Explore the island.

With dramatic views of the Mediterranean, the coastal village of Deia lies in a valley at the foot of the Teix mountain. Its unique and ever-changing ambience has drawn artists, poets and writers for more than a century. With its traditional green-shuttered, honey-coloured stone houses, Deia is one of the prettiest villages in the Balearics. In the centre of the Serra de Tramuntana, it's easy to spend unforgettable summer days here dipping in and out of the sea at Cala Deia, travelling from cove to cove and dining on perfect paella at Ca’s Patro March. In the late afternoon, the sinking sun paints the surrounding mountains an incredible burnt orange, tinged with all the shades of indigo, violet and pink imaginable.

The beautiful market town of Soller sits in a lush valley of orange groves, between mountains and sea. It's breathtaking, with an impressive collection of majestic stone townhouses built by wealthy fruit merchants more than a century ago. Wander around the fresh produce market, or take a seat at one of the many cafes, bars and bistros around the main square, and watch the world go by. When you're ready to enjoy a little sea air,  jump on the vintage tram which trundles down to the adjacent Port de Soller. Soller is perfect for people who like unchanged town life. But it is easy, too, to don hiking boots or climb on a bike and head for the many walking and cycling trails in the nearby mountains.

Port de Soller is a delightful horseshoe bay, enveloped by the Tramuntana mountains and white sandy beaches. Serious investment has resulted in an ever more prosperous ambience descending on the port. A cosmopolitan influx of beautiful new waterside restaurants and bars only adds further to this. The local beaches have been refurbished, the promenade has been redeveloped and it is now a very smart place indeed to have a holiday home. Walk down to Santa Catalina and enjoy delicious Soller prawns, or stroll up to the Jumeriah hotel, where the open sea views are out of this world, and enjoy one of the loveliest sunsets you’ll ever see while sipping a favourite cocktail.

Fornalutx lies hidden away in a fold in the Sierra de Tramuntana mountains. Regularly voted the prettiest village in Spain,this is as good as rural Mallorca gets, timeless with its traditional honey-stone buildings, terracotta-tiled roofs and pretty cobbled lanes. Fornalutx is unmissable for those on walking or cycling tours. While away an afternoon in one of the sun-drenched cafes or on a bougainvillea-shaded restaurant terrace overlooking magnificent olive, almond and orange groves. Second homes here are consumately desirable, with a limited, and highly sought-after selection of graceful townhouses in the village itself and stunning villas and fincas dotted around the surrounding terraced slopes.

Just to the North of Soller, Biniaraix is one of Mallorca's most appealing and attractive hamlets. Biniaraix is renowned for its incredible views, sweeping down to the coast a couple of kilometres away. Opportunities to acquire a holiday home here are infrequent, as the village really comprises little more than a few dozen limestone houses, a cafe and a little bistro. Having said that, Biniaraix really is lovely. Terraced fields of oranges and olives rise above the village. There is a tempting network of trails for walking and biking, with the route that leads up to the celebrated Biniaraix gorge deservedly famed.

Estellencs is a delightful traditional hamlet sitting above the coastal cliffs towards the Southern end of the island's North West coast. The village really comprises not much more than than handful of golden-stone houses, one or two hotels and a few cafe-restaurants. Amongst these, Cafetería/Restaurante Vall Hermos enjoys quite amazing views from its terrace down to the dazzling blue Mediterranean. A small, family artisan winery, Tomeu Isern, producing small quantities of interesting reds and whites occupies a couple of hectares of terraced slopes around the village. Should you feel like visiting, a stroll along a quaint cobbled lane from below the fortified village church will bring you here.

The hilltop village of Valldemossa is best known for its ancient, rather romantic, Carthusian monastery which dates from the fourteenth century. Valldemossa has been promoted around the world as a place of exceptional beauty for more than two hundred years, and its history makes it something of a magnet for those second home buyers. Indeed, anyone buying here will be in distinguished company. Chopin and his lover Amantine Dupin (George Sand), lived here, setting the precedent for the countless musicians and artists to have lived here since. "Valldemossa" in the words of longterm resident, actor Michael Douglas, "is the place I love most in the world".

Banyalbufar sits on the rugged North West coast of the island, almost directly opposite Palma. Perched on the cliffs, the town enjoys a timeless beauty and restful and serene ambience. Banyalbufar is best known for its ancient terraced gardens, which cascade down the slopes, creating a mesmerizing tapestry of vineyards and citrus orchards. Narrow alleys house quaint cafes, from which the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingles with the salty sea air, and restaurants serving delicious seafood dishes.Hiking trails wind through the mountains surrounding the town, revealing panoramic views of the sea and the dramatic coastline. Sea lovers can take boat trips or explore the hidden coves and caves that dot the shoreline.

