Why you should visit Majorca

Majorca (next to Manorca) has been revealed as the top European destination for British travellers this summer, based on Expedia’s hotel search data. What is it about this majestic island that makes it so enduringly popular with holidaymakers? 

 Majorca is careful to preseve its natural environment and heritage. Credit: Taylor Wimpey España

Mountains, valleys, beautiful beaches… if you like feeling at one with nature, Majorca is the place to do it. You can explore on foot or on two wheels, thanks to Majorca’s wealth of excellent walking and cycling routes, enjoying the sunshine and the stunning vistas across the island.

Despite being the most visited of the Balearic Islands and welcoming more than 10 million visitors per year, Majorca is managing to preserve its natural environment and heritage, with an active programme in place that is aiming for the island to become a leader in global sustainable tourism. Its Sustainable Tourism Tax, introduced in 2016, is helping the island further this goal. Visitors pay between €0.25 and €4 per day, with the money raised helping protect the natural environment, promote ecotourism and restore cultural heritage.

Majorca is home to many stunning natural scenes, such as Cala Anguila. Credit: Taylor Wimpey España

Being an island, Majorca is home to an impressive array of beachscapes. Whether you’re looking for gently lapping azure waters, tucked away coves to discover by boat or huge rollers that cry out to be surfed, Majorca delivers.

Head to the south of the island if long stretches of golden sand are what you’re after or to the east if discovering coves and caves is your priority. The north-east coast is popular with surfers, while the mountains and cliffs in the west deliver stunning views out to sea. Head to Deià or Colonia de Sant Jordi on the west coast for some of the best sunset views on the island.

 
Due to its long growing season, Majorca has a wealth of vegetables to enjoy in meals like this tumbet. Credit: MychkoAlezander

The local cuisine is another of Majorca’s many charms. From rich vegetable dishes (trying tumbet is a must) to hearty meat flavours (the spreadable cured sausage known as sobrassada stands out), Majorca is home to unique and distinctive flavours.

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, be sure to try a slice of ensaimada—a local pastry made with pork fat (which tastes infinitely better than it sounds!). If you’re more of a savoury person, try working your way through the incredible wealth of local cheeses, breads and olive oils.

With such a sunny climate, Majorca enjoys a long growing season, providing a wealth of local fruits and vegetables to enjoy. The fact that it’s an island also means an abundance of seafood to be savoured everywhere from little beachfront restaurant terraces to swanky restaurants in bustling, cosmopolitan Palma. For some of the most exciting modern flavours on the island, try Fusion 19 in Muro or Béns d'Avall in Sóller, which each hold one of Mallorca’s 11 Michelin stars.

There are many great places to stay, like The Village at Es Capdellà. Credit: Taylor Wimpey España

Whatever your idea of the perfect holiday accommodation is, Majorca is likely to tick all the right boxes. Is your ideal of holiday heaven a rustic mountain retreat with a wood—burning fire to curl up in front of as the sun sets? No problem. How about a suite or a two-bedroom bungalow with private pool, plus an on-site spa and five à la carte restaurants with menus designed by Michelin-starred chefs? Sure! (Head to Ikos Porto Petro for the latter—they’ll even throw in a complimentary Tesla for a day, so you can explore the island in eco-friendly fashion.)

Majorca also offers an impressive range of holiday properties to purchase for families who want to visit the island regularly. Apartments are the most cost-effective form of second homes on the island. At Compass from Taylor Wimpey España, for example, apartments with good-sized terraces and a communal pool cost from €310,000 plus VAT. For those with more cash to splash, The Village at Es Capdella offers semi-detached houses with private pools in a picturesque village setting from €820,000 plus VAT. Detached villas are also available – at Las Villas de Dalt de Sa Rapita in Campos, detached homes with private pools cost from €740,000 plus VAT.

While Majorca is awash with pretty beaches and quaint villages, it’s also home to buzzing urban areas – most notably the capital city, Palma. From gin clubs and elegant cocktail bars to the glitz and glamour of the island’s only casino, there’s plenty to keep holidaymakers entertained until the small hours.

For a more sedate evening out in the city, head to La Llotja night market, which is open until just past midnight, to tour the prettily lit stalls surrounded by palm trees.

Elsewhere on the island, you can enjoy everything from sunset cruises to exhilarating shows and sundown theme park access—there’s something to suit every taste.

Palma is home to many historical landmarks, such as the gothic Palma Cathedral. Credit: Taylor Wimpey España

If historic buildings inspire you more than visiting cocktail bars, the gothic Palma Cathedral—known locally as La Seu—is the obvious starting point. However, it is a long way from being the only architecturally inspiring building on the island. The arches and acoustics of Sa Llotja and the peace of the sprawling Convent de Santa Clara are both not to be missed.

There is much to love about Majorca. Its enduring appeal can be found in everything from its serene landscapes to its fabulous gastronomy. If you’ve not experienced the island for yourself yet, perhaps now is the time.

Banner Credit: Palma Cathedral (Sviatlana Barchan)

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