Mallorca, or Majorca, is one of Europe's favourite tourist destinations and somewhat a party island, with endless beaches, cafés, bars and discos in the main resorts. It is the largest of the four Balearic Islands (a Spanish autonomous region) lying off the east coast of the Spanish mainland. The beaches are striking, the climate pleasant, the tourist infrastructure well established and the Spanish culture alive and well.

Mallorca, or Majorca, is one of Europe's favourite tourist destinations and somewhat a party island, with endless beaches, cafés, bars and discos in the main resorts. It is the largest of the four Balearic Islands (a Spanish autonomous region) lying off the east coast of the Spanish mainland. The beaches are striking, the climate pleasant, the tourist infrastructure well established and the Spanish culture alive and well.

The biggest attraction in Mallorca is of course its fine beaches, and there are over 200 of them. The beaches of the southwest are the busiest and it is here that the purpose-built resorts of Magaluf, Palma Nova and El Arenal that throng with tourists in the summer are located.

It’s not all in the south, though, as families and couples head for other, more laid back parts of the island, such as the rocky east coast with its pleasant coves and bays. Top destinations here include Cala Millor, Cala Bona, Sa Coma, and Porto Cristo. Northern Mallorca is best known for the wide sweeping Alcudia Bay and Albufera National Park, while in the west are the hilly bohemian towns and resorts of Sóller, Pollenca, Valldemossa, and Deià.

There is also a fair amount to see and do in the hinterland and the town of Manacor, Mallorca’s second largest, is the main pearl production site on the island. Many people also go walking in the Sierra de Tramuntana Mountains (usually from Sóller or Valldemossa), while the island of Cabrera off the south coast is one for the nature lover.

Hotels come in all shapes and sizes and price ranges. Some of them are golf oriented resorts like the Marriot San Antem Golf Resort & Spa. Although Mallorca has many thousands of beds, finding one during the peak season at short notice is nearly impossible. You need to book way in advance and particularly so for the likes of Magaluf, Palma Nova and Alcudia. The best way to do this nowadays is to book online where discounts are generally available.

You will be forgiven for not realising the historical wealth of Mallorca as most people simply come here to enjoy the beaches and entertainment. The island does boast thousands of years of history for those who are interested, however, with the Carthaginians, Romans and Moors all playing a part in its development. It is today an autonomous region of Spain along with the rest of the Balearics.

After the Romans, the Moors developed much of Mallorca but were ousted by the Christian Crusaders in the early 13^th century. Numerous icons of both the Roman and Moorish rule can be seen around the island in the form of archaeological sites and baths; the Arab bathhouse (Banys Arabs) in central Palma is a fine example.

The island is also dotted with fortifications that were built to protect it from the attacking King Aragón, among other invaders, yet the Balearics eventually fell to the Spanish in the 15^th century.

Mallorca stayed relatively peaceful for a time until the Napoleonic Wars saw Palma defend itself against the oppressive Napoleon in the early 1800s. The 19^th century was also marred by famine and drought until the setting up of an agricultural infrastructure and the building of a railway.

As with much of Spain, the 20^th century was the biggest boom time for Mallorca, particularly after the advent of the Jet Age which brought mass tourism to the island. Mallorca is currently one of Europe’s tourist hotspots with around 10 million tourists per year.

Mallorca enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate with lots of warm, dry days and little rainfall in peak seasons. Anywhere from May to September is a good time to visit, while even in the winter most days are pleasant with highs approaching the 20s.

The best weather in Mallorca can be enjoyed in July and August when the majority of people visit. Temperatures are generally very hot during these months, however, with the mercury usually staying above 30 during the daytime. As it is an island, temperatures never quite reaching the stifling levels that they do on the mainland.

While the springtime is also nice weather-wise in Mallorca, with temperatures staying within the 20s and many sunny days, autumn is the wettest time and the low season here. Many people choose to visit Mallorca in the winter (particularly the older generation) and it is one of Europe’s most popular climes during this time with warm, sunny days.