Mallorca's Top 10 West Coast Holiday Resorts

Compare Mallorca's Top 10 west coast resorts

Known for its picturesque scenery, western Mallorca is 'quite different' from the rest of the island, especially compared to the less developed East Coast and warmer Northern region.

The West has a unique charm, evident when exploring the region's hidden beaches, stylish resorts and luxury marinas. The West's ancient towns and villages are a delight to discover, with the most interesting being nestled high up in the mountains or perched on hilltops (that once provided excellent lookout posts and protection from invaders). Nowadays, they offer a fascinating history, a warm welcome and spectacular coastal views.

The Serra de Tramuntana mountain range ripples along the west coast for 90km, starting in the south near the town of Andratx (west of Palma) - it then runs north to the tip of Mallorca at Cap de Formentor. The mountain range falls away into the sea on the west side and flattens out onto the island's central plain on the other.

Some of Mallorca's most popular and stylish resorts can be found on the west coast along with a stunning coastline, spectacular beaches and beautiful sunsets.

Top Tips:
(1) There's a huge variety of resorts on Majorca's beautiful west coast - so split your stay between two resorts and experience more.
(2) One of the best ways to discover Western Mallorca is to hire a car and visit the historic villages, towns, beaches and places of interest listed below.

1. Portals Nous (best for couples)

Portals Nous is a small, remote resort in the district of Calvia, located just to the west of Palma and Cala Major. A beautiful part of Portals Nous is the exclusive coastal community of Bendinat, an upmarket area with a good selection of luxury villas and apartments. The upmarket area of Bendinat is home to The Royal Bendinat Golf Course (one of Spain's finest) - and is a district mixed of mainly residential and holiday accommodation.

Bendinat merges into the very smart and exclusive marina at Puerto Portals (regarded as the best marina area in Mallorca). The marina at Puerto Portals is great for people-watching, especially during a long lazy lunch at one of the nearby restaurants or cocktail hangouts, after which you can window shop at the resorts fashion boutiques or relax on one of several pretty beaches such as Playa d'Oratori or La Calita. Portals Nousv has a relaxed vibe, a world away from nearby resorts such as Cala Major and Palma Nova, which like the island's capital Palma are all easily accessible.

Top Tips: (1) Portals Nous has a slightly heavier price tag than most resorts, but its laidback vibe and relatively peaceful beaches make it ideal as a couples retreat. If you like exploring local regions and towns, Portals Nous is just a 12-minute taxi ride from the island's capital city Palma. (2) Visit the Marineland Dolphinarium - a great family show (with an important conservation project attached) located just 2 miles away. (3) Western Waterpark is just 10 minutes away and has the usual mega water slides and wave pools etc. (4) Portals Nous is known as a upmarket town and (as mentioned above) is favoured by couples; however, families are wecome, with family-friendly beaches and hotels.

2. Palma Nova (young & lively resort)

Known for its action-packed fun, Palma Nova is full of young holidaymakers', wall-to-wall bars and plenty of souvenir shops. Palma Nova was one of the first tourist resorts on the island and caters well for all tastes. One of the resort's main attractions is its wide horseshoe-shaped pedestrian promenade, which connects three well-maintained beaches at Playa de Palmanova and Es Carragador, plus the long stretching fine sands of Son Matias, with its excellent range of services, including (sunbeds, lifeguards, showers and parasols).

Palma Nova is geared toward laid-back holidays for the 'young and lively set'. However, Palma Nova also caters well for families, with the resort's pace being a 'little gentler' than neighbouring fast-paced Magaluf. Palma Nova has plenty of family-friendly accommodations and offers all you'd expect for a perfect all-round family holiday - along with bucket loads of entertainment options.

3. Magaluf (young & lively resort)

Magaluf is probably one of the most famous beach resorts in Europe and is considered the 'party capital' of Majorca.

Magaluf is an action-packed, non-stop party resort known for its cutting-edge nightlife and long sandy beach with sheltered, warm, crystal-clear waters. Entertainment includes some of the largest beach clubs on the Island, with lively entertainment, restaurants, themed bars and an international club scene.

The resort has a large tourist infrastructure with numerous modern beachfront hotels catering for all holiday types, from budget self-catering to 4-star all-inclusive's and adult-only hotels.

