Balearic Islands holidays

Each possessing its own distinct rhythm, this enchanting quartet of Spanish islands makes for the ideal island-hopping holiday. Mallorca, the well-loved crown jewel of the Mediterranean (and possibly our favourite Balearic island), is bordered by buttery-sand beaches and backed by the craggy chain of the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range. Tour the historic plazas and baroque churches which punctuate Palma’s dreamy old town by bicycle or on foot and hike to hidden mountain villages, emerging from pine tree-covered hillsides to experience a quieter way of life. If it’s nature you’re after, meander through the orange groves of Fornalutx or olive groves of Valldemossa, before heading to the ocean-side sanctuary of Cala Deià.

Ibiza is renowned as the glamorous party capital of the Balearics, and while this reputation suggests that the island is merely a hub of hedonistic pursuits, you can in fact enjoy peaceful yoga retreats by day before taking to the neon-drenched streets and dancing the night away. For a change of pace, Minorca’s sun-drenched bays and mellow cities move to a more laid-back beat than its neighbours, making it an idyll for slow travel lovers. Last but by no means least, pocket-sized Formentera is 12 miles of blissful beaches and pastel-hued hamlets, designed for deliciously lazy days.