8 Things to Do in Mallorca in January

Mallorca is one of Europe's favourite summer destinations, but the island has a lot to offer all year round, including January, when there is less tourism, but the temperatures are just as pleasant.

Fiestas, markets, gastronomic routes, shops and much more. Who said that winter in Mallorca was boring? Check out the best things to do on the island to start the year.

On a visit to Palma de Mallorca you cannot miss a stop at the Cathedral. La Seu is an icon of the city and can also be enjoyed during the month of January. Those who travel during the Christmas holidays can attend the various special masses that are held there.

This emblematic building in Palma de Mallorca dates from the 14th century, is Gothic in style and is one of the tallest Gothic structures in Europe. The windows (there are a total of 61) are one of the most spectacular parts of this cathedral. The central rose window is particularly noteworthy, as it makes the most of the sunlight. I recommend that you book a ticket for the Cathedral of Mallorca to get a closer look at each of its details.

The visit to La Seu begins with its museum, where you can see some relics, as well as learn more about the history of this emblematic building, how it has changed over time and the importance it has in Mallorca.

Another ideal plan if you are visiting Mallorca in January is to visit Bellver Castle. This castle currently houses the city's history museum. The circular building is an interesting fortification, unusual in its type, which makes it well worth a visit.

Not only the building itself, with its rooms that tell us more about the history of Palma, is interesting. From this castle we have some of the best views of the city. This castle was built 112 metres above sea level, so we can enjoy the Mallorcan capital from it.

To enjoy the views it is best to come on a sunny day. Luckily, January in Mallorca has many sunny days, so don't hesitate and book your ticket to Bellver Castle as soon as possible.

An ideal proposal in January if you wake up on a day when the weather is playing tricks on you is to visit the Palma Aquarium. There you will discover a whole underwater world that will surprise you, you will see eight different habitats and admire numerous marine species such as sharks, turtles and corals.

I recommend that you book your ticket for the Palma Aquarium in advance so that you don't have to wait in the queues at the ticket office and you can go straight in.

And if you want to get the most out of the experience, buy tickets for a 3D film in the Aquadome, where you will learn all about humpback whales.

The winter sales start at the beginning of January in Mallorca and last for the whole month. The sales are available on all kinds of products such as clothes, accessories and decoration.

Other options to buy the best proposals are:

• The Mallorca Fashion Outlet shopping centre, located just 15 minutes from Palma de Mallorca. It is open every day of the week.
• Fan Mallorca and Porto Pi Center are two other popular outlets to consider.
• Of course, you can also stroll around Palma, discover its shop windows and find the best sales in the month of January. The streets Sant Miquel, Jaime Tercero and Sindicato are the best known in Palma. There you will find many shops with great discounts.
• If you like street markets, you have an appointment in the village of Consell. Every Sunday morning there is a flea market with hundreds of stalls with a huge variety of second-hand goods, antiques and Mallorcan handicrafts available. If you want to find the best products we recommend you to go early. There are fewer people and you will be able to see all the stalls at your leisure. It starts at 9 am, so you will have to get up early.

Mallorca offers a wide variety of museums and galleries, a good option if you are facing one of the few rainy days in January. There are several museums that should not be missing on your list:

• Es Baluard: Located in Palma de Mallorca, it is possibly the most outstanding or important. This modern art museum has an extensive collection of works by Picasso, Calatrava and Miquel Barceló. Temporary exhibitions are organised throughout the year. Admission costs 6 €, but if you come on a Friday you can give as much as you want.
• The Pilar and Joan Miró Foundation is another must-see on your visit to Mallorca in January.
• For sports fans, you can also visit the Nadal Museum, to find out more about his career or his academy.
• Joan Miró is a name closely associated with the island and in this museum there are more than 6,000 pieces available, a large part of them on display. The collection is made up of paintings, sculptures, drawings, sketches and documents. In addition, Joan Miró's studio can be visited. It has hardly been modified since the painter's death, so you can see the way he worked. During the month of January it is open from Tuesday to Saturday, you can check the opening hours here.
• The Fundación Juan March is another interesting museum to visit. Its permanent collection includes works by renowned artists such as Miró, Dalí and Juan Gris. It also organises various exhibitions of different styles and artistic movements, so there is always something new to enjoy. You can also opt for a guided tour of this museum.

Mallorca is an ideal destination for wine lovers. Something that many people don't know is that there are 70 wineries scattered across the island, so you have a good variety of local wines to discover during your visit. It is a route sponsored by the Binissalem designation of origin.

There is a list of wineries that form part of this Mallorcan wine route (14 in total), as well as a list of the route you can follow during your visit. Also if you want to know more about the different wines Mallorca has to offer, or the villages in which these various wineries are located.

Besides wine, Mallorca is a paradise for lovers of good food. There are many ways to enjoy the best food on the island. From restaurants that cook the best food on the island to its markets and delicatessen shops. There are gastronomic tours available that allow you to discover Mallorca's traditional cuisine. On some of them you can even cook for yourself, or you can source the best ingredients directly from the island's farmers.

There are even boat trips on which to enjoy food, with local and traditional Mallorcan produce available.

