What are the best scenic drives to enjoy in a manual car on the island?

The island’s winding roads have long invited drivers who enjoy the tactile connection of a manual gearbox. The Serra de Tramuntana, a UNESCO World Heritage site, offers some of the most rewarding routes, with hairpin bends and sweeping vistas that challenge and delight in equal measure. Taking the Ma-10 from Palma through Valldemossa and Deia up to Soller rewards you with views of terraced hillsides, olive groves, and craggy coastline that few other drives can match. The feel of shifting gears while tackling these steep ascents and descents sharpens your focus on the rugged beauty around every bend.

On the northeast coast, the Ma-12 stretches towards Pollenca and the famed Formentor peninsula. Navigating its narrow passages reveals dramatic cliffs plunging down to turquoise coves, including Cala Figuera and Cala Murta. Pausing in the town of Pollenca, with its lively markets and historic charm, offers a chance to refuel on sobrassada and a glass of local Binissalem wine. Meanwhile, the southern Ma-19 road leads towards the soft sands of Es Trenc beach and the salt flats near Campos, a less mountainous but equally stirring drive, especially early in the morning when the pink-hued light plays on the Mediterranean.

For those relying on public transport, the island’s TIB buses connect many of these hotspots, but driving manual lets you stop off at quiet spots like Cala Llombards or hidden mountain villages that buses seldom reach. The traditional art of shifting through gears in a manual car adds an engaging rhythm to your journey, making the experience more than just a drive—it’s a way to connect more deeply with the landscapes, history, and local life that define this part of the Mediterranean.