2 Weeks in Majorca

Highlights of the Island

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A rocky cove near Deia Photo - Mallorca, Spain

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Majorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands and lies in the Mediterranean Sea off the South East coast of mainland Spain. It takes about 2.5 hours to fly here from the UK.It has sunny beaches, amazing scenery, wonderful mountains and delicious food. In high season, the island receives about 8 million tourists, a lot of which confine themselves to Magaluf and the neighbouring resorts.Served by frequent flights, with beautiful and safe beaches, we found Majorca to be a fantastic destination for families with children of all ages.Most people visit for sun, sand and sea, however there is so much more to the island. Palma, the main town and capital is charming and ...Read More

Majorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands and lies in the Mediterranean Sea off the South East coast of mainland Spain. It takes about 2.5 hours to fly here from the UK.

It has sunny beaches, amazing scenery, wonderful mountains and delicious food. In high season, the island receives about 8 million tourists, a lot of which confine themselves to Magaluf and the neighbouring resorts.

Served by frequent flights, with beautiful and safe beaches, we found Majorca to be a fantastic destination for families with children of all ages.

Most people visit for sun, sand and sea, however there is so much more to the island. Palma, the main town and capital is charming and sophisticated. The Gothic Cathedral overlooking the waterfront has a lavish interior designed by Gaudi. It is lovely to stroll leisurely around the alleyways of the old town and enjoy a drink in a cafe around Placa Mayor, the central square.

The North West coast, dominated by the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range is a beautiful area of olive groves, pine forests, ochre villages and a rugged coastline. It has been attracting people since Roman times. Now it is the favourite holiday spot for the Spanish Royal family.

A drive through the mountains was a real highlight for us. Go off the beaten track, you will find villages with cobbled streets, honey coloured stone houses and rustic bars. The mountain town of Deia is an artists and poets retreat, but you can also find jet setters and celebrities here. Valdemossa, nearby, is simply stunning.

The rail trip from Palma to Soller is a lovely way to travel. The rattling single track train passes through almond, lemon and orange groves. At Soller, transfer to the ramshackle tram that takes you to the waterfront at Port de Soller - a lovely place to spend an hour or so.

The North Coast also has attractions like Pollensa's Shrine of Calvary - climb 365 steps up to a church for a wonderful view, and the dramatically sited Monastery of Lluc is worth a visit.

The East Coast is dotted with small resorts with rocky coves, white beaches and clear seas. We visited the Caves of Drach - a complex of underground caverns dotted with lakes and pools which was fascinating.

Away from the coast is an agricultural plan punctuated by crumbling stone farms and villages. Olive, artichoke and melons vie for space alongside wild flowers and cacti. Read Less

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Tips and Hints

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* It can be very busy in Majorca in August. If you travel just out of the high season, everything will still be open with half the crowds. We visited at the end of May - a great time to go. It is not too busy, but the weather was hot and sunny every day. The chances of decent weather between May and October are high.* Driving in Majorca is sometimes a little adventurous. The traffic can be heavy, and the drivers are not exactly slow or careful. Be especially careful in the mountains where the roads are winding and you will meet a lot of buses.* Majorca has fine leather goods, glass, porcelain and clay whistles for children. These have been made in Majorca for centurie...Read More

* It can be very busy in Majorca in August. If you travel just out of the high season, everything will still be open with half the crowds. We visited at the end of May - a great time to go. It is not too busy, but the weather was hot and sunny every day. The chances of decent weather between May and October are high.

* Driving in Majorca is sometimes a little adventurous. The traffic can be heavy, and the drivers are not exactly slow or careful. Be especially careful in the mountains where the roads are winding and you will meet a lot of buses.

* Majorca has fine leather goods, glass, porcelain and clay whistles for children. These have been made in Majorca for centuries and date back to Arab times. We were very impressed with the shops in Palma - it has all the shopping quality and variety of any big Spanish city.

* Go to the beach - this is what most people come here for. The main tourist beaches are on the southern and eastern coasts, but these places may be crowded in high season. More secluded and quiet beaches can be found, but sometimes you have to experience either a difficult route - eg cliffs and minimal parking, but it is usually worth it. Each time we went out for the day, we packed swimming costumes etc., spent the early part of the day sightseeing and then drove to a beach on the way back and relaxed there for the afternoon - a perfect way to spend the day.

* Be aware of flower sellers in Palma - they sometimes try to put carnations in children's hair and ask for a Euro. Be firm, say no and walk away was the advice we got. There are usually pickpockets operating nearby. Also beware of pickpockets if you visit any of the markets. We did not have any problems though and felt very safe here at all times.

* Eating ranges from gourmet restaurants in Palma to fish and chips. Local specialities include bread rubbed with olive oil and tomato and eaten as a starter and roast suckling pig. Try the paella - especially the seafood version - delicious. Many dishes are made with Sobrassada - a spicy sausage. The sangria and local wines are also excellent.

* The international airport is 5 miles from Palma. We had read that the journey from here to our resort - Puerta Pollensa on the northern tip of the island would take 1.5 hours. It took less than 40 minutes, due to the new motorway network. The best way to get around the island is by car, but the local bus network is also very good. We had a hire car for 5 days - we booked this through our hotel, much cheaper than had we booked with a rental company in advance. This gave us the freedom to explore all parts of the island fully. We did also use the local buses to get to places not far from our hotel and found them to be reasonably priced and frequent.

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Hotel Club Pollentia

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We booked our accommodation here as part of a package - flights, transfer and hotel bed, breakfast and evening meal with Sovereign Luxury Holidays through their website www.sovereign.com.The Pollentia Club resort is a self-contained complex, a short distance from Puerta Pollensa and opposite a small beach. The views over the bay of the water and the mountains from the hotel are stunning. Our room was in the village area where the accommodation is bright and modern and every room has views of either the gardens, mountains or the sea. We were taken to our room in a golf buggy - the hotel complex is huge with over 500 rooms. The grounds are beautiful - green, lush a...Read More

We booked our accommodation here as part of a package - flights, transfer and hotel bed, breakfast and evening meal with Sovereign Luxury Holidays through their website www.sovereign.com.

The Pollentia Club resort is a self-contained complex, a short distance from Puerta Pollensa and opposite a small beach. The views over the bay of the water and the mountains from the hotel are stunning.

Our room was in the village area where the accommodation is bright and modern and every room has views of either the gardens, mountains or the sea.

We were taken to our room in a golf buggy - the hotel complex is huge with over 500 rooms. The grounds are beautiful - green, lush and well manicured with duck ponds and lovely gardens. The accommodation is in lots of low rise 2 storey buildings.

We had a room on the ground level - it was large, bright and comfortable with a double bed and a sofa bed, made up for our 5 year old son. There was a television with BBC and a fridge. The bathroom was large and modern with a bath and overbath shower. Double doors opened onto a large terrace with table, chairs and sunlounger, which in turn led onto the gardens.

The hotel caters very well for families, but its beautiful setting would make it suitable for anyone. During the day there was a full programme of organised activities and a kid's club. There was a nightly mini-disco and a large and well kept children's playground with sandpit, swings and climbing frames. On Wednesdays they had a pony club with pony rides for younger children - a bit hit with the smallest member of our family.

There are 2 outdoor pools and 1 indoor pools. The outdoor pools have a lovely setting but the water was extremely cold. There is also a small pitch and putt course and tennis courts.

We had breakfast and dinner at the hotel every day - served buffet style with a wide choice, although after a fortnight it tended to get a bit "samey". The restaurant had a lovely open-air terrace area - we looked forward to our meals al-fresco every day.

Each evening at 9:30 there was entertainment on the terrace for adults (children enjoyed it too!). Five nights a week, the hotel staff put on a show - Moulin Rouge, Grease, Saturday Night Fever and a comedy show were amongst those we saw. They are a little amateurish but great fun all the same and we enjoyed them. Twice a week professional entertainers are brought in - we saw a Riverdance tribute show, an Elvis band and some amazing African acrobats.

