years.

The lighthouse stands 41 metres above sea level and its light is visible at approximately 22 nautical miles. It was modernised several times: a Fresnel lens was installed in 1852, it was converted to electric power in the early twentieth century and today it operates as an automated LED light. But the tower itself retains much of its seventeenth-century character, and walking around the grounds gives you a tangible sense of how long humans have been trying to make this coast safer.

Since 2007, the Porto Pi lighthouse complex has housed the Museu del Far de Portopí (Porto Pi Lighthouse Museum), a small but excellent maritime museum that tells the story of lighthouse keeping in the Balearic Islands. The collection includes original lenses, lamps, foghorns, keeper's logbooks and navigation instruments, as well as photographs documenting the construction and maintenance of lighthouses across the archipelago. It is a fascinating visit for anyone interested in maritime history, engineering or simply the human stories behind these isolated coastal structures.

The surrounding area has its own interest: the Paseo Marítimo of Palma stretches along the waterfront with restaurants, bars and views of the cathedral across the bay, and the nearby Bellver Castle offers panoramic views of the city and harbour.

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Cala Figuera Lighthouse and Watchtower — Where Cliffs Meet History

Not to be confused with the fishing village of Cala Figuera in the southeast of the island, the Far de Cala Figuera stands on the headland of the same name near the Cap de Formentor area, overlooking one of the most dramatic stretches of Mallorca's northern coast. It is a lesser-known lighthouse that rewards those who seek it out with wild, windswept beauty and a sense of genuine remoteness.

The lighthouse was built in the 1860s as part of the same coastal illumination programme that produced the Formentor and Alcanada lights. Its position marks a particularly treacherous section of coast where the cliffs are high, the currents are strong and the rocky seabed has claimed vessels for centuries. The tower is relatively modest — a white cylindrical structure with a red lantern room — but its setting is anything but ordinary. The headland drops away sharply on three sides, and on a clear day the views extend across the open sea towards Menorca.

Near the lighthouse stands a sixteenth-century watchtower (talaia), one of the network of defensive towers built around the Mallorcan coast during the era of Barbary pirate raids. These towers were positioned on high points with clear sightlines to one another, and when a hostile vessel was spotted, fires were lit on top to relay the warning from tower to tower around the island. The tower at Cala Figuera is well preserved and offers a fascinating glimpse into the centuries when living on the Mallorcan coast meant living with the constant threat of attack from the sea.

The combination of lighthouse and watchtower in one location makes Cala Figuera a uniquely evocative place. You stand between two structures built centuries apart but for related purposes — one to warn of danger from the sea, the other to guide those at sea away from danger — and the wild landscape around you has barely changed since either was built.

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Cap de Ses Salines Lighthouse — Mallorca's Southernmost Beacon

At the very bottom of the Mallorcan map, where the island comes to its final rocky point before the sea takes over, stands the Far de Cap de Ses Salines. This is Mallorca's southernmost lighthouse, and from its clifftop perch you can see something that feels almost improbable: the dark silhouette of the Cabrera archipelago, a national park of wild islands floating on the horizon just 15 kilometres to the south.

The lighthouse was built in 1863, the same year as its counterpart at Formentor on the opposite end of the island. The tower is a classic design: a white cylindrical column rising from a square keeper's building, standing 17 metres above a low but rugged clifftop. The light sits 47 metres above sea level and is visible at 17 nautical miles. It was automated in the 1960s and the former keeper's quarters have been converted into a research station used by IMEDEA (the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies).

The drive to Ses Salines takes you through a landscape that feels very different from the mountains of the north. This is the flat, dry, sun-baked south of Mallorca: salt pans (the salines that give the cape its name), scrubland, low stone walls and the occasional flock of sheep. The last stretch of road passes through a protected natural area, and the sense of remoteness increases as you approach the cape.

From the lighthouse itself, the panorama is remarkable. To the south, Cabrera rises from the sea — an island that has served as a Roman port, a pirate hideout, a Napoleonic prisoner-of-war camp and, since 1991, a national maritime-terrestrial park. To the east and west, the coastline stretches away in a succession of low cliffs, rocky platforms and small coves where the water is an extraordinary shade of turquoise.

The area around Cap de Ses Salines is popular with hikers and snorkellers. A coastal path runs east from the lighthouse towards Colònia de Sant Jordi, passing several beautiful coves including Cala s'Almonia and Caló des Moro (both famously photogenic, both crowded in summer). To the west, the coast is wilder and less visited.

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Portocolom Lighthouse — The Guardian of the East Coast's Prettiest Port

On the eastern coast of Mallorca, where the tourist crowds thin out and the pace of life slows to something approaching the rhythm of old Mallorca, the Far de Portocolom guards the entrance to one of the island's most charming natural harbours.

Portocolom is a town that has somehow managed to retain its character as a working fishing village despite the holiday developments that have sprung up around it. The harbour is lined with traditional Mallorcan boathouses (escars) painted in the faded colours of the Mediterranean — ochre, terracotta, pale blue — and the water reflects them back in shimmering, slightly distorted duplicates. Fishing boats bob alongside small pleasure craft, and in the mornings you can still see the catch being landed on the quay.

The lighthouse stands on the Punta de Ses Crestes, the headland that marks the southern side of the harbour entrance. It was built in the 1860s as part of the same island-wide programme that produced the Formentor, Alcanada and Ses Salines lights. The tower is a classic cylindrical white structure, 12 metres tall, with a lantern room that casts its beam 13 nautical miles across the sea. It was automated decades ago and the grounds are freely accessible.

