Palma Holiday Guide

Mallorca's Popular Resorts:

Alcudia: Alcudia is one of Majorca's largest tourist hubs, a medieval town with the longest beaches and beautiful hidden coves, perfect for sunbathing and swimming. Alcudia is located on the northeast coast, 45km from Palma airport, with a transfer time of approximately 1h 30 min. Alcudia's authentic old town is popular with tourists throughout the year mainly due to its 14th-century medieval walls and narrow cobbled streets, bustling with picturesque squares, pavement cafes, traditional markets and trendy boutiques.

Alcudia is hugely popular, especially with British holidaymakers; the resort is ideal for families and couples and is geared to cater for all ages and tastes. Alcudia lies in a large bay and boasts a superb sandy beach with a good line-up of water sports - it also has plenty of seafront bars, cafes and tapas restaurants. The resort has a nearby waterpark for endless family fun and plenty of shops and cafes dotted across the resort. Alcudia's nightlife is cosmopolitan and lively and is mainly centred around the busy port areas.

Puerto Pollensa: Transfer time 1hr 15min; the attractive and family-friendly resort of Port de Pollensa is located north of the island and has a relaxed traditional charm, along with a splash of luxury and a beautiful pine tree-lined promenade. Much beloved by the British, the resort's main beach (Llenaire beach) is ideal for families and couples - it also offers a good selection of watersports.

There are several sandy beaches dotted along the Bay of Pollensa, all of which enjoy superb views. The stylish yacht marina has a few bars and restaurants, boutiques, shops and pavement cafes, giving the resort a friendly, laid-back feel.

Historic Palma: Palma's palm tree-lined promenade, bright blue panoramic bay and sparkling luxury yachting Marina are all dominated by the city's towering Gothic Cathedral, and guarded over by the distant and centuries-old Bellver Castle.

If your interests lie in history & culture, you will not be disappointed; visit Palma's most famous landmark, the spectacular Catedral-Basílica de Santa María de Mallorca (La Seu). This 13th-century golden sandstone cathedral is one of Europe’s tallest Gothic structures; the Cathedral is impossible to miss due to its size and location, high up on the old city walls.

The Cathedral is renowned for its spectacular stained-glass central rose window and the renovations and interior additions undertaken by the famous Catalan modernist architect Antoni Gaudí. One of Gaudi's most notable contributions, is the illuminated crown of thorns that hangs over the main altar.

Palma's other famous landmark is the Catalan Gothic masterpiece - the Castell de Bellver. The Castle is perched high up on a hill 3 km to the west of the city. It was built in the 4th century for King James II of Majorca and is possibly the only remaining European circular castle of this era.

With its commanding hilltop position (Bellver means 'lovely view' in Catalan) - the castle provides spectacular 360-degree views over the Bay of Palma and beyond. The Castell de Bellver also houses Palma's museum of municipal history; and occasionally holds open-air cultural events. Top Tip: A visit to Bellver Castle is best combined with the Palma City Sightseeing open-top bus tour.

Palma Nova: Located on the southwest coast with a transfer time of approximately 1 hour. The resort has a relaxed feel, but you can find lots of action nearby if required - as this family-friendly resort is very close to Magaluf's neon nightlife. Palma Nova also has plenty of shops, bars and restaurants to keep you sufficiently nourished.

Magaluf: Magaluf is a fun resort with an upbeat atmosphere for those wanting chilled days and lively nights. The resort has a huge stretch of sand lapped by safe, shallow waters and an endless supply of bars, clubs and restaurants for those wanting to party till dawn. An all-round family resort by day but very much trumped by the younger party set looking for fun and adventure when the sun goes down.

Cala d'Or: Situated on the southeastern coast of Majorca's Riviera. The resort has a sophisticated charm with the elegance of gleaming yachts swaying in the marina. The Cala d'Or and Cala Gran beaches are among the best, and these lively areas boast a great choice of shops, upbeat bars and restaurants. Nearby Cala Llonga's large, up-market marina is home to sophisticated restaurants and cafes.

Santa Ponsa: A welcoming place to enjoy a lively holiday. A golden stretch of fine sand offers shallow waters safe for swimming and watersports. The resort has a great choice of restaurants, plus a good selection of bars, clubs and dance venues. It's a resort with a 24 hrs international flavour for the younger generation.

General Facts: Whether pronounced Majorca or Mallorca will depend mainly on how you spell it - both pronunciations and spellings are correct, with Mallorca being the most accepted and widely used. The island is the largest of the Balearic archipelago and is located just off the coast of Spain.

Mallorca is divided into three sections, with the west and east coast dominated by separate mountain chains. Most tourists head to the 340 miles of beautiful coastline, with holiday resorts and accommodation catering to every taste and budget. After a relaxing day on the beach, you can head inland - to enjoy the island's many restaurants, wine bars and nightclubs.

Mallorca is a hotspot for UK and European tourists looking for value and an unforgettable Mediterranean vacation.

Mallorca's Bus Service: Bus service routes in Majorca are relatively extensive, affordable and clean. It's possible to travel to most towns, villages and resorts - however, some services have lots of stops, which can lead to longer journey times; there are some express nonstop services on major routes. All parts of the island are well connected to the capital, Palma, making travelling by bus an exciting and easy way to explore your local holiday region and the island.

Mallorca Taxis: Taxis are a great way to travel around Mallorca. They are white cars with a stripe across the middle and a green light on the roof; the light is illuminated when available. All taxis are 'metered for fares' - so you don't have to worry about being overcharged.

Mallorca Nightlife: Majorca has a varied nightlife, from floor shows and live concerts to clubbing and open-air dance venues. The island has plenty of bars and nightclubs - Palma (La Lonja) and the major resorts of Magaluf, Palma Nova, Arenal and Puerto Portals have a sizeable range of venues to satisfy even the most dedicated party animals.

Eating Out in Majorca: Seafood is a speciality across the island; a classic dish is caldereta de llagosta, a simple but rich and flavoursome spiny lobster stew made with tomatoes and onion. Top Tips: (1) Enjoy traditional Mallorcan cuisine as much as possible - as it uses the island's homegrown produce. Fish & pork dishes are specialities - with lots of garlic, tomato and herb flavourings. (2) Don't be shy - always ask for recommendations on the best local eateries - it will often reward you.

Palma Airport (PMI). Palma Son Sant Joan airport is located five miles (8km) east of Palma.

Airport Transport and Shuttle Services: Transfers from the airport to Palma central, the cheapest way to travel into Palma and beyond is by bus. The bus service connects the airport to Palma, and other major towns and resorts on the island, with buses departing from outside the Arrivals terminal. Taxi services are recommended; they are usually plentiful, safe and metered.

Several taxi services operate from the airport, as well as local airport-to-resort transfer companies. Resort transfers can be booked in advance, and local resort transfer information can be obtained in the arrivals hall. Top Tip: Book your Airport to Resort transfer online (they are reasonably priced); always book well in advance, especially if travelling at peak times.

Taxi: Metered taxis are plentiful and available from outside the main terminal building.

Top Tip: Always give yourself extra time when checking in for a flight at Palma airport, as the departure gates are a considerable walking distance from the check-in area.

Car Hire: All major car rental companies are represented at Palma PMI airport, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt.