Balearic Islands Tourism
Getting There
Most people arriving in the Balearics do so by way of the three main airports
at Palma De Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza, which offer excellent links with Spain
and the rest of Europe, as well as attracting cheap flight operators and charter
airline companies. For those who would prefer to reach the islands by sea, there
are numerous excellent regular ferry links between the major islands and
Barcelona., Valencia and Dénia.
On the islands themselves, the road systems have developed considerably
during the last twenty years and, although there are still some narrow byways,
the majority of the roads are in excellently maintained condition. Regular
public transport buses, of a good standard, offer visitors a cheap way of
getting around but, as might be expected, services are curtailed on Sundays and
most public holidays. One of the great treats for many people – and not simply
train buffs – is the opportunity of going from Palma De Mallorca to Sóller by
rail. The carriages are delightful and the views simply outstanding. Even if you
hire a car in Mallorca, this is something you won’t want to miss.
Major Destinations of the Balearics
Palma De Mallorca, undoubtedly, is one of
Spain’s most attractive cities, even allowing for the tourist development that
has swallowed up parts of it. The old quarter of town is full of atmosphere and
interest – both by day and night – and the enormous cathedral, with its own
Gaudí designed section – is a spectacular building. Bellver Castle, built on the
remains of a former Muslim site, affords great views of the bay as well as
housing many sculptures and antiquities of great interest.
The island itself has some wonderful beaches and attractive seaside towns, as
well as the popular package resorts such as Magaluf
and Palma Nova. Smaller places such as
Port d’Andratx,
Sant Elm and Cala Mondragó offer a much
more relaxed experience.
Mallorca has also become a popular destination for bird watchers, hikers and
cyclists during recent years. Mallorca’s advantage over other Mediterranean
islands is the fact that it alone has the significant marshland known as
Albufera, which means that waders and other water preferring birds call in on
their migration routes.
What might surprise many visitors is the sheer beauty of much of the Mallorcan
island – both coastal and in the interior. Inland towns such as Artá, Fornalutx
and Pollença and some breathtaking coastal scenery can prove to be completely
beguiling and offer very different perspectives of the island.
Menorca has three towns in particular that offer
totally different experiences. Mahón, or Maó,
is spread around its enormous natural harbour and has some stunning Georgian
architecture, fantastic views and is home to the captivating and aromatic
Menorcan Gin – there is a variety that is made with lemon, which is absolutely
unforgettable and will tempt you into thinking about breaking duty free
allowances!
At the opposite end of the island is the contrasting city of Ciutadella; an
attractive, rambling port of simple whitewashed houses, stunningly elegant
palaces and a typically Spanish, palm-tree lined main square.
For a taste of Menorca’s high society, the former fishing village of
Fornells is the place to go; a favourite
holiday destination for, amongst others, the Spanish royal family. Although a
little more expensive, the lobster here is justifiably famous. This is the
centre for windsurfing and yachting.
Visitors to Menorca, though, cannot help but see the numerous reminders of
the island’s prehistoric heritage – most of which are open to the public,
although not always with easily accessible footpaths.
Ibiza has long been synonymous with fun-packed
clubbing holidays and they are certainly still well catered for, although
thankfully the amount of associated mayhem has seemed to decrease in recent
years. Some of the very best clubs in Europe can be found in
Ibiza Town and
San Antonio and regular visits by leading
artists and deejays make sure that Ibiza retains its ‘cool vibe’.
Aside from that, however, Ibiza is a delight for those looking for a diving or a
sailing holiday and, like the other Balearic Islands, it has some spectacular
coastal scenery – indeed, large parts of the island are registered as UN World
Heritage Sites. There is always something to see and do in Ibiza.
And that’s not something you can readily say about Formentera. If you want night
life then it would be best to go somewhere else. If you want an almost deserted
beach, bumpy roads and small, sleepy fishing settlements, then Formentera is
worth a ferry ride from Ibiza. This island is the exact antithesis of Ibiza Town
and, for many, that is its biggest attraction. There are ‘resorts’ here – but
places like Es Pujols and Es Ca Marí have retained their age old character.
Walking out to the lighthouse or the dilapidated watchtower is more common than
raving until breakfast time.
Tourist Activities
The islands have become very popular with hikers and cyclists as well as
those looking for water sports activities. The Balearics have developed quite a
reputation for the quality of their cycling routes – for this reason they are
often used by professional cyclists for winter training. Whether your interest
is road cycling or mountain biking, you will find many opportunities here.
Similarly, all of the island have well-developed hiking routes and well-produced
maps for visitors, with routes suitable to all ages and experiences.
The warm, clean waters of the Balearic Islands provide ideal conditions for
people interested in water sports activities such as sailing, diving and
swimming.
As mentioned earlier, Mallorca attracts many bird watching enthusiasts – Black
Vultures, Eleonora’s Falcons, Audouin’s Gulls and some very rare warblers can
all be seen here and there is plentiful information available about the best
times to come to catch migratory species.
Balearic Festivals
Festivals in the Balearics are similar to everywhere else in Spain –
plentiful, vibrant and full of local significance. The Three Kings and Semana
Santa processions in the major towns offer unforgettable experiences when seen
for the first time and all have their own unique local flavours. But, there will
seldom be a time of the year when there isn’t a festival of some sort going on
somewhere.
For example, on the first Sunday in May in the festival of Santa Eulalia in
Ibiza, there are dazzling displays of coaches and horses. On the second Sunday
of the same month, you can go over to Mallorca, to Soller, to see a
reconstruction of the fight between the islanders and the Saracens – similar to
the battle with the pirates in Pollença in August in the festival of Nuestra
Señora de los Angeles.
A little more sedate, usually, is the annual jazz festival in Palma De Mallorca
each July.
The most important annual festival in Menorca is arguably San Juan on June 23rd
and 24th. The locals claim that the Mahón festival has been more or less
unchanged for 600 years and climaxes with lavish horse parades and mediaeval
events.
Food and Drink in the Balearic Islands
Internationally, the Balearics’ greatest contribution to gastronomy is
probably mayonnaise, which was first produced in Mahón. Other local dishes
include Sobrasada Mallorquina, a very spicy sausage; cordero asado al estilo de
Mahón, a slow-roasted lamb dish; tumbet, a delicious mixture of potatoes and
aubergine covered with tomato and pepper sauce; rostit, roast pork with liver,
eggs and apples; and, of course, especially in Menorca, Caldereta de Langosta,
lobster and other seafood with peppers, onions, garlic, tomatoes and herbs. On
all of the islands, you will encounter coques, small tartlets of meat, fish or
vegetables.
Wine production has enjoyed something of a revival in the Balearics, especially
in Mallorca, where there are now two quite widely recognised D.O.s - Pla i
Llevant and Binissalem. Neither of these can usually be found on mainland Spain
because production is quite limited but both offer quite tasty reds, in
particular.
Mallorca produces some quite tasty liquors, Ibiza a distinctive herb-flavoured
variety, and, of course, there is the unforgettable gin of Mahón.
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