The biggest beach in Cala d'Or
A white sandy beach at the head of an inlet of turquoise water, between low cliffs covered in pines. It's the largest of the coves in Cala d'Or and sits right in the resort, surrounded by hotels, bars and restaurants, with sunloungers and a lifeguard in summer. In the 14th century a pirate raid that sacked Santanyí landed here.
40m
Of sand along the shore
100m
Of beach from the water to the back
Today at Cala Gran
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- Wind
- Offshore waves
Cala Gran opens to the . With an offshore wind it stays sheltered; if the wind blows in from the sea, the waves come in.
Parking
Few spaces, in the surrounding streets
Then about 3 min on foot (easy).
Excursions around Cala Gran
Trips that pass by Cala Gran. In July and August it pays to book ahead.
Boat trip to the coves of south-east Mallorca
Skippered boat from Cala d'Or harbour to the nearby coves, with snorkelling and paddleboarding.
Check dates and pricesBook on GetYourGuide
Cala d'Or: beginner scuba diving
Try-dive with instructors in the waters of Cala d'Or, entering the sea from a quiet beach.
Check dates and pricesBook on GetYourGuide
Cala d'Or: sunrise or sunset jet ski tour
One-hour guided jet ski ride from Cala d'Or along the coast, early morning or at sunset.
Check dates and pricesBook on GetYourGuide
What you’ll find
- Sand
- White sand, with rock on the sides, about 40 × 100 m of beach.
- Facilities
- Beach bar, lifeguard, toilets, sunloungers.
- Little shade
- Only from the pines on the edges. On the sand you'll need to bring or rent a parasol.
- Snorkelling: good
- The interesting part is the rocks on the sides, towards the mouth of the inlet. In the middle it's sand.
- Good for kids
- Calm, shallow water, a lifeguard in season, toilets, showers and a small playground behind the sand.
- Dogs: no specific rule
- Some guides say dogs aren't allowed, but we haven't found the municipal rule. Check with the Ajuntament de Santanyí (town council).
How to get there
- By car and on foot
- Guides mention an unattended car park with fewer than 50 spaces and say finding a space is difficult. OpenStreetMap shows a small pay car park about 130 metres away, a free one about 300 metres away and several pay car parks about 400 metres away. In summer the easiest option is to park in the streets and walk. It's in the centre of the Cala d'Or resort, next to the Avinguda de Cala Gran. You can drive there and walk down to the sand from the surrounding streets, which are lined with hotels and apartments.
- By bus
- The TIB bus stop Cala Gran (Cala d'Or) is about 100 metres from the beach, and the Cala d'Or tourist train also stops at Cala Gran. Check tib.org for which lines and timetables are running this year.
- By boat
- The Cala d'Or marina is less than half a mile away. Boats and speedboats touring the coast pass in front of the cove.
Best time to go
- Season
- May, June, September and October
- Time of day
- Before 10:00 or after 18:00
- Crowds in summer
- High
It's a resort beach surrounded by hotels and in high season it gets packed. First thing in the morning and late in the afternoon there's more room.
Tips and what to bring
- Get there before 10:00. It’s right in Cala d’Or, surrounded by hotels, and in summer the sand and parking spaces fill up early.
- Mask and snorkel. Swim towards the rocks on the sides, heading for the mouth of the inlet.
- A parasol, or hire one. The pines are on the edges and the sand is in the sun almost all day.
- Walk along the coast. Cala Esmeralda, Caló de ses Dones and Cala Ferrera are a few minutes away on foot.
The cove opens to the south-east, so the sun hits the sand from first thing. With the tramuntana (north wind) or mestral (north-west wind) it’s usually calm; with the xaloc (south-east wind) or migjorn (south wind) the swell comes in through the mouth.
Photos of Cala Gran
Cala Gran features in these guides
Nearby coves
- Caló de ses Dones0.3 km · guide coming soon
- Cala Esmeralda0.5 km
- Cala Ferrera0.9 km
- Cala Serena1.1 km
Frequently asked questions
Where do I park for Cala Gran?
There are few spaces next to the beach. The usual thing is to park in the resort's streets or in the Cala d'Or car parks, some of which charge, and walk for a few minutes.
Does it have facilities?
Yes. Bars and restaurants, sunlounger and parasol hire, toilets, showers, a playground and a lifeguard in season.
Does it have a Blue Flag?
It had one in previous years, but it isn't on the 2026 list of Blue Flag beaches.
Is it good for children?
Yes. The water is calm and shallow, there's a lifeguard in summer and a playground. In August it's hard to find room on the sand.
Can I get there by bus?
Yes. The TIB bus stop Cala Gran (Cala d'Or) is about 100 metres away. Check tib.org for which lines are running on the date of your visit.