The hotel is located between Alcudia and Puerta Pollensa right on Pollensa Bay. This stretch of water was the inspiration for Agatha Christie's "Problem at Pollensa Bay". Right outside the hotel is a bus stop where you can catch a bus to Puerta Pollensa (5 minute trip) or Alcudia (also 5 minutes away).

We hired a car from the hotel - the rate was very reasonable and much cheaper than booking in advance from a rental company. Also it meant drop off and pick up were no problem. They even rented cars by the day. We used the car to explore further afield and went to Palma (45 minutes), Valdemossa and Deia (50 minutes) and the east coast (1.5 hours) amongst other places.

All in all we loved this hotel - beautiful surroundings, great location, relaxed and friendly atmosphere, good food and entertainment if you wanted it. I would highly recommend it as a lovely place to stay. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on June 17, 2009

Hotel Club Pollentia
Puerta Pollensa
Mallorca, Spain
+34 971 546 996

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Puerta Pollensa and Pollensa

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365 steps to Calvari Photo - Mallorca, Spain

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The Bay of Pollensa is home to a multitude of luxury yachts and colourful local fishing boats. The warm, shallow waters of the bay are also popular with families, a lot of whom stay in Puerta Pollensa.It is a nice resort, with a small number of natural beaches and a recently extended artificial beach. There is a good selection of bars, restaurants, shops and pavement cafes.The mountains surround and shelter the town and there are numerous walks into the hills where the views back onto the bay are stunning.Tourists have been coming here since the 1920's and the hotels on the seafront retain an old-fashioned air, having been built before the concrete boom of the 196...Read More

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Caves of Drach

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The beach at Porto Cristo Photo - Mallorca, Spain

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The Caves of Drach are just south of Porto Cristo on the eastern side of the island. It took us just under 1.5 hours to get here from our base on the north of the island. The drive, through the middle of Majorca was really enjoyable - different scenery to what we had previously experienced. It was very lush, green and fertile with many crops growing and lots of olive trees.The caves have lots of parking which is free. Entrance to the caves is 10.5 Euros for adults, under 7's are free. It is constantly 22 degrees in the caves so you do not need a coat. You need sensible shoes, though it is not really difficult terrain inside. You are not allowed to take photographs.Thousa...Read More

The Caves of Drach are just south of Porto Cristo on the eastern side of the island. It took us just under 1.5 hours to get here from our base on the north of the island. The drive, through the middle of Majorca was really enjoyable - different scenery to what we had previously experienced. It was very lush, green and fertile with many crops growing and lots of olive trees.

The caves have lots of parking which is free. Entrance to the caves is 10.5 Euros for adults, under 7's are free. It is constantly 22 degrees in the caves so you do not need a coat. You need sensible shoes, though it is not really difficult terrain inside. You are not allowed to take photographs.

Thousands of visitors flock here to journey through more than a mile of caverns. The caves have been known about for around 3,000 years. In 1339 the Govenor of Majorca sent men into the caves. Pirates were also supposed to have kept treasure here, however nobody ventured more than about 200 yards from the entrance.

In 1878 a group of Catalans went into the caves and told of the wondrous lights they saw. However, it was only in 1890 when a Frenchman called Edouard Alfred Martel made the first serious study. He found a lake of crystal clear water whose temperature stays at a constant 20 degrees centigrade.

A Majorcan called Joan Servera bought the caves in the 1930's and had them illuminated with coloured lights in 1935. They are much the same today.

You make your own way through the caves, thus taking everything in at your own pace. They have admissions about every hour - when we arrived about 200 people were queuing up in front of us. When they let us enter, we thought it was going to be a nightmare, crowded, hot and unpleasant. However the crowd thinned out inside, suprisingly quickly and you could then start to enjoy the experience.

The caves are eerily beautiful. The lights are very atmospheric and the stalagtites and stalagmites are so impressive. Some are as thin as pins, others are like tree trunks - I had never seen anything like it.

The caves have 12 main areas and other impressive chambers - the Black Cave, the White Cave and the Luis Salvator Cave. Luis Salvator was the Archduke of Austria who encouraged Martel to explore the caves.

