A good spa is the best plan for a rainy day, for resting after a Tramuntana hike, or simply for doing nothing in style. Mallorca has every kind: Arab-inspired baths in Palma's old town and great hotel spas dotted across the island.
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Two great ways to take a breather coexist on Mallorca. The first is the hammam, the Arab-inspired bath that reclaims the island's Andalusi heritage: warm rooms, water and low light for a thermal circuit usually finished with a massage. In Palma's old town, Hammam Al Ándalus brings this tradition to the city centre, in a setting of arches and soft light. It's the perfect urban plan for an afternoon of switching off without leaving Palma.
The second is the great hotel spas, built for a full day of pools, saunas and treatments. Out of town, the Arabella Spa in Costa den Blanes is one of the Calvià area's benchmarks; and in the north-east, the Day Spa at Carrossa Hotel & Spa in Artà combines the water circuit with the quiet landscape of the Llevant. In Palma there are also wellness centres and holistic treatments by the Paseo Marítimo for anyone after something more intimate than a big resort.
Two tips before booking. One: almost all spas — and especially hammams — require booking in advance and run in time slots, so don't turn up without an appointment, particularly at weekends. And two: ask what the pass includes, because the water circuit and the massage are often separate; combining them is the most-booked plan and the one that feels best. Book the whole morning or afternoon and come out like new.