Mallorca is one of the Balearic islands just off the coast of Spain, settled in the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean. It's well known for it's sandy beaches and the infamous Magaluf strip, but not all Mallorca is centred around that party atmosphere. Many areas of the country are simply beautiful, and staying by the coast is sure to make your first trip as newlyweds one to remember. We take a look at the small northern town of Port de Pollença, just 50 minutes drive from Palma Airport.\n
\nNestled on the Bay of Pollença is this pretty little town brimming with activity and beauty, perfect for a honeymoon destination that ticks all the boxes of romance and relaxation without breaking the bank. Whilst there are some lovely port-side hotels available to stay in (Hotel Illa d'Or has an incredible reputation as well as VERY good food), it's actually just as lovely to rent an apartment in the area. They're often spacious and really make you feel at home, usually coming with private pools for the block of apartments, balconies with beautiful outlooks and sometimes roof terraces - wonderful for enjoying a spot of breakfast in the morning or a summer bbq as you watch the sunset.\nIt's interesting to note that there used to be quite a wide selection of apartments available to rent privately in Port de Pollença - many you'll find on Air BnB - but with the recent law change stating apartment owners can only rent with a valid licence, there are much fewer around the area. Whether this will have an effect on how busy the area gets is still to be discovered, but certainly the number that have sprung on to the market suggest it may be the case.\n
\nThe area itself is quite something to behold. The walk along the beach as you head around the bay is beautiful. The beaches are sandy in the main shopping and restaurant area, perfect for sunbathing, changing to more rocky outcrops as you head out of town where you'll see the kite surfers in action. Plus the water is so calm. Even if the wind picks up you'll never really get more than a gentle wave, so you can bob on your inflatable unicorn to your heart's content.\nIf you fancy a spot of shopping, there are some lovely boutique shops along the front, as well as supermarkets nearby if you plan on self-catering. If you fancy eating out during your stay, you are certainly spoilt for choice. There are some wonderful traditional Spanish restaurants dotted around, including some waterside eateries that are just lovely, but often you'll find some of the best are set a street back from the beach line. A traditional paella is a must, and Restaurante Na Ruixa make a brilliant one, perfect for two. Ask for it blind to have all the shells removed if you don't fancy fiddling about.\n
\nThe Coral Bar do some fabulous local fish dishes, as well as homemade desserts that simply must be tried. Some of the bars and restaurants even have their own pools, such as the Laguna Bar, so you can hang out for the afternoon and enjoy a drink or two or watch some Spanish football. There are also an awful lot of Italian restaurants, but Little Italy do the best pizzas by far!\nIf you fancy exploring a little further afield, you can rent a bicycle for the day and cycle around the bay to Alcudia. It's about a 5km ride in a clear cycle lane, and it's worth the trip just to spend a little time in the old town. This walled area is brimming with winding streets of pretty Spanish houses, shops, restaurants and ice cream parlours. You'll often see people sat painting pictures of the streets trying to capture the bright colours and textures. Ride round and treat yourself to a gelato whilst watching the people go by. You can even climb the walls to see the view from the top! We'd certainly recommend taking plenty of water as it can get hot on the way with no shade at all, plus make sure you have a bike lock - unfortunately bike theft and pick pocketing stats are quite high on the Spanish islands.\n
\nHire a car for the day and take a trip into Palma to the water park, Aqualand, for a bit of fun. There are a few water parks in Mallorca but this one is the least pricey and has the best reviews. Most also offer a fast pass for some of the big rides at an extra cost, but if you head there in May generally it's less busy so the fast passes aren't needed.\n
\nAnother town within easy reach is Pollença itself. This is an ancient rural town set 6km inland from Port de Pollença between two hills. Whilst the town developed to embrace the boom in the tourism trade, it still keeps to its traditional roots. The architecture of the buildings is highly detailed, with winding streets connecting the quirky independent shops and restaurants with its iconic set of steps up to the church at the top of the hill - a must climb for the incredible views from the top across to the Mediterranean. Many of the places have been built around the wildlife there, choosing to turn areas within shops into courtyards with beautiful orange trees as their centrepieces rather than cutting them down.\n
\nPort de Pollença really has so much to offer, you'll be spoilt for choice. The area tends to work in seasons, so should you think of heading there, the best time to go is between April and the end of October - most places shut for the winter outside of these months so the town is practically empty. The people are lovely, the place is beautiful and the sun is always shining (usually). Find out more about visiting the Balearic Islands here.\nImages: Pinterest
