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| Mallorca |
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REGIONAL INFORMATION
For more information on a region within Mallorca please
select the area: |
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The largest of the Balearic Islands,
220km off the eastern coast of Spain, has seen a spectacular transformation
in the past decade, from being an island largely associated with
bucket-and-spade holiday resorts such as Magaluf to now being
an upmarket destination much favoured among Hollywood stars and
one of the most exclusive places in Spain to own property.
About 600,000 people live in Mallorca – 300,000 of those
in its capital, Palma – and about 12% of the population
is estimated to be foreign, including 6,000 Britons. Those numbers,
of course, swell in summer as nearly three million holidaymakers,
mostly British and German, flock to Mallorca’s beautiful
beaches in July and August.
A newly extended network of dual-carriageway style roads has reduced
journey times across the island and makes every corner of Mallorca
practical as a holiday home location.
PROPERTY PRICES
Being an island, land is limited, and demand exceeds supply.
Also, new building is heavily restricted (new resorts are banned
altogether, sea views are protected and individual homes can only
be built if surrounded by large chunks of land to prevent over-development).
Given all that, property prices are relatively high – even
compared with those in Spain’s most sought-after areas such
as Barcelona, where the starting price for a reasonable apartment
is 300,000 euros, and the Costa del Sol, where the average property
price is 350,000 euros.
In Mallorca the average property price is 750,000 euros. This can,
however be very misleading since the very highly priced luxury villas
tend to distort the average. Depending on the area, you can buy
an apartment for 150,000 euros or go as far as several millions
in the most sought after districts for a grand home. Though it should
be remembered that, unlike in Barcelona or the Costa del Sol where
most people live in apartments, most house-hunters in Mallorca want
larger, often detached and rural properties.
Resale prices in Mallorca rose by 18% in 2004. Prices inland are
significantly lower than around the coast and more people are heading
to towns such as Santa Maria on affordability grounds.
CLIMATE
The Balearics have a temporate Mediterranean climate with
mild, occasionally rainy but frost-free winters and dry, relatively
hot summers - though not as excessively hot as southern Spain.
Summer temperatures hover around 35 degrees, though are often tamed
by the ‘mestral’ winds which blow down from the mountains
onto the central plain and humidity levels are never too high. Temperatures
in February and March can dip just below zero.
Palma de Mallorca sees on average 480mm of rain a year while the
north of the island sees around 1460mm and the inland plains only
400mm.
GEOGRAPHY
Just 10 minutes by road from the airport, Mallorca’s
capital city Palma de Mallorca in the south of the island is like
a mini Barcelona and is becoming a chic and upmarket destination
for holidaymakers and second home owners.
Distances on the island are usually referred to in terms of driving
time from Palma – and little is more than an hour’s
drive away, given the furthest distance between any two points on
Mallorca is 120km.
Just west of Palma is Portals Nous, with an exclusive marina crammed
with yachts, and a little further on Magaluf/Palmanova – once
the epitome of package holiday excess but now much improved resorts
with fantastic beaches and transparent, warm sea. The South West
continues through Santa Ponsa and on to Andratx where many holiday
home buyers have settled over the years.
Mallorca’s north western region, dominated by the Sierra Tramontana
mountain range, is possibly the most beautiful area of the island
with small towns such as Deia, Soller and Valldemossa.
In the north of the island is Port de Pollenca, a small town with
a stunning bay. Nearby Alcudia is a popular resort with a long beach
and lots of activity.
Eastern Mallorca tends to be less of a focus for British holidaymakers
and property buyers, although the quiet, rural area around Arta
– where Boris Becker has a house – has pretty coves
nearby.
The inland plain is far less discovered still, though there are
some lovely small towns such as Santa Maria and the wine-growing
area of Binissalem. Property value is greatest in the interior and
many people are surprised that they can afford Mallorca in this
area.
GETTING THERE
Easyjet, Jet2, bmibaby, BA, Monarch, Flybe, MyTravelLite,
Thomson and First Choice have regular flights to Palma de Mallorca.
Flight time is under 2.5 hours from the UK. |
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Key Facts
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AIRPORT
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Palma de Mallorca
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RAINFALL
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From 400mm on the plain to 1400mm
in the north, mainly in winter.
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SUMMER RAINFALL
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Rare
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FIRST RAINFALL
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October (average 9 rainy days).
December is the rainiest month with 10 days rain on average.
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SUMMER TEMPERATURES
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Daily Highs: 35 C
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Nightly Lows: 14 C
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WINTER TEMPERATURES
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Daily Highs: 20 C
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Nightly Lows: -2 C
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POPULATION
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Whole island: 600,000
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Palma de Mallorca: 300,000
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DRIVING TIMES FROM PALMA AIRPORT
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Palma de Mallorca – 10 minutes
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Andratx 30 minutes
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Alcudia 50 minutes
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Deia 45 minutes
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BEACHES
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25 approx. The best are said to
be in the south around Ses Covetes – Es Trenc beach is kilometres
long, with beautiful white sand.
Among the most popular are Magaluf and Alcudia. There are many small
beaches and calas where you can still find few people and relative
tranquillity. Virtually all the beaches have a blue flag status
and therefore are clean and will maintained.
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GOLF COURSES
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| 20 courses at last count. The South West has
the most exclusive golf courses such as Royal Bendinat and Son Vida,
however inland new courses have been created in spectacular settings. |
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