Majorca holidays

There’s a variety of Balearic beaches around here, and lots of them are pretty high quality. Majorca alone has 20 of Spain’s 32 Blue Flag awards to its name, thanks to the scattering of golden sands and pebbly coves along its shoreline. Es Trenc is one of the best – it’s considered Majorca’s version of the Caribbean, with 7 kilometres of unspoiled sand.

Alcudia Beach’s family facilities put it on the must-visit list for holiday-goers bringing the whole gang away with them. It’s got a good mix of seafront seafood restaurants, ice-cream shops and milkshake parlours tucked away within its 10 kilometre-long sandy arc. Just down the road, there’s Playa de Muro – known for its tranquility. This one’s a bit quieter, and has shallow water for paddling.

If crowds are a no-go on your beach days, look no further than Cala Truent. This secluded shingle beach is perched on Majorca’s north-west coast, and is primarily accessed via boats, which set off from Port de Soller. There aren’t any eateries here, so bring a packed lunch and pick from one of the picnic spots if you’re planning to stay a while. You’ll be tucking in to your sandwiches with views of the surrounding pine-fringed cliffs.

Thursday brings the Inca leather market, which does exactly what it says on the tin. This weekly event, which is held in a town about a 25-minute drive from Alcudia, sells all sorts of leather goods, from jackets and shoes to handbags and belts. On Wednesdays, local produce is up for sale in Andratx, while the Cala Bona and Sa Coma promenades are your best bets if you’re shopping for Majorcan souvenirs. Bargain buys are up for grabs at Santanyi market, too.

In Palma, high-street brands like Mango and Zara do a roaring trade. The clothes are often cheaper here than in the UK, too. Porto Pi Mall is a jumbo-sized shopping centre, where you’ll find the likes of H&M and Pull & Bear, while El Corte Ingles department is home to department stores worthy of a stand in Selfridges. Cala d’Or’s good for perfume shopping and general mid-range buys.

Avenida Jaume III’s luxury shop central. It’s a wide avenue bordered by chic boutiques selling jewellery, clothes and handbags from high-end designer fashion brands like Gucci, Cartier and Jimmy Choo. The Alcudia Harbour boutiques are worth a gander, too – there’s a place selling bespoke birthstone jewellery.

In Majorca, promenade culture underpins mealtimes. Locals and tourists alike head to the seafront to go for sunset tapas in places like Alcudia, Cala Bona and Ca’n Picafort, where lots of restaurants double up as live music venues after dark. The tree-lined boulevard in Sa Coma is ideal for romantic dining, too, while laid-back evenings with the family are best spent on a Pine Walk paseo in Puerto Pollensa.

The Magaluf strip nightlife scene needs no introduction. It’s chock-a-block with pubs, karaoke bars and multi-storey venues like the BCM mega-club. Palma’s waterfront bars are pretty swanky, too, and there’s a decent supply of jazz joints and cocktail-shaking spots in the old town. Two places worth stopping by on lively evenings? Abaco, a fancy watering hole that’s more like a palace than a bar, and Tito’s – a waterfront club that’s recently moved from the capital to Magaluf.

If you’re after something authentic while you’re in Majorca, try tumbet. This vegetable stew is a bit like a Majorcan ratatouille – combining layered, fried potatoes and aubergines, which are baked and smothered in a garlic-infused tomato sauce. Traditional side dishes served with this dish include crusty bread and salad.

Traditional Spanish paella mixes things like mussels, prawns and clams with sizzling plates of seasoned rice. The Majorcan version – fideua – uses chunky noodles instead. The result? A similar saffron-scented seaood dish, stuffed with clams and prawns.

This dish might sound fancy, but it’s actually pretty simple. It takes fresh Mediterranean fish, which is baked until it’s nice and flaky, and adds a rich tomato sauce and a pine nut and raisin garnish. Serviola, also known as the Greater Amberjack, usually features in this one.

When you’re after something carby, try pa’amb oli – rustic bread, often drizzled with the Mediterranean’s ‘liquid gold’ and served as a Majorcan olive oil and tomato snack. Fancier versions typically add cured ham, cheese, sobrassada sausage and a healthy dollop of garlic mayonnaise.

Dinner doesn’t end after dessert in Majorca. Traditionally, locals round off meals with a hierbas digestif – an aniseed-flavoured herbal liqueur. It’s one of the Balearic’s most traditional spirits, and there are dry and sweet varieties to choose from.