Things To Do in Puerto Pollensa

From the port you can take a glass-bottomed boat and look down into clear waters swimming with squid, cuttlefish and the odd barracuda. Your destination is Formentor Beach, a stretch of white sand dotted with pine trees. It’s one of Majorca’s best beaches, so you may want to skip the boat back and chill out here. If you do, the bus home takes 20 minutes.

After dark, all roads lead to the main square, home to the sand-coloured Medieval church. It also has a congregation of outdoor cafés, bars and restaurants where people sit out under the stars, while the children let off energy over the flagstones. It’s full of life in summer, and several of the square’s bars put on live shows towards the tail end of the week.

Puerto Pollensa dishes up its share of fashion finds – you can pick up leather shoes, bags and belts at the chic little boutiques along the prom and on Formentor Road. Or if you’re after bargains, try Wednesday’s market in the square. Locals come for the food, but you’ll be able to bag the odd souvenir. It’s on from 10am to 12.30pm.

Just off the main square, this bar-come-restaurant serves food till 10.30pm, at which point the real fun begins. Colin Sweeney, the resident singer, rolls back the years with his covers of Elvis and Michael Buble. And if you want to challenge him at his own game, you can – the karaoke catalogues have a huge selection of tracks. The bar is air-conditioned, or you can sit on the terrace and watch the locals taking an evening stroll.

The marina makes a romantic setting for an evening meal. If dishes like hake in asparagus or sea bream Majorcan-style don’t instantly grab your attention, you’ve got plenty of meat options, from fillet steak to lamb shank. Three-course menus are around 30 euros, wine included, though insist it’s a bottle from the local vineyards.

The week-long fiesta culminates with a full-scale re-enactment of the battle of 1561 where the Christians of Pollensa fought off the Moors. Around a thousand locals dress in Medieval costumes – face paints for the Moors – and stage a mock battle accompanied by music and explosions. Afterwards, they all shake hands and head to the beach for a giant fireworks display.

A 20-minute bus ride away is the old town of Alcudia, or Pollentia as the Romans christened it 2,000 years ago. On the outskirts of the Medieval city walls are the Roman ruins, which include an entire residential district and a theatre. Inside the old town, meanwhile, is the Pollentia Monographic Museum. Among the exhibits are all the bits and pieces from a Roman lady’s vanity case, including bone pins and jewellery.

As far as Puerto Pollensa is concerned, you can keep your foam parties. Here, evenings are mostly about relaxing with a drink on the terraces at the seafront bars. If you do want to liven things up just a notch, you’ve got a clutch of Irish and Brit-themed pubs near the square.

Puerto de Pollensa can’t compete with Palma for boutique-lined avenues, but in the little alleys backing away from the marina, it has a secret cache of chic stores. Here you can pick up perfume, the latest Spanish fashions, and some of Majorca’s leather goods, including bags, shoes and handbags. You’ll also find leather at the Wednesday market in the main square.

The shallow waters and a cordoned-off swimming area make this a safe beach for families. And when you’re feeling active you’ve got pedalos, snorkelling, windsurfing and sailing all up for grabs. Or you might want to go see the professionals building pimped-up sandcastles – they’re in action over at the roundabout end of the beach.

A favourite with both locals and holidaymakers, this bar is all about teamwork. Miguel is the resident DJ, while no one mixes a cocktail like brother Rafa. The welcome’s friendly, but the music can be on the loud side – the courtyard garden makes a quiet retreat if you need it.

It’s easy to see why this 2-kilometre stretch of beach is the most popular in Puerto Pollensa. The golden sands are shaded by pine trees, and the shallow sea makes it perfect for novice swimmers and little paddlers. Sunloungers and parasols are available for hire, and Pine Walk runs right along the beach, edged with a good haul of fish restaurants.

Josep runs a tight ship at this seafront restaurant, which serves up a fresh helping of local favourites. It doesn’t get much more Majorcan than the dorada a la Mallorquina – whole fish served with colourful vegetables piled on top. The paella is another must, though you’ll need to order it in advance. Both go down a treat with a bottle of the local Mortitx white wine.

The fish restaurants here are some of the best on the island. You’ll find most of them along the seafront prom. Squid, lobster and sardines make star turns on the menus, while the sea bass baked in rock salt is a local classic. The resort caters to international tastes, too – you’ll also find Indian and Chinese, along with first-class fish and chips.