Coves with crystal clear waters bordered by an almost wild nature, vestiges of a unique civilization, a rich gastronomy, heritage treasures, four of which are recognized by Unesco... The Balearic Islands and its main islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera or the lesser known Cabrera) offer much more than crowded beaches and exuberant parties.
In summer or out of season, here is how to orient yourself in the Mediterranean archipelago according to your expectations.
Follow the guide in
Mallorca
.
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Map of the Balearic Islands
The Balearic archipelago, an autonomous community in its own right in Spain, comprises five main islands, four of which are inhabited: Majorca, Ibiza, Minorca and Formentera.
A multitude of small islets dot the surroundings.
The vast Majorca alone occupies 75% of the surface of the archipelago.
Majorca, the elegant
Mallorca Cathedral, La Seu.
Boris Stroujko - stock.adobe.com
Capital of the Balearic Islands, Majorca is also the largest of the islands of the archipelago (3,640 km²).
It is not uncommon to come across celebrities and even the Spanish royal family who take up their summer quarters in Palma, the capital.
Close to the Cathedral and the waterfront, La Almudaina is one of their official residences.
This former Muslim alcazar transformed into a Gothic palace can be visited most of the year (
€7 per adult
), and admission is free on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sundays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Read alsoOur best addresses to enjoy Palma, the trendy port of Majorca
Through the narrow streets of the city center, we can detect other architectural treasures such as sublime seigniorial patios and modernist facades.
In the Bay of Palma, the prestigious
Copa del Rey
, an international sailing regatta, is held every August.
The 2020 edition is postponed to next year due to the coronavirus.
If Palma is reinventing itself despite its skyscrapers which may displease, it is different for Majorca, which does not lack assets for family trips.
Starting with the
Sierra Tramuntana
, a mountain range that stretches along the northwest coast, listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco.
It is home to picturesque villages, caves containing stalactites that must be visited such as the Coves de Campanet (€15 per adult), two long-distance hiking trails (GR 221 and GR 222) and archaeological sites such as the Roman remains of Pollentia ( 4 € entry).
Don't leave the island without sampling the ensaimada (a local brioche) and the
sobrasada
(a type of cold meat).
Read alsoMallorca with children: the best things to do
OUR BEST ADDRESSES IN MALLORCA
Where to have a drink?
Ginbo Cocktail Bar:
With more than 300 gin references, this establishment has just launched a new menu inspired by the different nationalities that have made Palma their home.
Dare the
Bolu , made with gin,
Mallorcan
orange
and Argentinian mate.
Average price: €10 a glass.
Passeig de Mallorca, 14, 07012 Palma.
Phone.
: +34 971 72 21 75.
Hats off to 1987:
Retro atmosphere in this bar specializing in whiskey, whose latest cocktail menu is influenced by local products (apricot, olives, sea fennel, watermelon, etc.).
It is with glassblowers and potters from the island that the owners have designed some of their bowls.
Average price: €10 a glass.
Passeig de Mallorca, 24, 07012 Palma.
+34 871 90 43 87.
Our favorite restaurants
Fera Palma Restaurant & Bar:
In an old palace decorated with contemporary art, Austrian chef Simon Petutschnig offers dishes influenced by Mediterranean and Asian flavors.
Tasting menu from €49.
fairepalma.com+34 971 595 301. Carrer de la Concepció, 4, 07012, Palma.
The Botanic restaurant.
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Botànic
: In the heart of a lush garden, the Can Bordoy hotel restaurant offers a
healthy
and gourmet menu in which chef Andrés Benítez creatively uses local ingredients from yesteryear (lentils, turnip cabbage, carobs, etc.) .
Tasting menu: €45 per person.
www.canbordoy.com/botanic/ +34 871 871 202. Carrer del Forn de la Glória, 14, 07012, Palma.
Read alsoMallorca, the epicurean of the Balearic Islands: our favorite addresses between pretty markets and starred restaurants
Or sleep ?
Can Bordoy Grand House & Garden:
This 5-star hotel occupies a 17th century bourgeois house, whose 24 suites are decorated with antiques and
design
objects .
It has a swimming pool in the garden and a jacuzzi on the rooftop.
From €250 per suite, breakfast included.
www.canbordoy.com.