The walk through takes about half an hour, then you arrive at a large auditorium by the Lago de Martel - one of the world's largest underground lakes. After everyone is seated, the lights go out and it is pitch black. Suddenly you hear music, and 3 fishing boats strung with fairy lights sail past on the lake. They have classical musicians on board who play a short concert. It is very simple, but so beautiful.

Afterwards you can either walk the short distance to the exit, or do as we did and ride there in a fishing boat.

After our morning at the caves, we spent the rest of the day in nearby Porto Cristo. It is a lovely little town with a nice sandy beach, some quaint bars and restauants and is a pleasant place to spend a lazy afternoon. Read Less

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Pirates Show

Attraction | "Pirates"

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The Pirates Show in Magaluf has attracted over 3 million people and has been running for over 21 years.It is a dinner show which you can book on the website directly, from the ticket office in Magaluf or at travel operators in Majorca. Lots of hotels also include this in their excursions and provide transport. We booked through our holiday rep - mainly to get the transport to and from the venue. We had read that driving yourself and parking could be a nightmare - however we saw no evidence of that - the theatre has a huge car park right next to it.The theatre is purpose built - like a pirate ship, but we were a bit disappointed with the theming. It was absolutely packed ful...Read More

The Pirates Show in Magaluf has attracted over 3 million people and has been running for over 21 years.

It is a dinner show which you can book on the website directly, from the ticket office in Magaluf or at travel operators in Majorca. Lots of hotels also include this in their excursions and provide transport. We booked through our holiday rep - mainly to get the transport to and from the venue. We had read that driving yourself and parking could be a nightmare - however we saw no evidence of that - the theatre has a huge car park right next to it.

The theatre is purpose built - like a pirate ship, but we were a bit disappointed with the theming. It was absolutely packed full when we arrived, and tables and chairs were very cramped and pushed together - space is at a premium and there is not much to spare.

We had booked the Quarter Deck - they call this their VIP area, but apart from the seats being next to the stage, it is no different to anywhere else. They say that everyone in the theatre gets a great view - I think you need seats on the Quarter Deck.

We were supposed, with our tickets, to have a special VIP access, be escorted to our seats by our own pirate and have a bottle of Prosecco waiting for us on arrival. Children were to get a special treasure pouch. The reality was a queue at the entrance, a surly member of staff (albeit dressed as a pirate) who was grumpy and surly and hustled us quickly to our table.

The seating was extremely cramped, we had to share with another couple and it felt like we were sitting on top of each other. We had to ask 3 times for our Prosecco, which arrived half an hour later. The children's pouch was also very disappointing.

The food was served before the show started. It was absolutely horrible - sausage, beans and chips which was luke warm, tasted unpleasant and was probably amongst the worst food I have ever had. Throughout the meal, people passed by trying to sell cheap and naff souvenirs of the show.

Up to this point, we felt completely let down and extremely disappointed with the whole experience. Once the show started however, our attitude changed and it was amazing.

The show tells the tale of a group of pirates and their adventures. The cast is a collection of European and world class gymnasts and acrobats. Their skills astounded us. The music was spine tingling, they used fire and other props and we could not keep our eyes off the stage. Everything happened right next to our seats as well, which made it even more exciting.

During a brief interval, we were served ice cream, then came the second half and a spectacular finale.

After the show all the cast went outside the theatre and happily chatted and posed for photographs. This, I thought, was a nice touch.

So it was a bit of a mixed experience. The theatre is overhyped, packed full to the rafters and the food is horrible. If you are prepared for all of that though, the show is amazing, the cast are fantasic and we did, eventually have a great evening. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on June 25, 2009

Pirates Show
Magaluf
Mallorca
+34 971 130 659

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Alcudia

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Alcudia is a very family friendly holiday resort with lovely beaches and lots of bars and restaurants. It is really made up of three separate areas: the beach, the port and the old town. The beach and port are next to each other and the old town and historical centre is about 2 miles away.The port is centered around the Passeig Maritim which is the walkway running parallel to the port. Here there are lots of shops, bars and restaurants. We enjoyed wandering around the marina and admiring all the boats and yachts.The beach is lovely - miles of golden sand and lined with very nice bars and restaurants. The majority of beachside buildings are hotels and apartments,...Read More

Alcudia is a very family friendly holiday resort with lovely beaches and lots of bars and restaurants.

