Mallorca is the most visited sun and beach destination in Spain — and the flip side of this tourist success is a specific layer of hotel dereliction that no tourist sees from the airport bus. The tourism boom of the 60s-80s built more hotels than the market could absorb, the 2008 crisis closed dozens of establishments mid-season, and the specific Balearic urban planning system freezes properties in litigation for decades. The Gesa Building on Palma’s Paseo Marítimo — headquarters of the electric company, later converted into a hotel project that never materialized, abandoned for 17 years — is the symbol of this Mallorcan typology. Discover the 5 best abandoned hotels in Mallorca, selected from our Urbex Mallorca Map — 60+ verified GPS locations.
Why Mallorca Has the Best Abandoned Hotel Typology in the Mediterranean
The combination of the hotel boom of the 60s-80s, the 2008 crisis, and the Balearic urban planning system that prevents demolition and delays rehabilitation for decades creates in Mallorca an unmatched density of derelict hotels among the Spanish Mediterranean islands — with intact sea views from every sealed window.
1. Gesa Building – Paseo Marítimo, Palma — José Ferragut Pou 1977, 27,000 m² Seafront Facade, Abandoned 2008–2025, Failed Hotel Project, Acquired by City Council 2025 (Known Location)
The Gesa Building on Palma’s Paseo Marítimo was designed by architect José Ferragut Pou and inaugurated in 1977, with 27,000 m² on Palma’s seafront. It was declared a Protected Building by the Consell de Mallorca in 2007 for its architectural value. Endesa moved its headquarters in December 2008, leaving the building empty. Over 17 years of vacancy, multiple reconversion projects were evaluated — including five-star hotel projects that never materialized. In 2025, Palma City Council acquired the building for rehabilitation as a cultural space.
🔗 Sources: Mallorca Diario – Gesa Building | ArchDaily – Empty Architectures Mallorca
2. Abandoned Seasonal Hotel – East Coast of Mallorca — 2008 Crisis, Closed Mid-Season, Apartment Complex, Mediterranean View (Known Location)
The east coast of Mallorca — between Cala Ratjada, Cala Millor, and Porto Cristo — concentrates several hotels and aparthotels from the 70s-80s closed during the 2008-2012 crisis and never rehabilitated: the reception sealed with furniture still in place, empty pools with original tiles, and rooms with Mediterranean views closed since the last summer season. The tourism boom of the 70s built more hotel beds on this coast than demand supported, and the 2008 crisis acted as a selection mechanism leaving the most vulnerable establishments in permanent dereliction. All GPS locations are on our Urbex Mallorca Map.
🔗 Also read: Top 5 Abandoned Places in Mallorca →
3. Unfinished Tourist Complex – North or South Coast of Mallorca — License Suspended, Concrete Structure, Sea View, 80s–90s Boom
The tourism boom of the 80s-90s in Mallorca left several hotel complexes unfinished at various points along the coast: projects whose licenses were suspended due to changes in Balearic urban regulations, promoter bankruptcy, or environmental association appeals. Several concrete structures with sea views remain on Mallorca’s coastline with visible rusted rebar and Mediterranean vegetation reclaiming the site — the most literal testimony of the failure of the intensive tourism model of the 80s. All GPS locations are on our Urbex Mallorca Map.
4. Abandoned Inland Hotel – Raiguer or Pla de Mallorca — 60s–70s, Failed Rural Tourism, Estate Converted into Hotel, Now Derelict (Exclusive on Our Map)
The first wave of rural tourism in Mallorca — the 60s-70s — converted several historic inland estates into small rural hotels that did not find enough demand and closed in the 80s-90s. Several of these converted estates in Raiguer and Pla de Mallorca remain derelict: the original marés stone architecture intact on the outside while the 60s hotel interior — the reception hall with terracotta floors and period furniture — deteriorates. Exclusive on our Urbex Mallorca Map.
5. Abandoned Tourist Apartments – South Zone of Mallorca — 70s–80s, Closed Due to Regulations, Sea View, Vegetation Reclaiming the Site (Only on Our Map)
The south zone of Mallorca — between El Arenal, Sa Ràpita, and Colònia de Sant Jordi — accumulated in the 70s-80s second-rate tourist apartment blocks that were progressively closed due to non-compliance with Balearic tourism regulations of the 90s and 2000s. Several of these blocks remain derelict with Mediterranean vegetation reclaiming terraces and the sea visible from sealed balconies. GPS on our Urbex Mallorca Map.
Safety Tips
- Gesa Building under rehabilitation: acquired by the City Council in 2025 — check construction status before visiting; access may be restricted
- Unfinished complexes: rusted rebar can be sharp and raw concrete slabs may be structurally weak — never access upper floors without assessing the structure
- Summer heat: 35-38°C without ventilation in closed buildings — visit early in the morning and always bring water
- Never explore alone — always bring at least one other person and share your location
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most famous abandoned hotel in Mallorca?
The Gesa Building on Palma’s Paseo Marítimo — 27,000 m² of Balearic modernist architecture from 1977 with a frontal view of Palma Bay, abandoned since 2008 when Endesa moved its headquarters. Evaluated for five-star hotel projects that never materialized, finally acquired by Palma City Council in 2025 for cultural use.
Why are there so many abandoned hotels in Mallorca?
The combination of oversized hotel development in the 70s-80s, the 2008 crisis that closed the most vulnerable establishments, and the Balearic urban planning system that makes demolition very costly and rehabilitation very slow creates an unmatched density of derelict hotels in Mallorca. Added to this are unfinished complexes from the 80s-90s whose licenses were suspended due to environmental regulations.
When is the best time to visit abandoned hotels in Mallorca?
Autumn (September–November) and spring (March–May) — pleasant temperatures, optimal Mediterranean light, and few tourists. Avoid July-August due to extreme heat and tourist crowds that make discreet access more difficult.
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