Magaluf is a name that means two things: the strip (the Punta Ballena, the 500 metres of the bars, the clubs, and the neon, the 3am crowd, the €5 pints, and the reputation that has made Magaluf, for 30 years, the most infamous resort in Spain) and the bay (the Cala Magaluf, the horseshoe of the white sand, the turquoise water, and the view of the mountains of the Serra de Tramuntana rising behind the Palma). The villa holiday in Magaluf is the escape from the strip to the bay, the private pool, the terrace, the view of the sea, and the Magaluf that is quiet, beautiful, and unknown to the 3am crowd. The villa is the secret of Magaluf: the gated community on the hill, the car that takes you to the beaches of the south-west coast (the Palmanova, the Santa Ponsa, the Portals Nous, the marina of the yachts, the restaurants, and the best evening on the Mallorcan coast), and the holiday that is the sun, the sea, and the silence of the villa. Here is your guide to the villa holiday in Magaluf.

Villas in Magaluf, The Guide

• The villa, what to expect: The Magaluf villa is not the hotel, and the experience, the private pool, the terrace, the barbecue, and the space, is the essential difference between the villa and the hotel. The villas on the hill above Magaluf (the Sol de Mallorca, the El Toro, and the residential estates that climb the slope towards the Cala Figuera) range from the practical (the 3-bedroom, the shared pool, and the €800/week in the summer) to the luxurious (the 5-bedroom, the private pool, the sea view, and the €3,000/week). The essential villa amenities: the pool (the essential, the Magaluf villa without the private pool is the hotel without the bed), the air conditioning (the Mallorcan summer heat, the 32°C in August, requires the air conditioning in every bedroom. Check the listing carefully: the “air conditioning” in the living room only is not adequate), and the outdoor kitchen (the barbecue, the dining table, and the best meal of the holiday, the fresh fish from the Palma market, the local wine, and the sunset over the bay). The essential booking site: the Villa Plus (the specialist, the largest operator in the Balearics, and the essential resource for the Magaluf villa. The website includes the detailed descriptions, the pool dimensions, and the honest reviews). More Spain →
• The beaches, beyond the Magaluf bay: The Cala Magaluf: the bay at the foot of the hill, the white sand, the turquoise water, and the beach that is better than the reputation of the town. The sun loungers (~€15 for two with the umbrella), the beach bars (the cocktails, the music, and the atmosphere that is the Magaluf of the 11am, not the Magaluf of the 3am), and the swimming (the bay is sheltered, the water is calm, and the swimming is the best in the Magaluf area). The Palmanova: the next bay, the quieter, the family-friendly, and the promenade that connects the Palmanova to the Magaluf (the 15-minute walk along the sea, the best walk in the area). The Cala Fornells: the small, the rocky, and the most beautiful cove on the south-west coast. The drive from Magaluf (the 10 minutes, the Peguera, and the cove, the pines, the rocks, and the water that is the clearest in Mallorca). The essential lunch: the Restaurante Cala Fornells (the paella, the view of the cove, and the best meal on the coast. ~€20 for the paella). The Portals Nous: the marina of the rich, the yachts, the designer shops, the restaurants (the Flanigan, the lobster, the champagne, and the best meal on the island. ~€80), and the evening that is the essential escape from the Magaluf strip
• The day trips, the Mallorca beyond Magaluf: The Palma: the city, the cathedral (the La Seu, the most beautiful Gothic cathedral in Spain, the rose window, the Gaudí canopy, and the view of the sea. ~€9), the old town (the Santa Catalina, the market, the best tapas in Mallorca at the Bar España, the pinchos, the wine, and the best €20 meal on the island), and the Bellver Castle (the circular castle, the view of the bay, and the best view of the Palma. ~€4). The drive from Magaluf takes 20 minutes. The Serra de Tramuntana: the mountain range of the north-west coast, the Valldemossa (the village of the Charterhouse, the Chopin connection, the winter of 1838–39, the Preludes, and the most beautiful village in Mallorca), the Deià (the artists’ village, the Robert Graves connection, and the best restaurant in the mountains, the Es Racó des Teix, the Michelin star, the tasting menu, and the best meal in Mallorca. ~€85), and the Sa Calobra (the drive through the mountains, the 12 km of the hairpin bends, and the Torrent de Pareis, the gorge, the pebble beach, and the most beautiful natural wonder in Mallorca). The essential drive: the MA-10 from Andratx to Sóller, the 50 km, the mountains, the sea, and the best drive in Mallorca