+34 871 871 202. Carrer del Forn de la Glòria, 14, 07012 Palma.
El Llorenc Parc de la Mar:
The aesthetics of this 5-star hotel, accessible only to people over 16, is inspired by the town's Muslim past.
The icing on the cake: a swimming pool on a modern green and ocher rooftop.
From €280 per double room.
www.elllorenc.com/es/ +34 971 67 77 70. Plaça de Llorenç Villalonga, 4. 07001, Palma.
Read alsoTen eco-responsible hotels in Majorca
Menorca, the eco-responsible
The sublime Cala Macarella, in the southwest of Menorca, considered one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, and which attracts tourists in summer.
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Menorca and its nearly 700 km² declared "Biosphere Reserve" floats about a hundred kilometers east of Majorca.
The island is a kind of refuge for all those who seek a form of return to nature - it is omnipresent there, and tourism has posed signs that have remained discreet.
Its landscape is dotted with old rural houses with immaculate walls, which are now dedicated to agrotourism.
On horseback, on foot or by bike, follow the
Camí de Cavalls
(“horse path”), a coastal path drawn from the 14th century and which connects through abundant landscapes watchtowers, ravines, lakes, ponds, beaches of dreams and cliffs.
To the northeast, it crosses the lungs of Menorca:
the Albufera des Grau
Natural Park .
Around this marshy area, the village of
Fornells
stands out as an essential gastronomic stopover.
Here you can taste the
caldereta de langosta
(lobster soup).
Read alsoWhat to do in Menorca, the unspoiled Balearic island: beaches, activities... Our travel guide
Are you traveling with family?
Do not miss
the route of the
taulas
, T-shaped megaliths erected exclusively in Menorca by the Talayotic culture around the year 500 BC.
JC
OUR BEST ADDRESSES IN MENORCA
Where to have a drink?
Cova d'en Xoroi:
This music bar has a spectacular terrace perched on a cliff and offers live music inside a natural cave.
From €10 entry per adult, drink included.
It is advisable to book in advance on the site.
www.covadenxoroi.com +34 971 377 236. Carrer de Sa Cova nº 2, 07730. Cala en Porter, Alaior.
Ulisses, in the old town of Ciutadella.
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Ulisses:
Shabby chic
atmosphere
under the arcades of a building in the old town of Ciutadella.
Bartender Joan
Canals
has just presented his new cocktail menu where he revisits classics.
Count 8.5 € per glass.
https://www.joancanalsbartender.com/es/ulisses-es/ +34 971 380 031. Plaça de la Llibertat 22, 07760. Ciutadella.
Our favorite restaurants
Smoix:
Chef and owner Miquel Sánchez has managed to preserve the industrial spirit of this former shoe factory, while giving it an elegant and intimate touch.
The Michelin guide hailed with a “Bib Gourmand” the excellent value for money (Bib Gourmand) of its local and seasonal cuisine.
Tasting menu: €34.5.
www.smoix.com +34 971 382 808, Avda.
Jaume Conqueridor, 38, 07760, Ciutadella.
Nelsons Gastro Pub:
Landed more than 10 years ago from London, Mark Stone opened his restaurant in a century-old house.
The marine theme occupies both the setting and the menu: seafood and the fish of the day are the speciality.
Average price: €20-24 per person.
www.nelsonsgastropub.com +34 871 039 035. Avinguda de Nelson, Son Vitamina Alaior, 07730.
Or sleep ?
Fontenille Menorca:
This 4-star agrotourism hotel includes two areas classified as “exceptional cultural assets”: Santa Ponsa and Torre Vella.
They have a geothermal system and a spa inside an old stone cistern.
Cozy and design rooms.
From €230 per double room, breakfast included.
fontenillemenorca.com/fr +34 660 483 350 / +34 971 372 352. Carretera de Llucalari – 07730 Alaior.
Divina Suites:
In a 17th century stately home, this 4-star boutique hotel offers eight elegant suites with private kitchens.
From €135 per suite, breakfast included.
divinasuites.com/fr/ +971 38 50 91 / +34 650 697 485. Carrer Sant Sebastià, 12B – 07760, Ciutadella.
Ibiza, the party girl to rediscover
Dalt Vila, the upper town of Ibiza.
