DK Travel : Mallorca

Known variously as the “Golden Isle”, the “Wooded Isle” and the “Tranquil Isle”, Mallorca is all of these, despite its decades-long dependence on mass tourism. The island is laden with history and sights, from its castles and enchanted gardens to caves and spectacular mountains. The eastern and southern coasts still sport some of the cleanest, most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean, and the city of Palma is more attractive, culturally alive and fun than ever.

Mallorca (or Majorca) gets its name from the ancient Roman name for the island, Balearis Major, meaning the “biggest Balearic”

Port d’Alcúdia

Big and a bit brash, this resort town has it all, including what most visitors might prefer to do without – terrible fast food joints and too many fluorescent lights creating a ghostly pallor along the promenade by night. Still, the beaches are good, some of the restaurants excellent and the nightlife non-stop (see also Alcúdia and Port d’Alcúdia).
Port d’Andratx

One of the choicest resort ports on the island, frequented by the Spanish king and other stellar visitors. Most of the restaurants and shops are on the south side of the port, with a posh sailing club on the north. The water is azure and lapis, with touches of emerald, but the only beach is tiny.
Port d’Andratx

One of Mallorca’s classiest resorts.
Port Pub, Port de Cala d’Or

The evocative decor mixes US license plates and nautical objects. The annex below is the El Faro wine bar, and all of it is part of a white stucco complex of trendy shops and restaurants.
Portals Nous and Bendinat

These merged developments form one of the more exclusive resorts on the Bay of Palma: not many high-rise hotels, just rows of private villas and apartments dominating the shoreline. Port Portals marina is the summer home of the jet-set.
Portals Vells

Near the southern tip of Palma Bay’s western shore, several virtually private coves and their sandy beaches await, including this one and adjacent Cala Mago, the only officially nudist beach near the city. The rocky cliffs are the stuff of local legend, which recounts that shipwrecked Italian sailors fulfilled a vow in recompense for their salvation by carving an entire chapel out of solid rock (see Portals Vells Cave Church).
Portals Vells Cave Church

One of the caves along the rocky headland of Portals Vells has been turned into a church, Cova de la Mare de Déu – according to legend, by shipwrecked Genoese sailors who were grateful for their survival. The holy water stoup and altar have been carved out of solid rock, although the effigy of the Virgin that was once placed here is now in a seafront church at Portals Nous.
Portocolom

This attractive fishing village was named in honour of Christopher Columbus, who is said (without much evidence) to have been born here. It has found a new lease of life as a resort favoured by Spanish visitors.
Portocristo

A family resort at the end of a sheltered inlet. Day-trippers come for the nearby Coves del Drac (see Coves del Drac), aquarium (see Acuàrio de Mallorca) and Auto-Safari Park.
Portopetro

Although on the verge of being swallowed whole by Cala d’Or, this little fishing village has so far managed to retain its original flavour – possibly because there is no beach, and only one hotel in town. Charming to walk around and admire the slopes dotted by villas, or maybe just use as your base to visit the entire area.