El Molinar

01With a dash of serenity

Great transport links with Palma, where there are international schools, also entice people to the area. The motorway is nearby too, so it's easy to reach the airport and the rest of the island from El Molinar. If you want to ditch the car, you can hop on a city bus or grab an e-scooter or a pushbike. Beside the footpath, a cycle path runs alongside the water, right to the cathedral and beyond. Another very appealing aspect of El Molinar is the blend of inhabitants , a mix of long-established Majorcan residents and newcomers from an array of different countries. The latter find themselves almost magically drawn by the relaxed atmosphere that comes with a dash of typical Majorcan serenity.

02The mill district

Many of the old buildings have already been completely renovated or even totally demolished to make way for new property. It is worth its weight in gold in this area of Majorca. Even the harbour of El Molinar, once so wonderfully sleepy, has undergone the modernisation treatment. However, the original plans to develop the port on a larger scale fell through, not least because of opposition from the local residents, who wanted to preserve their cosy village of El Molinar. Like Portixol, El Molinar also offers rustic pubs and restaurants with a view of the Bay of Palma.

Incidentally, the name El Molinar comes from "molino", meaning mill. Indeed, in the 19th century up until the start of the 20th century, this is an area where you would have seen the sails of numerous flour mills turning in the wind.

03The activity promenade

The coastal promenade with an obelisk called La Gaviota (the seagull) is an ideal route for anyone who loves to be active. It's full of intense activity here especially at the weekends, with people out going for long walks, jogging, cycling, scooting and rollerblading. If you're feeling unstoppable, you can pedal in the direction of Can Pastilla, past Cala Gamba and on to the undeveloped stretch at Es Carnatge , where there is a length of untouched shoreline.