Antonio - stock.adobe.com
The island is much more than a mecca for nightlife and therefore welcomes all kinds of visitors.
As a family, discover the old town in the homonymous capital (written “Eivissa”), on the south coast.
Along with the Phoenician-Punic Necropolis of
Puig des Molins
(€2.4 general admission, free on Sundays) and the Phoenician site of
Sa Caleta
, the fortified town has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
If your wish is to escape the crowds, hire a car (about €25 per day) and head to the north coast where lies the best unspoilt landscape in Ibiza.
It conceals coves of crystal clear water surrounded by pine forests and villages with white walls such as
Sant Joan de Labritja
or
San Carlos de Peralta
.
The latter is still inhabited by the hippie spirit that arrived on the island half a century ago.
For a discovery of medieval Ibiza, go to
Balàfia
in the heart of the land, which preserves period houses and towers.
On the south coast, the
Ses Salines Natural Park
of Ibiza and Formentera is an essential stopover for discovering the seabed, since its Mediterranean Posidonia meadows are also listed as World Heritage by Unesco.
They are home to rare species, such as the speckled seahorse.
All over the island, taste the
flaó
, a kind of
mint and anise
cheesecake dating back to the Middle Ages.
Read alsoIbiza, a little corner of paradise for children too
OUR BEST ADDRESSES IN IBIZA
Where to have a drink?
Boodiou:
100% homemade cocktails by French
bartender
Tony Comas.
The spirits are produced in the BOWS family and partner distillery in Montauban (Occitanie).
From €9 a glass.
boodiou.es +34 689 76 33 46. Carrer de la Mare de Déu, 10, 07800, Ibiza.
Atzaro Beach:
in a cove, enjoy the terrace on the seafront. Furniture and wicker decor in an elegant atmosphere of relaxation.
Around €10 per cocktail.
www.atzarobeach.com +34 971 07 82 28. Playa Cala Nova, s/n, 07849.
Our favorite restaurants
Rebrots:
a gourmet tapas restaurant with Mediterranean accents mixed with Mexican and Asian notes, such as Iberian Tandoori pork.
It is run by three siblings, Carlus, Sara and Marc.
The latter, architect, is at the origin of the natural and soothing decor of the place.
Average price: €30 per person.
+34 971 320 609. Carrer de s'Arenal Petit, 34, 07810 Portinatx, Sant Joan de Labritja.
The Giri Café, in Sant Joan de Labritja.
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The Giri Café:
The discreet facade of this restaurant conceals a lush garden occupied by four-poster beds matched with furniture made of natural raw materials.
It is from the local vegetable garden that a good part of the ingredients come, which come to decorate a neat cuisine with Mediterranean and exotic influences.
Average price: €45-50 per person.
https://cafe.thegiri.com +34 971 333 474. Plaça Espanya 5, 07810 Sant Joan de Labritja.
Or sleep ?
Hotel Rural Xereca:
In a former dairy, this 5-star hotel is surrounded by a garden of orange and lemon trees on which stands out a 19th century windmill and a swimming pool.
Rooms and suites decorated with simplicity and taste at a price starting at around €200 per double room.
https://www.xereca.es +34 971 316 192. Carrer Torrent s/n, 07813 Puig d'en Valls.
Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay:
Almost all the rooms and suites of this 5-star hotel have a balcony or terrace offering a view of the sea. They are colored using the colors of the island (white, blue, turquoise and golden for the sunsets), as well as with local materials (light wood, raffia, wicker, slate, macrame).
The hotel has two swimming pools and a private beach.
Starting price: approximately €350 in a double room, with breakfast.
https://www.nobuhotelibizabay.com/en/default.html +34 971 192 222 Camí ses Feixes, 52, 07800, Ibiza.
Read alsoThe W hotel in Ibiza, the expert opinion of
Figaro
Formentera, the (peaceful) sublime
Ses Illetes beach, in the north of the island, within the natural park of Ses Salines.
Marco Gabbin - stock.adobe.com
Barely 30 minutes by boat separate this island from its big sister Ibiza.
The smallest inhabited unit in the Balearic Islands (83 km²) is also the quietest, with a white and turquoise coastline.
Ideal for relaxation, alone or as a couple.
The two main towns,
Sant Francesc Xavier
, its capital, and
La Salvina
, are in the western part.
