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My guest post today takes you behind the package holiday image of the beautiful island of Majorca and the northern coastal town of Puerto Pollensa. Ross Fraser has visited the holiday town of Puerto Pollensa many times over the last 15 years and runs the popular holiday website  puertopollensa.org.uk.

Hostal Bahia in Puerto Pollensa, Majorca

Majorca (or Mallorca in Spanish) can often be dismissed as a serious holiday destination due to the number of very commercial resorts on the island. But the truth is that Majorca is a wonderful place, bursting with history and interesting things to see and do. This article goes into some detail about what I like to do when I’m in Puerto Pollensa as well as some interesting things to see outside of the town.

Things to do in Puerto Pollensa

1. Walk along the Pine Walk at sunset
The pine walk is a pedestrian area that runs along the beach to the left of the town for about 2 miles. It gets its name from all the pine trees that run along the whole length the beach.The best time to visit is in the early evening when the sun is setting on the bay and you can hear the sea slowly lapping against the sand on the beach. The pine walk is a really magical and relaxing place and there are some wonderful hotels along the way that you can stop off and have a drink - my all time favourite is the Hostal bahia where I love sitting out on the veranda in the evening.

The Pinewalk in Puerto Pollensa, Majorca

2. Take the bus to Formentor
There are some fantastic things to do on the island if you have a car but one place you can reach by bus and boat is Formentor. Formentor is a secluded cove to the left of Puerto Pollensa. See it on Google Maps here. My tip is to take the public bus from Puerto Pollensa - there are some outstanding photo opportunities to be had, so make sure you take a camera. The bus journey can be quite scary the first time you do it as the bends in the road are so tight and hills so steep, but it is worth the experience. Formentor has an exclusive hotel that has welcomed many famous guests including Agatha Christie who wrote the novel Problem at Pollensa bay after her time spent here. Formentor is a quiet place that doesn’t attract too many tourists so if you have some spare time take a beach towel with you and some food and spend the afternoon swimming in the crystal blue water. When it’s time to go back I would recommend sailing back on the boat which takes around an hour to get back to Puerto Pollensa.

Formentor near Puerto Pollensa, Majorca

3. Soak up the atmosphere at the Pollensa market
There are many markets across Majorca a number of which I would avoid as they are aimed at tourists. However the market in the old town of Pollensa is one worth visiting. It is on every Sunday and is only a 20 minute public bus ride from Puerto Pollensa. The market sells virtually every type of produce the island has to offer – from fresh fruit and vegetables to flowers and clothes. There are some lovely cafés in the main square where you can sit and absorb the atmosphere as locals buy their weekly groceries. This is a great place to come and chill out. Try the local olives the cafés serve which are flavoured with pickles and taste delicious.

4. Visit the Roman ruins in Alcudia
The new part of Alcudia is not worth visiting in my opinion, but the old town is. This town is rich in history and if you have any interest in the Romans it is a real gem. Outside the main wall of the old town there are a number of ruins including an old Roman amphitheatre which is within walking distance of the main public bus stop.

Alcudia in Puerto Pollensa, Majorca

5. Walk across the Tramuntana mountain range to Cala San Vicente
This walk should be completed in the morning otherwise it is too hot after lunch and will be too tiring. The views from the top are fantastic as you can see Pollensa bay, and Cala San Vicente bay in one viewing. The reward at the end of the walk can either be a drink in one of the beach side bars or a swim in the sea. If you don’t wish to walk back there is a local bus if you time it right or you can hire a taxi.

6. Have a drink in the square at night
The main square in Puerto Pollensa is one place that residents of the town come to relax. This is a great place for people watching, I love having a drink there in the evening and watching the old men and women chatting about the day’s events.

Things to do out of town

The Edwardian steam train to Sóller
You can catch this train from Palma city, as it leaves frequently throughout the summer months. The train takes you to Sóller which is less than an hour away. It’s a real fun journey and certainly worth doing. If you don’t have a car you can take the public bus to Palma which takes about an hour from Puerto Pollensa and catch the train from there.

Valldemosa was where Chopin spent a summer before he died, you can visit the place he stayed at and listen to a piano recital if you catch the right time. It is one one place that is easier to get to by car.

Hopefully this article will have given you a flavour of what to expect when you visit the north of the island. Majorca really is a great place to visit and if you have the time there are great places to explore all over the island. The north of the island and especially Puerto Pollensa is a really special place that will always give me happy memories from the many summer months I have spent relaxing there.

 See more of Ross Fraser’s photos of Puerto Pollensa on Flickr

Ross Fraser is a keen traveller who has spent the last 15 years visting Puerto Pollensa in Majorca. He writes travel articles and runs the popular Puerto Pollensa resort website puertopollensa.org.uk.

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