Cala d’Or is a charming and relaxed resort with several coved beaches, a marina, and a wealth of chic bars, restaurants, boutiques, and shops. A lovely place for family holidays.

The east coast resort of Cala D’Or is one of the prettiest on the island of Majorca. Located in the district of Santanyi, Cala D’Or is about 65km (about 40 miles) from Palma International Airport.

Like many of Majorca’s resorts, Cala d’Or has evolved from a small fishing village into a popular tourist resort, packed with bars, restaurants and shops, yet retains it’s picturesque qualities and authentic Mallorca charm.

Cala d’Or has an upmarket, stylish feel, with a stunning marina in the centre, surrounded by cobbled streets, whitewashed low-rise buildings and villas. Set along seven sandy coves (calas) providing picture-postcard perfect beaches of soft, golden sand, the resort has a relaxed, sophisticated vibe that attracts the rich and famous.

The stunning marina is set in the largest of Cala d’Or’s coves, Cala Llonga. The remainder of the resort stretches out in both directions along the coast, around the other coves and their beaches, including Cala Gran, Cala Ferrera, Cala Esmeralda, Cala Mondrago, Cala Egos and Cala d’Or, from which the town takes its name. You can walk the full length of the resort, or take a ride on the tourist road train which will take you to all of the nearby coves.

All of the beaches in Cala d’Or are quite small, but perfectly formed, edged with pines trees, and offering stunning views. Perfect for sunbathing, swimming and family fun, the sheltered coves are real suntraps, and have warm clear water, but be aware that they can all become quite crowded in peak season. Cala Gran and Cala Llonga are the largest beaches and have facilities for hiring sun loungers and parasols, as well as sailing, kitesurfing, windsurfing and scuba-diving. You can also hire bikes, go horse riding, take trips on glass-bottomed boats or hire a luxury yacht for the day.

Cala d’Or has a pedestrian zone around the Cala Gran area, where you will find an array of bars, restaurants and shops selling all kinds of souvenirs, crafts, clothing and holiday accessories, inflatables etc., plus designer boutiques for the more discerning shoppers. Evening entertainment in Cala d’Or is low-key – mainly hotel based, but you will find a good selection of livelier bars and a couple of discos around the pedestrian zone. Cala d’Or is not a party resort though, so may be best suited to families and those seeking peace and quiet.

There is a good selection of play areas for children, including amusements, mini go-karts, trampolines, and inflatables, plus play areas with swings and slides. Most are open well into the evening for family nights out.

For eating out, you will find plenty of choice: from traditional Spanish dining and high class seafood restaurants, to international cuisine, pizzas, fast food and pub grub, every taste is catered for. On the whole, the quality of restaurants in Cala d’Or is good, with plenty of high-quality eateries. Dine under the stars in one of the open-air fish restaurants around Cala Gran for a memorable experience. .

You’ll find plenty of hotels and holiday accommodation in Cala d’Or, with a few luxuries five-star hotels in the resort, plus many villas and apartments. None of the hotels are high-rise, so the resort does not feel crowded or built-up.

From Cala d’Or you can visit markets at Felanitx (Sundays) and Santanyi (Wednesdays and Saturdays). It is possible to catch buses to other east coast resorts, although the timetables are unreliable. There is also a large market at Inca on Saturday mornings. There is also a bus to the city of Palma.

Also within easy reach are the Caves of Drach and the nudist beach at Es Trenc.

In summary, Cala d’Or is a sophisticated and stylish resort, with a friendly and relaxed atmosphere: picturesque and charming, a place to relax and unwind, take in the views, and enjoy the warm sunny days. Ideal for families.