The earliest settlers in Mallorca were a Neolithic community that constructed stone compounds, the remains of which can still be explored at archaeological sites across the island. Waves of conquest continued to ravage its shores in the centuries that followed, with Roman, Visigoth, Muslim and Christian crusaders each plundering the island in turn. Fortifications designed to ward off such invaders—the Gothic-style Castell de Bellver, the inaccessible Castell d'Alaró and medieval Castell de Capdepera—are imposing reminders of Mallorca’s past.

The first chartered flight landed on Mallorca in 1950, priming it to fast become a favourite tourist destination, whose visitor numbers now surpass 10 million every year. Its charming historic capital Palma is a 20-minute drive away from the airport. It’s a city of spires: the signature Gothic steeples that crown the 13th-century Palma de Mallorca Cathedral; the sky-piercing turrets of the Moorish Royal Palace of La Almudaina; and Castell de Bellver’s imposing towers just outside Palma. Beyond its architecture, browse Palma’s elegant boutiques, tasteful galleries and lively tapas bars to discover a buzzing cultural hub.

As lovely as Mallorca’s capital is, sun-worshippers tend to head straight for the white sandy resorts surrounding it. The island’s compact size means that in less than an hour from the city, you can be exploring its wild northernmost peninsulas or sunbathing on the shores of the horseshoe-shaped Badia d’Alcúdia.

From the balmy glamour that bejewels Mallorca’s prestigious Puerto Portals—20 minutes southwest along the coast from Palma—to the ancient laid-back town of Puerto Pollença, an hour’s drive north, there’s a tempo to suit all tastes. Puerto Pollença’s narrow streets and pretty squares are dotted with cafés—an ideal perch to while away an afternoon watching village life pass by.

Hikers can take their pick between the Serra de Tramuntana in the west or the Serres de Llevant in the east, each spanning approximately 70km in length. Wind your way up to reach captivating vistas of clear, blue waters and honey-coloured houses in the villages below. The glimmering Mirador de Mal Pas and the Talaia d’Albercutx watchtower make spectacular viewing points along the Tramuntana mountain roads.

With so many more rustic landscapes and pretty hilltop towns to visit—including Sóller, embedded in the island’s valley of oranges, and Deià, which resides by a ravine at the foot of the Puig del Teix mountain—hire a car with Avis in Mallorca and uncover the island’s most scenic sun spots, inaccessible without your own transport.