Santanyi sits at the heart of a stretch of nine glorious beaches. Cala Santanyi, Cala d’Or, Porto Petro, Cala Figuera, Cala Mondrago, Cala Sa Nau, Cala des Moro & Cala S’Almonia, Cala Lombards and Es Trenc vie for the bluest waters and the warmest sands. With its beautiful surrounding scenery, gold stone buildings, worn cobbles, handsome church and laid back pace, Santanyi is a wonderful base from which to enjoy Mallorcan life. The terraces around the square offer a fine place to watch the town busy itself, while the buzzing produce market comes to life each Wednesday and Saturday. Plaza Mayor hosts a wealth of tasteful boutique stores and, of course, Santanyi offers an abundance of culinary riches.

Manacor is an attractive town famed as the home of Rafa Nadal. It’s easy to misunderstand Manacor, but the restoration of historic buildings signifies the gentrification that has taken place. With restaurants and cafes sprinkled through the lanes around the Church of Our Lady of Sorrow in the central plaza, Manacor is simply delightful. Not surprisingly, the town enjoys superb tennis facilities and is now home, too, to the Rafa Nadal International School which has greatly increased demand for property. The surrounding areas are deservedly popular with those seeking a finca on an ample plot. It's a lovely region to get to know, on foot or on wheels, with rural eateries almost as abundant as the fields of fig, olive, carob and orange trees.

Porto Colom is amongst the East coast’s most appealing villages with its ‘old fishing village’ character and pastel waterfront houses. Much of its charm comes from its position on one of the largest, most sheltered bays on the island. The blue flag beach at Cala Marcal, offers an inviting expanse of soft white sand, making it a safe and accesible place for young families. If you like to be on the sea, rather than by it, Escola Nautica s’Algar is an outstanding sailing school. Similarly, there are other activities such as diving, kayak, paddle board, cave-exploring and snorkelling on offer. Porto Colom makes a beautiful place for a second home. For golfers, the lovely Val d’Or Golf course might just be the clincher.

Far down on the island’s South East coast, the quiet coves, sandy beaches and lapping waters of Cala d’Or make it a perfect, family-friendly place to settle. Life goes very easily indeed here. With its enchanting little harbour, whitewashed houses and cobbled streets, it's a perfect location for families with young children to enjoy long, happy visits. Young children can play outside without continuous watching over, while older children can wander around with new friends in safety, day or night. The sands are white and soft, the sea is warm and welcoming and the waterfront and streets behind offer wonderful cuisine. Port Petit, overlooking the harbour, never disappoints. But then neither, too, do the fresh fish restaurants in the main square.

Porto Petro is a little fishing village, between Cala d’Or and the Parc Natural de Mondrago. It still boasts much of its traditional charm - centuries-old houses adorned with authentic Mallorcan shutters. Mondrago Natural Park, encompassing one of the island’s most celebrated stretches of coast, lies just outside the village. Swim between its two perfect, sandy bays, or take to one of the delightful trails or cycling routes threaded across the park's indented shores. A little further West is the heavenly Cala Mondrago. The village offers an excellent choice of restaurants and bars, too. Lunch with your toes dangling happily in the water? Or a casual afternoon in a cafe-bar overlooking the harbour?

For space, a little seclusion or sweeping views, the hill villages of Es Carritxo, Son Macia and Cas Concos are very hard to beat. A couple of kilometres inland from the South-East's pretty harbours and fabulous beaches, these are the villages around which to look for beautiful fincas with generous surrounding land, and stunning views. This is true Mallorcan village life. No-one will trouble you here, yet your polite nod will always be returned with warmth. Es Carritxo hosts a delightful produce market each Sunday. Each of these lovely villages leads onto beautiful walking trails and has a local bar, a simple bakery for grabbing an empanada or a warm loaf, and a restaurant or two either in the village itself, or hidden away nearby.

Cala Figuera is a traditional and very picturesque town, occupying a spectacular setting on a narrow, fjord-like inlet. Development in the town has been controlled with great care, ensuring that its intrinsically intimate character has not been compromised. Cala Figuera still boasts lots of traditional Mallorcan stone houses, with a handful of very handsome mansions to be found here and there. There are a few restaurants to be found across the low cliffs and, while Cala Figuera itself has neither tourist beaches nor conveneinet places to swim, the lovely beaches at Cala Santanyi and the fabulous cove at Cala Llombards are both close by.