It is really made up of three separate areas: the beach, the port and the old town. The beach and port are next to each other and the old town and historical centre is about 2 miles away.

The port is centered around the Passeig Maritim which is the walkway running parallel to the port. Here there are lots of shops, bars and restaurants. We enjoyed wandering around the marina and admiring all the boats and yachts.

The beach is lovely - miles of golden sand and lined with very nice bars and restaurants. The majority of beachside buildings are hotels and apartments, none of which are more than 3 storeys high, so all are below the level of the pine trees.

The old town is lovely - a walled city with Roman remains dating back to 70 BC. We enjoyed walking around the walls of the city and just wandering through the small streets which weave their way around this area. There are lots of lovely old houses and quaint squares.

Alcudia is very much a fun place for children, with lots of activities to do. As well as playing on the beach with our son, we hired a carriage type bicycle with 3 seats and cycled for an hour on the path next to the beach. It was great fun. The cost for an hour's hire was 9 Euros.

There is also a waterpark in Alcudia - Hidropark. It is not huge and does not have many big thrill rides, but there are quite a few slides, a wave pool, lots of shady areas to sit and a lovely children's pool. When we went it was very uncrowded so we spent a pleasant afternoon here. They also have a great children's playground and a huge crazy golf course.

There are lots of boat trips leaving from Alcudia. We chose to do a trip that goes to Formentor beach and back. The boat ride takes about 1 hour to get there, you have some time on the beach and then the trip back to Alcudia.

The boat was a large catamaran type vessel with lots of indoor and outdoor seating areas and a glass bottom underneath. Initially it was very pleasant leaving Alcudia and the views are glorious. However, they navigate very close to the headlands and rocks - presumably so you can get the views, but it got so choppy and bumpy I thought we would never see land again. Several people were physically sick, our son was terrified and the boat tossed and turned. We chose to forego the pleasure of the return trip, found a local bus near the beach area and took that instead.

Apparently this is normal for these boat trips - by the rocks and headlands it gets extremely choppy and there is no danger. Beware thus, and if you are looking for a smooth boat trip, avoid these! Read Less

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The North West Coast Area

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The mountainous north-west area of Majorca always usually escapes the worst of the crowds. The area is a walker's paradise - trails wind through pretty hill villages, tumbling at intervals to rocky coves.It is Majorca at its most spectacular - dominated by the Tramunta mountain range and its breathtaking scenery, it is also home to some of the most historical and picturesque towns on the island.We hired a car to explore this area fully. The amazing, windy, coastal road stretches the full length of the north west coast, climbing high to reveal dramatic sea views and dropping into picture postcard views. If you decide to drive this route, it will probably be added to your shor...Read More

The mountainous north-west area of Majorca always usually escapes the worst of the crowds. The area is a walker's paradise - trails wind through pretty hill villages, tumbling at intervals to rocky coves.

It is Majorca at its most spectacular - dominated by the Tramunta mountain range and its breathtaking scenery, it is also home to some of the most historical and picturesque towns on the island.

We hired a car to explore this area fully. The amazing, windy, coastal road stretches the full length of the north west coast, climbing high to reveal dramatic sea views and dropping into picture postcard views. If you decide to drive this route, it will probably be added to your shortlist of best drives ever. The journey is only 88km long, but small winding roads mean it takes a lot of time.

We left Pollensa and drove first towards Cap Formentor. It only takes about 15 minutes and is spectacular - right at the northernmost part of the island. Its highest point is 384 metres above sea level. The headland has quite a few lookout points with stunning views - look down at the cliffs below really does make you feel queasy.

The drive from Puerta Pollensa to the beach at Formentor is as dramatic as any you could wish for. We did it ourselves, and also on a local bus - a bit hairy and not for the faint hearted. The beach is worth a visit. There is a hotel there which opened in 1929 and has been pampering the rich and famous ever since. The sandy beach used to be reserved for hotel guests, but is now open to everyone - it is beautiful.

