S'Olivaret Rural Hotel, Alaro

Castell d'Alaro is perched on top a rocky mountain above the town of Alaro in the west of Mallorca. A popular walk from the town (or further up the hill if you prefer to drive) takes you to a ruined castle and hilltop chapel offering spectacular views of the Tramuntana mountains and over towards Palma and all the way to the sea.

The Serra de Tramuntana mountains (translated as the "mountains of the north wind") run the length of Mallorca's northwestern coastline extending for almost 90km and claim some of the island’s most magnificent scenery. In 2011, it was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO under the cultural landscape category.

These classical gardens by the entrance to the Soller tunnel are a legacy of the Arab talent for landscaping and irrigation. Their name derives from al fabi, 'jar of olives' in Arabic. They were probably designed by Benihabet, the Muslim governor of Inca who converted to Christianity following the Spanish invasion.

The vintage carriages are still in use, providing a fantastic opportunity for tourists, and a relief for locals from the terrors of the old Palma-Soller road.

Housed in a wonderful Modernist building, Can Prunera was built in the early 20th century and the museum was opened on 24 August 2009. The vast majority of works on display at this museum belong to the Fundació d’Art Serra.

Sóller is a botanist’s and enthusiast’s paradise. The Botanical garden is found in a country estate known as “Camp d’En Prohom”, on the outskirts of Sóller. Its primary purpose is to preserve rare or endangered species of the Balearics, and is the result of many years of study and hard work, and now hosts one of Spain’s most extensive wild flora seed banks.

Alaro is a quiet traditional Mallorcan town burrowed in a peaceful valley south of the Serra de Tramuntana. Many of the streets feature the blonde stone architecture, typical of the traditional mountain villages on the island, making it a pretty place to visit.

Set deep within the Tramuntana mountain range of the west of Mallorca, Orient is one of the most remote villages in Mallorca.

If you are familiar with Mallorcan wine, then it's more than likely you will have heard of Binissalem. This small town in central Mallorca is most famously associated with wine production. Surrounded by some of the island's best vineyards and bodegas, wine buffs should make it their mission to stop by on a trip to the island.

Santa Maria del Cami is a pretty little market town to the north of Palma. It resides just off the motorway that takes you north to Alcúdia and Pollença.

Set in a lush valley of orange groves between the mountains and the sea, Sóller has been popular with day trippers for some time. Arriving on the vintage train from Palma there is plenty of taking things easy, sitting outside the cafés in Plaça Constitució soaking up the atmosphere and the sun. With several tapas bars, a fine selection of pastry shops, local ice-cream, and freshly made drinks, there is little temptation to move on.

The neighbouring villages of Portol and Sa Cabaneta, between Palma and Santa Maria del Cami, have become something of an artists colony. Unlike in Deia and Banyalbufar, though, the artists are Mallorcan - potters taking advantage of the rich local soil. The only reason for coming here is to visit the ollerias (workshops), where prices are much lower than in the tourist shops.