Defined by its dramatic coastline and discrete celebrity, Mallorca’s northern region is more elegant resorts and historic mountain villages than waterparks and 24/7 party. It’s also the best area for active holidays and nowhere else does as many sports as well or as energetically: Sky Team cyclists have a training camp here.

• Pollensa is often called the prettiest town in the Balearics. A few kilometres away on the coast, Puerto Pollensa is its high-end seaside counterpart for historic hotels, smart restaurants and outdoor adventuring around Cap de Formentor.
• Very busy in summer, Port d’Alcudia is still a good choice with older kids and teens. There’s lots to do on and off the beach, the atmosphere’s lively and there are plenty of peaceful places nearby to escape the crowds.
• Alcudia’s 40 minutes by car from Palma and there’s a direct train service too: easy way to see Mallorca’s interior.

If west Mallorca conjures up sleazy tabloid headlines, you’re probably thinking of Magaluf. But the resort which almost got young Brits banned from the Balearics is a tiny blip on a beautiful coast where you’ll also find Palma and Valldemossa, Port d’Andratx and refreshing seaside towns like Santa Ponsa, El Toro and Peguera.

• Described as Europe’s loveliest island capital, Palma has a gorgeous historic district, superb restaurants and great shops. Urban beaches packed with water sports vie for attention with museums, galleries, festivals and events.
• Magaluf is Mallorca’s giant for waterparks, theme parks, value all-inclusive hotels and cheap restaurants. It’s not authentic or charming, but dipping in now and again with older kids and teens is fun.
• Stay on the coast with kids but make at least one day trip to Valldemossa. It’s one of the island’s most historic towns, an eco-icon and a perfect, gentle introduction to the remarkable Serra da Tramuntana.

Almost all the best beaches are found on Mallorca’s gorgeously sunny south coast. Long stretches of golden sand are the norm and the area has dozens of resorts and seaside towns to take advantage of them. Palma is less than an hour’s drive away, but there’s plenty to keep kids occupied right here.

• Can Pastilla is Palma’s nearest southern neighbour and one of the island’s most popular family resorts.
• El Arenal, Es Tranc and Sa Rapita are all beachy legends with some of Mallorca’s best water sports and incredible surfing.
• Cala Pi has one of the loveliest beaches on the south coast and is surprisingly undiscovered. Good choice for gentle seaside holidays with younger kids.
• Cala d’Or could probably be called Mallorca’s original tourist resort and it has just about everything you could want in a beachy break; right down to a cute tourist train, famously good markets and endless activities for kids.

Calm and peaceful eastern Mallorca is as undiscovered as the west and south coasts are crowded. There are fewer beaches and the coastline isn’t cluttered with water sports and activities. But, if you’re in the market for pretty fishing villages, historic towns and more than a little scenic grandeur, you’ll find all that here.

• Visit Artá, tucked into a deep valley about 10 minutes from the coast it’s home to Santuari de Sant Salvador, one of the island’s most impressive sanctuaries.
• 14th century Capdapera is another heritage giant and just a short drive from several of the east coast’s loveliest beaches.
• Cala Millor is the best known east coast family resort and famous for its long, blue-flag beach.
• Cala Aguilla is good for snorkelling, swimming and diving; Canyamel has great water sports and a luxury resort vibe; pretty Porto Cristo is easy going fun with kids and has a few of the east coast’s best restaurants.