Formentor Lighthouse, Mallorca: How to Visit in 2026

Cap de Formentor is the wild northern tip of Mallorca, a spine of cliffs that drops straight into the sea with a small white lighthouse perched at the very end. The drive out is one of the island’s great experiences, but in 2026 there is one thing you have to plan around: for most of the year you cannot simply drive your own car to the lighthouse. Here is how the Formentor lighthouse works now, how to get there, and how to make the most of the trip.

🗼 Formentor lighthouse at a glance

The Far de Formentor has stood at the cape since 1863, around 200 metres above the water at the end of the Formentor peninsula, north of Pollença. The road to reach it, the Ma-2210, twists for roughly 20 km from Port de Pollença past pine woods, hidden coves and the famous Mirador Es Colomer viewpoint. It is the northernmost point you can reach on Mallorca and a classic half-day trip, but the access rules below matter more than anything else when you plan your visit.

📌 Quick answer: how to visit in 2026

• From 15 May to 18 October 2026, private cars are banned on the final stretch (Formentor beach to the lighthouse) between 10:00 and 22:00.
• During those hours the easy way is the TIB shuttle bus, line 334, which runs from Alcúdia through Port de Pollença right out to the lighthouse.
• If you want to drive yourself, go early (before 10:00) or late (after 22:00), which also gives you sunrise or sunset.
• Cyclists and hikers can use the road at any time, with no restriction.
• Allow a half day, bring water, and do not expect food at the cape, so pack a snack.

🚗 Can you drive to Cap de Formentor?

Part of the year, yes, but through the whole summer you mostly cannot. To stop the road grinding to a halt, the authorities close the final section from Formentor beach to the lighthouse to private vehicles during the busy months. In 2026 that runs from 15 May to 18 October, every day from 10:00 to 22:00, with exceptions only for residents, permit holders and people with reduced mobility. Outside those dates, and outside those hours, you are free to drive the whole way and park near the lighthouse.

Since it is currently inside that window, the realistic options today are the shuttle bus, or an early start before 10:00. The early option is genuinely worth it: the light at sunrise over the cliffs is the best of the day and the road is quiet.

🚌 The Formentor shuttle bus (line 334)

During the restriction the TIB bus line 334 is the simplest way out to the cape. It runs daily from Alcúdia through Port de Pollença and on to the lighthouse, stopping at the main highlights along the way so you can hop off at the viewpoint or the beach. The ride from Port de Pollença takes about 50 minutes, a little over an hour from Alcúdia, and you buy your ticket on board. Services are frequent in peak season, but seats fill on the most popular midday departures, so aim for an earlier bus and give yourself a relaxed half day.

For more on how the island’s bus network and tickets work, see our guide to buses in Mallorca. If you would rather not wait for a bus, a taxi from Port de Pollença is an option early or late in the day when cars are allowed.

🌄 The viewpoints and the drive

Half the magic of Formentor is the journey. The first must-see is Mirador Es Colomer, a railed platform on a rocky spur with a giddy drop to the sea and a view back along the whole serrated coastline. A little further on, a short side path leads to an old watchtower, the Talaia d’Albercutx, for an even higher panorama if you have the time and steady legs. From there the road winds down through pines toward the beach and then climbs again to the lighthouse, where the land simply runs out and the open Mediterranean stretches north toward Menorca on a clear day.

🏖️ Formentor beach and the cape

About halfway out, Platja de Formentor is a long curve of pale sand backed by pines and looking straight across the bay to the Tramuntana mountains. It is one of the prettiest beaches in the north and a natural place to break the trip, with calm, shallow water that suits families. Above it sits the historic Hotel Formentor, a grande dame of Mallorca tourism that reopened as a luxury retreat after a major restoration. You do not need to stay there to enjoy the beach, which is open to everyone, but it gives the whole peninsula its glamorous reputation.

🗓️ Best time to visit Formentor

The cape is at its best in late spring and autumn, when the light is soft, the air is clear and the road is calmer. In high summer the heat and the crowds peak, which is exactly why the car ban exists, so the shuttle or an early start really pays off. Sunrise and sunset are the showpiece moments, with the cliffs glowing gold and the lighthouse silhouetted against the sky. For a fuller picture of the seasons see our guide to the best time to visit Mallorca, and if you are here in early summer our June guide covers the weather and what is on.

🛏️ Where to stay for visiting Formentor

Because the cape sits in the far north, staying nearby turns a long drive into a short hop. Port de Pollença is the natural base, right where the shuttle bus starts and a short distance from the peninsula, with a relaxed seafront and plenty of restaurants. Alcúdia and its old town make another good option, also served by the 334 bus. If you are touring the island more widely, our guide to the best areas to stay in Palma and the wider region helps you choose a base that fits your plans.

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🔗 Related guides from Palma Weekly

• Buses in Mallorca: routes, fares and free travel
• Taxis in Mallorca: fares, ranks and how to book
• Best areas to stay in Palma
• Best time to visit Mallorca
• Palma de Mallorca in June
• Best luxury hotels in Mallorca