Mallorca

Mallorca is the Balearic Islands' largest and most varied: a Mediterranean island where you can dive turquoise coves in the morning, hike the Tramuntana mountains by afternoon, and dine on tapas in a Gothic capital that evening. Palma's Cathedral is one of Europe's most stunning, with Gaudí's interior renovations and a rose window that throws coloured light across the nave at dawn. The Tramuntana coast (UNESCO-listed) hides the island's most photogenic villages — Valldemossa, Deià, Sóller — connected by the famous narrow-gauge wooden train. The north coast around Alcúdia is best for family beaches and dolphin-watching trips with near-guaranteed sightings. Inland, the Caves of Hams and Drach are subterranean show-pieces. Mallorca's season runs late April to October. Peak heat is July-August (35°C+, crowded); shoulder seasons offer 22-28°C weather, half the crowds, and most attractions open. Hire a car: the public bus network exists but is slow.