For an even more peaceful setting, choose the rural landscape of the east of the island, where the curious who have landed from Ibiza to spend the day do not have time to go!
The best transport in Formentera remains two-wheelers.
Count 20-25 € per day for a motorbike and 10-15 € for a bicycle, or even 25 € if it is electric.
Families can opt for bicycles, and take the route of the three lighthouses or go “hunting” for
varaderos
, a sort of wooden refuge hut intended to protect boats.
Prefer
Caló de Sant Agustí
to the northeast to enjoy a swim in this cove with crystal clear waters.
OUR BEST ADDRESSES IN FORMENTERA
Where to have a drink?
Chez Gerdi:
chill out
atmosphere
, almost hippie, on the terrace of this
beach club
restaurant located by the sea. We offer here the classics of mixology, neat, at the average price of €15 a glass.
chezzgerdi.com +34 648 020 106 Camí s'Abeuradeta, 40-45, 07860 Es Pujols.
Alma Formentera:
custom-made gin and tonic specialty in the intimate, neat and illuminated setting of their terrace.
From €10 a glass.
www.almaformentera.com +34 644 89 34 02. Carrer d'Espardell, 24, Es Pujols.
Our favorite restaurants
Can Pasqual Restaurant:
Since 1964, this address offers traditional cuisine, nowadays revisited, in a chic setting centered on wood.
Average price: €45-55 per person.
canpasqualrestaurant.com +34 971 327 014. Carrer Francesc Aragó 2, 07872, Es Caló de Sant Agustí.
An authentic paella from the Balearic Islands, at La Marriterranea, in Sant Ferran de Ses Roques.
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La Mariterranea:
Welcoming and seaside decor in white and blue tones, this restaurant specializes in rice dishes.
The ideal place to taste an authentic paella.
Count 35-40 € per person.
+34 674 274 298 Carrer Major, 42, 07871. Sant Ferran de Ses Roques.
Or sleep ?
Hotel Cala Saona & Spa:
located in the heart of a cove, this 4-star hotel with its refined and bright decoration offers its customers access to the spa.
Some rooms have an impressive sea view. Starting price: around €250 for a double room, breakfast included.
www.hotelcalasaona.com/fr +34 971 322 030 C/ Cala Saona, s/n Cala Saona, 07860.
Gecko Hotel & Beach Club:
On the seafront, the rooms of this 4-star hotel are warm and soothing.
Some have a balcony with garden and sea views and others have a private garden with a swimming pool area.
From €330 per double room, breakfast included.
geckobeachclub.com/en +34 971 328 024, Playa de Migjorn, Ca Mari, 07860.
Cabrera, the authentic
The 15 km² island is completely preserved from the tourism that is rampant in the Balearic Islands.
In the distance, the remains of what was once a castle.
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Measuring barely 15 km², Cabrera is the largest "rock" of a group of 19 islands and islets, classified as a national park.
Long confined to military operations, the island remained preserved from tourist speculation.
Cabrera's flora is partly made up of endemic species, such as a type of St. John's wort, giving shelter to local fauna, including the Balearic lizard.
Nowadays, it is still guarded by a few soldiers, who watch among other things the paths leading to the medieval castle.
A cemetery, a lighthouse, a free museum and an archaeological site complete the few existing buildings: the islet is uninhabited all year round and its occupancy rate limited to 300 people.
It is therefore advisable to book in advance one of the excursions offered (from €46 per adult) with the two companies that serve the island by ferry: Excursiones a Cabrera and Mar Cabrera.
Crossing time: around 40 minutes from Colònia de Sant Jordi, in the south of Majorca.
How to get to Cabrera?
Excursions to Cabrera: +34 971 649 034
Mar Cabrera: +34 971 656 403
Our advice: the companies apply a 7% reduction to online reservations.
An alternative: sleep in Cabrera
Installed in a former military camp, the only hostel on the island can accommodate up to 12 people.
Good to know: it does not have a kitchen but a dining room equipped with two microwaves.
Reopening scheduled for September 2020, due to the Covid-19 epidemic.
From €51 per night.
Reservations only online.
Information at the Cabrera National Park Visitor Center: +34 971 656 282.
*Published July 2020, this article is being updated
