Sun, sea and Spain – welcome to the Balearics. This small but mighty archipelago, located off eastern Spain in the Mediterranean Sea, is home to a clutch of islands all boasting their own unique bohemian buzz. While the Brit-Balearics love affair is nothing new – 1.2m UK travellers visit each year, including celebrities Kate Moss, Stephen Fry, Noel Gallagher and Catherine Zeta Jones – there’s plenty more to these islands than all-inclusive resorts, beach parties and hen dos. Steer away from the boozy corners of the capitals to discover pine-fringed forests, crystal-clear bays, white-washed villages and family-run wineries. Ready to discover the real Balearics? Read on for our favourite places to visit in Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca and Formentera – and the best luxury hotels to stay at while you’re there. 

Ibiza

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It’s no secret that Ibiza is the Balearics’ wild child. Made famous for its beach clubs, boozy parties and world-famous DJ sets, you’d be forgiven for thinking that trips here are all about post-school blowouts and extravagant hen and stag dos, but to explore Ibiza is to understand its bohemian past. During the 1960s and 1970s, it became the go-to destination for chic hippies attracted by the island’s primitive beauty, and today – away from the blaring 24-hour clubs – you’ll find much of the A-list crowd holidaying at serene five-star hotels or their own villas, including designers Phoebe Philo and Jean Paul Gaultier, model Kate Moss and Irish star Bono. 

We’d recommend exploring the Es Murta nature park via horseback with non-profit Ibiza Horse Valley – a unique rehabilitation centre for mistreated horses that offers treks through the lesser-known lush forests, sandy shores, and mountain trails on the northern side of the island. Plus, no stay is complete without a trip to Ibiza Old Town to visit the Unesco World Heritage Site Dalt Vila: the island’s fortified Phoenician old town which is home to historic sites including the Cathedral de Santa Maria, the Bishop’s Palace, and the 16th-century Ibiza Castle. 

Where to stay: 7Pines Resort Ibiza

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Having opened its white-washed doors on the island’s west shores in 2018, 7Pines offers the height of laid-back luxury and Ibizan flair. This all-suite clifftop resort set in Ibicenco-style homes features 185 spacious suites and two grand villas – Alba and Aurora – while also encompassing fine-dining experiences and a comprehensive spa at Pure Seven. The resort is also home to an educational kids’ club, Kio House of Kids, which is on a mission to help teach the next generation about sustainability and eco-awareness.

For the 2024 season – which kicked off at the end of April – a whole host of new on-site activities will be available to guests, such as a fragrance workshop with Campos de Ibiza, curated wine tasting at Can Rich’s vineyards, and interactive Hierbas Ibicencas workshop with Fluxa. Foodies will love the new three-part bartender series taking place from May-September, where guests can learn about the world of mixology from the experts, as well as the Michelin-starred culinary series at clifftop restaurant, The View, which invites a carefully-curated selection of chefs to cook alongside the resort’s executive chef to craft a one-night-only dinner menu.  

From £220 per night. 

Mallorca

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Also known as Majorca, this enchanting island perfectly blends vibrance with laidback village life. The cobbled capital of Palma is home to a number of architectural landmarks, including the Gothic Santa María cathedral overlooking the Bay of Palma, and the Moorish-style Arab fortress, Almudaina, that’s been converted into a royal residence, as well as a buzzy food scene. Head north to discover Mallorca’s signature sandy shores and azure coastline, also home to hillside villages that have inspired poets and artists for centuries. Summer is an exciting time to visit as the island hosts an array of local festes (festivals), including fire spectacles on the beach to celebrate Sant Joan in June and the mythical re-enactment, which lasts until the early hours with an all-night party, at Battle of the Moors and Christians in Pollensa in August. 

Where to stay: Hotel Valldemossa

Once part of the Royal Charterhouse Palace, Hotel Valldemossa is a boutique 12-key adult-only property, offering exclusivity in abundance in the Mallorcan hills. Nestled in the Sierra de Tramuntana – a Unesco World Heritage Site – the property is just a 10-minute stroll from the quaint village of the same name, which was once described by renowned composer Frédéric Chopin as “the most beautiful place in the world.” Famous for its beautiful hikes and cycling trails, including Sa Calobra – a winding path leading to lighthouses, historic castles, and secret coves – the five-star hotel offers bike rental, guided routes, a repair workshop and bike cleaning facilities so you can get out and explore the island’s rustic beauty in style. 