What makes the Portocolom lighthouse particularly appealing is the walk to reach it. From the town centre, a pleasant coastal path follows the harbour's edge, passes the colourful boathouses and winds around the headland through low Mediterranean scrub dotted with wild rosemary and sea fennel. The entire walk takes about 20 minutes and the views improve with every step: behind you, the harbour and the town; ahead, the open sea and the rugged east coast stretching north towards Capdepera.

Portocolom is also a wonderful base for exploring the quieter eastern side of Mallorca. The coastline between Portocolom and Cala Ratjada is studded with small coves — Cala Marçal, Cala Sa Nau, Cala Mitjana — that are less crowded than their western equivalents and just as beautiful.

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La Mola Lighthouse (Andratx) — Where the Sun Sets Over Dragonera

The western tip of Mallorca is dominated by the town of Andratx and its port, Sant Elm, and the dramatic Illa de sa Dragonera — a long, narrow, uninhabited island that rises from the sea like the spine of a sleeping dragon. And perched on the headland of Cap de Sa Mola, overlooking this spectacular scene, is the lighthouse that completes our tour of Mallorca's most emblematic coastal sentinels.

The Far de Sa Mola (sometimes written as La Mola or Cap de Cala Figuera de Andratx, not to be confused with the Cala Figuera lighthouse in the north) stands on the westernmost mainland point of the island. Built in the 1870s, it was one of the last lighthouses constructed during Spain's nineteenth-century coastal illumination programme in the Balearics. The tower is a squat, sturdy structure — it needed to be, given the ferocious westerly winds that batter this headland in winter — and the light is positioned 122 metres above sea level, visible at 18 nautical miles.

The views from La Mola are among the most cinematic in Mallorca. To the west, Dragonera rises from the sea, all steep cliffs and scrub-covered ridges, with its own lighthouse (the Far Vell de sa Dragonera) visible on the summit. To the north, the coast of the Serra de Tramuntana stretches away in a series of dramatic headlands. And in the evenings, the sunset over Dragonera is one of the most beautiful natural spectacles on the island — the kind of sunset that makes you understand why humans have been drawn to live on this coast for thousands of years.

Reaching La Mola involves a scenic drive through the hills above Port d'Andratx, followed by a short walk along a clifftop path. The area is quiet and undeveloped, with few visitors compared to the busier parts of the island. Sant Elm, the nearest village, is a delightful small resort with good restaurants and a beach facing Dragonera.

Andratx and its surroundings are one of the most beautiful corners of Mallorca. If you are staying in the north of the island, a day trip to the west coast is well worth the drive.

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Practical Tips: Lighthouse Routes and Visiting by Boat

Now that you know the eight most emblematic lighthouses of Mallorca, here are some practical tips for planning your visits — whether you prefer to drive, walk or see them from the sea.

Planning a lighthouse route by car:

You cannot visit all eight lighthouses in a single day (the island is larger than most people expect), but you can combine several into a satisfying day trip:

By boat — the best perspective:

Several of Mallorca's lighthouses are at their most impressive when seen from the sea. The scale of the cliffs, the isolation of the headlands and the drama of the coastline become fully apparent only when you are looking up from sea level.

From Alcudia, our morning tour and sunset tour sail along the northern coast, passing the Alcanada lighthouse and offering distant views of the Formentor Cape and its lighthouse. The sunset tour is particularly magical: the evening light paints the cliffs in warm tones and the lighthouse at Formentor catches the last rays of the day.

On foot — the lighthouse walks:

Several of the lighthouses double as excellent hiking destinations:

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Mallorca's Lighthouses — More Than Just Light

Mallorca's lighthouses are more than navigational aids. They are witnesses to centuries of maritime history: of storms, shipwrecks, pirate raids, heroic rescues and the quiet, lonely dedication of the keepers who maintained them. They stand at the most exposed, most dramatic and most beautiful points of the island's coastline, and visiting them — whether by car, on foot or from the deck of a boat — gives you a perspective on Mallorca that no beach resort, shopping street or crowded attraction can match.

Each lighthouse has its own personality. Formentor is pure vertical drama. Alcanada is intimate and charming. Porto Pi carries the weight of four centuries. Cap de Ses Salines looks out across the sea to another world. Portocolom guards a harbour that feels like a living painting. And La Mola watches the sun sink behind Dragonera in a blaze of gold.

What connects them all is their relationship with the sea — the same sea that carved the cliffs they stand on, that drove the storms they were built to warn against, and that today brings millions of visitors to this island every year. Seeing these lighthouses from the water, as sailors have for more than a century, is an experience that connects you to something larger than any single holiday.

At Coral Boats, we sail past the lighthouses of the north coast every day, and we never tire of them. Each light, each headland, each glimpse of a white tower against the blue sky reminds us why we do what we do: because Mallorca is best understood from the sea. Come and see for yourself — book your tour and let the lighthouses guide you, just as they have guided sailors for centuries.

Mallorca's eight most emblematic lighthouses tell a story that spans centuries: from the medieval watchtowers built against pirate raids to the elegant nineteenth-century towers that still cast their beams across the Mediterranean every night. Whether you choose to drive the dramatic road to Formentor, walk the harbour path in Portocolom, explore the world's oldest working lighthouse at Porto Pi or see the northern sentinels from the deck of a boat with Coral Boats, these are places that will stay with you. They remind us that Mallorca is not just an island of beaches and sunshine — it is an island of seafarers, of wild coasts and of light against the dark.