Magaluf, Majorca Hotels, Restaurants and things to do
Magaluf Resort Guide
Magaluf, from its southern most reaches where it seamlessly transforms from Palma Nova, is a riot of pubs, bars and restaurants. The resort is what many people, especially the British, think about when they think of Mallorca. In the premier league of Spanish tourist resorts, along with Benidorm and Ibiza, Magaluf welcomes hundreds of thousands of package holiday visitors every summer who flock here in search of familiar food, cheap booze and quality hotels and entertainment for both adults and children. Seemingly every place in the town that has the space to serve booze or food does so in spades.
In the summer, Magaluf is incredibly busy; with revellers from all over the UK, and the occasional Dutch, Dane or German, out for a full night’s entertainment. The partying goes on 24/7 in a resort that is designed almost entirely for hedonistic pleasure. In the winter, Magaluf becomes something of a ghost town. Although people do travel here to catch a few winter rays, the town is charmless and desperate when the sun is not shining and the shear wealth of hotel rooms and bars that serve Magaluf so well in summer shut down for the off season.
Magaluf Beach is surprisingly well kept and clean, even at the height
of the summer influx. It boasts lovely fine sand and, as you would expect,
lots of things for both adults and kids to do. A promenade runs the length
of the beach which, as you would expect, is lined with restaurants and
bars serving cool drinks. All of the usual beach activities are available
from the obligatory parascending, jet skis and the wildly popular banana
boats to more sedate snorkelling and windsurfing. You can even hire a
pedalo and pedal out to the island you will see, a few hundred metres
from the beach, Isla de Sa Porrassa or “Lizard Island”. It’s
a great feeling reaching the island and feeling like you’ve just
discovered a new land! Try planting a flag with the kids and claiming
it for Her Majesty!
Recommending where to eat and drink in Magaluf is a pointless task. With its hundreds of bars and restaurants, that are frequently owned by different people from year to year, sustained guarantees of quality are difficult to give. What you are likely to find in Magaluf are many establishments, serving basic British favourites at very competitive prices. If a full English, Irish or Scottish breakfast is what you’re after Magaluf has it in spades. Some long term stayers from the Magaluf culinary scene include:
Magaluf Bars:
Manos Place:
Ever popular bar with tons of football shirts on the walls,
cheap drinks and a constant party vibe.
Lineker's Magaluf:
One of the many Lineker’s bars in similar resorts around
the Med this football themed place has a great terrace overlooking Magaluf
beach.
Magaluf Clubs - BCM
BCM is the island’s premier nightclub, is massive and is often jam packed with revellers until after dawn. BCM is the only place outside of Palma that you’ll see top name DJs and with 3 bars, a pay once on the door and drinks are free policy, you are almost guaranteed to have a good time.
Things to do in Magaluf:
Magaluf Water parks:
There are two infamous water parks on the outskirts of Magalluf that are locked in a year on year arms race to attract the tourist Euro. Although both parks are very good and can safely be relied on for a fun day out, we would say that Western Water Park offers greater fun for smaller children, as they have a wider variety of shows and the ever popular sea lion attraction., and Aqualand is better for adults and teenagers looking for bigger thrills as it has a couple more large slides.
Western Water Park
Open from May 5th to October 31st 2008.
Park opening times:
May, June and September 10 am – 5 pm.
July and August 10 am – 6 pm.
Prices:
Adults:€22.00
Children aged 4-12:€14.00
Children aged 0-3: free
Western Water Park Magaluf Website
Aqualand
Open from June 2nd until the 31st of August.
Park opening times:
June: 10 am to 5 pm.
July and August: 10 am to 6 pm.
Prices:
Adults: €21.50
Children (4 to 12): € 13.50
Pirates Dinner Show
Wildly popular since it opened over 20 years ago, Pirates is a brilliant and unique dinner show that has to be seen to be believed. Mixing dance, theatre, pyrotechnics and excellent stunts, Pirates is a treat for the whole family.
Marine Land
Up the road from Magaluf in Puerto Portals is Marineland, a fun day out where you can see beautiful dolphins leaping and dancing, majestic sea lions clowning around and, wait for it, Parrots cycling. Afterwards take a stroll down to see how the other half live and admire the hugely expensive boats in Portals marina.
Season: February 4th till November 25th 2008
Opening Times:
Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm
Saturday and Sunday from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm
Adults: € 21.00
Children: € 15.00 (free for children up to 3 years old).
Senior Citizens: € 18.90
House of Katmandu
House of Katmandu is housed in an upside down mansion that looks like
it has just fallen out of the sky right into the heart of Magaluf. Based
around the mythical adventures of “Kilgore Goode” House of
Katmandu mixes animatronics, perspective altering design and wacky exhibits
to take visitors on a quest to find the yeti. The kids will love it.
House of Katmandu Website
Magaluf Hotels:
Magaluf has more quality hotels per sqaure mile than anywhere else on Mallorca. very strong competition means that prices are never unreasonable even at the height of summer, and during the off season some amazing bargains can be found if you look hard enough. Visit our Magaluf Hotels page to search for quality hotels all year round.
Magaluf Car Rental:
Most families, in Mallorca on their annual holidays are more than happy to stay in the main Magaluf resort and soak up some sun on the beach. But if you wanted to get out and about and see a bit more of what Mallorca has to offer it is well worth hiring a car. Everywhere on Mallorca is within a short drive away and there are some wonderful sights to be seen within minutes of the Magaluf resort itself. Visit our Magaluf Car Hire page to search for some really reasonable car hire deals.
Magaluf Golf.
Magaluf is a brilliant base from which to explore some of the South West’s golf courses. As staying in Magaluf is relatively cheap, you won’t feel as bad paying out for those green fees!