Situated in the Sierra Levant hills, Arta is a historic town with a delightful medieval centre. In addition to fine town houses and some very handome villas in the surrounding countryside, Arta offers those looking for a second home many lovely fincas set on sizeable plots of land. Its  cobbled lanes make Arta a most romantic place to explore, and on a first visit there's no better reward for a little effort than to take in the incredible views of the town, surrounding countryside and sunlit mountains after climbing the steps to the Santuario de San Salvador. Capdepera, as well as several more of Mallorca's best golf courses, are within easy reach, and for cyclists and walkers the countryside here abounds with the loveliest trails.

Situated around the loveliest inlet, Porto Cristo lies on the island's East coast, at the southernmost end of the island's North East. Notwithstanding its impressive waterfront restaurants, yacht club and marina, Porto Cristo retains an essential fishing village character. It is no exageration to say that with a delightful sandy beach and sheltered, clear blue waters, the bay which Porto Cristo straddles is as lovely a setting as can be found anywhere along this coast. This is a lovely town to acquire a second home in. Cala Mendia and Cala Estany d'en Mas, to the south, offer sandy cove beaches perfect for endless summer days in and out of the water, and gorgeous Cala Varques requires only a slightly longer walk.

A short distance inland, on the North East tip of the island, Capdepera is a pretty hilltop village nestled around and beneath an imposing walled fortress. The town is still, remarkably, something of a well kept secret, but its vibrant restaurant scene (this is the location of the acclaimed and well-regarded Cova Negra) is indicative of its growing recognition amongst those looking for a peaceful second home on the island. Some of the finest of Mallorca's extended beaches and white sandy coves, including Cala Son Moll and La Font de la Cala, are to be found within an easy drive of Capdepera.

Canyamel is a delightful beach resort lying between headlands, with a fabulous and enticing stretch of white sands. It's not without reason that the five-star Can Simoneta, Cap Vermell and Pleta de Mar hotels, three of the best to be found anywhere on Mallorca, are all located here. If having a stretch of stunning coastline on hand to explore would enhance your time on the island, then Canyamel would make an excellent place to acquire a second home, with the excellent Cap Vermell Country Club and Canyamel Golf-Mallorca course also close at hand.

A truly lovely and ancient town, Pollensa oozes rural character and charm. With its stone houses, narrow streets, and the famous Calvari Steps, it sits between hills at the Eastern end of the Serra de Tramuntana. Wandering through its lanes and squares taking in the galleries, boutique shops, wineries and delis gives a delightful sense of what it's like to own a holiday home here. And then there's the bustling Sunday market. This is true Pollensa, changed little for generations, where local people run into their friends while choosing flowers, fruit, bread, butifarron, sobrassada and cheese. As night falls, a different Pollensa comes to life, bringing residents and visitors out to stroll, dine or indulge in a little late-night shopping.

Port de Pollensa sits on an enchanting, golden-sand horseshoe bay. Unsullied nature, azure waters, inviting pavement cafes and traffic-free streets ensure the town's popularity as a place to buy for those coming to the island with families. Enjoy a leisurely waterfront lunch, toes in the water, at Cappuccino. Absorb views of the spectacular La Fortaleza (sumptuous location for the BBC's 'The Night Manager'). And if you're inclined to seek out action, Port de Pollensa offers exhilarating kite-surfing and paddle-boarding. A lovely promenade perfect for an evening stroll wraps around the town's bustling marina, while the romantic Pine Walk never loses its magical appeal.

Formentor, with the backdrop of Cap de Formentor's dramatic cliffs, offers an air of discrete exclusivity. The most dramatic stretch of coast on Mallorca, Formentor's rugged beauty and welcome privacy won the hearts of Princess Grace and Princess Rainier, Winston Churchill and Audrey Hepburn in their day. Today, it still combines sophistication with great charm, perhaps best embodied by the lovely Four Seasons (formerly the Formentor Hotel), the perfect place to enjoy a quiet drink, take in the views across the bay, and consider the possibility that Formentor's steep paths and roads and stunning scenery, might make this the place not just to walk or to cycle, but perhaps to find your perfect second home.

