Where to Buy Property in Southeast Mallorca: An Area-by-Area Guide
Portocolom, Felanitx, Santanyí, Cala d’Or, Porto Cristo or a country finca: what each area of southeast Mallorca is like and which buyer it suits best.
In this article
Southeast Mallorca brings together, within a few kilometres, coastal villages with life all year, holiday resorts, inland towns with weekly markets and country houses. Choosing the right area is the most important decision when buying: it shapes the price, how you will use the property and what your daily life will be like. This guide sums up what each area is like, from our everyday experience in Portocolom.
Before choosing: three questions
- What is the home for? A holiday home for a few weeks a year, living here all year, or renting out. Not every area suits every use equally well.
- What pace of life are you after? A lively summer and a quiet winter, or a village with life twelve months a year.
- Sea or countryside? Walking to the beach, or space, a garden and inland views in exchange for relying on the car.
Portocolom
A fishing village in the municipality of Felanitx, built around a large natural bay. It keeps its local life all year: shops, restaurants, a yacht club and neighbours who stay in winter. There are apartments and village houses near the harbour, villas in the surrounding residential areas and some homes with bay views.
Suits: anyone who wants the sea and an authentic village feel, as a holiday home or to live in all year. It is our home area; see prices in our analysis of Portocolom property prices in 2026.
Felanitx and its villages (S’Horta, Calonge, Es Carritxó)
Felanitx is the main town of the municipality: an inland town with services, a Sunday market and Mallorcan everyday life, a few minutes from the coast. Around it, small villages such as S’Horta, Calonge and Es Carritxó combine village houses and country fincas in a quiet setting.
Suits: anyone looking for authenticity, year-round services and a bit more space, without giving up having the sea close by.
See our current property for sale in Felanitx.
Santanyí, Cala Figuera and Portopetro
Santanyí is an inland town of golden stone, with a market on Wednesdays and Saturdays and plenty of life, including among international residents. From there it is only a few minutes to Cala Figuera, a small fishing harbour, Portopetro and Mondragó Natural Park.
Suits: anyone who wants a characterful town with an international community, surrounded by some of the island’s most beautiful coves.
Cala d’Or
A resort with several coves, a marina and white Ibiza-style houses. Very lively in season and much quieter in winter. Apartments and villas abound, often bought as holiday homes.
Suits: anyone looking for a holiday home with tourist amenities, a marina and beaches close at hand.
See our current property for sale in Cala d’Or.
Porto Cristo, Cala Murada and Cales de Mallorca
Porto Cristo, in the municipality of Manacor, is a harbour town with a life of its own, known for the Drach Caves. Cala Murada and Cales de Mallorca are quieter residential developments on the coast, with a strong holiday-home character.
Suits: anyone who prefers a town with services (Porto Cristo) or a quiet development by the sea (Cala Murada, Cales de Mallorca).
Country houses and fincas
The inland southeast offers fincas with land, olive and almond trees, a few kilometres from the coast. They give privacy and space, but call for particularly careful checks on what has been built, as not everything can be legalised or extended on rustic land. We explain this in our guide to buying a house in Mallorca.
Suits: anyone who wants peace and nature and doesn’t mind relying on the car.
Areas at a glance
| Area | Atmosphere | Life in winter | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portocolom | Seaside village | Yes | Holiday home or living all year |
| Felanitx and villages | Inland, Mallorcan | Yes | Living all year with services |
| Santanyí and around | Inland, international | Yes | Characterful town near the coves |
| Cala d’Or | Resort | Quieter | Holiday home |
| Porto Cristo | Harbour town with services | Yes | Coast with amenities |
| Cala Murada / Cales de Mallorca | Residential development | Quiet | Holiday home by the sea |
| Country fincas | Countryside | Secluded | Space and privacy |
Our advice
Visit the area you like out of season too, and compare at least two options before deciding. If you plan to rent to holidaymakers, check first whether the property can get a licence: in Mallorca they are tightly restricted.
Frequently asked questions
Which area of the southeast is best for living all year?
Villages with a stable population: Portocolom, Felanitx, Santanyí or Porto Cristo. They keep their shops and services open in winter.
Which area is best for a holiday home?
It depends on what you want: Portocolom combines sea and village life; Cala d’Or offers a resort atmosphere and a marina; Cala Murada, peace by the sea.
Is it safe to buy a country finca?
Yes, as long as the planning and registry status are checked carefully before signing anything. It is the type of property where good advice matters most.
