How to Make the Most of Your Trip to Majorca
Everyone loves Majorca. It attracts the party-goers, the outdoor lovers, the foodies, the yoga fans, the kids… From its envy-inducing beaches and an ever-evolving food scene, to hilly areas where A-listers come to hide away, Majorca tourism is infectious. Here we tell you how to make the most of your trip to Majorca.
Wake up for sunrise
For many, beach life in Majorca strikes up an everlasting love affair… with its pale sapphire waters and idyllic coves, it draws admirers from far and wide. You’re never going to find an empty beach on the island. But set your alarm early to rise for a pink dawn and you’ll barely see another soul – the spectacle of light dancing on the waves will leave you speechless. It may sound like a cliché, but nothing quite beats a sunrise swim to reset the batteries and it has to be on your list of Majorca island things to do.
Walk from Deia to Port de Soller
No one can fail to be impressed by this 5.5-mile walk from the arty mountain village of Deia to pretty Port de Soller – a popular Majorca resort. Hikers stock up on superb local oranges from the tiny village shop in Deia, and head through terraced hillsides, sun-scorched olive groves, and forests scented with jojoba and jasmine with extraordinary views in every direction. It’s relatively easy and straightforward to follow the route with a Majorca towns map, but hiring a guide will reveal local legends and hidden landmarks in a mountainous landscape. Halfway, a lovely little guesthouse names Son Mico will cross your path: pull up a pew on one of its shady seats for some excellent cakes, fresh orange juice and coffee. From here, the route gently dips all the way to the shoreline, where families pad about the sands and boats bob on the horizon.
Hang with the party crowd
Calling all glamourpusses. If you want to rub shoulders with the sailing set, Portals marina – half an hour’s drive from Palma – draws a well-heeled crowd to its restaurant terraces. Here, magnums of Veuve Clicquot bob about in ice buckets, and bronzed, beautiful Spaniards strut from beach to sea and back again. After a day on one of the best beaches in Majorca, sandy sun-soakers mosey on over to Roxy Beach Club at the far end of the shore for uninterrupted views of the Med and to dangle their feet directly into the sea. A chilled-out spot by day, it turns up a soundtrack of Balearic beats as the afternoon ticks by, and the retox begins as the sun goes down and the yachties join the action from a Majorca to Ibiza day trip.
Eat like a king
With a foodie offering that’s second to none, Palma gives you every opportunity to eat exceptionally well round the clock, whether you discover it under your own steam or on a Majorca tour. Mooch around the boho neighbourhood of Santa Catalina first thing and into one of the cafes where hip young Spaniards chat over croissants, coffee and pa’amb oli (crusty bread with a garlicy tomato topping). As lunch approaches, hire a bike and pedal along the shoreline from Palma to the village of Portixol – a hub for trendy and health-conscious locals who roller blade along its coastal path and wind down with an iced coffee. Grab a serrano jamon sandwich from one of the laid-back joints backing the creamy coloured curve of sand – it’ll knock your socks off. Catch the bus back to Palma and treat yourself to an ice cream from one of the many gelato shops – flavours irk from the classic to the inventive. As evening descends, hungry hipsters head to the Mercado Gastronomico San Juan – an indoor gourmet market with soaring ceilings and stalls dishing up just-caught seafood, terrific tapas, pizzas and top-drawer Thai. Order an Aperol Spritz with your food and join the mob of locals in what has become a favourite gourmet spot in the up-and-coming neighbourhood of S’Escorxador.
Escape to the mountains
Majorca tourism isn’t just about beach life: in the quiet, north-western corner lies the effortlessly chic and supremely beautiful village of Deia. Scattered across the Tramuntana Mountains with a clutch of small art galleries and acres of solitary hillsides, it’s long attracted the arty crowd looking for a tranquil setting to paint, and a bunch of A-list celebs, including Brad Pitt and Michael Douglas, hoping to hide away from the limelight. The village itself is just a small strip of galleries, boutiques, cracking restaurants and hotels. But head beyond here, along winding paths, for serene jaunts into the mountains before pottering down to its shingly beach, Cala Deia. One of the best beaches in Majorca for capturing dramatic coastal shots, this wild cove is overlooked by a stilted restaurant, Ca’s Patro March, where the BBC’s The Night Manager was filmed. Bag a table at this atmospheric spot, where the seafood is exceptional and the sun sets over boats and the last of the day’s swimmers.
Get active
Looking to get the adrenalin flowing? There’s a breed of outdoorsy upstarts across the island putting travellers in touch with the island’s wild side on a bunch of high-octane Majorca tours. From cycling its undulating interior past Majorca forts, to diving the deep blue waters and Majorca caves; surfing its surprisingly fierce breaks and hot air ballooning across the mountains. Discover why the island is so beloved by sea lovers and charter a yacht for the day for a Majorca to Menorca day trip, stopping at quiet coves, long sandy stretches and verdant natural parks. Or follow the path of enlightenment at Ananda Mallorca – a remarkable yoga retreat in the Soller valley. Amongst olive, orange and almond trees, bright-eyed folk hone yoga positions at an attractive family-owned finca, and spend contemplative hours wallowing in the pool, discovering the best beaches in Majorca, or walking in the serene hillsides.
