Can Daniel Villa
A beautifully built Mallorcan finca, set on one floor in a lovely rural location between Pollensa old town and Puerto Pollensa.

© [J.Rains]

© J. Rains

© [J.Rains]

© J. Rains

© J. Rains

© [J.Rains]

© [J.Rains]

© Balneario Illetas

© SeeMallorca.com

© [J.Rains]

© [J.Rains]
Sheltered bay with an upmarket feel located in the Bay of Palma
Only 9km from the capital of Palma, Illetas is a holiday resort claiming three picture-perfect beaches. Illetas beach is the main beach, and is more sheltered than the huge stretch of sand that makes up the beach in front of Palma's cathedral, making this one of the nicest beaches in the Bay of Palma.
The resort of Illetas claims Illetas Beach (Playa de Illetes) and the smaller coves of Cala Oli and Cala Comtessa. The main beach of Illetas is Illetas Beach, it is surrounded by leafy picturesque trees and urban buildings, built in a semi circle around the cove. The beach has been very well looked after, buildings were built on the rocks to ensure plenty room for sunbathing. Sun beds and parasols are available to hire, and there are toilets, ramps for the disabled and lifeguards on duty. In the summer, the turquoise waters here are filled with yachts, bringing an upmarket feel to the place.
Restaurants
There are a few restaurants along the beach, including elegant terraces that offer mediterranean seafood. For a more casual vibe, there are snack restaurants and ice cream bars available. A few restaurants can be found within Illetas, serving traditional Mediterranean fair, and head to the 5-star hotels for fine dining options. Down the road in Cas Catala and Cala Major you will find further options available, from international restaurants, pizzeria's, Thai cuisine and much more. Cala Nova Port is also within easy walking distance and provides a wonderful setting for some food and cocktails.
Nightlife
Nightlife here tends to be sophisticated and mostly based in the surrounding hotels and beach clubs. However, the late-night bars, parties and restaurants in Palma and Puerto Portals are only a short taxi ride away. In the peak of summer Cala Nova Port also provides some live entertainment and exceptional parties on the weekends.
Hotels
There's a range of hotels nearby Illetas beach, boutique, 5-star and resort options to cater for different types of holidaymakers from family-friendly to adult-only options. Puerto Portals, Portals Nous and Bendinat are also very close by and also offer some great hotel choices. Or if you are looking for a bit more buzz, there's also some wonderful hotels within the city of Palma.
Illetas is a swanky beach, reflected by the fact that there are two popular beach clubs here. One overlooks the beach and is ideal for lunch or dinner while the other is situated on a rocky platform at the end of the beach and is all about chilling out on a sun lounger and being waited on all day long.
The beach sits at the end of an U-shaped sea inlet and is surrounded by steep cliffs that are now covered in hotels and apartment blocks.
The crystal clear sea is always inviting and perfect for a cooling dip. Lifeguards are on duty here during the peak season and the busy summer months.
The beach is not that big, with a length of around 100 metres and around 50 metres deep. The sand is soft and golden, and the sea crystal clear and welcoming.
Kayaking, snorkelling, paddle boarding, pedalos... there is an endless array of watersports on offer at this small beach near Palma.
There's limited free parking just behind the bay or you can catch the number 3 bus from Palma which stops just above the beach.
A beautifully built Mallorcan finca, set on one floor in a lovely rural location between Pollensa old town and Puerto Pollensa.
Sweet and welcoming, the recently renovated Villa Lidia is a truly perfect holiday home, ticking all the boxes for a cheerful yet relaxing holiday in Mallorca. Provided with a large private swimming pool and ideally located close to Puerto Pollensa, Villa Lidia can sleep up to 8 guests in 4 bedrooms and welcoming interiors, full of natural light and soft colors. The gardens and the large pool, ideal for families, complement the setting.
Historic four-bedroom villa with a unique bedroom set in a turret, private heated pool, and stunning coastline views.
Finca Es Costes is a four-bedroom, four-bathroom villa with a mountain view and a private swimming pool that can be heated for a supplement. The grounds and the villa itself have both been designed to keep the natural characteristics of this beautiful area’s outstanding natural beauty.
Located in the highly sought-after area of La Font, at the foot of the stunning UNESCO Tramuntana mountains in Pollensa, Villa Esquina is just a 15-minute walk from the beautiful historic town of Pollenca and a 10-minute drive from the Port of Pollenca and surrounding beaches, making it ideal for large families or two families with children. This stunning family holiday home has 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 3 balconies with amazing views of the surrounding area and a large heated saltwater pool (15 metres long).
Recently reformed yet still exuding plenty of Mallorcan character, this wonderful property offers a complimentary mix of chic, modern living and traditional Spanish charm.
Ca's Xorc Luxury Retreat is the place to stay if you're looking for somewhere that's rich in history but with all the modern amneties. Breathtaking views, gourmet cuisine and a relaxing environment, the ideal place for a peaceful stay in a beautiful location.
This charming hotel is located in the historical old town, in the very heart of Palma de Mallorca. It is within easy walking distance of attractions such as the 10th century Arab baths and Palma's breathtaking gothic Cathedral.
Run by a German couple and set in a rural location in central Mallorca with views over the local countryside and mountains, Finca Son Jorbo offers style and comfort in a restored 17th century country house. With the convenience of bed and breakfast and the added benefit of fully equipped self-catered apartments, Finca Son Jorbo is the perfect combination.
Son Bunyola Hotel offers an intimate stay, providing the perfect base to explore Mallorca’s vineyards, olive groves, and charming countryside.
If you're looking for a perfect hideaway from your usual routine, then this lovely 15th century Mallorcan manor is the place to escape to.
