Choose the best hotels for your Balearic holidays – stay with Iberostar

Majorca, the most visited island in the Balearic Archipelago, is one of those destinations that should be leisurely explored. That’s why Iberostar is there at your service offering the best Majorca resorts.

Visiting the island, you can’t miss its capital, Palma de Majorca, and everything it has to offer. Astonishing places of interest, such as the Royal Palace of La Almudaina, the Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma (more commonly referred to as La Seu), the S'hort Del Rei Gardens, located in front of the Almudaina where you can see numerous reminiscences of the Arab age. Next to La Seu there is Museum of Majorca exhibiting interesting archaeological remains, and the Episcopal Palace (1616). Constructed in an Herrerian style it is a home to Diocesan Museum now. Finally, pay a visit to the iconic Bellver castle.

While in Palma, you can drive out to picturesque Andratx, a town located 30 km west of the capital. It sits at the foot of the Sierra de Tramuntana hills and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2011. Nearby you can find the town of Sant Elm, from where you can see the beautiful Sa Dragonera Natural Park.

However, Palma and its surroundings are just a start. There are more places to discover during your Majorca holidays. Further north, there is Valldemossa and its famous monastery, Pollença with its Roman Bridge, numerous religious buildings and the Pollença Museum exhibiting archaeological remains and paintings. In the same area is the town of Alcudia which is famous for its fortress. Traveling to the east of Majorca, you can visit the Castle of Capdepera and two breath-taking geological wonders: the town of Artà and the Caves of Drach.

From the agricultural town Felanitx, you can reach Santanyí or Cala Mondragó where there is a Nature Reserve of the same name. Further west you will find the beach Es Trenc, through which one can access the Cabrera Archipelago Maritime-Terrestrial National Park.

Finally, whilst in the southwest, you will the chance to relax on the best Majorca beaches, such as Can Pastilla, located to the east of the bay of Palma, along with S'Arenal, Cala Estància and Magaluf beaches, near Palmanova.

To have all these attractions nearby and at the same time enjoy great accommodation choose any of our Iberostar hotels. Choose one of our Majorca resorts and make your Balearic holidays unforgettable.

Why visit Ibiza? Because it is Ibiza! However, the island is more than just an amazing place to party. In fact, among the many attractions offered by the capital Eivissa (Ibiza Town) there are gorgeous places such as La Marina and Sa Penya fishing districts and the spectacular Dalt Vila neighbourhood, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999. Within the fortified part of the city, you can enjoy the Episcopal Palace, Almudaina Castle and the Archaeological Museum of Ibiza and Formentera. In addition, not far from there, is the Punic necropolis of Puig des Molins, which is also a World Heritage site.

As for the beaches in Eivissa, Ses Figueretes and En Bossa are considered the best. But they are all well known for a great variety of restaurants, offering delicious local dishes and amazing views.

Another side of the island of Ibiza is the nature to be seen on the island, and if this is your thing, the Ses Salines Natural Park is a must-visit place. On the same note, the beaches at Cavallet, Es Codolar and Cala des Cubells offer you both breath-taking nature and high-level services and infrastructure. Visiting Sa Caleta - an extraordinary Phoenician town declared a World Heritage Site, take the road PM803 westwards from there and you will reach a small town called Cala d'Hort located very close to Nature Reserve of the same name, and the towns of Cap Llentrisca and Sa Talaia. In addition, the Ses Paisses archaeological site offers you magnificent Punic and Roman ruins from the 5th century BC.

Finally, talking about holidays in Ibiza, we must mention the town where our adults-only hotel, Iberostar Selection Santa Eulalia Ibiza is found. The town is called Santa Eulària des Riu (or Santa Eulalia del Río), and is just 15 km northeast from Ibiza town. Sitting in one of the most beautiful areas of the island, Santa Eulària des Riu can boast of a host of attractions. For example, the Puig de Missa Church-fortress perched on a top of a hill dating back to the 15th century, the Church of Our Lady of Jesus, the Barrau Museum and the Ethnological Museum of Ibiza and Formentera are all certainly worth visiting.

In the surroundings, there are the fascinating towns of Sant Miquel de Balansat and Sant Joan de Labritja. The latter is one of the most traditional towns in Ibiza and the popular Es Canar hippy market is located just 5 km north of Santa Eulària des Riu.

When it comes to beaches in the area, Cala Bassa located south of Sant Antoni Bay and Cala Salada next to the town of Can Germà top the list.

As you see, the location of this Iberostar Ibiza hotel is fantastic, providing a great opportunity to experience the island from the best angle during your Balearic Island holidays.

The Balearic Islands have a lot to offer visitors and to have all the best landmarks nearby and enjoy them stress-free, we encourage you to spend your Balearic holidays with Iberostar

Are you looking for Majorca family holidays or do you want to spend a romantic weekend at one of the best Ibiza resorts? Choose among our Iberostar hotels depending on your preferences.

Do you fancy a spa hotel or all-inclusive accommodation with live shows and a kids’ playground? Or are you looking for the luxury hotels Majorca is famous for? Whatever you are looking for Iberostar can satisfy all your needs. Don’t waste your time! Book one of our rooms or suites, pack a suitcase, and we will take care of the rest. Iberostar hotels have everything to make sure your Balearic holidays are perfect.

