Mallorca

The entirety of Mallorca is beautiful. These five areas are particularly popular among locals and visitors alike:

Banyalbufar

This small town on the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range is one of the most breathtaking, yet least known areas to visitors. Vacationers who do explore the area fall in love with it as much as Mallorcans have since it is still 100% natural and construction free. The fine stone bay is protected by a cliff, and fresh water flows down over some of its rocks, providing an improvised and extremely refreshing, natural shower. Those who make it down will find ultimate peace and quiet. There are no boats around, and the stunning beauty of the landscape makes a swim here a real pleasure. It is also a pleasure to be staying in Banyalbufar, especially when it is at Son Bunyola, a stunning property with a spectacular sea view and enough room to accommodate 26 guests. The home is awash with the divine aromas of fresh fruit and olive trees, tropical flowers, and grapevines. Luxury amenities include a heated outdoor pool, a luscious outdoor dining area, and a fantastic patio. A beautiful beach is just a stone’s throw away.

Cala Llamp

Cala Llamp is just a few miles south of Port d’Andratx in the southwestern part of Mallorca. The beach is unique in that instead of sand, it consists of flat rocks. The water is like crystal, and the mountain views, spectacular. These rocks have become smooth over time by being lapped by the waves, so it is actually a wonderful place for a swim. There is also a restaurant close to the beach along with a beach bar. The sensational scenery beckons visitors who want to add to their vacation photographs. In fact, guests who stay at Villa Venus will likely be snapping a lot of photos since this property is perched above the water and has incredible mountain views as well. The home features an outdoor Jacuzzi, an outdoor heated pool and lounge area, a pool bar, an outdoor dining area, patio, gym, sauna, and wine cellar, to name a few of the incredible luxury amenities.

Port D’Andratx

Many people consider Port D’Andratx to be the most beautiful port in the Mediterranean. It certainly is lovely with its red brick walkways, quaint boutiques, restaurants, cafes, bars, and an array of art galleries. After spending some time shopping, tourists enjoy settling down for a beverage and watching the world go by for a while. That’s what it’s like in Mallorca – nice and easy. Travelers fit right in with the international mix of residents. Vacationers who want to become locals for a while in this sought-after location might want to stay at Villa Infinitum. With both water and mountain views, this villa has a number of luxury amenities. There aren’t many Mallorca luxury villas with pools both inside and out, but this one has! There’s an indoor Jacuzzi to soothe those muscles from sightseeing or adventure-trekking and a gym for a good early morning workout. There is also a sauna, a wine cellar, an outdoor dining area and a BBQ.

Son Veri Nou

Son Veri Nou is a contemplative and widely-scaled settlement between Cala Blava and El Arenal. The view of the Bay of Palma and the Tramuntana Mountains is fantastic from the picturesque rocky coastline. In many places, the coast has direct access to the crystal clear sea, ideal for swimmers and snorkelers. Son Veri Nou is adjacent to the marina of El Arenal, which has a long history and a lively club scene. Golfers have the 18-hole, 72-par Maiori course virtually on their doorstep.

Son Vida

Son Vida is one of the most exclusive areas and is often referred to as the Beverly Hills of Mallorca. It’s home to the oldest golf course – Son Vida Golf – opened by Prince Rainier of Monaco in 1964. There are also two other courses – Son Vida, Son Quint and Son Muntaner. Many gorgeous properties dot the hillside overlooking the island’s capital and the Bay of Palma. Son Vida offers absolute privacy and is a thriving community of people from all over the world.

Mallorca has something for everyone’s culinary tastes. Fine dining is heartily available. These five establishments are among the best Mallorca has to offer:

Bens d’Avall

Bens d’Avall first opened its doors in 1971 and has been family-owned and operated since. Its glorious mountain and Mediterranean views make dining here an esthetic pleasure. The eatery offers a choice of à la carte and two additional menus. They label their cuisine as new Mallorcan – healthy, natural, and creative. Consider such choices as foie gras with rose-flavored lychees, peanuts, and a spiced brioche; grouper with flavors of cucumber, melon, grapefruit; sobrasada shortbread for apres diner.