S'Alquería Blanca is located in the municipality of Bunyola, a great spot on the Northern coast. Six bedrooms, three of which are suites all perfectly styled in traditional Mallorcan furniture. Each room has its own terrace from which guests can enjoy a magnificent view of the islands, which stretches down to the bay of Palma.
Why not have an adventure and try the new water sport, Flyboard? Located in Port Calanova which has the perfect conditions to try this fun and exciting sport.
An area designed and intended for young adventurers. Sport, fun and adventure, it has 50 platforms and games divided into 6 circuits of different levels and heights.
The Bendinat Royal Golf Course is magnificently situated 7 kilometres west of Palma, in an extensive wooded valley and in the heart of the Bendinat Housing Estate.
Whiz around the local coastline with friends and family
This cosmopolitan beach club is located in a beautiful spot in Illetas. Their large terrace overlooking the sea features comfortable sun loungers and day beds.
Chef Marga Coll offers her own vision of traditional Mallorcan cuisine at this restaurant located inside the Gran Meliá de Mar Hotel
Appearing as if it arose from amid the waves, this matchless location of the historical Hospes Maricel, where the Senzone Restaurant is located.
This is an exclusive fine dining experience within the Luxury Portals Hills Boutique Hotel.
Located inside the Nixe Palace Hotel, on the beach of Cala Major, this restaurant serves creative fresh-produce cuisine, specialising in fish and seafood.
This beach club in Illetes (a 10 minute car ride from Palma) is one of the best on the island with its restaurant and terraces overlooking a small sandy beach and a rocky cove.
This stylish modern poolside bar is situated within the Portals Hills Boutique Hotel.
This cosmopolitan beach club is located in a beautiful spot in Illetas. Their large terrace overlooking the sea features comfortable sun loungers and day beds.
This beach club in Illetes (a 10 minute car ride from Palma) is one of the best on the island with its restaurant and terraces overlooking a small sandy beach and a rocky cove.
The painter and sculptor Joan Miro spent most of his life in Barcelona, but both his wife and mother were Mallorcan and he always longed to return to the scene of his childhood holidays to draw inspiraton from what he called "the light of Mallorca".
A well-preserved 14th-century royal fortress with fragrant pine woods, an interesting museum and superb views over Palma Bay.
Spain gets the theme-park treatment at this 'village' in the outskirts of Palma, where reproductions of famous buildings from Cordoba, Toledo and Madrid are gathered together with typical houses from the Spanish regions.
Es Baluard Museum of Modern & Contemporary Art was opened in 2004 as a cultural institution for research and dissemination of Balearic & Mediterranean art from the 20th and 21st centuries.
With twin turrets and an angel over the door, this 15th-century seafront building looks half-castle, half-church. In fact it is neither.
Until the 1960s the sea reached up to the city walls, providing the perfect reflection for the cathedral. When the building of a new road changed all that, an artificial lake was constructed to reproduce the effect.
This golf club opened in 2006 and was designed by Jack Nicklaus' firm, Nicklaus Design Company. The 18-hole course is a par 71 and has been integrated into the local environment to provide an immersive golfing experience - the course has been likened to a links course.
An 18-hole golf course, par 71, 5.539 m long from white tees. The course was designed by Bradford Benz and opened in 1985. It is situated close to Portocolom.
The golf course in Andratx was designed by the famous Gleneagles resort in Scotland and opened in 2000. The 18-hole championship course is well known as one of the most difficult and challenging in Mallorca.
Maioris Golf Club is located 15 minutes west of Palma de Mallorca on the south coast of Mallorca. The course was created in 2006 by Dieter Cabus and is of a championship standard.
This is a private, family-run, members' golf club, set in 156 hectares of beautiful Mediterranean landscape.
Looking to play golf by the sea, then Alcanada might be the course for you. It's situated in the north of Mallorca on the peninsula of Alcudia. The golf course opened in 2003 and was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Illetas (also known as Ses Illetes) is a small, stylish resort tucked into the southwest coast of Mallorca just a few kilometres from Palma. In summer, it draws in visitors with its soft sandy beaches, calm turquoise waters, and laid-back upscale vibe.
Portals Nous is a small town 10km to the west of Palma. This is the place to stay if you want to spend time at the swanky marina of Puerto Portals.
Puerto Portals is widely known as the most glamorous marina on the island. It has become an attractive destination for the rich and famous to moor their yachts and now caters for more than 600 yachts up to 60 metres in length. Unlike many other ports in Mallorca, there is a year-round buzz here. It’s the place to visit for designer shopping, people watching and first-class restaurants and bars.
Cala Major (also known as Cala Mayor) and its neighbour Sant Agusti are holiday resort towns on the outskirts of Palma.
There are still people who can remember when Palma Nova was just a village. Then, along came the tourist boom and the 'new Palma' was established as one of the first purpose-built tourist destinations on the island.
The good, the bad and the ugly sides of Mallorcas tourist development meet along a 25km stretch of coast. Tacky resorts sit next to exclusive retreats, it seems that everyone wants a slice of Palma Bay. One moment you can be in Portals Nous, with its chic marina crammed with millionaires' yachts, the next in seedy Magaluf, all British pubs and wet T-shirt contests.
Find out all about what is happening in Mallorca and how to make the most of your time here. The latest news, reviews of fun activities, fabulous beaches, current events and the trendiest restaurants, as well as interviews with leading locals, insider's guides and our top choices for things to do, see, and experience on the island.
See allLatest News & ReviewsThe island hosts all sorts of events, including agricultural fairs in the spring and autumn, live music and DJs in the summer, religious fiestas and international sporting events. Some of the most popular are the Mallorca 312 cycling race in April, the Copa del Rey sailing regatta in July and the Moors vs Christians mock battle in September.
See allUpcoming Events