The Formentor lighthouse was built in 1863 at an altitude of 210 meters above sea level in the northernmost point of Majorca - Cap de Formentor. Its main task is to ensure the safety of boats sailing off the coast of Mallorca at night. At that time, this building became the most difficult among all the island lighthouses due to the steep climb to the top of the cape. The name "Cap de Formentor" literally translates as "the end of Formentor" - we are talking about a 20-kilometer peninsula northeast of Pollensa. An impressive steep rock cuts deep into the Mediterranean Sea.
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| Formentor Lighthouse Majorca |
Now the lighthouse is already working autonomously, without caretakers. Access to the upper floors is closed to tourists, although the tower no longer performs such an essential navigational function as it used to. Part of the building is generally reserved for a fast food restaurant and now you can have a cup of coffee here with a postcard view of the northern landscapes of Majorca.
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| Formentor Lighthouse Majorca |
The harsh local nature has always inspired artists, poets, and writers. Formentor lighthouse was described by Miquel Costa y Llobera in a famous Catalan poem, The Pine of Formentor. Rare birds nest on the local rocks in winter - Eleanor's falcons, peregrine falcons, and blue stone thrushes.
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| Formentor Lighthouse Majorca |
On the first pass, a little away from the main road to the lighthouse, you will find the observation deck of Cape Formentor: Mirador de Mal Pas, Mirador del Mal Pas, or Mirador Es Colomer. The site has a large parking lot for buses and cars. The height of the cliff is only 384 meters, but due to the steepness of the cliff, it seems much higher. Here stands the Mirador de Mal Paz hotel of the same name, from the terrace of which you can see the bay of Alcudia and Puerto Pollensa, as well as the Mediterranean Sea that separates the island from neighboring Menorca.
The cape is surrounded by bays with clear water, excellent for snorkeling, and the beautiful Mallorcan beaches - Cala Figuera, Cala Murta, and Cala Pi de la Posada. And in the nearby Raco de Xot, you can look into a 90-meter prehistoric cave!
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| Formentor Lighthouse Majorca |
Best time to visit and other recommendations
Formentor Lighthouse is one of the top tourist attractions in Majorca: it is full of people at any time of the year and in any weather. It is most often found in photographs and paintings depicting Majorca.
The ideal way to get to know these places is to meet the dawn at the lighthouse: you will take unforgettable pictures, avoid crowds of tourists, and most importantly, there will be free parking spaces guaranteed. Get ready to replenish your Instagram - you will have to make photo stops literally every 100 meters!
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| Formentor Lighthouse Majorca |
The 13.5 km road to the lighthouse is divided into two parts: from the northern city of Port de Pollença to Formentor beach, and the drive up from the beach to the lighthouse. Experienced hikers climb the narrow winding road by bike to avoid wasting time in traffic jams. The famous Formentor Hotel is located off the coast and has earned a reputation as one of the most elegant and sophisticated hotels on the island. Since 1930, Charlie Chaplin, Winston Churchill, Scott Fitzgerald, the Dalai Lama, and other famous guests have stayed there.
From the Port de Pollensa transit station you can take a bus to the lighthouse, the journey will cost 3 € in both directions. Buses leave every half an hour, the last one arrives at 17:55. It is possible to leave your car in Port Pollensa, as the car park near the lighthouse can only accommodate 30 vehicles and is only open until 19:00. You will see each other, but at the top, you will be met by mountain goats - lovers of taking away apples and sweets from gaping tourists!
Prices in the restaurant at the lighthouse also correspond to the untwisted resort place. We recommend dining downstairs in Pollença, where there are plenty of eateries where you can appreciate Mallorcan cuisine and huge portions that are typical for this area.
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| Formentor Lighthouse Majorca |
How to get there?
By car: drive from the nearest town of Pollensa for about 40 minutes along the Ma-2210 highway, ending in a mountain serpentine. There is only one road to the cape, so during the season, it is overloaded with transport.