Port d'Andratx

Port d’Andratx beach Mallorca: What you should know before you go

Port d’Andratx is an exclusive harbour town on Mallorca’s southwest coast with beautiful sea views and clear water, but it does not have a classic long sandy beach in the centre. Instead, the shoreline is dominated by the marina, seafront restaurants and rocky edges, with a few small bathing spots and nearby coves offering access to the sea. You come here for the atmosphere of a smart harbour, sunset drinks and short swims from rocky platforms rather than for a full day stretched out on a wide bay. Many visitors stay in Port d’Andratx and use it as a stylish base, then drive to nearby beaches like Camp de Mar or Sant Elm for bigger sandy days. If you want a chic port mood with occasional dips, this area works very well; if you need a big beach on your doorstep, you will likely look to the nearby coast.

Quick facts at a glance

• Beach type: Harbour town with small coves
• Ground: Mostly rocks, some small gravel beaches
• Water entry: Ladders, ramps, short coves
• Water feel: Very clear, often calm in the bay
• Shade: Buildings, trees, beach clubs at nearby coves
• Facilities: Full port services, small bathing areas
• Parking: Street and public car parks
• Best for: Harbour stays, dining, short swims

The overall vibe

Port d’Andratx is a beach destination in Mallorca in the sense that it offers plenty of ways to be by the sea, but the core experience is a refined harbour atmosphere rather than a traditional beach resort. The town wraps around a fjord like bay filled with yachts and fishing boats, backed by steep hillsides with villas and pine covered slopes. The waterfront promenade is lined with restaurants, bars and cafés where people linger for long lunches and sunset dinners while looking out at the water. Small bathing platforms and coves around the bay give clear water access to those who want to swim, but towels and umbrellas are not the main visual. The feeling is relaxed yet upmarket, with a mix of locals, boat owners and visitors enjoying the sea views more than playing on sand.

Sand or rocks and how the water entry feels

In the immediate port area, the shore is mostly stone quays, rock edges and small artificial platforms, with no continuous sandy strip. Dedicated bathing spots often have steps or ladders down into the sea, so the water entry is more like a calm sea pool than a wade from a beach. The water in the bay is usually very clear, and the seabed near these points can be a mix of sand, rock and seagrass, going deep quickly compared with shallow resort bays. Just west of the harbour lies Cala Fonoll, a small cove about 60 metres long with a mix of sand and gravel and some stones in the water; regular swimmers describe it as quite pleasant once you are in, though not completely rock free. Water shoes are a good idea for Cala Fonoll and any rocky entry points around the bay, so you can move more confidently over stones and avoid minor scrapes.

Who Port d’Andratx is perfect for

Port d’Andratx suits travellers who prioritise an attractive harbour setting, good restaurants and a refined evening scene over direct access to a large beach. It is ideal for couples, small groups and independent visitors who plan to explore multiple beaches in the southwest while returning to a stylish base each night. Strong swimmers who are happy with ladders and rocky entries rather than sand will find enough places to get into the water for refreshing dips. It is less ideal for families with very young children who need wide shallow sand, frequent sand play and quick access from apartments to a big, gentle bay. If your version of best beaches Mallorca means stepping straight from hotel to a long sandy strand, consider staying in nearby Camp de Mar, Peguera or Sant Elm and visiting Port d’Andratx for evenings and harbour walks.

Facilities and comfort

In terms of general comfort, Port d’Andratx has almost everything you might want, just not right on a big sandy beach. Along the waterfront you will find many restaurants, cafés, bars and shops, plus supermarkets and services within short walking distance. Bathing areas around the bay may have simple ladders, platforms and sometimes showers, but there are no extensive stretches of sunbeds and umbrellas along sand because there is no main town beach. Cala Fonoll, reached west of the harbour, is a small mixed sand and gravel bay where people bring their own towels, umbrellas and water; services are limited and there is no long promenade directly behind the cove. As a result, you should plan beach gear trips separately from harbour strolling, bringing your own shade, water and snacks when heading out to small coves.

