About the island
Mallorca — half a dozen destinations on one Island.
Mallorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands — over 3,600 square kilometres, with a population approaching a million. The scale alone sets it apart from the smaller Mediterranean islands: this is a place where coast, mountain, agricultural plain, and city coexist on a single island, and where the tourist experience is genuinely separable from the working life of the place. The Tramuntana mountain range that runs the western coast is Unesco-listed; Palma, the capital, is one of the most accomplished Mediterranean port cities.
The character is distinctly Catalan and Balearic — Mallorquí (the local Catalan dialect) is the everyday language across most of the island, though Spanish is universally understood and English is widely spoken in hospitality. The island has a long association with painters, writers, and musicians — Chopin and George Sand wintered at the Carthusian monastery in Valldemossa in 1838; Robert Graves lived for fifty years at Deià; Joan Miró ran his studio at Cala Major.
For villa stays the island divides naturally into pockets: the Tramuntana villages along the north-western coast (Deià, Valldemossa, Sóller, Banyalbufar) for mountain-coast drama; the south-west (Andratx, Camp de Mar, Port d’Andratx) for sailing and beaches; the south-east (Santanyí, Ses Salines, Cala d’Or) for the calmer cala beaches; the centre and Palma for cultural and city-edge stays. Each has a markedly different character.
“Mallorca is not really one destination — it is half a dozen, each with its own rhythm, its own villages, its own climate. The pleasure is in choosing well.”
Capitol
Currency
Language
Time zone
When to go
Mallorca enjoys one of the longest comfortable seasons in the Mediterranean. Late April through mid-October is the broad season; June and September are arguably the finest months — warm but not extreme, with all the major sights and venues operating. July and August are hot and busy, particularly around the major beach resorts. May and October are excellent shoulder months. The interior and the Tramuntana are pleasant even in winter, particularly during the almond blossom in February.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Peak season
Shoulder
Green Season
Getting there
Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) is one of the largest in southern Europe — direct flights from across Europe year-round, with extensive seasonal service. Private aviation is well established. The island is also accessible by ferry from Barcelona, Valencia, and the other Balearics.
Things to do
Mallorca is too varied for a single rhythm. Most stays settle into one of the four main pockets — Tramuntana villages, south-west coast, south-east calas, or Palma fringe — and explore from there. A week barely covers one quarter.
Deià, Sóller, Valldemossa, Banyalbufar, and Fornalutx run along the north-western mountain coast — terraced villages of honey-coloured stone with the sea below. Long lunches at Bens d’Avall (Sóller), Es Verger (Alaró), or the Belmond La Residencia (Deià). The drive itself is one of the great Mediterranean experiences.
The road from Pollensa to Cap Formentor on the north-eastern tip — narrow, cliff-edge, with viewing points down to the brilliant water below. The Mirador del Mal Pas and the lighthouse at the end of the road are essential. Best driven early in the day.
Es Trenc and Ses Covetes in the south are the most celebrated of the natural beaches — long, undeveloped, white-sand. Cala Mondragó in the south-east is a protected natural park with two adjacent coves. Cala Tuent on the north-west coast is the dramatic mountain-coast counterpoint.
The cathedral (La Seu) — one of the great Gothic structures of the Mediterranean — anchors the old town. The Es Baluard contemporary art museum, the Bellver Castle, and the slow pleasure of walking the lanes around the cathedral are the central Palma experiences. The Mercado de Santa Catalina is the best food market.
Mallorca’s restaurant scene has matured considerably. Marc Fosh and Adrián Quetglas hold Michelin stars in Palma; BiBo and Beach Hub at Es Verger represent the upper end. The slow lunches at Casita Bahia (Pollensa) and Es Verger (Alaró) are part of the longer rhythm. Many of the village places — Sa Tafona in Banyalbufar, Ca Na Toneta in Caimari — quietly outperform the celebrated names.
Port d’Andratx and Port Adriano are the major marinas. Day trips to Sa Dragonera (the protected uninhabited island off the western tip), to the southern coves around Cabrera, and around to the Tramuntana cliff-coast are essential. Crewed week-long charters routinely connect through to Menorca and Ibiza.
Mallorca is one of the great training grounds in European cycling. The professional teams winter on the island; the road network and the mountain climbs are exceptional. The Sa Calobra descent and the climbs around the Tramuntana are bucket-list routes.
The Binissalem and Pla i Llevant denominations of origin produce serious wines from native grapes — Manto Negro, Callet, Prensal Blanc — with established estates like Macià Batle, Anima Negra, and Bodegas Ribas. Tastings combine well with lunches in the inland villages.
Our Mallorca portfolio is spread across all the major pockets of the island — Tramuntana mountain villages, the south-west coast (Port d’Andratx and Camp de Mar), the south-east calas (Santanyí, Ses Salines), and the cultural fringes around Palma. Each pocket has a markedly different character. We know the differences in detail.
Mallorca . Porto Petro
Villa Marina Brava
8 Guests
5 Beds
Sun Loungers
HD Smart TV
WIFI
Parking
Air-Conditioning
Private Garden
From
$ 1309 / night
Mallorca . Pollensa
Villa Llevant
12 Guests
5 Beds
Parking
Sun Loungers
Fully Equipped Kitchen
Jacuzzi
Media Room
WIFI
From
$ 942 / night
Mallorca . Andratx
Villa Feliciana
12 Guests
6 Beds
Sauna
Sun Loungers
Jacuzzi
WIFI
Parking
HD Smart TV
From
$ 4800 / night
Practical information
Entry requirements
EU citizens unrestricted. UK, US, Canadian, Australian visitors visa-free for up to 90 days within Schengen. ETIAS authorisation required from 2026 onwards.
Currency
Cards universal across the island.
Climate
Hot dry summers (28–32°C July–August). Mild winters with occasional rain. Tramuntana villages cooler at altitude.
Electricity
European plugs (Type C/F). UK and US devices require adaptors.
Driving
EU and US licences accepted. The road network is excellent; the Tramuntana mountain roads are narrow but well maintained.
Time zone
Central European Summer Time. Daylight Saving observed.
Connectivity
4G/LTE island-wide. Fibre WiFi in all Simply Islands villas.
Healthcare
Spanish public healthcare across the island; top-tier private clinics in Palma. EHIC/GHIC accepted for EU and UK visitors.
A note from our team
