Favourite Mallorca holiday haunts

Today, Palma Nova enjoys a prime location on the western side of Palma Bay. It’s often seen as a more laid-back alternative to its lively neighbour Magaluf, and a more accessible option than the upscale Portals Nous. British holidaymakers have long favoured Palma Nova for its wide sandy beaches, family-friendly attractions, and value-for-money accommodation. The short 10-minute walk over the headland to Magaluf means you can enjoy the buzz of its nightlife while retreating to quieter surroundings.

In recent years, Palma Nova has undergone a noticeable transformation. Significant investment in its hotels and restaurant scene has elevated its appeal, attracting a broader and more refined clientele. With a steady year-round buzz, thanks in part to its resident expat community, Palma Nova is reclaiming its charm while stepping confidently into a new era.

Located in the south-west of the island, just a 10-minute drive from Palma, Puerto Portals is connected to the more modest town of Portal Nous. There's a real cosmopolitan feel to the place, think of something between Monte Carlo and Puerto Banus and you're nearly there.

Puerto Portals is not actually that big - you could walk from one end to the other in five minutes - but the point of being here is to sit and enjoy the world as it goes by. There are designer boutiques selling jewellery, watches, swimwear, clothing, accessories and gifts. In between, you'll also find swanky estate agents and yacht charter and brokerages. A wide range of portside restaurants offer a good selection of cuisine. You can come here for breakfast, lunch and dinner and admire luxury yachts, Ferraris and Porsches (and of course, their owners!) parading up and down the front. It’s more than likely you will also spot a familiar face amongst the crowds as it has become quite the celebrity hotspot. The likes of Paris Hilton, Brad Pitt and Jenson Button have all been spotted in the port. A lovely beach adjoins the port too, so you can easily make a day of it.

Originally developed in the mid-20th century, Illetas has kept its charm over the decades. With three beautiful beaches nearby and easy access to Palma’s shops, restaurants, and nightlife, it’s the perfect base if you want the best of both worlds; a calm coastal escape with the capital just down the road.

Things stay quiet in winter, but from Easter through October, Illetas comes alive. You’ll find a mix of British, German, and Swedish families with holiday homes here. On the far western edge, an exclusive holiday resort village known as ‘The Anchorage’, which is the most sought-after address in the area.

Valldemossa's quiet and picturesque streets are brimming with artisan shops, art galleries, cafes and restaurants. Doorways are lined with beautiful plants and flowers, and many houses feature a portrait of Saint Catalina Thomàs, the first saint to be born in Mallorca. With a local population of around 2,000 residents, in recent years, Valldemossa’s rising popularity has led to an increase in visitors, meaning its once peaceful streets can now feel noticeably busier, especially during peak summer. Most tourists come to Valldemossa on day trips to see the Real Cartuja, the Carthusian Monastery where Chopin and George Sand once spent a winter. Visitors tend to stay for a few hours before continuing on towards Deia, another mountain village on the west coast that overlooks the sea and the setting sun.

Valldemossa’s beautiful countryside naturally draws hikers and nature lovers here. It’s also a favourite destination for those looking to escape the island’s more crowded beach resorts in favour of a tranquil mountainside retreat. 

Located in a stunning coastal stretch, at the bottom of a funnel-shaped valley, lies Port d’Andratx, a harbour claimed by many as one of the prettiest in Mallorca. The main town, built in the mid 20th century, is located on the southern side of the port and retains its character thanks to the presence of fishermen. In the summer, this side of the harbour has a wonderfully bustling atmosphere thanks to the lively bars and restaurants that line the water's edge boasting wonderful sea views amplified by the many yachts mooring in the bay. Although the port is quieter in the winter months, with many restaurants closing between November and March it is still a nice place to visit as it appears to revert back to its roots as a small fishing port.

The Club de Vela marina on the north side of the port has a distinguished cosmopolitan legacy. It is also the biggest attraction in the area for some of the most affluent individuals evident by the number of larger yachts dwelling here. Many of them also own a villa on the surrounding hillsides. Speaking of the area’s inhabitants there’s a mixture of local native Mallorca inhabitants, international expats who have retired to the area and, of course, some holiday home owners who come and go throughout the year.

The town has some nice buildings solely dedicated to apartments, whilst villas dot every conceivable space on the surrounding hillsides from Port d’Andratx to the ancient rural town of Andratx about 5km away. This area of Mallorca is also blessed with glorious countryside, which attracts many visitors keen to explore some of the island's natural beauty.

Cala d'Or actually covers a stretch of development that includes a number of coves: Cala Ferrera, Cala Esmeralda, Cala Serena, Cala Gran, and Cala Llonga. Each of the various 'calas' (bays) have their own distinctive character. It’s also worth noting that there’s a mini train connecting them all, making it easy for holidaymakers to travel from the main resort to these beaches.

