The Pirates Adventure Show, Magaluf

The Pirates Adventure Show in Magaluf is the ultimate dinner show offering a mix of world class acrobatics, thrilling gymnastics and breathtaking dancing. The Pirates Adventure is suitable for kids of all ages and toddlers will be enthralled by the colour and dancing. Tickets are available online.

Marineland, Portas Nous

Marineland, Portas Nous is Majorca’s answer to Seaworld and entertainment  is provided by the performing dolphins, sea lions and parrots. There is also a penguin pool, a reptile house and a large collection of sharks and tropical fish, plus flamingos, monkeys and an impressive aviary. Children can take a ride on a mock pirate boat and a miniature train. If you object to animals in captivity then Marineland is not for you but the money used from the park is used for conservation on marine life. The park is open: Apr-Sep, daily 9:30am to 7pm; Oct-Mar. daily 9:30-5:30. Closed mid-Nov to Christmas. Tickets start at €24 for adults and seniors, €14 for children and €10 for a mini ticket. There are also internet & family packs available starting from €68.20.

House of Katmandu, Magaluf

House of Katmandu, Magaluf – is an extremely unusual attraction and has been voted Tripadvisor’s Best Amusement Park in the Balearic Islands and  number 2 in Spain.  It is located in the heart of Calviá Beach and s a remarkable tribute to Kathmandu, Nepal. The house itself is upside down and offers interactive experiences, illusions and all things fun.  Kids can get lost in an icy mirror maze, survive a shark attack and navigate a spinning color tunnel. There is also a splash park within the park and a 4D adventure experience. The house also has a fantastic play area for kids under the age of 12 (the largest soft play structure in Spain). Kids can run, climb, scream and slide inside a 5-level air-conditioned adventure featuring giant slides, an interactive ball battle, trampolines, tunnels and more.  There is a separate play area for ages 2 to 5. Each session features 90 minutes of play and socks are required. Ticket packages are available online at http://www.katmandupark.com/buy-tickets/ and if you purchase before you go it will save you money.

Auto Safari Zoo

Auto Safari Zoo  is great for toddlers and you have the option to drive your car through the park or take the mini train. The open terrain has giraffes, rhinoceroses, zebras, gazelles, gnus and many more exotic animals. A special highlight are the monkeys that come close to the cars and trains.

Palma Aquarium

Palma aquarium was developed by Coral World International, who are renowned for creating beautiful marine parks in Hawaii, the Red Sea and Australia. The designers have recreated the habitats and ecosystems of the world’s seas and there is an abundance of fish tanks. There is also an enormous shark tank; ‘The Big Blue’ is the deepest shark tank in Europe and holds four different types of shark – Blacktip Reef Shark, Smooth Hound, Sand Tiger Shark, and the Sandbar Shark. The aquarium has large garden with a childrens playground and Japanese pools and waterfalls. There is also a pirate ship for kids to play on. There are interactive aquariums where kids can feed the rays and turtles. There are also two cafeterias and a jungle  roof garden (the largest roof garden in Spain). During summer, special activities are organised for kids including, games, face painting and water fights on the pirate ship. Prices for the Aquarium are €24 for adults, €14 for children aged 4-12 years old and free for 0-3 year olds.

La Reserva

La Reserva is a nature park aimed at children and adults.The park centres around a 3.7km walk through woodland, with information boards dotted along the way. During the walk you will have the chance to see brown bears of the Pyrenees in Northern Spain,  birds, turtles, pot belly pigs, goats and sheep. The trail takes you past lots of waterfalls and natural pools which you can swim in. You could bring a picnic and there is also a restaurant. At 3pm, the falconers bring out the birds of prey and explain all about the various breeds, lifestyle, hunting techniques and training. La Reserva is located on the Western side of the island near the town of Puigpunyent. Entrance to the park costs 11,90€ for adults and 5,95€ for children.

Natura Parc, San Eugenia

Natura Parc is located in San Eugenia and is a small zoo which is family friendly and contains a children’s play area. There are traditional Mallorcan farm animals along with lemurs, parrots, kangaroos and zebra. There is also a wide selection of birds and some reptiles including Ostriches and Emus and turtles. The zoo is quite shaded and has a picnic area and a cafe. It is open from 10am to 6pm all year round.

El Labarinto Maze

El Laberinto Maze is something quite different and provides entertainment for kids with clowns, magicians and witches. Its a great spot for families and allows children to participate in different types of games from just entering the maze and working how to get out, to enhanced Maze games where characters join in and play the game with you.

Soft Play Areas

There are play areas and soft play areas located throughout Majorca. there are plenty of play areas in the main resorts and hotels. Fantasy World Indoor Play Area is located in Puerto Pollensa and offers an indoor play centre for children with soft play and climbing equipment, slides and ball pools. The facility is air conditioned and has full facilities. You can also find a soft play area in Katmandu Park in Magaluf (above). Palma Amazing Adventure Play is another great option.

Water Parks

There are three water parks in Majorca, the Western Waterpark in Magaluf,  the Hydropark in Puerto de Alcudia and the Aqualand Waterpark in Palma. These have some shallower pools suitable for babies and toddlers.

Take the Train to Soller/ Palma

The Train to Soller is another great option for a family day out. The wooden Sóller train has been winding its way through the Tramuntana mountains for nearly 100 years, powered by an electric locomotive. You can catch the train from Palma de Mallorca and  the railway takes you northward and through the 13 tunnels of the Serra de Tramuntana to reach the valley of Sóller: a stunning 27km journey with wonderful views of mountains, olive trees and white washed villas.You can also opt for the first class carriage which has lovely leather sofas and looks like something out of an Agatha Christie novel. The town os Soller has a busy indoor market, ice cream parlours and lots of local bars and cafes and is a lot less touristy than other areas. The Gran Hotel is a 5 star hotel with a fantastic rooftop bistro with fantastic views. There is also an art gallery displaying works by Picasso and Miro and botanical gardens. After exploring the town you can either take the train back to Palma or opt for a more direct bus or taxi back to your hotel. Puerto de Soller lies at the base of the hill below the town of Soller and is a fantastic base for a family holiday (See ‘Where to stay’).

Shopping in Palma

Palma is the capital of Majorca and has some fantastic department stores, boutiques, markets, restaurants and cafes. The city is small and easy to walk around and the footpaths are stroller friendly. The main shopping areas in Palma are Avinguda Jaume III and the Passeig des Born for up-market boutiques, and the pedestrian streets around Plaza Major have more small specialist shops. El Corte Ingles resembles a large Debenhams department store and it sells baby and children’s goods along with electrical goods. It also has a supermarket on the lower ground floor. There is also a modern shopping mall and hypermarket complex – the Centro Comercial Porto Pi – 2km from the centre. Just to the north of Palma is Festival Park, a large out-of-town shopping mall, which you can access by train or metro if you do not have a car.The advantage of going to a department store is that it gives you and your baby or toddler a break from the sun.