Majorca, the largest of the Balearic Islands, is an island of contrasts, offering a range of holidays from the excitement of Palma and the frenzied nightlife of Magaluf to the calm and beautiful landscapes of the island’s interior.
A leading holiday destination, the island is far too frequently deemed to be synonymous with its party town Magaluf, but in reality there is much, much more to Majorca. Why else would over ten million touristsvisit the island each year?Many people come to Majorca for its sun-soaked beaches and crystal clear blue waters. The island enjoys around 300 days of sunshine a year, making it the perfect beach destination, and its mild Mediterranean climate means that it is rarely too hot to bear. The main tourist season runs from May to October, with an average summer temperature of 23 degrees Celsius and top temperatures of 30 degrees.
Although some people come solely to enjoy beach life, many tourists choose to hire a car for at least part of their holiday, enabling them to journey through some breathtaking landscapes and find some rare, empty beaches. With the main tourist resorts often being filled to the brim in the summer months, the option to travel further afield and find your own, secluded strip of sand can certainly be an attractive one.
To the east of the island, the caves around Porto Cristo are just 45 minutes from the island’s capital, Palma, and are definitely worth a visit. The town has become a popular tourist destination, although it still has a feel of the original old village about it.Some of the best beaches on the island are located around Port de Campos in the south of the island, a town which has grown steadily since the first tourists discovered it in the 50’s. You’ll find you need to walk to get to the nicest beaches but they are well worth the effort when you reach them, as the majority of tourists don’t venture that far from the resorts and the sands are uncluttered and peaceful.
The island’s capital, Palma de Mallorca, is home to around 300,000 people and is a busy city with a distinctly upper middle class feel. Superb restaurants and fancy shops fill the city centre and the cafes on the Rambla emit a constantly lively atmosphere. It is also in Palma that you will find the locals enjoying their own nightlife, many of them avoiding the crazy onslaught of hedonistic Brits that is endured by Magaluf.Palma has one of the largest Old Towns in Europe and boasts a spectacular cathedral with brilliant stained glass windows. The winding streets into the Gothic quarter are certainly worth taking the time to wander through and also worth a visit is the Almudaina Palace, which has Arab origins and showcases an interesting mix of architectural styles.
Those with a musical ear will also benefit from a trip to the Teatro Principal, where regular performances of opera take place.South-west of Palma is the infamous Magaluf which, in summer, becomes one of the largest open air discos on the continent. Visitors certainly need not be concerned about encountering a language barrier here, as the locals are vastly outnumbered by British tourists and the hotels, bars, clubs and restaurants are almost entirely staffed by our own holiday reps. The nearby family resort of Palma Nova offers clean beaches and a variety of water-sports to provide daytime entertainment.
Further north is the lovely village of Valldemosa, which is just 20 minutes from the capital. Tourists have been making day trips to the village for decades, where key attractions include the beautiful Cartoixa and the 13th century church, and the area is often home to Hollywood favourites Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones, who have a delightful holiday pad there.Majorca is easy to get to, with regular direct flights taking just two hours from airports across the UK. And once there, it is possible to get a ferry to the mainland, which is less than 200 km away from the island.The island offers everything you could wish for from a holiday, with its beaches, mountains and remote villages providing enjoyment year-round.
With a wide range of package tours and cheap flights on offer, holiday-makers would be hard-pushed to find a more versatile destination for a great summer holiday.
Call Global Holidays FREE on 0800 433 2300 for details of holidays to Majorca.
Check out this short video about what Majorca has to offer
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