Holidaymakers flock to Magaluf and Palma Nova in their thousands for the sun, sea and sand and cheap deals offered by package holidays. However, there is so much more to Majorca than a Brit-infused fiesta, and if you want to travel around and explore somewhere new – without flying to the other side of the globe, Majorca may be the location for you.

Get off the beaten track by hiring a car – or, for the truly brave, hitchhiking, which is far more common and acceptable on the Continent – and discover the Majorca travel agents don’t tell you about – the Gothic architecture, olive groves, hilltop villages and hidden coves waiting to be discovered. For landscape and nature fans, the Serra de Tramuntana mountain ranges on the northwest coast are simply stunning and offer fantastic road trips, town markets and hiking opportunities – including to Lluc, a place of pilgrimage. You can also camp in Lluc, for a memorable holiday adventure.

Pollenca is also in this area and is well worth exploring. Not only a great jump-off point to discover Lluc Monastery, Port de Pollenca, the beaches around the Bay of Alcudia and the S’Albufera wetlands – a major nature park – Pollenca is an important part of Majorca’s cultural history, having attracted painters and celebrities to its gorgeous shores – as well as being the site of one of Agatha Christie’s novels.

On the opposite side of the island, the south east, culture vultures will delight in the gallery of artwork by Picasso, Francis Bacon and Henry Moore in the historic town of Valldemossa. This region is also hope to Palma, which shares a major tourist beach resort with Majorca’s capital – a city full of culture and breathtaking architecture. The Castell de Bellver, one of Spain’s most distinct castles, offers beautiful views of the bay as well as a number of archaeological finds and sculptures.