Palma Holidays

When it comes to stylish city breaks, Majorca’s capital comes out on top. Here, tree-lined avenues and cobbled lanes are full of designer shops, tapas bars and art galleries. And a huge, Gothic cathedral keeps an eye on things. Even the Royals give it the thumbs-up – the King of Spain and his family holiday here in summer.

For a city, Palma really delivers on the sandy stuff. Handily, there’s a beach close to the cathedral. It’s dinky in size – 750 metres to be precise – but it’s perfectly placed for a post-sightseeing dip. If you fancy a bit more elbow room, C’an Pastilla is just up the coast. It’s the kick-off point for Playa de Palma, which unrolls for a whopping two-and-a-half miles.

When it comes to sights, Palma is brimming with them. You name it, it’s got it – history fans have fancy churches and palaces, while culture vultures get a decent supply of museums. And that’s the beauty of the place. You can track down the age-old Arab baths one day, and inspect Picasso’s masterpieces the next. Shoppers, meanwhile, can’t miss Passeig des Born, where designer shops mingle with high-street names.