The Port of Sóller is very much a working harbour. Fishermen lay their nets out on the harbour front and there is a fishermen's bar and a place to buy fish at wholesale prices within two minutes walk of the harbour. All of this adds to the authentic feel of the area, and gives it local colour. Sóller has always had a close relationship with France - Louis XIV demanded that the oranges he ate at Versailles came from here - and the Santa Catalina quarter has a similar character to many small fishing villages in the south of France: narrow streets, higgledy-piggledy houses, a sense of pirates and fishermen’s tales. You are a world away from the purpose-built apartment blocks and tourist shops and restaurants.

At the top of the hill perched on the cliffs at the mouth of the harbour is a maritime museum which again is worth the walk and excellent views of the sea at sunset.

Within five minutes walk you are in the centre of the port itself, from where you can take the boats to Sa Calobra. Banks, restaurants, chemists, souvenir shops, and patisseries are all in Port Soller. In the winter, the Port of Sóller offers an excellent base for walking, and exploring the island. In the summer, the port has a long sandy beach, clean and safe water for swimming, and boats of all sizes to rent, from pedalos to yachts. There is a diving school in the port, and boats run regularly to Sa Calobra and Torrent de Pareis.

Public transport is excellent and taxis are relatively inexpensive, so a car is not necessary, There is free car parking 100 metres away from our house. Trams go into Sóller every thirty minutes, and the famous Sóller to Palma train runs regularly throughout the day. There is also an excellent bus service to Palma and to Valdemossa. “