Mallorca, which is the largest of the Balearic Islands and which has 846.210 registered inhabitants, has become one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe. This is primarily thanks to its outstanding location, its mild year-round climate and, above all, the appeal of its captivating landscapes and white sandy beaches, where the Mediterranean never ceases to enchant visitors.
Summer is the most intense period on Mallorca, as this is when the tourist resorts fill up with thousands of visitors and famous stars from around the world, creating a cosmopolitan atmosphere and meeting point for people who really want to enjoy their holidays.
However, Mallorca offers much more than beach holidays with bustling nightlife. The old quarter of the city of Palma de Mallorca contains Gothic architecture and countless corners full of history which are waiting to be discovered. There are unspoilt beaches with crystalline waters away from the tourist resorts. There are also small villages in the island’s interior and mountain regions, where the pace of life is slow and which in many cases have become havens for a wide variety of people from all over, who mix with the locals and form part of this authentic side of Mallorcan life. And then there are the landscapes, which have been a source of inspiration for creative geniuses such as the British poet Robert Graves, who is buried in Deià, the Polish composer Frederick Chopin, who spent time at Cartoixa de Valldemossa with George Sand, and the painter Joan Miró, amongst many others.
The accommodation available for your holidays in Mallorca primarily consists of excellent-value 3 and 4-star hotels and apartments. Nevertheless, there is a wide range of all sorts of accommodation, with a variety of luxurious and exclusive hotels as well as budget options. July and August are the hottest months and this is when demand is greatest, meaning that prices are higher and there is less availability, so it is advisable to book well in advance if you plan to take your holidays in this period. The weather is also good in May, June, September and October, and during these months visitors can swim in the sea without the crowds of high summer. During the rest of the year it is worth bearing in mind that many hotels and other types of accommodation close.
Interesting features of Mallorca:
Time zone: GMT/UTC+1
Area: 3.560 Km2.
Coast line: 554,7 Km
Population: 846.210 inhabitants.
Oficial languages: Catalan and Spanish. English and German are widely spoken.
Curency: Euro €
Electricity: 220 volts
Average anual temperature: 18,7 ºC
Average anual sun hours: 2.957,7
Highest peak: Puig Major (1.432 m)
Catalan versus Spanish spelling
The names of places and streets on the maps in Mallorca use to be spelt in Spanish, but since their official names are in Catalan, this is the language used to write them on maps and street signs. The problem, is that often outside Spain, stills being used the former Spanish spelling. If you are trying to find an address or town on the map, without succeeding, make sure you have the right spelling in Catalan.
Here you have some examples (cat=Catalan, es=Spanish): Platja de Palma (cat)/Playa de Palma (es), Port d’Alcúdia (cat)/Puerto de Alcudia (es), Cala Sant Vicenç (cat)/Cala San Vicente (es), Pollença (cat)/Pollensa (es), Valldemossa (cat)/Valldemosa (es), Magaluf (cat)/Magalluf (es), Peguera (cat)/Paguera (es), Andratx (cat)/Andraitx (es), Cala Rajada (cat)/Cala Ratjada (es), Santanyí (cat)/Santañí (es), Llucmajor (cat)/Llucmayor (es), Sant Joan (cat)/San Juan (es), Sant Llorenç (cat)/San Lorenzo (es), Santa Margalida (cat)/Santa Margarita (es), Sa Pobla (cat)/La Puebla (es), Canyamel (cat)/Cañamel (es), etc.