Getting there and parking

Port d’Andratx lies in the far southwest of Mallorca, about 30 kilometres west of Palma, reached by a scenic road that passes through the town of Andratx and then twists down toward the sea. The drive itself is part of the experience, with the harbour suddenly opening up after the last bends. Rental cars are often the easiest way to reach beaches in Mallorca, and here they are also the most practical way to explore the cluster of nearby coves such as Cala Llamp, Cala Marmassen, Cala d’Egos and Cala Fonoll. In the port, parking consists of a mix of street spaces and public car parks; in high season evenings these can be busy due to restaurant demand, so arriving earlier can help. Many travelers in the Mallorcard community say that using a rental car from Port d’Andratx makes it simple to combine harbour evenings with daytime visits to larger beaches like Camp de Mar or Sant Elm, and that by using strong offers from several companies plus the current promo code on mallorcard.es they often save around 10 to 50 percent depending on the season while staying independent of limited local bus schedules.

The best spots along Port d’Andratx

For sea access close to town, Cala Fonoll to the west of the harbour is often cited as the nearest small cove where you get a more recognisable beach feeling, with its mix of sand, gravel and clear water framed by cliffs. For example, many visitors staying in the port walk or drive the short distance there for a morning swim before returning to the harbour for the rest of the day. Cala Llamp, slightly further out, is a rocky bay with very clear water and a beach club that offers ladders into the sea, making it popular with strong swimmers and snorkelers. To the east and west of the main bay, small rocky entry points and low platforms provide quick dips directly from the settlement for those who know where to look. For photos and sunset, the promenade near the yacht club and the viewpoints at the edges of the bay are excellent, especially when the light catches the boats and hillside villas.

What you can do nearby

• Stroll the harbour promenade, stopping at cafés and restaurants for sea view meals
• Take short drives or boat trips to nearby coves such as Cala Llamp, Cala Marmassen or Cala d’Egos for swimming and snorkeling
• Visit Cala Fonoll for a small mixed sand and gravel beach just outside the harbour area
• Drive to larger sandy beaches like Camp de Mar or Sant Elm for full beach days
• Explore Andratx town inland, combining its local atmosphere with a harbour evening in the port

Best time to visit

In Port d’Andratx itself, mornings are usually quiet, with soft light over the bay and only a gentle buzz along the promenade, making them perfect for relaxed coffee stops and short swims at nearby coves. As the day progresses, small bathing spots around the bay and beaches like Camp de Mar or Sant Elm fill with day visitors and hotel guests, so if you plan to drive out from the port it is wise to leave earlier for easier parking. Late afternoon is a good time to return to the harbour, as the light improves, the air cools slightly and terraces begin to fill. Evenings are when Port d’Andratx feels most atmospheric, with lights reflecting on the water and people dining along the marina; it is more about restaurants and promenading than about being on the beach. If you are using the port as a base while exploring best beaches Mallorca along the southwest, structure your days so that the beach time happens earlier and the harbour time happens from late afternoon onward.

Important tips for a smooth beach day

Because Port d’Andratx itself has only small bathing areas, plan your main beach days around nearby coves and larger sands and treat the port as your comfortable base. Pack water shoes for rocky coves like Cala Llamp, Cala Marmassen and Cala Fonoll, as well as a compact umbrella or sunshade and plenty of drinking water since services at these spots range from minimal to concentrated in one beach club. Always check local advice on access paths, as some coves have steep or uneven approaches that are not suitable for everyone. In summer, start earlier in the day to avoid the hottest hours on exposed rocks and to find good parking spots near popular beaches. The Mallorcard community tip is that using a rental car from Port d’Andratx lets you carry extra towels, shade gear and cool boxes so you can adapt quickly between rocky coves and sandy bays, and by taking advantage of strong multi company deals and the current promo code on mallorcard.es many visitors manage to save around 10 to 50 percent depending on the season while keeping full control over their coastal schedule.

Good to know

Port d’Andratx is located in the southwest of Mallorca within the municipality of Andratx, in a deep natural harbour that opens to the sea but is protected by surrounding hills. The coastline here is characterised by a fjord like bay with rocky sides, small coves and cliff backed inlets rather than a single long sandy beach. The town itself is fully oriented toward harbour life and upmarket tourism, with luxury villas on the hills and a strong focus on restaurants, yachting and sea views. The nearest true sandy beaches are outside the harbour, notably Camp de Mar and Sant Elm, which offer wide, family friendly sands within a short drive. Understanding this layout helps you plan realistically: Port d’Andratx is best seen as an excellent harbour base surrounded by a ring of varied coves and beaches, not as a standalone big beach resort, within your wider southwest Mallorca plans.