Country: Spain
Population: 800,000 in Majorca /Mallorca
Language: Castilian - Spanish
Currency: Euro
Time Zone: 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Capital City: Plama
Country dialing code: +34
Electricity: 220 Volts, 50Hz
A Guide to Buying Property in Spain

The largest of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca is a Mediterranean haven of stunning natural beauty and spectacular varied landscape, due to it's geological formation. The striking Tramuntana Mountain range form a line of mountains running parallel to the north west coast, the highest of which is Puig Major. Idyllic sandy beaches and isolated coves adorn Mallorca’s coastline. However, long before its beaches ever became known, visitors were fascinated by Mallorca's enormous number of monuments, outstanding buildings, art galleries and literature, which are still prominent in many of the island’s traditional villages. In more recent times, Mallorca has reinvented itself with an emphasis on more upmarket tourism, and is now becoming a desired destination for people wishing to experience the Mediterranean way of living.

South Southwest North Northwest East Centre

South

Palma is the capital of Majorca and is located in the south coast. It is a vibrant city packed with culture, history, fine restaurants, trendy cafés, a buzzing nightlife and plenty of ambience.

Even though Palma has become a modern city, it has managed to retain its old town feel and offers distraction and diversity all year, making it particularly attractive to its residents. Besides the cultural benefits, there are many factors which contribute to the overall quality of life in Palma.

Nearly all the international schools are located in the suburbs of Palma and the airport is a 10 to 15 minute car journey, which make it an ideal area for people re-locating from overseas.

For property buyers, Palma offers a wide range of town houses and apartments in contrasting areas of the city. The medieval old town has a unique atmosphere with its beautiful squares, cafés and bars.

The old town "Casco Antiguo" starts directly behind the Cathedral. Here, regal town palaces line the narrow streets, of which many have been renovated recently and transformed into luxury 21st century apartments, fitted to the highest spec.

Seafront properties are in high demand as always, but especially the ones with roof terraces are particularly sought after.

La Llonja, on the other side of the Paseo del Borne, is more lively and full of hip bars, shops and chic and the harbour is in walking distance.

The quarter of Santa Catalina, is to the east, and is very “de rigor” at the moment with much investment over the last few years. Nestled among its narrow streets is the wonderful Catalina market surrounded by cafes and restaurants offering a diverse mix of global cuisine.

Other exclusive locations include the Paseo Maritimo, Here you can find some outrageous penthouses with roof terraces and private pools. In recent years Portixol has also seen much investment and is seen as a hot spot, with many luxury flats lining the long promenade that is popular with cyclists and skaters alike.

In close proximity to the north of Palma, set back in the hills and in more peaceful surroundings are Genova and Son Vida. They offer fantastic views and better value for money than the Paseo Maritimo. Genova has a village feel, although only a stone’s throw away from the centre of Palma and particularly popular with families as the International schools are all nearby. Son Vida is a very exclusive suburb of Palma incorporating two golf courses, and most of the villas have views over Palma Bay to die for. There is only one road in and out which has 24hr security guards on duty, and security is a priority.

Southwest

Andratx is one of the more popular destinations in the southwest with spectacular views and exclusive communities surrounded by a picturesque and cosmopolitan harbor. There are a diverse range of properties all at the top end of the market offering stunning views over countryside or the harbor, and there has been a remarkable rise in the number of foreign property owners who now reside here permanantly.

Further south is Paguera, and Santa Ponsa, situated on the coast of Calvià. Paguera is considered to be one of the oldest and most famous tourist destinations on the island, and its popularity has increased with the renovation of the old motorway, as has the popularity of Santa Ponsa, which offers numerous properties directly off excellent golf courses, and has many lively restaurants and bars and a beautiful sandy bay. There is also the exclusive Santa Ponsa Country Club which offers various leisure facilities. Nearby are the villages of El Toro and Sol de Mallorca, quiet communities offering a diverse range of properties, from semi-detached houses to luxury villas.