Es Fum

The Michelin-starred Es Fum delivers extraordinary culinary delights according to seasonality with only the freshest local produce. Guests feel welcomed, at ease and relaxed, and it doesn’t hurt that the food is fantastic. They have both a petit menu and a tasting menu that offers choices such as smoked octopus with roasted tomato jus and marinated pineapple; foie gras ravioli; fine de Claire oyster with jalapeno salmorejo and cucumber sake.

Las Terrazas del Bendinat

This hidden treasure is one of the finest restaurants on Mallorca’s coastline. Diners can expect impeccable five-star service at Las Terrazas in the Bendinat Hotel. Guests gather for the quality fish dishes, tasty paellas to tapas and healthy, delicious salads served up with some of the best sea views anyone could hope for. The restaurant has a magical ambiance whether dining during the day or evening.

Maca de Castro

The most awarded female chef in Mallorca, Maca de Castro, leads the kitchen at the restaurant bearing her name. The Michelin-starred eatery reflects de Castro’s passion for local cuisine. Ingredients are sourced from all over the island. A Mediterranean influence dominates the menu with redolent creations such as pink tomato with dusted Mallorcan olives ice cream, blue crab tempo or eel with butifara.

Zaranda

Of the eight Michelin-starred restaurants in Mallorca, Zaranda is the only one to be awarded two stars. Its home is in an old 15th-century castle turned hotel, Castell Son Claret, in Calvia. This is the perfect setting for the crème de la crème of restaurants on the island. Like most Michelin-starred eateries here, the cuisine is distinctly traditional, using the best local ingredients on the island, but presented with a contemporary twist.

Mallorca has some stellar galleries, some of which offer works for sale. These four are among Mallorca’s finest arts and cultural venues:

Castell de Bellver

Castell de Bellver is a unique round castle overlooking the city of Palma. The well-preserved 14th-century royal fortress surrounded by fragrant pine woods is an interesting museum with superb views. The castle’s courtyard is on two levels: The ground floor with semicircular arches and a flat roof, the upper level with Gothic arches and rib-vaulting. For the full effect, walk around the moat then climb onto the roof and look down into the courtyard to compare the contrasting styles. For many centuries the castle was used as a prison. These days it contains Palma's museum of municipal history, which traces the development of the city through artifacts, with pottery from Talaiotic, Roman, Arab and Spanish periods.

Museu Fundación Juan March, Palma

The Museu Fundación Juan March, located in a 17th-century manor house in the historic center of Palma, exhibits its permanent collections of contemporary Spanish art for visitors to see. It also has on-loan exhibitions such as the engravings of Picasso. In addition, the museum holds a number of cultural and educational activities throughout the year.

Museum of Mallorca

The museum is in a 16th-century mansion known as "Casa de la Gran Cristiana." In 2015 it opened its Fine Arts and Decorative Arts section. Exhibits go right back to the island’s first civilizations, with Talaiotic and Roman remains, followed by Moorish and Christian art, all complemented by a fine collection of artworks. Just exploring the building itself is worth the visit.

Rafa Nadal Museum Experience

Tennis player Rafa Nadal is one of the most famous Mallorcans of current times. The museum paying homage to him is located just outside the city of Manacor, where he grew up. Visitors will see highlights from Nadal’s extensive career, trophies and medals he has won from his many competitions, as well as loads of sports equipment. The museum also has a super-modern experience room filled with simulators for tennis, cycling, rowing and F1 racing. For sports aficionados and Nadal fans, this is a great place to visit.

