The Coves del Drac — Caves of the Dragon — are the single most visited attraction on Mallorca's east coast, and they earn the crowds. Carved by water through the limestone over millions of years, the four interconnected caverns descend to a depth of 25 metres and stretch for over four kilometres. The formations inside range from delicate soda-straw stalactites to cathedral-scale pillars; the lighting is theatrical without being garish, and the guided walk through the chambers builds to a proper climax at the edge of Lake Martel, one of the largest subterranean lakes in the world.
The finale is the concert. Visitors sit in stone-tiered seating along the lake shore while musicians in traditional dress embark in illuminated flat-bottomed boats and play — Mozart, Bach, pieces written specifically for this space. The boats drift slowly across the black water, the sound reverberating off the cave walls and ceiling, and the whole thing is far more moving than it has any right to be given the tourist context. After the performance, you board boats yourself and cross the lake to exit on the far side. Tickets must be booked in advance during summer; the caves receive thousands of visitors daily and the timed-entry system is strict.