Scenic Helicopter Flight Mallorca

Palma Cathedral and the old town from the air

Palma's cathedral, La Seu, is the landmark of Mallorca: a vast Gothic church of golden sandstone begun after the 13th-century conquest and built over almost four centuries, standing on the old sea walls above the Parc de la Mar lake. From the ground its flying buttresses and tall pinnacles are impressive, but from a helicopter you see the whole building in its setting, with the Almudaina palace beside it and the maze of the old town behind.

The 8-minute Palma helicopter tour is designed around this view. The pilot circles over the seafront so that both sides of the cabin get a good look, and the curve of the bay, the marina and the cathedral line up in one frame. It is the most affordable way to try a helicopter ride over Palma and a great first flight for anyone curious about flying.

Bellver Castle and the Port of Palma

Bellver Castle stands on a pine-covered hill west of the centre and is one of the very few circular castles in Europe, built in the 14th century as a royal residence and later used as a prison. Its round courtyard and towers are easy to recognise from above, and the forest around it forms a green island in the city.

The flight then passes over the Port of Palma, where cruise ships, ferries and hundreds of yachts line the long breakwaters, and over the city's football stadium. Seeing the port from the air explains how Palma grew around its harbour, and on clear days the view reaches across the bay to the mountains of the Tramuntana.

The Serra de Tramuntana, Valldemossa and Sóller

On the private 30-minute flight and the longer routes, the helicopter heads north-west over the Serra de Tramuntana, a range of limestone peaks and terraced valleys listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage cultural landscape. Its highest summit, Puig Major, rises to 1,445 metres, and from the air you see how villages and olive terraces cling to the slopes above the sea.

The route passes over Valldemossa, with the bell tower of its Charterhouse rising above stone houses, and over the orange-grove valley of Sóller and its horseshoe-shaped port. This Tramuntana helicopter tour shows in half an hour what takes a full day by road, and is the most popular private option for couples and small families.

Sa Calobra, Son Vida and Andratx

The 42-minute flight adds Sa Calobra on the north-west coast, where a famously twisting road descends to a tiny cove and the Torrent de Pareis gorge opens to the sea between sheer rock walls. From above, the emerald water and the white pebble beach look almost unreal against the grey cliffs.

The 1-hour flight goes further, returning over the green hills of Son Vida above Palma and along the south-west coast to Andratx, whose natural harbour is surrounded by villas and pine-covered slopes. It is the most complete aerial tour of western Mallorca and a memorable way to celebrate a special occasion, such as an anniversary or a proposal, with the whole cabin reserved for your party.

Flying from Son Bonet aerodrome

Flights depart from Son Bonet in Marratxí, a small general-aviation aerodrome about 15 minutes by car from Palma. Because it is an airport, all passengers pass through a security check, so arrive in good time with your passport or ID card. Follow the access road past the barrier to the building marked with coloured flags, where the team checks you in and gives a safety briefing.

Is a helicopter tour of Mallorca worth it? For most guests the answer is yes: the island's coast and mountains are best understood from above. Flights operate only in good weather; if conditions are unsafe, the flight is rescheduled or refunded. The best light is in the morning and late afternoon.