Palma Nova Holidays

Palma Nova, on Majorca’s south-west coast, is Magaluf’s quieter, family-friendly neighbour. The place is purpose-built around a trio of white-sand beaches. And with friendly bars and restaurants packing the promenade, and the island’s capital, Palma, just 15 kilometres away, there’s plenty to keep you busy away from the sands.

You always get plenty of sunbathing space in Palma Nova, with three beaches running the length of the horseshoe-shaped bay. The star is the beach in the middle – Playa Palma Nova's a Blue Flag number with 500 metres of white sand shelving gently into the safe, shallow water. The promenade keeps going all the way to Magaluf, 10 minutes' drive away.

Away from the beaches, Palma Nova has Golf Fantasia, with three floodlit crazy golf courses that wind their way through caves and round tropical waterfalls. And there are more great activities close by. Just up the road, at Karting Magaluf, you can go-kart on professional tracks. For more thrills, Aqualand waterpark's just outside Magaluf.

The island’s capital, Palma, is just 20 minutes’ drive away. Here, you’ve got a Gothic cathedral surrounded by narrow cobbled streets and a hilltop castle with widescreen views of the city and harbour. You can shop for upmarket souvenirs like Majorcan pearls and leather shoes and bags in the streets around the Passeig des Born. And La Llonja district is the place for tapas places that provide a proper taste of Spain .