Cala d’Or has been tastefully developed and former fishing harbours have been turned into 21st-century marinas. its whitewashed Ibiza-style buildings are really quite pretty, and most people can find a holiday here to suit their individual needs, whether it's sailing, diving or drinking wine in the waterfront bars. Those who prefer a quieter holiday, sitting on a sun lounger by day and eating a lovely dinner by night, are also well catered for. A bonus for foodies is that Cala d'Or is home to plenty of decent restaurants. Head to the main marina to find waterfront eateries or just choose from the great selection along the streets within the town centre.

The coves boast charming little beaches surrounded by woodland and cliffs. The beaches themselves are pretty small and get very busy during peak holiday season so do get down early to reserve your spot. The water is wonderfully clear and inviting, ideal for swimming on a warm summer's day.

Sitting in a large horseshoe bay, Puerto Pollensa affords splendid sea views and a picture-perfect mountain backdrop. It's well protected from strong winds, making it an ideal location for a seaside retreat. As you might imagine from an established resort, the town offers a wide range of restaurants, bars and hotels. 

The beachfront is the main attraction and has two completely different dimensions. South of the port you will find a long commercial beach known as Port de Pollença beach, where purpose-built holiday apartments, restaurants and tourist shops line the road opposite the pedestrianised promenade. Travelling further north of the port, the coastline just gets more beautiful as more of its traditional roots penetrate the area. The Pine Walk promenade (Passeig Voramar) provides a more tranquil and narrow beach, lined with traditional style Mallorcan chalets complete with pine trees leaning into the sea - it really is an idyllic setting.

This genteel resort has been a popular family holiday destination for decades and, in the summer months, the town really blossoms. However, its close proximity to Mallorca’s Serra de Tramuntana mountains means that it also attracts keen hikers and cyclists between the months of October and April. Over the years, Puerto Pollensa has captured many hearts, with a high volume of return visitors. In present times, there’s also a large community of expats, mostly retired British, dwelling in the area.

There’s the opportunity to immerse yourself in more authentic Mallorcan culture in the neighbouring inland town of Pollença. Here you will find a quaint town with stunning architecture and ancient landmarks; its traditional market is also worth a trip on a Sunday morning.

Tucked at the foot of the Serra de Tramuntana, Port de Sóller was once hard to reach before the tunnel to Sóller opened in the 1990s. On the flip side it has managed to avoid the overdevelopment seen in other coastal parts of Mallorca during the 70s and 80s, retaining its traditional charm. 

The bay is lined with a sandy beach and a pedestrianised promenade where you can wander past cafés, restaurants and shops with the occasional hotel tucked in. The place still feels like a working fishing harbour at its heart and you’ll find plenty of seafood on the local menus. At the same time, new places have added a fresh touch with stylish restaurants and cocktail bars popping up in recent years. A luxury hotel on the hill above the bay has helped bring more attention to the area and the seafront has had a tasteful makeover. 

Just a short trip inland takes you to Sóller itself, a charming town that still celebrates Mallorca’s heritage. You’ll find rustic stone buildings, a lively Saturday market and lovely little art galleries. The vintage tram ride between the two is a gentle journey through lemon and olive groves and is a lovely way to take in the landscape.

There are ancient salt mines here dating back to Roman times. The salt produced has become a major industry for the area, with gourmet flavoured salts being produced for export. The sea salt is extracted during August using traditional methods.

Graves moved to the village in 1929, leaving in the the thirties during the Spanish Civil War, returning in 1946 with his wife and family to make it his permanent home until his death in 1985. Muses followed, friends came to stay and, before long, Deià had established a reputation as a foreign artists' colony. Graves was hardly the first to discover Deià, an 1878 guidebook noted its "collection of strange and eccentric foreigners" and it has stayed that way ever since.

Today the village is still very much an artist’s town with a number of art galleries and gift shops, along with a good selection of restaurants. Controlled urban expansion has meant that this little village has kept its traditional beauty and charm in spite of all the goings on. Now found on every tourist itinerary as a prime example of ‘the other Mallorca’, it has become a popular haunt for the rich and famous, including visitors like Richard Branson, Princess Diana and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Foreign residents, which make up half of its population, are certainly affluent , evident in the average house price for the municipality. These expats not only respect, but immerse themselves in the traditional Mallorcan life created and preserved by locals from the area.

Being a part of the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range, awarded World Heritage Site status, means that Deià is surrounded by some of Mallorca’s finest landscapes. There is a relaxed vibe here but, at the same time, it's a popular place for cycling and hiking enthusiasts to base themselves.