Mallorca in November: Weather, Crowds and What's On

Weather in November

Typical November days run around 15°C (59°F) on average, with afternoon highs near 19°C (66°F) and nighttime lows of roughly 12°C (54°F). The sun puts in about seven hours a day, which is enough for a long walk or a full afternoon outdoors if you start early. Sunshine is not guaranteed, though; November is one of the wetter months, with around 59 mm of rain spread across roughly six rainy days.

Daylight shrinks noticeably as the month progresses. By late November, sunrise is close to 08:00 and sunset as early as 17:30, so plan sightseeing and hikes for the middle of the day rather than the edges. The south coast around Palma and Cala d'Or stays mildest, while the north around Alcúdia, Pollença and Sóller feels cooler and breezier — worth knowing when you pick where to base yourself for a short trip.

Treat all of these as long-term averages, not a forecast. November weather is genuinely variable, with bright, almost summery days followed by wet ones, and the pattern can differ sharply between the coast and the mountains. A webcam check in the morning is a practical habit before committing to a long drive or a ridge walk.

Sea Temperature and Swimming

The sea cools slowly and sits somewhere between 17°C and 20°C (63–68°F) through November, warmest on the east coast and chilliest on the west. That is bracing rather than pleasant for most people, but confident swimmers and wetsuit users still go in, especially on the warmer, calmer days.

Water sports and beach clubs wind down as the season ends, so do not build a trip around renting a kayak or booking a sunbed. Beaches themselves stay open and empty, which is the appeal: Cala Mondragó and the coves of the east coast are far more enjoyable in November without the summer crush than they are in July.

Palma in November

Palma carries the month comfortably. The cathedral, the old town streets and the museums keep working when the weather turns, and the city has quietly become a year-round short-break destination on the strength of its architecture and food. For a wet afternoon, Es Baluard Museu in its 16th-century fort and the Museu Fundació Juan March give you two very different collections within walking distance of each other.

Village markets run all year and are better in November precisely because locals outnumber visitors. You will find produce, pottery, baskets and crafts rather than souvenir tat, and prices are ordinary rather than seasonal. If you want a city-based trip with day excursions rather than a resort stay, Palma is the sensible base. Among the island's winter months, Mallorca in February is the next step up in quiet, with almond blossom and the start of Carnival season.

What Is On in November

The month's anchor event is Dijous Bo in Inca, the island's largest agricultural fair, which draws farmers and artisans from across Mallorca for markets, music, exhibitions and family activities. Mid-November is the usual window, and the town fills up, so plan transport accordingly. Muro's pumpkin fair, the Fira de sa Carabassa, runs in the same stretch of the month with a biggest-pumpkin contest and pumpkin dishes in local restaurants.

In Palma, the TaPalma tapas route sends people between bars and restaurants sampling traditional, fusion and sweet small plates, usually across a few days in mid-November. Elsewhere, Campos celebrates its sobrassada and Felanitx its red pepper with agricultural fairs, and Consell holds its autumn fair with parades and live music. Smaller village fairs across the island spotlight local produce such as olives.

Light and sound feature too: jazz concerts run in city venues and the cathedral hosts a light display during the month. By late November, festive lights and street performances mark the start of the Christmas season, which builds into Christmas in Mallorca proper through December.

Things to Do

Hiking is the reason many people come in November. The Serra de Tramuntana offers everything from gentle coastal paths to serious ridge routes, and the GR 221 long-distance trail links Deià, Sóller and the villages along the mountains. Shorter options work well too — the easy climb up Puig de Maria above Pollença gives panoramic views for modest effort, and the coastal walk from Son Bauló to Son Serra de Marina is a flat six kilometers along the north coast.

Cyclists take over the island's roads in November, when the heat has gone and traffic is light — this is one of the established winter training destinations in Europe. Golf works well too, with cooler temperatures and near-empty courses at layouts such as Alcanadá, Son Quint and Andratx.

Wine tasting is a solid rainy-day plan. The Binissalem designation covers family wineries such as Bodegas Antonio Nadal and Bodega Biniagual, and Can Ribas in Consell traces its winemaking back to 1711. Book ahead, since tastings are small-group affairs and off-season hours vary.