The resort has excellent beach and watersport facilities, nearby adventures include Aqualand and the Western Water Park, and for families, you have the ever-popular Pirates show and go-karting. For shopping, you have the new Momentum Plaza located right in the centre of Magaluf, the Momentum Plaza features numerous fashion retailers, restaurants, bars and the usual nearby eateries, McDonald's, KFC, fish and chips and Pizza parlours.

• West Mallorca may be known for its fine-sandy beaches, welcoming hotels and vibrant nightlife; however, Culture Lovers will feel right at home with an array of museums, art galleries and a well-preserved (sophisticated & cosmopolitan) capital city to explore.
• West Mallorca's coastline and secluded villages are loved by walkers seeking solitude and spectacular scenery.
• Take the 20-minute historic tram ride from Port de Soller to Soller then walk back down to the harbour. The 1-hour walking route takes you through wooded paths, plus orange and lemon orchards with spectacular views along the way.
• Visit the Monasteri de Lluc, Mallorca's main pilgrimage site and location of the 13th-century statue of the Virgin, known as La Morenta. More than 50,000 pilgrims a year visit the ancient Augustinian monastery, and look out for the impressive sculptures by Gaudi and Rubio that line the route.

4. Santa Ponsa (best for couples & family)

Set 12 miles south of Palma on the western side of the Cala Figuera peninsula lies the family favourite resort Santa Ponsa. Santa Ponsa is a large coastal town with a mix of residential buildings, hotels and apartments geared mainly towards family holidays. The resort's main attraction is its fine sandy beaches with shallow and safe waters (that are ideal for families). The main beach, the 550-metre-long Platja de Santa Ponça, is backed by a pretty tree-lined promenade with a wide range of shops, bars and restaurants. Top Tip: There's a smaller beach cove at Caló d'en Pellicer which is a quieter spot to relax and swim, especially in high season.

The resort's coastline is popular for watersport activities (including scuba diving) with plenty of outlets offering watersport services. The resort's picturesque harbour and marina is called Club Naútico Santa Ponsa, which is particularly attractive and is home to the superb and relaxing Ristorante Classico Club Nautico. There's plenty to do after dark with a good mix of restaurants, bars and nightlife, a big plus is Palma Nova and Magaluf are just 10 minutes down the road, while the capital Palma is only a 30min drive away.

5. Peguera (couples & family)

Peguera lies 6km north of Santa Ponsa and has a 'relaxed' laid-back feel; the resort is known to be one of the island's most popular package holiday destinations and experiences many repeat visits. The resort has an extensive promenade connecting its two (largeish) white sandy beaches - Playa Palmira and Playa Torà - which are backed by hotels and apartments. Waters are shallow and clear (so ideal for families), and there are numerous watersports available.

Nightlife in Peguera is relaxed, with cocktail bars overlooking the beach getting busy from sunset onwards. More bars and pubs can be found towards the town centre, which is usually traffic free during the high season. Shopping is concentrated along Bulevar de Peguera, a street lined with fashion boutiques, jewellery shops, plus bars and restaurants - the Bulevar de Peguera runs more or less parallel to the beach.

Top Tips: (1) The resort is popular with walkers and has several well-regarded walking routes, so don't forget your walking shoes! (2) Part of Peguera is built on a hillside and is not easily accessible in places, so it may not be suitable for some. (3) The resort has good motorway access and is just a 30-minute drive to the Capital, Palma. (4) The town is known for its cleanliness and is a favourite with German visitors.

6. Andratx

The upmarket town of Andratx can be found 5km (3 miles) inland from the coast at the foot of the Sierra de Tramuntana mountain range. Andratx is typical of many Mallorcan villages, built back from the sea to avoid pirate attacks. The town of Andratx has a look of importance with impressive tall buildings and an imposing 13th-century church called Església de Santa Maria. The centre has several pleasant plazas, pedestrian streets, cafes and restaurants. Try to visit on a market day (Wednesday) - you'll find the streets full of stalls selling local and fresh produce, including cheeses, fish, fruits and locally made wares.

Top Tips: Check out the nearby Mallorcan mansion known as 'Son Mas' - it has impressive gardens and stunning views over surrounding orange and olive groves that lead down to the beautiful Port d'Andratx below. The area is well-known for its spectacular mountain landscapes and hiking trails; however, the main attractions can be found in the classy beach resorts located nearby.

