The Balearic Islands

The Balearic Islands of Ibiza, Formetera, Mallorca (Majorca) and Menorca have something to offer everyone. Ibiza is well-known to clubbers everywhere and its combination of sun, sand and trendy nightspots keeps it popular with the young throughout Europe.

Mallorca, or Majorca as it is known in the UK has many beautiful beaches and a strong cultural heritage. Whilst mass tourism exists, largely on the east coast it can be avoided. Menorca is quieter than Ibiza and Mallorca and has Neolithic remains and the lovely old towns of Mao and Ciutadella. Formentera is the perfect beach destination with white sand and clear waters.

 

 

 

Ibiza

Beautiful beaches, wooded hills, trendy resorts, nightclubs and clubbers. A great place if you are looking for nightlife. Though come between October and May and you can enjoy a much quieter island.

Places to visit on the island of Ibiza

Ibiza Town -  the capital of the island and the most attractive town, with medieval walls, a pleasant old quarter and a seaside location.

Sant Antoni - Ibiza's second town and once notorious for its drunken tourists, now it has undergone a facelift and is trying to shake off its old image.

Sant Josep - a pretty village and very close to Sa Talaiassa, Ibiza's highest mountain.  Close by are the salt lakes of Ses Salines.

Santa Eularia - - a pretty town which has retained its character.

If you prefer hills to beaches head for the north of Ibiza to Els Amunts, a hilly area which is fairly unspoiled by tourism. Dotted with tiny white churces and covered with pine, olive and almond trees it is a good place to relax.

 

Formentera

Visit Fomentera for its beaches not its nightlife. This small island has some superb beaches, a largely arid landscape and not much in the way of development (though it does get a lot of day trippers from nearby Ibiza).

Places to visit on the island of Formentera

Sant Francesc - tiny capital of Formentera

Ca Na Costa (near Sant Francesc) - a circle of upright stone slabs dating from 1800-1600BC

Beaches - lots of nice beaches!

 

Mallorca/Majorca

A beautiful island with scenery ranging from alpine peaks to terraced orange groves to lovely beaches. Culturaly too there is a lot to offer inclluding the beautiful city of Palma. Whilst areas have been spoiled by overdevelopment this is largely limited to the beaches eitherside of Palma itself.

Places to visit on the island of Mallorca (Majorca)

Palma - A beautiful city with a moorish past. Visit the Cathedral, the Palau de l'Aludaina, the Castell de Bellver, Joan Miro's studio, Banys Arabs a 10th century baths, the Basilica de Sant Francesc and much more.

Andratx - a pretty town clustered on a hill above the sea and now an exclusive holiday resort

La Granja - a former Cistercian convent now open to the public

Valldemossa (near Deia) - a hill town with a monastery where George Sand and Frederic Chopin once stayed.

Alfabia- a typical Mallorcan estate open to the public. The house has a moorish atmosphere and the garden is superb.

Soller - one of Mallorca's nicest towns.

Deià - the coast from Soller to Deià is spectacular. Deià was once the home of Robert Fraves and his grave is here.

Lluc - a remote village in the mountains of the sierra Tramuntana and Mallorca's most important place of pilgrimage since a shepherd boy (lluc) found a painted statue in the woods. The Santuario de Lluc, an imposing monastery,  was built on the site.

Pollença - An attractive and ancient little town

Capocorb Vell (near Llucmajor) - megalithic remains

Alcudia - a small town with medieval walls

Parc Natural de S'Albufera - a small wetlands park

Coves del Drac - four vast caves one holding an underground lake on which you can take a boat trip.

 

Menorca

Quieter than Ibiza and Mallorca, Menorca also has lovely beaches and in addition has a lot of Neilithic remains to visit. The attractive old towns of Mao and Ciutadella are worth exploring.

Places to visit on the Island of Menorca

Ciutadella - set on the seafront Ciutadella is very picturesque and its historic centre is very well preserved.

Ferreries - small but attractive village of whitewashed houses.

Naveta d'es Tudons - prehistoric remains near Ferreries

Es Mercadal - small whitewashed village close to El Toro which is Menorca's highest mountain. Monte Toro has been a pilgrimage site since medieval times and there is a monastery at the top.

Mao  (Mahon)- an attractive town rising up the hill from the sea front.

Trepuco - prehistoric remains near Mao

Talati de Dalt - large taula (two large slabs of rock in a 'T' formation) near Mao - megalithic monument

 

There are around 1600 megalithic monuments on the island of Menorca.

 

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