Valldemossa is a village of about 2,000 people, set at 413 m in the Serra de Tramuntana, 20 km north of Palma. Its one great building is the Royal Charterhouse, a royal residence given to the Carthusian monks in 1399, where Chopin and George Sand wintered in 1838–39. Two former cells hold a museum to the couple, with the Pleyel pianino Chopin ordered from Paris. People come for the Charterhouse and the stone lanes around it, and walkers on the GR 221 pass straight through.
Valldemossa
- Currency
- Euro (EUR, €). Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in cities and tourist areas. ATMs are abundant; most charge €2–7 per foreign card withdrawal. Some shops request ID before accepting a credit card. €500 banknotes are not accepted in most shops.
- Language
- Catalan and Spanish are both official languages of the Balearic Islands; the majority speaks Catalan fluently alongside Spanish. English is common in tourism sectors and establishments.
- Power plug
- Europlug (Type C) and Schuko (Type F) sockets; 230 V, 50 Hz
- Visa
- Schengen area: EU, EEA and Swiss nationals enter on national ID card or passport. Many non-EU nationalities have 90-day visa-free access. Non-EEA citizens staying longer than 90 days require an advance visa.
- Time zone
- Europe/Madrid (UTC+01:00 winter time, UTC+02:00 summer time from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October). Canary Islands are one hour behind mainland Spain.
- Tap water
- Safe to drink throughout Spain. In some southern regions it has high mineral content and may taste unfamiliar; locals often drink bottled water instead. Bottled water is inexpensive and widely available.
- Tipping
- Not mandatory or customary. In restaurants: not expected for simple meals or basic establishments; 5–10% in mid-range or upscale venues if service was exceptional. Always pay cash to the server, not on card. Taxi drivers and hotel staff may appreciate small tips in upscale settings but it is not expected.
- Emergency
- 112
When to go
Low season
Nov – Feb
At 413 m in the Tramuntana, winter runs cool and damp, and the lanes around the Charterhouse are at their quietest.
Shoulder
Mar – May
Spring brings mild walking weather on the GR 221 and green terraces on the hillsides, with the day-trip crowds building towards summer.
High season
Jun – Sep
Summer is the busiest stretch, with the Festes de la Beata on 28 July, Artdemossa at the end of July and the Chopin Festival at the monastery in August, so arrive early to beat the midday crowds.
Shoulder
Oct – Oct
October keeps warm days as the crowds thin out and the light over the mountains turns lower and softer.
How long to stay
Half a day covers it for most visitors: the Charterhouse and the Chopin cells, a loop through the lanes, lunch at one of the dozen places along the main street by the monastery. Stay the night if you want the village after the day-trippers have gone, or if you are walking the GR 221, which crosses the Tramuntana through Valldemossa.
Getting around
The village is small enough to walk end to end, and the Charterhouse sits right on the main street.
From Palma it is 20 km north on the Ma-1110. Drivers leave the car in the large car park at the edge of the village and walk in.
TIB bus 203 runs from Palma in 30 minutes and carries on to Deià, then Sóller, 40 minutes further on, and Port de Sóller — the easy way to join Valldemossa with the rest of the west coast without driving.
On foot, the GR 221 (Ruta de Pedra en Sec), the dry-stone route that runs in nine stages from Port d'Andratx to Pollença, passes through the village.
What to see
Destinations in Valldemossa
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Valldemossa from Palma?
It lies 20 km north of Palma on the Ma-1110. TIB bus 203 makes the trip in 30 minutes and continues to Deià, Sóller and Port de Sóller. Drivers use the large car park at the edge of the village.Is Chopin's piano still in Valldemossa?
Yes. Cell 4 of the Charterhouse holds the Pleyel pianino Chopin ordered from Paris, which reached Valldemossa on 9 January 1839. Cells 2 and 4 form a privately run museum founded in 1929, with letters, music manuscripts, portraits, Chopin's death mask and the local piano he played while the Pleyel was held in customs.When is the Chopin Festival?
The Chopin Festival has been held at the monastery every August since 1930.Is Valldemossa on a hiking route?
The GR 221, the Ruta de Pedra en Sec or route of the dry-stone walls, passes through the village. It runs in nine stages from Port d'Andratx along the west coast and through the Serra de Tramuntana to Pollença.Who was born in Valldemossa?
Catalina Thomas, Mallorca's patron saint, was born here in 1533. The village celebrates her with the Festes de la Beata on 28 July, when parades fill the streets.