Mallorca is a well-known party destination. Nightlife is mostly concentrated in the south part of the island, but a lot is going on everywhere. Have a look at these five venues:

Bar Abaco

Step into an enchanting baroque dream when ducking into Bar Abaco. It’s like a scene from Interview with a Vampire – sultry and mesmerizing and beckoning. Antiques, ornate velvet sofas, large paintings and a multitude of candles paint the entire area in a golden hue. This is the place where magic can happen. Sit quietly and soak it all in with a cocktail like a jujube, made with whiskey, Grand Marnier and orange juice or try a special cocktail like kiris royal fashioned with Benjamin 1552 and cassis liqueur.

BCM Planet Dance

One of the best nightclubs in Mallorca and home to the most famous DJs of the world like Steve Aoki and Afrojack, this club is a paradise for EDM fans. Partiers looking for a crazy, fun and full club head to BCM. This place has the biggest dance floor in Mallorca: two floors full of music, dancers, laser shows and deliciously decadent cocktails.

Beatnik Palma

The contemporary and urban style of Purohotel Palma – one of the best luxury beach hotels Mallorca has – continues in its Beatnik Bar and Restaurant, all the way up to the rooftop. Modern, cosmopolitan, fresh and unique in its decor, the bright and natural rooftop terrace has several seating areas, including bar stools, comfy lounge sofas and extra tall day beds. Creative dishes abound that blend flavors of the Mediterranean, Asia and Latin America, along with equally imaginative and tasty cocktails. Tunes are an essential part of the experience, and guests can catch live music every weekend and DJs nightly.

Brassclub

This exclusive cocktail bar offers a brilliant selection of signature and classic cocktails. The bar is renowned for its exquisite 1950s decor, with an impressive hanging light display made from more than 3,000 bottles. Lovers of classic cocktails can ask for any traditional beverages to be prepared, from a Caipirinha to a Margarita. For those looking to be a little adventurous, a team of cocktail makers is on hand to mix the perfect drinks for guests based on tastes and preferences. Brassclub offers snacks and pinchos menu featuring eats that will go down perfectly with whatever drinks guests choose.

El Neo Gastro Bar

El Neo serves up delicious cocktails and tapas in Palma’s old town. Grab some Asian-fusion bites, including sashimi, duck meatballs or dim sum to go along with an imaginative cocktail. El Neo’s espresso martini is known all around Palma. Gin lovers might want to give summer daze a go. It’s made with Aperol, gin, apricot marmalade, lime juice, and passion fruit. For something to spice things up, try the hot rita: tequila, agave, lime, spinach, and bird's eye chili.

Mallorca is all about having a good time, but it’s also about soaking up the culture. Have a look at these five events. One or more is likely to be appealing:

Legends Cup

The Legends Cup amasses some top-ranking tennis players in this four-day champions’ tour tourney. To take part in an ATP Champions Tour event, players must have been either a world number one, a finalist in a grand slam, or a singles player on a Davis Cup-winning team and retired from the ATP circuit. Six tennis players are divided into two groups competing against each other in a round-robin format, ensuring all players feature in at least three matches. But this event is not just about tennis; it’s a gastronomic fete as well where guests can sample the fare of some of the best restaurants in the area.

Nit de Foc

Nit de Foc is one of the grandest parties in Mallorca, with the largest celebrations in Palma. On St. John’s Eve every June 23, locals and visitors take part in street parties, bonfires, fireworks, pop concerts, devils and demons and the “correfoc” or fire run where “devils” run through the streets with firecrackers. All this is to celebrate the saint, known locally as Sant Joan. Visitors are encouraged to wear their dancing shoes and be ready to party.

Nit de l’art

This annual event in Palma marks the beginning of the artistic season in Mallorca. Thousands visit galleries and museums which are inaugurating exhibitions on the first night of the three-day event. Attendees don’t particularly have to be art lovers to appreciate this memorable and sociable art fair although, increasingly, the event does attract serious art collectors who come from all over the world for private viewings before the event opens to the public.

