Advice needed: Which Spanish Island best to visit?

TL_time

We are a couple looking to visit a Spanish (or Portuguese) Island this September for 7 days. We're looking for somewhere with great beaches and scenery to explore either by foot or via public transport as we can't drive. Anywhere with great seafood/authentic cuisine would be amazing.

We will be flying in from London in early to mid-September. Any suggestions would be very helpful!

DomRavioli

Majorca has Alcudia for beaches and plenty to explore via public transport. Ibiza is less beachy, so I'd rule it out. Menorca can be a little too quiet for some, but may be reasonable.

Madeira are having some ecological issues currently, so I'd rule that out.

The Azores are best explored by car, not on foot.

You also have the canaries - Fuerteventura is probably the most scenic of the big 4 (there's also some smaller islands which may be more up your alley), and is a Biosphere with some good beaches. Just don't stay in Corralejo if you're looking for scenery. Public transport is really good there.

Also the Cape Verde islands - quite quiet but lovely beaches, unsure of public transport.

You might want to narrow down what you want as a lot of places have what you want, as not all these places have direct flights (azores, smaller canaries).

AlexMac

To my mind, Mallorca has the greatest potential. Assuming you'll wish to avoid the drunken ghettos of norther European youth in the south west that is, you have a traditional cathedral capital in Palma, a diversity of attractions from coves and calas, beaches and family resorts, quiet inland towns, caves, mountains and monasteries, coastal footpaths, literary associations (Robert graves in Deja, George Sands and Chopin in Valdemossa...) and good public transport including the charming little train an hour from Palma through the farmland and mountain to Soller; http://www.trendesoller.com/en/cms.php
and then on by tram to Port Soller, both of which merit a stopover...

And a more civilised way to fly there from London is from London City Airport (LCY) - a tiny airport in Docklands with fast, easy transit and quick passage through security, thus saving you the 3-4 hours to get to and through London's major airports..

Look at Mallorca/Majorca on Tripadvisor.co.uk

alwaysskint96

southend airport to PMI is good also

Andypandyboy

I know you said Island, but Alvor in Portugal is worth a look. Lots to do and so many good restaurants.

Katiehound

DomRavioli wrote: »

Also the Cape Verde islands - quite quiet but lovely beaches, unsure of public transport.

just to point out that Cape Verde islands are not remotely Spanish- but an independent republic! (they were once a Portuguese territory) The ones that major tour operators don't visit such as Sao Vicente & Sao Antao are very interesting but don't have public transport- certainly didn't see any. The hired coaches were in fact school buses!!