7. Port d'Andratx (couples)

Stylish Port d'Andratx is a long-time favourite of the rich and famous and of the yachting fraternity, with its lovely natural harbour, turquoise waters and an exclusive 450-berth yacht club housing expensive sailing and motor yachts. The harbour is surrounded by elegant buildings, boutique-style shops and a promenade dotted with numerous but expensive restaurants with large open terraces.

Port d'Andratx retains a 'traditional charm' with its fishing village heritage still very much intact, which helps give the port that picture-perfect postcard appeal. It's not uncommon to spot well-known celebrities from the world of film and sport frequenting the resort's cafes, tapas bars and restaurants.

As you travel through Majorca's scenic west coast, check out some of our top attractions and "must-visit" locations listed below:

• Visit La Reserva Puig de Galatzó. An outdoor adventure for all the family, a privately owned nature reserve with well-marked trails takes you through woods with waterfalls and caves to discover. The walk takes around 90 mins.
• Visit Sa Granja. Once a Moorish palace, then a Cistercian monastery until the mid-15th century when it became a private residence, now it's a living museum dedicated to preserving Mallorcan Arts and Crafts where you can witness traditional rural crafts in action.
• Visit Son Marroig. This former mansion and grounds of Archduke Luis Salvado (a philanthropist) who gave generously to support projects that preserved Mallorca's heritage. The impressive building is now a museum which pays tribute to Ludwig's memorabilia, including Mallorcan furniture, ceramics and fine art. The country estate is open to the public, providing a relaxing insight into a fabulous collection and has sensational panoramic views from the veranda windows and gardens.
• Top Tip: Don't miss the stunning sunsets from Port de Sóller, especially in mid-summer. Also, 'keep an eye on' the mountains - sometimes they turn a lovely pink as the sun goes down.

8. Camp de Mar (best for couples)

A short drive or pleasant walk (4.2km 54 mins walk) from Port d'Andratx lies the classy resort of Camp de Mar located within the municipal district of Andratx, in the southwest of the island.

Camp de Mar is a small resort and village with a laid-back feel - surrounded by small, exclusive hotels that attract independent travellers rather than package holiday tours. Camp de Mar is a far less developed resort when compared to other coastal resorts - and is mainly favoured by holiday-makers looking for peace.

Two of the resort's main attractions are its fine white sandy beach, that's known to be one of the best on the island, plus the lovely floating beach bar and restaurant called "Illeta" - located on rocks just off the coast and accessed via a jetty.

The area around Camp de Mar is very scenic; you'll find enjoyable coastal walks to nearby Cap Andratx and Cap des Llamp, with excellent viewing points and photo opportunities en route.

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9. Deia (exclusive)

Deia is a small and pretty coastal village in the Serra de Tramuntana that's become a popular haunt for the rich and famous. The village is best known for its literary and musical residents, both past and present, who were drawn to the area by its beauty, charm and some of the finest landscapes in Mallorca. The village carries a relaxed vibe with its luxury honey-coloured traditional houses, quaint steep cobbled streets, and converted buildings containing numerous art galleries and unique gift shops.

The village is home to the acclaimed hotel "La Residencia", as well as plenty of traditional and stylish bars and restaurants, serving food from authentic tapas to Michelin-starred cuisine. Deia is known for its international Music Festival, which happens every summer between May and September. The area is very popular with cycling and hiking enthusiasts, with marked paths/routes between mountain villages being particularly popular. If you fancy a quick dip, head down to the pretty Cala Deia beach, with crystal clear waters and chic lively restaurants. Top Tip: Deia is a definite must-visit on your west coast adventure.

10. Port de Soller (best for family & Couples)

Port de Sóller is a typical Mallorcan village and charming beach resort mixed into one and oozes a classic look with a laid-back feel. The resort's peaceful and slow pace helps you to unwind while providing an ideal base to discover the surrounding Tramuntana mountain range. The port belongs to the town of "Sóller", located just 3km inland (the name Soller comes from the Arabic word for Sulltar, meaning 'golden shell' - such is the area's natural beauty and breathtaking sea views).

Port de Sóller has a beautiful sweeping bay that crowns calm and 'family-friendly' clear waters. There are two fine white sandy beaches at each end of the bay, both of which offer the usual sun lounges, shades and showers. The beaches are family-friendly and connected by a pedestrian promenade with several restaurants, bars, cafes and seaside shops. Higher up into the resort, you'll find a combination of well-established and newly renovated boutique hotels.

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