Travelling round the south coast in the direction of Palma are Magaluf and Palma Nova, primarily frequented by the young who want to party the nights away, with an endless choice of restaurants, bars, clubs and white sandy beaches. Therefore property is largely focused on holiday rentals. Puerto Portals and Bendinat exude a luxurious feel with an exclusive marina, excellent bars, restaurants and shops and is surrounded by high class residential areas, including Costa d’en Blanes. These areas are popular with international residents as most of the international schools are nearby. As a result properties in these areas are at the top end of the market, whether it be a swanky apartment overlooking the very attractive port of Portals or a luxury hillside villa with stunning sea views in Costa d’en Blanes . This area stays lively all year round and its close proximity to Palma and the airport make this a very attractive and popular destination.

Travelling northwards from the coast are the picturesque and ancient villages of Calvia , Puigpunyent and Es Capdella , which offer tranquility and stunning mountain views. These villages are popular with expatriots who are looking to submerse themselves in the traditional Mallorcan way of life but are still close to the coast and the lively city of Palma. Many properties in these areas are typically Mallorcan.

Centre

The centre of Mallorca is the most untouched part of the Island as it still retains its agricultural background, with large open fields, olive and almond groves and sleepy villages such as Montuiri or Algaida. You won’t find many tourists here.

Santa Maria has enchanting villages, some well known for their wine growing, and picturesque scenery with stunning views of the Tramuntana Mountain range and nearby Inca is a large traditional town famous for its leather factories.

The larger fincas and farmhouses continually out-perform year on year as there are restrictions to the size of new builds in the area, therefore are very rare and get snapped up very quickly.

East

Llucmajor to the South East incorporates many residential communities including Cala Pi, S’Arenal and Cala Blava, and is the largest community in the Balearic Islands in terms of its surface area. Travelling round the coast are villages offering properties that have retained their original features and charm, including Santanyi, which has had tremendous growth in recent years, Porto Petro and Porto Colom . Often the properties found in these areas are traditional fincas and farmhouses. Apartments are more likely to be located in the more touristy areas of Cala D’Or and Cala Millor which are very popular with holiday makers. These areas are very lively, have beautiful sandy beaches and are great for families. Properties can still be obtained at reasonable prices making this an affordable area for a second home.

North

Due to the new motorway Pollensa is approximately a 45 minute drive from Palma and the Airport. The city is located in the area enclosed by the Puig de Maria and the Calvari Hill. The old part of the city is made up of small and narrow streets, old stone houses and traditional stone villas. Puerto Pollensa, notably smaller than the town, is the area made popular by tourists, and is a very family orientated with lovely beaches and lots of lively bars and restaurants situated on the beach front, making this area an ideal location for holiday rentals.

Close by is the holiday resort of Puerto Alcudio, a charming yet modern town, with a long seaside promenade and lots of restaurants and shops, and very popular with families. The historic town of Alcudia is just one kilometer away and the perfect place for a leisurely stroll through its pedestrian area and ancient centre, with many restaurants, cafes stylish shops and historic buildings. Alcudia is the only area in Mallorca that has retained an historic town hall and this is often the setting for open air concerts and theatre productions. With a high level of tourism this makes for a good area to invest in a holiday home or rental, with a wide range of apartments.

Northwest

The west of Mallorca is a favourite tourist and residential destination with a typical Spanish style and great contrasting scenery, including regions such as Deià, well known amongst artists, writers and musicians; the charming village of Fornalutx with its narrow cobblestone lanes and views over the valley and towards the mountains; Puerto de Sóller, a natural harbor with villas situated in the mountains with fantastic sea views and Sóller and Valldemossa, in easy reach of Palma, so very popular with commuters, offering unique charm and peaceful surroundings respectively, with diverse properties . These areas are well known for fragrant orange and lemon groves and also the valleys and surrounding Tramuntana mountains have become a favourite destination for those who enjoy the country life. The rugged and steep coastlines have prevented this side of the island from becoming overdeveloped, making the west a sought after area with stunning, yet traditional, properties.

The west has retained its Mallorcan charm and a lot of high quality renovation has already taken place, whether it be a luxury apartment in one of the idyllic towns or a typically Mallorcan villa nestled in the hillside with breathtaking sea views. It is often the case that the demand for properties far exceeds supply, therefore this is not the area to be searching for a bargain.