Mallorca, the largest and most cosmopolitan of the Balearic Islands, was named one of the best places to live in the world for good reason: year-round sunshine, sparkling Mediterranean Sea and some of the most desirable real estate in the world. We show you the best areas to live depending on your needs.
Palma de Mallorca - cosmopolitan city with a unique charm
The capital city, Palma de Mallorca, has a charming Old Town with winding cobbled streets, historical buildings and the statuesque Gothic Cathedral that overlooks the bay. An alluring location to live, the Casco Antigua combines charming architecture, sophisticated dining and shopping and an excellent central location with the airport and dreamy beaches nearby. To the west of Palma, the Bohemian district of Santa Catalina has an international buzz with a popular fish market where locals enjoy fresh seafood, oysters, and sushi. Alternatively, a short walk or cycle east of the city, along the promenade that runs right next to the city beach, is the bustling old fishing village of Portixol - pretty as a postcard with its colourful homes, bustling bars and secluded coves.
Living in the Southwest of Mallorca
If you prefer a life away from the city, the Southwest of Mallorca is a magnet for international buyers. Palma is a short drive away plus it is home to some of the prettiest beaches on the island, with the most magnificently turquoise water. There are also many international schools in the area. Glamorous Port Andratx, located on the southwesterly tip, is desirable for its beautiful coast side location and close by, Santa Ponsa is also a popular residential area due to its restaurants, bay of beaches and spectacular mountain backdrop. Closer to Palma, Portals Nous and Puerto Portals boast some of the most lavish properties on the island, crystalline water and white sand beaches along with a world-class marina that houses spectacular superyachts.
Mallorca’s North - authentic Mallorca & luxury lifestyle
With dramatic mountains and coastal roads, the north of the island is a highly desirable residential area for those who desire spectacular natural beauty and beaches. Pollensa and Alcúdia are enchanting old towns with quaint stone houses and historic charm. Both places have eponymous ports some kilometres away with a laid-back holiday ambience and long stretches of sand that border the dazzling Mediterranean. In the more rural outskirts, characterful, traditional fincas and sprawling contemporary villas decorate the bucolic countryside - living in Mallorca’s north provides the best of all worlds. Only 40 minutes drive away from Palma, Pollensa and Alcúdia have a rural charm and a sense of community that make them appealing year-round destinations.
Finding a property in Mallorca
With 18 property shops and a team of around 150 real estate agents, Engel & Völkers Mallorca has been successful in the mediation of high-quality residential property - regardless of whether it is for sale or rent - across the island for over thirty years. Engel & Völkers established roots in Mallorca 30 years ago and this beautiful island now represents one of the most important markets in the Engel & Völkers’ network.
Skilled, multilingual teams are currently offering almost 3.000 homes with expertise and efficiency - in fact, the fastest sale took less than two hours! Business continues to boom in terms of sales and market share; transactions have seen a fivefold increase since 2009.
Attracting affluent professional investors, in 2018 Engel & Völkers celebrated a record sale of 30 million euros. Our multilingual team is always happy to assist you in the search for your dream property.
Education on Mallorca
When you and your family settle on the beautiful island of Mallorca, you will have a wide range of excellent international schools to choose from. If you would like your children to learn the British Curriculum, there is The Academy, perfectly located in the countryside between Palma and Santa María. On the other side of Palma, Balearic International College has two campuses that offer the same English National Curriculum for children between the ages of 2 and 18. Similarly, Bellver International College, also on the outskirts of Palma, offers the British and Spanish system. Prettily located in Portals Nous, King Richard III College provides the British and Spanish Curriculums and a wide range of languages, including Catalan, that will ensure that your children are multilingual by the time they graduate.
Weather on Mallorca
Mallorca has approximately 300 days of sun a year - imagine waking up to eternal sunshine every morning! Summer is long and reliably hot with bright blue skies, which is perfect for the beach. Autumn and Spring are warm and fresh, and even the winters rarely dip beneath 10ºC, which makes the island a year-round paradise.
There’s a long list of pros when it comes to living in Mallorca and we hope you’ve got a good glimpse at some of them while reading this article about moving to Mallorca. At Engel & Völkers we will be glad to help you find a property in the different areas of the island to settle in and start enjoying the Mediterranean lifestyle.