Our next port of call was the monastery at Lluc. This is Majorca's most sacred site and nestles high in the mountains. There is plenty of free parking and a few bars and cafes nearby.

The monastery is popular with day trippers, but an air of spiritual calm still manages to prevail. A good time to visit is when the choir is singing at 11am and 3pm daily or on Sundays at 11am.

Pilgrimages to the Lluc monastery have been going on for many years. Lluc comes from the word lucus - Latin for sacred wood. You see lots of cypress and oak trees on the journey up. The story goes that an Arab shepherd boy, newly converted to Christianity, discovered a dark wooden statue of the Virgin Mary in a cleft in the rock. The image was placed in a local church, but three times it returned miraculously to its cave, whereon the villagers recognised a message from God and built a church to house it.

The monastery is still a centre for sacred pilgrimage and many come to see the statue of the Virgin Mary. It is now encrusted with precious stones and sits in a chapel decorated with the arms of every Majorcan town. The original Renaissance Baroque church is still there - built in 1622-84. There is a notable school choir based here - Los Blauets. They wear blue cassocks (hence the name), and the choir dates back to 1531 when it comprised 40 boys - "natives of Majorca, of pure blood, sound in grammar and song."

After our stop at Lluc, we headed towards Soller. Be sure to look over to your right as you approach the Gorg Blau reservoir and you will see Puig Mayor - Majorca's highest peak at 1,445 metres.

We were constantly taken aback by the wonderful views on this drive - rocky, craggy coast; crystal clear bluish green seas and one picture postcard scene after another. Read Less

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Valldemossa and Deia

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Valldemossa street Photo - Mallorca, Spain

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We spent a day visiting Valldemossa and then Deia, set in the mountains and both of which are an absolute must-see if you are visiting the island.Valldemossa is at the top of a picturesque valley. It is a lovely little town, with charming, pretty houses, cobbled streets, very nice bars and restaurants and shops selling good quality, hand made souvenirs.We found a pay and display car-park close to the centre and stayed for 2 hours - this was enough to wander around, have a drink in a cafe and visit the monastery.The town is pedestrianised, so we spent about half an hour wandering and admiring the views. The village is said to be protected by its own saint - all the...Read More

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Palma to Soller Railway

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Orange and lemon groves seen from the train Photo - Mallorca, Spain

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The journey from Palma to Soller has been described as being like a scene from an Agatha Christie thriller - I can see what is meant by that. The train carriage dates from 1912 and still has all its original character - leather seats, old fashioned light fittings, small brass luggage racks and sash windows.The train line opened in 1912 and made the north west coast of Majorca accessible to Palma. Prior to 1912, the journey across the mountains of Majorca made travel difficult and the road was (and still is apparently) a terror to navigate.The train is powered by an electric locomotive and is supposedly the only one of its type still in use today.The train leaves f...Read More

The journey from Palma to Soller has been described as being like a scene from an Agatha Christie thriller - I can see what is meant by that. The train carriage dates from 1912 and still has all its original character - leather seats, old fashioned light fittings, small brass luggage racks and sash windows.

The train line opened in 1912 and made the north west coast of Majorca accessible to Palma. Prior to 1912, the journey across the mountains of Majorca made travel difficult and the road was (and still is apparently) a terror to navigate.

The train is powered by an electric locomotive and is supposedly the only one of its type still in use today.

The train leaves from the station in Palma at Placa de Espanya. We used our satellite navigation and easily found the station and an underground car park right next to it. Parking there cost 1 Euro per hour.

Train tickets are sold at the station and cost 17 Euros return, with under 7 year olds free. They do not accept credit cards - cash only.

We caught the train at 10:10 and the journey to Soller took just under an hour. It is 27km in length.

Leaving Palma, the railway goes northwards across the plain and then starts to wind up into the mountains and through 13 tunnels. Our son was thrilled by one especially long tunnel which took just over 6 minutes to pass through in complete darkness.

The ride is not fast or exciting, but the views along the way are spectacular. All the tunnels make you think how difficult construction of this railway line must have been.

Eventually you reach the valley of Soller - with beautiful mountains, olive trees, orange and lemon groves and lovely white washed villas.

