The cathedral, the large El Corte Ingles shopping center, Bellver Castle (not to be confused with Belvedere in Vienna!), the Carthusian Monastery in the mountain village of Valldemossa, a water park, numerous nightclubs — all these places highly attractive to tourists are located either in Palma de Mallorca or in its immediate vicinity. That is why it is very lively here in summer and literally filled with tourists to the brim.

And yet, it is worth visiting not only the south-west coast of the main island of the Balearic archipelago. There are quite a few reasons why you should head for a holiday in the north-east of Mallorca. It is always calm here, and the natural landscapes amaze with their diversity and the idyllic scenes opening before the traveler's eyes. So, let's go to the north-east.

At the northern tip of the island, at the foot of the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range, lies a small but very colorful town — Port de Pollensa. Like other settlements of Mallorca, Port de Pollensa was for a long time just a simple fishing village. This place has beautifully preserved its old appearance and atmosphere of romance, while the pristine beauty of the surrounding area has turned it into a favorite retreat of the artistic bohemia.

Artists, actors, writers, and many other people of the arts often find their inspiration here, in the north of the island. The authorities try to support the creative elite and often organize special festivals and folk celebrations. Thus, the town hall holds a competition every year for the best painting. Most of the works are devoted to the colorful landscapes of Mallorca.

Directly from the center of the town, 365 steps of the Way of the Cross, framed by two rows of cypresses, lead upward to the small Calvary chapel. This is a holy place for local residents and a wonderful viewpoint for tourists.

An impressive pier has been built in the town, where, alongside traditional fishing vessels waiting for their next catch, modern pleasure yachts await their owners. In some ways, this town even resembles Nice. An unhurried promenade, palm-lined avenues, yachts... The atmosphere is just as bohemian, but more intimate.

Cape Formentor is one of the most protected corners of Mallorca and all of Europe. The picturesque peninsula is a strip of land about 3 km wide that extends far into the Mediterranean Sea. This is a place where the natural landscapes are truly magnificent. Driving along the winding mountain road, tourists stop at viewpoints and take impressive photos of the panorama of mountain ranges, sea expanses, and the small rocky island of Colomer.

Have you ever had the amazing feeling that you are somewhere at the edge of the world? I have. For that, it is not necessary to go to Australia or to the southernmost tip of the African continent. Come to Formentor, climb to the highest viewpoint, and enjoy. Cliffs and sea. Mountain massifs and clouds. The silence of the pine forests and crystal-clear air. The very best, most breathtaking, most grand, and most memorable views of Mallorca are there, at the Formentor viewpoint.

Previously, the entire territory of the peninsula belonged to the family of the poet Costa i Llobera. After his death, many lands were sold, including the famous Formentor beach — a most picturesque bay with transparent, azure water and a pine grove descending to the very sea. This truly heavenly corner was bought by the Argentine Adan Diegl, and here he built the famous five-star hotel "Formentor." Celebrities often stay there; they even say that "Formentor" is the favorite place for a holiday in Mallorca of the first and last president of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev.

This is not surprising. Formentor beach has been awarded the Blue Flag as environmentally impeccable. Fluffy pines hang over the transparent calm water and create a truly idyllic picture. At the height of the holiday season, in July, the cost of a standard room in this hotel is about 20,000 rubles per day. However, beaches in Mallorca are public and free, so anyone can get there by regular bus. The bus schedule can be checked on a website that also offers a Russian-language interface.

For those who do not dare to drive themselves along winding mountain serpentines, do not like buses, and do not want to stay in a super-expensive hotel, taking a taxi can be recommended. For quite reasonable money (I repeat, the views are worth it), a friendly taxi driver will take you to the right place. And if you speak at least a little English, an interesting conversation is guaranteed.

By the way, have you already decided where you will stay in Mallorca? Let us find you a great hotel!

Alcudia is one of the island's most ancient settlements, mentions of which date back to the 3rd century BC.
Over its long history, the town has witnessed many events and more than once passed from one conqueror to another. This is evidenced, in particular, by the Roman amphitheater and the ancient ruins located at the entrance to the town. In the language of the Arab invaders, the name "Alcudia" meant "on the hill." The town was destined to prosper already under the Spanish: in the first half of the 13th century, the Arabs were defeated by King Jaume I (there is even a church in the town named in his honor). Soon after the Arabs' defeat, the construction of fortress walls began in Alcudia.

Unfortunately, only a small piece of the fortifications has survived to this day. For example, the gate has survived — you can still walk through the arch into medieval Alcudia today. These gates are the symbol of the town; they are depicted on its coat of arms. Part of the wall is open to visitors, and it is a good viewpoint from which you can see practically the entire Old Town and the surviving fortifications.

The Old Town consists of many well-preserved houses dating from the 13th, 14th, and 15th centuries. Its narrow streets are lined with distinctive restaurants, shops, and residential buildings decorated in summer with original flower pots.

And now, perhaps, it is time to lay all the cards on the table. My very favorite beach in Europe is located right here in Mallorca, not far from the town of Alcudia. The coast of the same name stretches for approximately 15 km. The shores of the huge bay are one continuous beach with the finest light sand and the sea surface stretching into the distance. Here there is boundless sea in all its grandeur.

You can choose accommodation on the bay's shoreline for every taste and budget: from luxurious palace-hotels to budget but functional apartments. A holiday in Mallorca in hotels located on the Alcudia coast can be recommended to families with children, couples in love, and in general everyone looking for relaxation. The multi-kilometer coastline has a gentle entry into the sea. Calm and crystal-clear in the morning, lively in the evening with playful whitecaps — the sea of Alcudia will leave no one indifferent!

Many beaches in the north and east of Mallorca are truly heavenly and in no way inferior to the scenery of Cancun, Mauritius, or Miami. The pristine, almost untouched nature of the island, the amazingly colored water, the tart scent of Mediterranean pines — that is the secret of the perfect beach holiday in Mallorca!

Interesting, are you reading this article because you are only planning to go to Mallorca, or have you already definitely decided that you are going? In any case, we advise not to delay your search for plane tickets, because the closer it gets to the travel date, the higher their cost. Do not put it off until later, book your tickets right now!

It is also better to sort out the visa in advance. In confidence, we will recommend a company that handles these matters quickly, conveniently, and extremely professionally. Tried and tested ourselves!

Not far from the southern tip of Alcudia Bay, in the cliffs of Cape Vermell, the famous caves of Arta were found. It is quite difficult to determine the exact date of the discovery of these caves by humans; the first written evidence dates back to the 16th century.

Each chamber of the underground complex has its own name. The visit begins with the "Vestibule," where you can already make out the first stalactites and stalagmites. Next comes the "Hall of a Thousand Columns" with unusual flowstone formations. And many more halls with intriguing names: "Enchanted Slaves," "Purgatory," "Paradise," "Hell," "Aurora"... The visit to Arta ends with the "Theatre" and "Banners" halls.

During the excursion, you will see huge stalactites, stalagmites, and stalagnates of all possible shapes and sizes, enormous halls, passages, and original sculptures created by the most skillful master — nature itself. Here, under a 45-meter vault, is one of the tallest stalagmites in the world. The cave hosts special light-and-music performances that delight both adults and children.