Palma Holidays

This stylish Majorcan city is a sight and a half. One of Europe’s most dramatic cathedrals dominates the skyline, while the maze of an old town delivers cobbled lanes packed with tiny tapas bars. Like most capitals, Palma’s bagged the best of the country’s museums, shops and nightlife. But it trumps them by also having a brace of beaches within striking distance.

Head east or west out of Palma and it won’t be long before you stumble on a beach that follows Spain's classic recipe. About a kilometre towards Portixol you’ll hit Playa de Palma, a long stretch of sand made up of several smaller beaches. The nearest one to Palma is Ca’n Pere Antoni, where the waterfront's wide enough for people to play football on. There’s also a pedestrianised prom, dotted with bars and restaurants.

Transport doesn’t get more romantic than this vintage wooden train, which chugs merrily through the countryside to Soller, about an hour away. It’s the perfect way to discover inland Majorca, which relatively few visitors get to see. You’ll pass by the mountains, plus the famous orange groves. And once in Soller, you can wander round its little shops, and have an al fresco coffee in the pretty square.