Without
a shadow of a doubt, Majorca is one of tourism’s miracles. And the miracle
is that despite being one of the world’s most popular destinations, it is
still one of the most beautiful, unspoilt, underrated places you are ever likely
to visit. Once you get away from the Bay of Palma, spectacular in itself but very
busy, you enter another world.
A world of majestic mountains to the north and
west, lovely beaches in the south and east, idyllic country hamlets dotted all
over the island and pretty little fishing villages like Porto Petro, Port d’Andratx
and Port de Soller. And then there’s Palma, with its magnificent cathedral
and Moorish palace, its delightful, pedestrianised shopping quarter, its attractive
yacht marina and harbourfront (the famous "Paseo Maritimo") and, lest
we forget, centuries of fascinating history, culture, art, sophisticated nightlife
and superb cuisine.
It really is a great island to explore as everything is
within easy reach and public transport is excellent (try the train ride from Palma
to Soller – fabulous scenery and a memorable day out). It’s also worth
hiring a car for a day or two – the roads are very good and well signposted
and the whole island can be ‘discovered’ in just a few days. | 
