Where to Stay in Mallorca

There are two aspects to this: which part of the island and in what sort of accommodation.

Which area of Mallorca?
Mallorca accommodation

Which area of Mallorca?

Let’s look first at which part of Mallorca you might like to base yourself in.

Palma de Mallorca

If you’re looking for an urban experience, Palma, the capital of Mallorca, has a great deal to offer. It’s an ancient city with sumptuous architecture, a magnificent cathedral, excellent museums and galleries and a vibrant cultural life (see What to See and Do in Mallorca). There are loads of lovely cafés, bars and restaurants, some interesting markets where you can pick up a bargain or two and some chic shops – not to mention some marvellous beaches.

If you’ve only got a few days in Mallorca, you’ll be able to have a lot of fun in a short time staying in Palma. If you’ve got longer, you can take the train to Sóller and/or hire a car and explore the island some more.

South-west Mallorca

The coast south-west of Palma tends to be where the main British heavy tourism is. Particularly Palmanova and, even more so, Magaluf, have become thumping resorts full of high-rise hotels and American-style fast food outlets. By day, there are endless exciting activities on offer: waterskiing, jet-biking, trips in glass-bottomed boats, go-karting, a nearby dolphin show, loads of golf… By night, you can play in the casino, drink in any of a myriad bars, go to a pirate show or simply boogie the night away in a disco. If you’re young, you’ve got lots of energy and you enjoy this type of holiday, Magaluf or Palmanova is definitely for you.

Further round and much quieter is Andratx. As with most of the old towns in Mallorca, there is the port, Puerto Andratx, and the inland settlement, safe from marauders. Andratx has remained relatively unspoilt by mass tourism and is a beautiful place, steeped in history. It’s upmarket, it’s chic and it’s known amongst the rich and famous as a very des. res.

No longer a little fishing village, Puerto Andratx has an impressive marina and attracts large numbers of yachts. As a harbour, it doesn’t have a beach as such but you’ll find a lovely, sandy beach at Camp de Mar, about three miles away. As you might imagine, the restaurants in Puerto Andratx serve fabulous fresh seafood, many of them with wonderful waterside views.

From Puerto Andratx, you can take a trip around the Dragonera Natural Park (see What to See & Do in Mallorca).

North Mallorca

In tourist terms, the north of Mallorca is more peaceful than the south-west.

Puerto Pollensa has a long, sandy beach around the calm and beautiful Bay of Pollensa. In one direction, you can follow a paved path past shops and restaurants and out of the village, towards Formentor. In the other, you can walk along the beach or the pavement for a couple of miles, towards Alcúdia. The swimming is easy and safe in Puerto Pollensa and you can also try your hand at a variety of watersports. If you’re a keen walker or bicyclist, you’ll find many tracks to enjoy but if you prefer just to potter about, paddle and sunbathe, this place is ideal for that too.

Pollensa, about three miles inland from the port, is a Roman town that has been remarkably unaffected by the growth in tourism. It has quiet little streets, understated plazas and some excellent restaurants.

Alcúdia, just around the bay from Puerto Pollensa, is another beautiful little town that still has many features dating from Roman times. There is a good market on Tuesday and Sunday mornings.

Puerto Alcúdia has a very different feel to it from the old town. It’s different also from Puerto Pollensa, in that it’s bigger and more commercialised. Puerto Alcúdia has been likened to Blackpool, which is perhaps unfair because Blackpool is pretty run down these days and Puerto Alcúdia is thriving. However, there are slot-machine arcades, fast-food restaurants and a sense of the letting down of British hair. If you like this kind of atmosphere, Puerto Alcúdia is warm, friendly, safe and you can have a lot of fun here. The beach is great and there is the hidropark close by for water jollity and golf.

From the Commercial Port, between Puerto Alcúdia and Alcúdia town, you can get a ferry to Menorca.