Why We Keep Coming Back to Puerto Pollensa

Sarah Scott explains the allure of Mallorca for her young family.

Puerto Pollensa beachI don’t know about you, but every year when my husband and I book our summer holiday we need to consider fun for the kids and relaxation, good food and wine for dad and mum. Lucky for us, they are still young enough to be entertained by simple holidays and we are not yet confined to resorts with summer activity camps and water parks.

Introducing Mallorca

Mallorca is filled with wonderful places to visit with the family, and has a treasure trove of beaches, local cuisine, shopping, vineyards and views that take your breath away.  Flights land in Palma, which is a cosmopolitan hub with plenty of places to stay. Here you are treated with wonderful boutiques and shopping, nightlife and holiday activities to suit the young and old.

For us, the north suits our young family and ticks all the boxes for a fabulous and memorable holiday. I would describe this part of Mallorca as a tranquil slice of heaven with a lovely mix of holidaymakers and locals as well as being very pretty.

Puerto Pollensa

The port town is below the Tramuntana Mountains and sits beside a beautiful white sand horseshoe bay. The beach here is absolutely stunning and every time we go its beauty stuns me.  Our kids are still young enough to be entertained on the beach all day. All we need is a sun umbrella, sunscreen, buckets and spades and we are set. You can hire sun lounges and the beach huts offer snacks and drinks. Puerto PollensaWhat we really enjoy is that the beach is protected so that the waves are very gentle (perfect for little swimmers) and a cool sea breeze allows the whole family to enjoy a whole day on the beach, even in the heat of summer. You can buy bread and sit in the tepid water with the kids and feed little fish with your hands – this is something the kids absolutely love doing and it entertains them for hours. Nothing like getting back to nature!

Eating out in Puerto Pollensa is also a treat. In the typical Spanish way, families are welcome everywhere. The Pines Walk is a pedestrian area filled to the brim with restaurants serving holidaymakers and locals alike with gusto. High chairs spill onto the pavements at all hours of the day and into the evening. This area offers a brilliant vibe and hospitable bustle with a ‘fiesta’ atmosphere when eating out.  The church square just a block back from The Pines is also a lovely place to enjoy a drink or eat at one of the many wonderful restaurants that surround the square. Again very family friendly and the kids can enjoy running around the cobbled square while the parents sit back and enjoy dining without fussing children. Bliss.

Pollensa Old Town

Situated approximately 7km from Puerto Pollensa this beautiful old town with its maze of cobbled streets, boutique shops, restaurants and central square make it a great place to either base yourself or at the very least visit. Every Sunday the town hosts a farmers market where your taste buds can be treated to an array of fresh produce and the children can be treated to local crafts and souvenirs. A fun thing to do, although not in the midday summer sun, is to challenge the whole family to walk up the 365 calvari steps to a pretty little church on top of a very high hill. You will be treated to beautiful views towards Puerto Pollensa and Alcudia.

Alcudia Old Town

Sitting a ten minute drive to the east of Puerto Pollensa is Alcudia’s old town. Alcudia itself also hosts a very long beach popular in the summer months with an abundance of activities and also boasts a water park. However Alcudia’s old town for me is what captures this area’s beauty the most. Surrounded by a 14th Century wall that once protected it, you can take steps to the top and walk around a fair amount of the wall, which intrigued the kids. There is a pretty town square and an abundance of pretty shops, bars and restaurants. Just outside the walls is a playground to entertain young family members.

Pollensa Golf Club

15 minutes drive on from Alcudia old town is the Pollensa golf club. Sitting on the Mediterranean this 9 hole course is one of the best in Mallorca. Even if you don’t play golf the restaurant is well worth a visit. A stunning location with fantastic views out to the sea is well worth a meal out. They also have a kids menu and are extremely family friendly. We went there for morning tea and their pan au chocolat was the best I have ever tasted! Next time we go to Mallorca we are going for a family lunch.

Cala San Vicente

A short drive from Pollensa is this tiny tranquil village set on a very pretty cove with a great beach. The waves can get quite big, as the cove is not protected. Cala San VicenteThis adds some fun and excitement for the kids in the water. There is a great little local run beach bar that you can eat at during the day or grab a cerveza in the late afternoon as the sun goes down and enjoy the atmosphere. This is a brilliant place to base yourself but you will need a car if you are keen to explore other parts of the island and wish to dine out regularly.

Mallorca has so much to offer for a perfect holiday. The island is incredibly beautiful to drive around and witness the many breathtaking views. With its family friendly restaurants, no place seems off limits for children and the hospitality is always so genuinely friendly. My best summer memory is sitting at 9pm at a Puerto Pollensa beach restaurant, drinking a glass of rose with my husband after a superb meal and watching my two girls play in the sand and splash on the shore in delight. Everyone got a holiday and we can’t wait to do it all over again.

See Little Hotels' ample selection of hotels around Puerto Pollensa.


2 Mar 2016, 18:55