Alcanada (Aucanada), on the La Victoria peninsula, is the stretch of coastline running east from the picturesque harbor of Port d’Alcúdia. The Club de Golf Alcanada boasts a world-class course considered the finest on the island. Play, sit and unwind with a drink at the clubhouse bar, then amble, down to a table overlooking the ocean and laden with mouthwatering seafood at the unforgettable La Terazza. Across the peninsula on its rugged Northern coast, in particular along the lane to Cap des Pinarl, are truly spectacular sea views, while the trails to the cove beach at Playa Coll Baix are typical of the area's exquisite hikes. If tranquility and nature matter for you, Aucanada is an idyllic location on a wonderful stretch of coast.

Puerto Portals is one on the most coveted spots on the entire island. Essentially a chic marina with lovely beach clubs, bars, restaurants and boutiques, you can stroll from one end to the other in just a few minutes. On that walk, you are likely to see some of the most spectacular yachts imaginable. While Puerto Portals is all about the luxury boats, it's not without other diversions. Platja de l'Oratori is a lovely stretch of sheltered beach with soft, golden sands and invitingly calm waters. There are elegant shops selling designer labels and luxury brands, and an excellent choice of restaurants around the marina. Michelin-starred chef Fernando Perez Arellano's Baiben serves quite exceptional Mediterranean cuisine.

Located just west of Palma, Bendinat is a uniquely exclusive enclave at the foot of the Serra de Na Burguesa. With little more than 30 houses in total, on some of the most costly streets in Europe, this is an intrinsically residential area. Considering how close it is to the vibrancy and buzz of the capital, it retains the air of studied seclusion which make it both a quiet and extremely classy place to own a home. Parkland borders the village to the North, with a number of lovely hidden beaches with soft sands and clear water to the South. However you choose to pass the day, you'll find a delightful array of eateries to choose between come the evening, including the Hotel Bendinat's highly-rated La Terrazas de Bendinat.

Port d'Andratx, a captivating port town nestled on Mallorca's southwest coast, is renowned as one of the Mediterranean's most sought-after destinations for second homes. As far to the South West as it's possible to go, Port d’Andratx occupies a stunning setting, the shimmering waters of its sheltered, yacht-filled bay ringed by the spectacular Tramuntana mountain. Famed for framing Mallorca’s most beautiful sunsets, this enchanting port has long enjoyed the attentions of the home-buying elite. The picturesque harbour combines a marina frequented by the world’s most impressive boats, with a traditional fishing port, while the promenade is lined with exquisite restaurants, boutique shops and galleries. Golf de Andratx, nearby, offers a fine championship course, as well as outstanding hospitality.

With a wealth of fabulous properties, Port d’Andratx offers the island’s most discerning owners privacy and tranquility, 25 minutes from Palma.

Casco Antiguo, Palma's popular Old Town is the beating heart of Mallorca's beautiful and pulsating capital. The Old Town absolutely overflows with life. Cool, fashionable restaurants, intimate cafes and a wide range of boutiques all sit in comfortably alongside grand architecture, ancient passageways and fascinating historic monuments. For those with a second home here, picking up a morning coffee and an ensaimada from one of its many cafes become a part of the day's pleasures. The Old Town is a seductive maze of medieval cobbled streets and beautiful hidden squares.  Come evening time, the whole area transforms. Start your evening with cocktails at Brassclub or one of the other stylish and exciting bars on Passeig de Mallorca.

Ten minutes from Palma's splendid Catedral de Mallorca, lies the vibrant district of Santa Catalina. With its village air, this is one of Palma's most fashionable quarters. Traditional balconied townhouses mingle with restaurants, bars and eclectic shops, including a fabulous indoor food market with its unassuming blend of residents, artists and unspeakably cool creatives. Santa Catalina takes on a new life once the sun goes down, as its bars and restaurants open up. From romantic little eateries, to heaving late-night clubs - it really is all here. It's almost impossible to recommend one or two restaurants in an area as abundant in rich possibilities as Santa Catalina... but Mercat de Santa Catalina is prized for its sublime tapas.

A popular Palma seafront suburb, Portixol is now one of the capital's coolest places to hang out, as well as something of a romantic rendezvous. While Palma can sometimes feel a little hectic, life in Portixol is always easy. Add to its boardwalk, well cared-for promenade, clean sandy beaches and lovely marina an impressive array of smart restaurants and cool, lively bars, and its easy to see why the distinctive laissez-faire atmosphere prevails here. Portixol makes a great place to have a second home. Spend languid Sundays on the sands at Assaona Gastrobeach Club, sip cocktails while watching the sun go down at the delightful boutique Hotel Portixol, and then choose from the very many traditional restaurants, all excellent, dotted along the waterfront.