January is an ideal month for hiking on the island of Mallorca. The weather is pleasant, relatively dry and with temperatures that can exceed 15ºC on many days. The low number of tourists means that many of these routes can be completed in comfort. There is a varied programme available, with several clubs offering routes around the island. For those interested in Nordic Walking, which is becoming increasingly popular in Mallorca, there are also routes designed specifically for this modality.

In addition, the recently inaugurated Via Verde (from Manacor to Artà) has become a popular hiking route and is a good way to see the island. It is a 29-kilometre route, which those who hike regularly will have no problem with.

Take your hiking boots out of the wardrobe and discover the island like the locals. Take warm clothes (it can be quite windy in some areas), a backpack with plenty of water, sunglasses and you're all set to enjoy your day of hiking on the island.

If there is one thing that makes Mallorca stand out, it is its fiestas. Both Palma de Mallorca and many towns on the island have fairs and markets during the month of January, where you can discover local products, food and crafts. Here are the main events you can enjoy in January:

Sant Antoni festival

The festival of Sant Antoni (Saint Anthony) is celebrated on the night of the 16th to 17th of January and is a must for anyone visiting the island of Mallorca. Many villages on the island have fiestas, processions or markets on the occasion of Sant Antoni's day, so there is plenty to do on these dates.

In the villages there are bonfires set up in various places. People dress up as devils and dance and sing around the fire all night long. Villages such as Arta, Sa Pobla and Manacor host the most spectacular festivities on this day. You can enjoy the spectacle of fire and devils in the town square.

Sant Sebastià: The festivities of the patron saint of Palma

Sant Sebastià is the patron saint of Palma de Mallorca and is celebrated on 20th January, with events on the days before and after. Concerts of all kinds are organised, with options for all audiences. The day before Sant Sebastià, the city begins the great festival: the big-headed figures invade the streets of Palma and the great bonfire is lit in the Plaza Mayor square. After several days of concerts and activities, the climax comes with the celebration of the traditional correfoc.

The correfoc, which can be translated as fire races, is a festival in which people parade through the streets dressed as demons and spitting fire. They dance to the beat of their drums and set off fireworks. Those who dare can run into the tunnels of fire with long sleeves and hoods to protect themselves from possible burns.

This festival is considered the most dangerous and feared in Palma de Mallorca, but it is a must-see if you are in Mallorca in January. You will experience first-hand one of the island's most important traditions. If you're up for it, here you can get an idea of what this festival is like.

Big barbecue: Festes de Sant Julià (Sant Julià Festival)

Another outstanding festival in the second half of January in Mallorca is the Festes de Sant Julià, which is held in the town of Campos, in the southwest of the island. It is a religious festivity held in honour of the patron saint of Campos, and a mass is held in the town's church. But the highlight takes place afterwards, as a huge barbecue is organised in the centre of the village.

This barbecue is a good opportunity to enjoy all kinds of meats and local products, as well as to meet the people of the village and its surroundings. A tradition that is still alive and well in the village and not to be missed if you are travelling in January.

Fiesta del Quarteró: celebrating the end of the harvest

This is a festival held on the last Sunday in January, although for many years it was not celebrated. Fortunately, about 20 years ago it started to be celebrated again and it is another interesting festival and tradition typical of the island. It is held in the town of Bunyola to commemorate the end of the harvest.

Its name refers to the measure of wine that the workers received at the end of the harvest. A traditional lunch is organised, a good opportunity to sample local specialities, accompanied by dancing and music. There are also cultural activities and a route available showing the village and its highlights.

The number of tourists on the island is much lower in January compared to the summer season. Especially during the last two weeks of the month, once the Christmas holidays are over, the number of tourists is usually quite low. You will be able to visit the island free of crowds and crowds. This also allows you to discover the more authentic side of Mallorca.

The fact that there are fewer tourists is noticeable in the prices. January is generally an affordable month in Mallorca. Many airlines offer special prices to fly to Mallorca during this month, so you can save money. Also hotels or other accommodation, such as flats, have lower prices in this month. It is low season, so there is a lot to choose from and the prices are much friendlier than in summer.

January is the coldest month of the year in Mallorca, but it is relatively dry. Temperatures average 15ºC during the day, a pleasant temperature for outdoor activities such as hiking or strolling around the city and villages. They rarely drop below 11ºC, another aspect that helps to make outdoor activities in January in Mallorca so pleasant.

On the hottest days you can even go for a dip in the water. The water temperature drops considerably in January, but on those days when it is warmer you can get your feet wet and the braver ones can take a dip. However, it should be on those days when the temperature is above 18ºC, which does happen on some occasions.

There are about eight days of rain on average in January, which is not a very rainy month for the island. It may rain one day during your visit, but it won't be too much and the next day the sun will most likely shine again.

As I mentioned, Mallorca has a fairly dry and pleasant climate in January, as we have just mentioned. If you want to visit the island in this month, you won't have to worry too much about excessively low temperatures. With an average of 15ºC during the day, spring clothing is perfect for your stay on the island.

Several long trousers, thin jackets or jumpers (if you are one of those who gets quite cold, some a bit fatter ones), some shirts and a rainproof jacket (if you have one of those eight rainy days in the month). If you're going hiking, appropriate footwear is a must.

In January you can also bring a pair of shorts if you want, there are days when it reaches a pleasant 18ºC on the island, so it feels like spring has just begun.