Palma Superyacht Show

Whether luxury travelers are experienced yacht owners keen to explore exciting additions or those just looking to join the illustrious world of yachting, the Palma Superyacht Show every June features some of the finest superyachts for sale and/or charter. Another huge attraction is the show’s wide array of shore-side exhibitors featuring everything from the latest advancements in sail design to cutting-edge marine electronics. Visitors can expect to see a wide variety of yachts: everything from triple-decked motor yachts offering top level-comfort to sleek performance cruisers poised to excel at the next regatta. All superyachts are immediately available for charter and/or sale just in time to cruise the Balearics’ jewel-toned waters and enjoy the summer season.

Zafiro Palma Marathon

Every October, runners gather in Palma de Mallorca to test their endurance in a marathon featuring 10k, 42.20k and 21.10 k challenges. All races run along the promenade of Palma Bay, opposite the cathedral and through the historic downtown. Routes will be two laps which is more than 50% along the coast. Travelers who enjoy running marathons should consider this one, joining more than 9,000 other runners taking part in the event.

With a luxury car rental, Mallorca sights are easily accessible, making activities effortlessly doable. These five experiences look intriguing:

Cala Figuera

Cala Figuera is a romantic little fishing village in a fjord-like bay. This charming slice of heaven is tucked between rocky cliffs, pine and fig trees and lush greenery. Facades of fishermen’s houses shine white and ochre, and the rich green of the shutters make for a striking contrast with the surrounding bright buildings. The village is awash in gardens of hibiscus, palm and almond trees and cats slumbering in their shade. When the fishermen are not at sea, they sit in small groups at the harbor or mend their nets. Cala Figuera is a part of Mallorca that has genuinely preserved its original face. Seated on a restaurant terrace by the water, visitors can taste authentic Mallorcan delicacies and watch the hustle and bustle at the quay. Cala Figuera is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the scenery and the peace.

Caves of Drach and Porto Cristo

These caves are one of the island’s main tourist attractions, and are, without doubt, some of the most remarkable. They have a horizontal extension of about 1,200 meters and a maximum depth of 25 meters below ground level. The caves contain a large underground lake, Lake Martel, considered one of the largest in the world. Although the cave was known during the Middle Ages, it was not mapped in its entirety until French geologist E.A. Martel found it in 1896. The lake is named after him. A tour of the cave takes about an hour. A path takes visitors through a striking underworld of stalactites and stalagmites. Clever illumination enhances the scenery, which includes an underground river leading to the huge lake-filled cavern. Visitors are invited to take a seat within this natural concert hall to listen to a classical concert played from aboard a boat.

Hike to Calo des Moro

Cala del Moro is one of the best bays in Mallorca, hidden in steep seaside cliffs. It’s not the most accessible beach. However it is a doable hike down rock ledges that act as stairs. Calo des Moro’s waters are turquoise blue. Snorkeling gear is essential since there are plenty of colorful fish to see. Visitors should also bring refreshments with them since there are no amenities at this gem.

Mallorca Coasteering Adventures

Spend the day coasteering around Mallorca on this extreme adventure. Coasteering combines swimming, abseiling, climbing, and cliff jumping in one extreme adventure as guests explore the Porto Cristo area. Adrenaline gets pumping while spending the day in the great outdoors, mixing land and water activities. The most adventurous can even cross a cove over the sea with a zip line, jump into the depths from maximum cliff heights, dive and swim in an underwater cave and step onto its hidden beach.

Olive Oil and Wine Culture Tour

In Mediterranean culture, olive trees and their products have been Spain’s iconic and binding element for many years. This experience will immerse visitors in the history, culture and production of the incomparable Mallorcan olive oil. A Mallorcan oleologist will open the doors of his own home to show guests the history of oil and explain the process of pressing olives, as well as offering a tasting of this precious treasure. At the end of the visit to the Tafona, it’s on to taste three varieties of Mallorcan wines (white, rosé and red) accompanied by an exclusive Mallorcan aperitif on a wonderful terrace with views of the Serra de Tramuntana, declared a Unesco World Heritage Site.