It is time I tell you about our week in Mallorca at the end of August. Every year, we try to plan a family week with the grandparents and this summer we chose Mallorca, the largest island in the Balearics. Why? Because we like Spain and the Mediterranean very much and the budget is very reasonable. I had heard a lot about Mallorca before leaving: so yes it is a very touristy island (and that’s a euphemism!) but most of the tourists are concentrated in the south, near Palma. So, inevitably we went the opposite way, in the northeast :-). Up there, no nightclubs but a beautiful mountain landscape with traditional fincas and quite a few sheep! It was precisely in one of these beautiful old country houses, near Pollença, that we stayed and I must say that our accommodation was undoubtedly the best part of our week’s holiday in Mallorca! It took me a long time to find our finca but I really found the perfect villa, with a dream pool! We spent a lot of time in the garden, on the terraces and in the water! The children have made good progress in swimming!
As for excursions, we visited some villages and crossed the mountain landscapes while staying in the northern part of the island. We also spent a day in Palma, the capital: it is a pretty city that reminded me of a mini Barcelona. We saw many pretty places as you can see on the pictures. Perfect holidays? Yes but… the problem was the crowd on the beaches. I know, in the Mediterranean in August you don’t expect to be alone but you see, it was not our first summer trip in the area and I must say I had never seen so many people, especially for the last week of August. Even on “my” island, Sicily, there are fewer tourists after August 20. Anyway, the crowded beaches weren’t ideal. In addition, compared to the incredible beaches we saw last year in Sardinia, the ones we discovered in Mallorca were beautiful but less “wow!”…. That said, we have seen very few, so I have no doubt that there are heavenly coves on the island.
Here, to give you some ideas for visits, is the program of our week in Mallorca. We rented two cars (budget: 10£/day per car), one for the grandparents and one for us. (Ticoeur and Titpuce always wanted to go in Omi and Opa’s car!).
Our program for a week in Mallorca:
(There is a little heart next to our favorite places).
- Day 1: Arrival at Palma airport (~2 hour flight from Paris)
- Day 2: visit of Alcudia and Playa de Muro
- Day 3: Pollença market ❤ and beach
- Day 4: Cala San Vinçen
- Day 5: Visit of Soller (very nice mountain road to go there). In Soller: little train, old town and port.
- Day 6: Palma with its city centre, the Pilar and Joan Miró Foundation, and then the majestic Cathedral of course. In the late afternoon, return to the north. Playa Formentor ❤ with a wonderful sunset at Cap Formentor ❤
- Day 7: Cala San Vinçen
- Day 8: departure
In the end, we had a great week with the family. Three generations under the same roof, especially in such a beautiful house! (Many of you ask me for the references of this finca so here is the link).
As for Mallorca: yes, I advise this island as a destination, especially for the pretty villages in the north, but I totally advise against visiting in August! Next time we will choose the Easter holidays. And in the middle of summer, we will test Minorca, the neighbouring island, still in the Balearics, much less visited it seems!
And you, do you know Mallorca?