Majorca holidays

• Alcudia holidays guarantee prime beach action. Being wedged between two coasts the historic town complete with Roman ruins offers plenty of options to choose from. Sun yourself on Playa de Alcudia with a 10-mile sandy stretch that’s the island’s largest, Playa d’Alcanada is a shingly cove protected by a small pine forest with lots of shade, while the most beautiful is the secluded cove of Platja des Coll Baix, which is frequented by friendly mountain goats.
• Palma Nova holidays offer the perfect escape in Mallorca’s original resort that’s still the island’s most famous. There are plenty of beaches to pick from here including Punta des Carregador, a rocky and wild spot with excellent diving, the dog-friendly Playa Canina De Punta Marroig and Playa Oratori de Portals, where you can watch the boats pass by in turquoise waters.
• Santa Ponsa holidays offer relaxing breaks with a large sandy bay, scenic coves and plenty of activities. Top beaches here include Platja de Santa Ponca with soft white sand and beach bars aplenty, the family-friendly Playas de Paguera and Calo d'en Monjo, popular with nature lovers and snorkellers.
• Puerto Pollensa holidays give you a taste of the real Mallorca. With its oyster-shaped bay, classy marina, cobblestone streets and dramatic backdrop of the Serra de Tramuntana mountains, there’s plenty to recommend it. There are two prime beaches to enjoy: Pollensa Beach offers golden sands, sunloungers and water sports while the narrower Albercutx Beach has shallow waters and natural shade.
• Cala Bona holidays are full of rustic charm. In this relaxed fishing town you can expect winding streets, leisurely meals at waterfront restaurants and a patchwork of small sandy beaches broken up by manmade rocky coves and breakwaters. 20 minutes’ drive away lie the Caves of Drach with its impressive stalagmites, stalactites and underground lake.
• Cala d’Or holidays show you the gentler side to Mallorca. This former fishing village offers a stylish marina, seven secluded coves with fine sand and clear waters, and ample shops, bars and eateries, plus there are no fewer than five 18-hole golf courses to tee off at. Cobbled streets and low-rise buildings lend the resort an authentic, sophisticated atmosphere.
• Palma de Mallorca, the island’s capital, offers fashionable restaurants and rooftop cocktail bars, stylish boutiques, galleries and the impressive Es Baluard contemporary art museum housed in a 16th Century fortress. Call in at the Miro Mallorca Foundation in the city’s outskirts and wander around Joan Miro’s former workshops to discover countless artworks.
• Pretty Soller is a haven for hikers and cyclists dominated by the island’s highest peak Puig Major in the Serra de Tramuntana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Port de Soller oversees a proud shipbuilding and maritime heritage brought to life by the Museu de la Mar with many visitors flocking here to its horseshoe-shaped bay, swish marina and sprawling orange groves. A charming vintage tram now connects the town with the port, while the impressive Torre Picada stands guard as it has done for centuries repelling pirate attacks.
• There is far more to the South West region of Mallorca than the budget-friendly accommodation and lively nightlife of holiday hotspots Magaluf and Palma Nova. Take the exclusive town of Port Andratx for example, home to one of the island’s best modern art galleries and countless swish restaurants where the likes of Claudia Schiffer and King Juan Carlos used to dine. Swing by the glamorous Puerto Portals with its upmarket marina where superyachts moor, and its many chic restaurants, cafes and boutiques. There are still unspoilt corners to discover, such as the charming inland mountain village of Galilea.

We have a great selection of quality hotels in Majorca to recommend. Iberostar Club Cala Barca is a family-friendly, all-inclusive hotel with its own summer beach club and water park. Zafiro Can Picafort offers a large main pool with a swim-up bar, a kids’ splash pool, a mini club and activities for all ages. Zafiro Palmanova sits just 200 metres from the beach and offers a kids’ splash pool with its own pirate ship, plus a relaxing spa and wellness centre for the grown-ups. Iberostar Cala Domingos offers a variety of leisure activities including mini-golf, snorkelling, Star Camp for younger guests and three outdoor pools. Iberostar Alcudia Park offers an all-inclusive dining programme and a Star Prestige adult-only area. Iberostar Jardin del Sol Suites is an all-suites property surrounded by spectacular sea views. Upgrade to a Star Prestige Suite to get premium services, an exclusive swimming pool and private lounge.

1. One of the biggest draws is the stunning Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma, otherwise known as La Seu. The magnificent Catalan Gothic architecture was, symbolically, built on top of a former mosque, and while begun in 13th century, was only finally finished in 1601. Its ornate spires tower above spectacular stained-glass rose windows, and the whole edifice seems to rise out of the sea. A curious feature added in 2007, is artist Miquel Barcelo’s story of the loaves and fishes, in which an underwater theme takes over the Chapel of Holy Sacrament.
2. From Chopin and Miro to the poet and writer Robert Graves, Majorca has always welcomed artists with open arms. Palma’s art scene is now celebrated all over the world, and features some of the world’s best loved modern artists at the Es Baluard, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. Alternatively, Catalan artist Joan Miro, adored Majorca and lived and worked on the island for many years. He commissioned what is now the Fundacio de Pilar i Joan Miro in 1959, which houses an impressive collection in his perfectly preserved studio.
3. Palma’s Old Town has seen something of a shift upwards in recent years, with elegant hotels, trendy cafes and designer boutiques arriving in force. Along the beautiful tree-lined promenade Passeig des Born, and the nearby Avinguda Jaume III, you will find designer stores such as Louis Vuitton, Cartier and Hugo Boss, but head off one of the side streets to find independent fashions. But those in the know head to Rialto Living, a lifestyle store set within the former site of the iconic Rialto Cinema. While the setup is like a department store, it feels much more like a luxury and relaxing gallery.
4. Palma is a labyrinth of medieval streets, full of tapas bars and restaurants, all of them with their own certain pulling power. You’ll find contemporary and hip favourites like Quina Crew, where you can order tapas with a modern twist. And then you’ll stumble across the tiny hole-in-the-wall bodegas like Sa Bodegueta, whose classic food and cheap wine brings in the locals every night. Those in the know head to the ‘tapas trail’ on Tuesday and Wednesday nights in Sa Gerreria neighbourhood. Around 25 bars serve a different pinxho with a drink, so make your way round and fill up (responsibly, of course).
5. There is a lot of choice for bars in Palma, from the weird – like the quirky Indian-style Chakra Bar – to the classic beach bars found along the seafront. The luxury hotel bars, like in any major city, are great for cocktails and being seen. But those in the know head to the cool areas of La Lonja or the old town. For a great wine bar, head to Wineing, whose collection of 48 vintages by the glass is sure to delight. Santa Caterina is well-known for student hangouts and cheap tapas – perfect for those on a budget.

Mallorca and Majorca are both accepted spellings for the largest island in the Balearic archipelago, so you will see both spellings used to describe the same destination..

The name ‘Mallorca’ is the Spanish spelling, while ‘Majorca’ comes from the Latin word "Maiorica," which translates to 'larger one'. This fitting name, considering Majorca's size in relation to its neighbouring islands, is more commonly used in the UK.

Despite the different spellings, both versions are pronounced the same way, phonetically represented as ma-yor-ka.