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Blessed with one of the best locations on the island, with great views of Cavall Bernat mountain. The hotel’s exterior is unprepossessing, but inside there are charms enough to make up for it. You instantly feel like one of the family. Some rooms have balconies, and there’s a good restaurant on a terrace just above the fine sandy beach.

High over the scenic bay, with panoramic views and several levels of terraces with splashing fountains, this little gem offers all the amenities of a resort. The decor is a simple blend of traditional Spanish and Moroccan. There are four swimming pools and a small private beach and cove.

An old manor house amid age-old groves at the foot of the Serra de Tramuntana. Rough stone and stucco walls set off rich antiques and tapestries.

The pace of life slows within this remote, vine-clad mansion, dating from the 13th century. Guest rooms are invitingly decorated in warm tones and luxurious fabrics. All the usual resort facilities are included.

A typical high-rise has been softened enough with foliage and trees so that it has a certain charm. Every room has an ample balcony, and there’s a good pool and decent restaurant, with half- or full-board available.

Very charming, Spanish-style elegance right on the beachfront. Arches and beams define the lovely rooms.

Cabrera (“Goat Island”) lies 18 km (11 miles) off the mainland. A rocky, bare place and virtually uninhabited, it nevertheless has a rich history. It served as a prison camp during the Napoleonic War and was used as a base by Barbary pirates. It was designated a national park in 1991. Boat trips leave from Colònia de Sant Jordi and take a day – highlights include a 14th-century castle on the island (see Castell de Cabrera) and Cova Blava (Blue Grotto). Keep an eye out for the rare Lilford’s lizard, identifiable by its dog-like face.

A narrow, rocky island lying at an angle to the coast near Sant Elm. It has been a nature reserve since 1988 and is home to a wide variety of wild flowers and birdlife, including cormorants, Cory’s shearwater and the world’s largest colony of Eleonora’s falcon. According to legend, the island is visited nightly by dragons. However, its name has more to do with this shape than its popularity with mythical beasts. A rocky path runs between its two headlands, both marked by lighthouses. Ferries from Sant Elm operate in summer, allowing visitors to disembark on the island and explore it for several hours.

The spot that precipitated the current conservation movement on the island is a great place to hike, take a picnic or just visit for the sake of the cruise. In season, you can get a ferry at either Sant Elm or Port d’Andratx.