Spain's Glamorous Holiday Spots of Balearic Islands Mallorca & Ibiza

Once known primarily for nightlife and a vibrant club scene, Spain’s golden isles have evolved to be among Europe’s most glamorous holiday hot spots of today, attracting well-heeled travelers who come to enjoy the long hours of sunshine and world-class hip hangouts. Charter in spring or enjoy a summer that lasts right through to late October.

Mallorca

Island life here is about lazy lunches, diving off the deck in secret coves, ambling through vineyards, losing yourself in a maze of ancient streets, taking a leisurely coffee in the town square after dinner and then finding yourself at the latest club should the mood strike.

Discover @ Mercat de l’Olivar

This famous food market displays stalls packed with fresh meats, fish, fruit and vegetables. Cheese, olives, almonds, pastries and all manner of other tasty treats also will prove irresistible.

Shop @ La Lonja in the old town of Palma

Wander around Palma’s maze of cobbled streets to encounter designer boutiques and shops packed with local ceramics, textiles, jewelry and antiques alongside traditional tavernas and tapas bars.

Culture @ Valldemossa

At the historic village of Valldemossa, you can visit the former Carthusian monastery where Chopin composed some of his most renowned preludes.

Explore @ Artá

Artá, in the northeast of the island, lies beneath a small mountain crowned by the walled 14th-century Sanctuary of Sant Salvador. One of the island’s most impressive sights, the Sanctuary’s lofty position means it also offers wonderful views of the whole island.

Dine @ Simply Fosh

Lovers of gourmet food will find a generous helping of Michelin-starred restaurants on Mallorca. High on your list should be Simply Fosh. British chef Marc Fosh creates superlative Mediterranean dishes using local produce in the rustic setting of the 17th-century Hotel Convent de la Missió in the old town of Palma. Es Racó d’es Teix is another cozy spot for a romantic lunch with spectacular views of the town of Deià. At Lua in Port de Soller you can literally step from yacht to table and dine on locally-caught fish; ditto at Flanigan in Portals, a stone’s throw from the quay, or the Sea Club at Cap Rocat, which offers the bonus of a view over your yacht at anchor in the cove below with the city of Palma as a backdrop. For the best of creative and modern Majorcan cuisine, head to Tomeu Caldentey’s Es Moli d’en Bou. In Palma, both La Boveda and Tast Club are wonderful for tapas, and Caballito de Mar is perfect for seafood.

Spa @ La Residencia

If all that food and drink means you need a detox day, head to the spa at the Hotel Belmond La Residencia in Deià. Formerly a collection of four mansions, the hotel sits on 30 acres of olive and lemon groves in the foothills of the Tramuntana Mountains with views of the Mediterranean. The spa offers outdoor massage areas and a huge array of treatments in a spectacular setting.

Dance @ Garito Café

In the 70s Garito Café attracted avant-garde writers and bohemian artist types, today it retains its retro character as a fun place for anyone to while away an evening — or visit for lunch and a lazy afternoon. The lounge bar Opio in the Puro Hotel is as cool as it gets, while the terrace on the sea at Varadero is open all day and turns into a pulsing club scene after the sun sets. You don’t have to wait until the sun goes down for the tunes to blast out at Nikki Beach. Along with Pacha Mallorca, a cool beach club remains that one of the most fashionable places to hang out in Mallorca.

Anchor @ Na Foradada

This is one of the most enchanting anchorages in the Mediterranean, particularly at sunset when the wild and untouched Tramuntana Mountains are illuminated.

Spend the Day @ Sa Dragonera

Just to the west of Mallorca is the island of Sa Dragonera which, in 1995, was declared a National Park. You can sail there via authorized boats from Sant Elm. Sant Elm itself is worth a visit in its own right. Located on the Andratx coast, it has a sandy beach where you can relax before a late lunch at one of the fish restaurants on the jetty followed by a walk up a maquis-carpeted cliff to the abandoned Trappist monastery Sa Trapa to take in the view.

Berth @ Port Adriano

Designed by Philippe Starck, Porto Adriano has berths for yachts of up to 600-meters and is very peaceful. Alternatively, the Club de Mar marina is wonderfully situated in central Palma. The marina has ample facilities along with 75 berths for superyachts ranging from 30 to 155 meters.