Inside the manor house, each room boasts a large private terrace overlooking the hotel’s olive grove and orchard while interiors embrace the French aesthetic of the 1950s with original furniture by Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier, and Miguel Mila. Indeed, the property is one of Mallorca’s most artistic, featuring works from both up-and-coming and established artists such as Jordi Alcaraz, Jaume Roig and Roland Fischeror. Don’t miss the Sanctuary spa, inspired by traditional Chinese medicine, and the De Tokio a Lima restaurant. Dubbed Mallorca’s best-kept gastronomy secret, the menu boasts a fusion of Japanese, Peruvian and Mediterranean flavours, with highlights including vegetable ceviche, sirloin tataki, and the famous creamy Soller lemon cake. 

From £290 per night. 

Menorca

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Traditionally more low-key than its neighbours – big sister Mallorca and lively cousin Ibiza – Menorca (Minorca) is the place to go for a more relaxed, family-friendly vibe. Boasting a 216km coastline sprinkled with golden sandy crescents and rocky, turquoise-hued enclaves called ‘calas’, much of Menorca’s abundant natural beauty has remained almost completely untouched, resulting in it being granted Unesco Biosphere Reserve status in 1993. The capital, the whitewashed city of Mahón (or Maó), is home to several design marvels from British-style Georgian mansions to the Santa María Church on the central Plaça de la Constitució. Go back in time when visiting Ciutadella – the island’s former capital – where the Old Town features picturesque Mediterranean-style buildings, charming cobblestoned lanes and attractive plazas all home to authentic eateries and bars. 

Where to stay: Menorca Experimental

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Reimagined from the structure of a 19th-century finca (Spanish estate) and surrounded by 30 hectares of land, Menorca Experimental embodies the spirit of an artist's holiday cottage. In keeping with the island’s Unesco World Heritage Site commitment to protecting the unique biosphere, the agrotourism retreat consists of nine villas, alongside 43 rooms, all of which seamlessly blend into the natural environment. Surrounded by pine groves, fragrant juniper shrubs and wildflowers, the whitewashed farmhouse has been carefully restored under the guidance of Paris-based interior designer Dorothée Meilichzon, with a colour palette inspired by the Menorcan sky and featuring golden-yellow local wood plank floors, hand-glazed terracotta tiles, pale olive hues and natural rust leather. 

Expect fresh and seasonal produce in abundance at the on-site restaurants and bars, where a carefully chosen wine list emphasising community know-how is complemented by Experimental Cocktails, featuring bespoke recipes inspired by local ingredients. Explore the surrounding Spanish wilderness via horseback, jeep tours, boat rides, or try your hand at aerial yoga, Pilates, guided yoga and meditation on the outdoor deck. And for those looking to relax and unwind, enjoy the hotel’s underground spa, featuring a hammam, sauna and steam room, as well as a cold plunge experience and four treatment rooms offering massages, facials, reiki and reflexology. 

From £200 per night. 

Formentera

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While it may take you a little longer to get to Formentera – there’s no airport on the island, so it’s only reachable via ferries from Barcelona or Ibiza – we’re of the opinion that it’s worth it. Largely untouched, with only a select few luxury hotels and high-end restaurants on the island, this is where to experience the laidback Mediterranean in all its glory. It’s the smallest of the Balearics, so it’s easy to get around. Upon arrival at its port, La Savina, take advantage of the various car, scooter and bike-hire places – the latter are very popular since the island is small and flat with few steep inclines. Elsewhere, enjoy a number of hikes trailing along the coast and inland, or go underwater with your snorkel and flippers to discover a kaleidoscope of marine life. 

Where to stay: Teranka

Teranka, a bohemian hideaway on the corner of Formentera, is situated just moments from the island’s Migjorn coast: where poets, pirates and punks are rumoured to have found their spiritual homes once upon a time. The property embodies the essence of its creative yet laidback roots via 35 rooms and suites spread across three stone buildings – Mar (sea), Tierra (earth) and Cielo (sky) – each awash with natural light and a colour palette that blends seamlessly into the landscape. Inside, discover an extensive library brimming with must-reads, such as The Old Man and the Sea or Mermaid 101, and art curated by London native and Ibiza resident Katrina Phillips. 

Gastronomy showcases the best in fresh island fare, courtesy of chefs Sergio Martínez and José Doblas. Teranka Garden offers all-day outdoor dining in a traditional finca leading to an expansive wildflower terrace, serving grilled pulpo, local red prawns and Iberian pork, while upstairs, the Teranka Rooftop offers 360-degree panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea. Evenings here begin with sundowners, tapas and seasonal crudo, all soundtracked by a curated calendar of live music from local jazz bands and guest DJs. 

From £545 per night. 

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