Dragon Caves in Mallorca: an underground boat concert on Lake Martel

Mallorca is synonymous with sea, sun and beaches. Yet the island hides something truly out of the ordinary — the Dragon Caves, where concerts unfold not in a hall but underground, from a boat, in complete darkness.

Where do these concerts take place?

The Dragon Caves lie on the island’s eastern side, close to the town of Porto Cristo. It’s a vast cave system with an underground lake. The setting alone is striking, but the real draw is the music that rises from beneath the earth.

It all began in 1935, when an engineer named Carles Buigas devised a way to illuminate the caverns and stage a full-fledged show. He had also worked on the singing fountains in Barcelona. Since then, concerts here have become a tradition.

What does it look like?

On entering the cave, visitors wander through grand chambers laced with stalactites — long stone “icicles” that hang from the ceiling. At the end of the route comes the surprise: a hall with a lake and a live performance.

The musicians play from a boat gliding over the water. The lineup features two violins, a cello and a harpsichord, an early keyboard instrument reminiscent of a small piano. They perform classical pieces for about ten minutes, followed by a light show called Dawn on the Lake.

Photography and video during the concert are not allowed — organizers want guests to simply savor the moment.

What is the lake?

The underground lake is called Martel. It ranks among the largest of its kind, stretching 115 meters long and up to 30 meters wide. After the music, you can cross it by boat or take the bridge. The sensation is as if you’ve stepped into another world.

The cave keeps a pleasant 17–21 °C year-round. The visit takes roughly an hour in total. It’s best to buy tickets in advance on the official website, so you can choose a convenient time and save a little.

Why is it worth seeing?

The Dragon Caves are more than a sightseeing stop. They are a rare meeting of nature and music. Even if classical pieces aren’t your usual choice, the effect is disarming — there are few places on Earth where you can hear a live concert in a dark cave, on a boat, adrift on an underground lake.

What stays with you isn’t just the beauty (though it’s undeniably beautiful), but the sheer originality of the experience.

And yes, it’s all real — a slice of Mallorca waiting beneath the surface.