For scenery, drive to Cap de Formentor at the island's northern tip for cliffs dropping into the sea, or to Sa Calobra on the west coast for the cove between towering rock walls. Both are slow, winding roads; go on a clear day and start early enough to be back before dark.

Day Trips and Villages

Valldemossa is the classic inland excursion, with stone streets, the Royal Charterhouse where Chopin and George Sand spent a winter, and cafés that stay open when the coaches have gone. Sóller and Deià pair naturally with a Tramuntana hike or a drive, and the east coast around Cala Millor and Cala Ratjada is at its quietest and cheapest in November.

Boat trips to Cabrera and Dragonera run on reduced winter schedules, so treat them as optional extras rather than fixed plans and confirm with the operator you intend to use. If you are weighing November against a colder month, Mallorca in December is quieter still but noticeably cooler, while Mallorca in January is the deepest lull of the season.

The Trade-Offs

The honest case against November is short days, unpredictable rain and partial closures. Some seasonal restaurants and beach clubs shut after October, water sports pack up, and ferry and flight schedules thin out compared with summer, which limits spontaneity. If long lunches outdoors and guaranteed sunshine are the point of your trip, choose another month.

The case for it is everything else: empty trails, quiet roads, no queues at the cathedral, and a genuine sense of an island going about its own business. November suits walkers, cyclists, food-led travelers and anyone taking a city break in Palma. It does not suit sunbathers, families planning beach days, or travelers who need everything open.

Getting There and Around

Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) handles flights year-round, with fewer services and less choice in November than in summer, so book earlier than you would for a peak-season trip. Ferries from Barcelona, Valencia and Dénia reach Palma or Alcúdia, but winter schedules are reduced and crossings take several hours.

On the island, a rental car is the practical choice if you want villages, trailheads and viewpoints; bus frequencies drop outside Palma in winter. Within Palma, everything worth seeing in a short break is walkable. If you are comparing Spanish destinations for the month, Spain in November is milder in the south and cooler on the northern coast, and the Canary Islands in November offer a genuine warm-sea alternative if that is what you actually want.

Walking the Serra de Tramuntana in November

If you are used to hiking with your dog at home, November is the month when the Serra de Tramuntana becomes genuinely walkable rather than a summer endurance test. The mild Mediterranean climate keeps average temperatures between 15°C and 20°C, which is comfortable for both of you on the climbs, and the trails offer spectacular views for all levels, so you can pick a short route on a lazy day or a longer traverse when the legs feel good.

The practical argument for November is quiet. As the peak tourist season subsides, the island becomes a serene haven, and you can explore the natural beauty without the crowds — a real advantage when you are managing a lead, a water bottle and a dog who wants to sniff every stone wall. Plan around the light rather than the heat: sunrise gets closer to 08:00 as the month closes and sunset will get as early as 17:30, so a late start can leave you finishing in the dark on the higher paths.

Pack for rain as well as sun. There are usually some rainy days forecast in November, and although it is unlikely to last for long, the mountain trails hold water and rock can get slippery under paws. The cooler, quieter conditions also make this a month when more cyclists take to the roads, so keep the dog close on shared sections and lane edges.

Base yourself where the walking is easy to reach. Palma works as a city break base throughout the cooler months, and the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range offers trails for all levels within reach of the island's road network. After a wet morning, the markets are year-round and November is a great time to rub shoulders with the locals, with far fewer tourists around — a low-key way to spend an afternoon when the clouds close in.

Is November Right for Your Trip?

Go in November if you want Mallorca without the crowds: mild walking weather, open roads, village fairs worth planning around, and a Palma that functions as a real city rather than a resort. Accept the short days and the showers, and build in flexibility for a wet afternoon.

Skip it if you need reliable sun, warm sea or everything open. Mallorca in March gives you longer days and warmer water; high summer gives you the beach holiday Mallorca is famous for. For a first winter visit, November is a strong choice — just plan around daylight and keep one indoor option ready each day.