There are six different counties in Mallorca, each with its own distinct identity. There is truly something for everyone in Mallorca. What really gets you going? Sun, sea and surf? Nature pure? Mountains and woods? Village life? An international city? Somewhere to sail from?

For an island 3,600km2, there is an incredible wealth of variety awaiting you. If you are looking for a property on the island but are not sure which area to choose, this guide could help you choose the right area to best suit your tastes and lifestyle.

Palma de Mallorca

Ranking top in all of Spain for quality of life and among the top four European cities, it is no wonder that Palma de Mallorca is such a popular place to set up home. A thriving local community with a strong Mallorcan identity lives alongside an ever-growing international population.

The city offers many different kinds of area and property. The prestigious Old Town (Casc Antic) and Santa Catalina have arguably the most charming districts and architecture on offer. Organised walking tours offer the opportunity to pass by a selection of the renowned little palaces with their elegant interior patios, so beloved of photographers.

The area along the seafront, the Paseo Marítimo, is the natural home for the jet-set, with its luxury apartments, fast pace of life and proximity to the marina and Port.

It may generally be said that the most developed areas, or the most mature developments, are in the Southwest, extending beyond Palma into the Palmanova and Portals Nous areas. These tend to be the most strongly English-speaking areas and offer a range if International English Schools, as well as a French and German school. Flanking the Bay of Palma to the West are the equally well-developed areas of Arenal, and cheap and cheerful Magalluf  perhaps the best-known of the resort areas.

Some of the most spectacular properties are between these areas and the City of Palma, with Portixol and the fishing village Molinar offering an especially charming prospect Bendinat, with it’s stunning golf course and properties.

Santa Ponsa offers a multitude of golf properties; semi-detached houses or apartments in well-kept communities directly off the golf courses. The new devolopments in the quiet urbanisations between Nova Santa Ponsa and El Toro offer detached houses, beautiful communities and luxury villas, most built in the hills with splendid sea views. The demand for plots in these urbanisations has clearly risen during the last two years and the existing plots between properties are vanishing quickly. If you would like to build your dream home here, best not to wait. In Sol de Mallorca the picture is very much the same, with demand for plots and properties rising quickly. Generally speaking, the urbanisations in this area have developed into exclusive village locations with a an excellent quality/price ratio.

Serra de Tramuntana

This is largely national park and has some of the oldest woodland of the Mediterranean, if not Europe. For fabulous views and a favourable climate in Summer, the wealthy have for centuries been choosing to take a summer residence in the area. Distances here can be deceptive, the roads often tortuously twisted and not for the faint-hearted driver.

The exquisite views and detailed land husbandry, terracing and stone houses have attracted countless artists and writers, especially to the tiny village of Deià, which suffers somewhat from the sheer numbers of jetsetters in midsummer wishing to enjoy an artistic way of life. The ever-popular and exclusive area of Andratx forms the Western end of the Serra. If you wish to set up home within a living landscape, this is the region for you.

Es Raiguer of Mallorca

This is the area covering the foothills to the South of the Serra de Tramuntana and comprises some of the most emblematic villages and towns of Mallorca, including Mancor de la Vall, Alaró and Campanet, as well as the vibrant towns of Alcudia, on the Northeast coast, and Santa Maria, close to Palma.

An ideal distance from the mountains for those who wish to reside all year round, the foothills of the Serra de Tramuntana provide some of the loveliest landscapes of Mallorca and are still completely unspoilt. Because of their elevated position, fantastic sea views are possible, although the beach for the most part a twenty minute drive away,  and temperatures are a little cooler than the plains in Summer. This is the area for nature lovers, star gazers and those who appreciate peace and quiet and the old traditional ways of life.

Pla de Mallorca

This central plains region is considered to be the most authentic of Mallorca. Oblivious to outside influences, an agricultural way of life continues to dominate the landscape, which is dedicated to grain crops, livestock farming including sheep and pigs, and in certain parts – most notably Sta Maria and Binissalem – to vineyards.

The mountains create a picturesque backdrop to the corn-wafted, poppy-blown plains. This is the ideal place for those who appreciate the views of rural life without the winding roads of the mountains, who like the searing heat of Summer or else plan to be absent in August. It is the natural base for business owners who ply their trade all over the island, or for those who wish to savour the delights on offer island-wide and travel to a different beach each day.

Properties in this area still tend to be better value for money than elsewhere, because they are furthest from the beach and have attracted fewer outside settlers, although this is now changing. Access to the capital, Palma, on the other hand, is excellent.

Llevant and Migjorn (Southeast and South)

Some of the loveliest locations are in this region, including spectacular Artà and the magnificent beaches of the Manacor area and  Capdepera. Spring comes to this region that little bit earlier, because of an especially favourable climate, and the almond blossoms here are first to bloom. Sweeping landscapes and the sea – who could want for more?

Cala D’Or, with its superlative harbour and sandy beaches, is a bustling holiday resort on the Southeast coast. Popular with families, this area is not for those who seek a life in the wild spaces of Mallorca. It is better suited to those who prefer the charm of natural surroundings without suffering any of the inconveniences.

The Vall D’or Golf course, easily accessible from Porto Colom and Cala D’Or, enjoys magnificent views of the Mediterranean and combines a variety of terrains, including autochthonous woodland and olive groves, to make for an entertaining but not too difficult course. The environment naturally also provides magnificent lifestyle and investment property opportunities.

The glittering bay of Cala Murada offers unspoilt shores, with a bay of fine sands as well as the kind of rocky coastline so suitable for snorkelling and fishing, plus a backdrop of natural Pine Hills. Careful planning and development offers that rare commodity, beachfront properties which do not spoil the scenery and quality of life for others. For proximity to nature alongside all the infrastructures of a well-planned resort and the comforts of modern properties, Cala Murada could be your location of choice.

Vogue Properties is a company specialised in properties for sale in Pollensa,  where houses in this area tend to command a higher price than the Port of Alcudia. The area is highly sought-after and as such any purchase in the area is an excellent investment prospect. However Alcudia is stone’s throw from the Port of Pollensa and properties there tend to offer many of the advantages which make Pollença so popular, while at the same time representing excellent value for money. For the budget of a townhouse in Pollença, it is often possible to acquire an independent property with the advantages of fabulous views, proximity to the beach and the countryside. In short, the area of countryside between the Port of Pollença and the Port of Alcudia is worth keeping an eye on, because some surprising opportunities arise there from time to time.

With over 15 years of experience in the Mallorcan real estate maret, Balearic Properties has become one of the leading property networks with the largest online porfolio of fincas and villas for sale .  Visit the leaders in real estate of Mallorca at  Balearic Properties.