Five trains a day leave for Palma for Soller - the train at 10:10 stopped en route for photo taking. It was a great vantage point above Soller - a beautiful panorama and the fact it stopped for 5 minutes meant you had plenty of time to get out and take photographs.

Soller itself is a charming, small town, dominated by the old train station and a lovely central square edged with cafes. The valley is lush with lemon and orange groves.

We took the old open-air tram from Soller to Port de Soller - a lovely 15 minute rickety journey. Port de Soller is by the sea, very nice with lovely beaches and full of bars and cafes. Do be careful though with tram and train times back - you need to co-ordinate tram and train times carefully or you could be stranded. Read Less

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Palma

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Palma is the capital of the Balearic Islands and the largest city in Majorca. Half of the population of the island live here. It has retained much of its ancient charm - there are plenty of traditional restaurants, locals' bars and pavement cafes; the fishermen still mend their nets on the harbour's edge; the traditional crafts of glass blowing, lace making and olive wood carving still exist in the small specialist shops of the backstreets. It is lovely to wander in the maze of beautiful ancient alleyways and sun baked squares of the Old Town.The city lies on the Bay of Palma with the long Passeig Maritim running the full length of its waterfront. Some of the world's most prestigious y...Read More

Palma is the capital of the Balearic Islands and the largest city in Majorca. Half of the population of the island live here. It has retained much of its ancient charm - there are plenty of traditional restaurants, locals' bars and pavement cafes; the fishermen still mend their nets on the harbour's edge; the traditional crafts of glass blowing, lace making and olive wood carving still exist in the small specialist shops of the backstreets. It is lovely to wander in the maze of beautiful ancient alleyways and sun baked squares of the Old Town.

The city lies on the Bay of Palma with the long Passeig Maritim running the full length of its waterfront. Some of the world's most prestigious yachts can be seen moored in Palma's harbour.

It took us 40 minutes to drive here from our base on the north of the island. We parked in an underground car park right next to the cathedral. It cost 1 Euro 50 cents per hour to park there, but was extremely convenient (and busy).

Most of Palma's main sights are in the city centre within easy reach of each other. The jewel in the crown is the Gothic cathedral on the waterfront - La Seu. It is surrounded by a maze of narrow alleyways and ancient merchants' palaces which form the Old Town and Arab Quarter.

Work was carried out on the cathedral for over 400 years and touches were added to it by Gaudi. It costs 4 Euros to enter - free for our 5 year old and you are not allowed to take photographs inside.

You enter the cathedral through a side door and pass a small museum. If you head for the west portal and look down the nave you find the really impressive rose window. It is 12 metres wide and studded with 1236 pieces of stained glass.

The columns througout are ringed with wrought iron candelabra by Gaudi and there is an unfinished crown of thorns made by him from cardboard and cork and suspended above the altar. Walk around to the south front facing the sea and look at the 15th century door featuring scenes from the Last Supper.

We spent about an hour after we left the cathedral just wandering around the Old Town. We then headed to the Placa Mayor where it is lovely to have a drink of sangria and watch the world go by.

We also did the Palma Sightseeing bus tour. It does a circuit of Palma which includes all the main tourist attractions, shopping centres and ports. It is a double decker bus with an open top. It gets unbearably hot downstairs, but also very busy upstairs. The cost was 13 Euros each for us and our 5 year old son was free. A basic audio tour is included in the price. Tickets are valid for 24 hours and you can hop off and on as many times as you like.

There are 15 stops on the tour. We stayed on for the whole circuit - it took just over an hour. It is a good way to get your bearings in Palma, but it also takes you to the Castel de Bellvers - an impressive building on top of a hill, where you get the most magnificient views of the harbour and yachts and the city below. Read Less

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IgoUgo

Mallorca Journals

2 Weeks in Majorca

Highlights of the Island

Tips and Hints

Hotel Club Pollentia

Puerta Pollensa and Pollensa

Caves of Drach

Pirates Show

Alcudia

The North West Coast Area

Valldemossa and Deia

Palma to Soller Railway

Palma

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