Culinary specialities of the Balearic Islands

• The base of the Balearic cuisine is the exceptional wealth of its Mediterranean gardens, full of colour, aromas and taste, accompanied   by a historic farming tradition and touches of the sea in the main coastal villages. All in all, it offers healthy, light and fresh cuisine that is closely linked to the time of the year.
• At the traditional cuisine restaurants, there is no lack of sucking pig, Majorcan fried fish, a fine bullit de peix (Ibiza), lobster soup (Menorca), snails or ali-oli. Rice, stews and fish dishes make for exceptional menus, ideal to give yourself a treat after a relaxing siesta. 
• However, the typical dish that always accompanies the visitor from island to island is pa amb oli (bread with oil). Its simplicity is achieved by combining the traditional brown bread in llesques (slices) with extra virgin olive oil from the islands. Ramallet tomato is spread over the bread and you can add whatever you like, from Mahón cheese to sobrasada (spicy pork sausage), as well as tuna or camaiot.
• Typical desserts: gató de almendra (almond sponge), robiols or Cardenal de Lloseta from Majorca; the bitter desserts, flan, fritters for All Saints’ Day or coca for San Juan in Menorca; flan and Greixonera in Ibiza and Formentera… Not forgetting the delicious and irresistible ensaimada from Majorca.
• The freshest and most authentic summer salad in the Baleric Islands is trampó. From its simplicity, the result is surprising as it is full of flavours and delicious juice. The magic of this dish lies in using autochthonous products: ramallet tomato, pepper from Majorca and white onion from Majorca, oil and a pinch of salt. And that’s all.
• In spite of the incredible Mediterranean coastline, meat is one of the essential elements on all menus of Balearic cuisine. On all of the islands and particularly in Majorca and Menorca, slaughtering gatherings are held and cold meats are prepared that are full of flavour and character: camaiot, butifarró, the legendary sobrasada...
• Fish and seafood are less common dishes but are absolutely sublime: they are usually prepared in a natural way to conserve all of the flavour of the excellent ingredients. Cap Roig from Ibiza, red prawns from Sóller, Majorca and the lobster from Menorca are a luxury for the palate.
• Wines of Denomination: due to the limited production and the few carefully tended vineyards, the wines of the Balearic Islands are considered to be a collector’s gem. Particularly appreciated and well known are the wines from Majorca, particularly Binissalem and el Pla, where the grape harvesting festival in September is a ritual in itself. 

Sport in the Balearic Islands

• Water Sports. The Balearic Islands are the birthplace of sailing, the best place on the Spanish coast to learn to sail and enjoy a sailing trip along the extraordinary coastline of the 4 islands and their nearby islets. Cabrera, for example, is a paradise for divers, as it is one of the best marine reserves in the Mediterranean.
• Golf. The Balearic Islands boasts an infinite extension of golf courses that enjoy the privilege of overlooking the Mediterranean from unique locations. Majorca is the most representative island as it combines almost all of these scenarios designed for the enjoyment of experts and lovers of this passionate sport of golf.

What to buy in the Balearic Islands and where?

• The Balearic Islands, showing off that they are one of the most exclusive destinations in the Mediterranean, boast some of the world’s most luxurious shops and boutiques. Clothing from the finest labels, handcrafts, decoration, autochthonous products for gourmets… The large capitals, like Mahón, Palma, Ibiza centre and Sant Francesc are where the most comprehensive and varied shopping proposals are concentrated.
• Designers and local handcrafts: from the international Ibiza fashion to the most detailed ceramics of Majorca or Formentera. The production of local handcrafts and small hand-made articles with the most deeply-rooted traditions of the islands is immense and varied. Wicker baskets (the typical beach baskets), pottery and designer crockery, glassware (the best selection of which is at the Glass Museum in Majorca), pearl factories which are famous all over the world, exclusive shoes by Majorcan firms which have known how to make a name for themselves on all of the catwalks all over the planet...

Centres of interest in the Balearic Islands

• Serra de Tramuntana
• Majorca Cathedral
• Dalt Vila in Ibiza
• Hippy markets in Santa Eulària des Riu
• Pilar i Joan Miró Foundation
• Camí de Cavalls in Menorca
• Illetes Beach in Formentera
• Drach Caves in Majorca

Most important festivities in the Balearic Islands

• Sant Antoni. This is one of the biggest festivals in most of the villages that make up the 4 islands. Bonfires, the traditional demons, night-time music and dances and lunches in the shade are the highlights of these festivals which are held in January and immerse you in the most authentic culture of the archipelago.  
• Sant Sebastià. This is the main festival of the Balearic capital. Palma dresses up on 19th January to pay tribute to its patron saint with an evening of concerts and music until the early hours in all of its squares. The following day, traditional dances, exhibitions and markets round off the agenda of this special celebration which extends the hangover from the Christmas season in Majorca.
• San Juan. It is held on all of the islands as it is an essential tradition of the coastal villages throughout Spain. However, in Menorca there is something really special: a show with jockeys and the most powerful horses on the island that has become famous all over the world and draws crowds to the island year after year, opening the summer season.
• Culinary Fairs. They are usually concentrated in the autumn and spring months, when the Mediterranean fields and gardens that mark the physiognomy of the Balearic landscape are in full splendour. Almonds, wild mushrooms, slaughtering, typical sweets… Strolling around the stands is a real delight. One of the largest and most famous fairs is Dijous Bo, in Inca (Majorca).