Palma, the capital of Mallorca, is the perfect mix of seaside and city, and the ideal place for a weekend away. Mum of two Hannah Britt took her daughters – and they didn’t want to leave
11:25, 11 Sep 2026Updated 11:28, 11 Sep 2026
The Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma, also La Seu is a Gothic Roman Catholic cathedral located in Palma, Mallorca, Spain.(Image: Getty Images)
Palma’s cobbled backstreets provided much needed shade as we went on the hunt for ice cream. It was 10am and the summer sun was already at boiling point as we meandered around the beautiful old town. My young daughters and I ducked into the Convent de Santa Clara to cool off.
Home to cloistered nuns, it’s a brilliant spot for children as you can ring a bell for cake. Once dung, a nun, hidden behind a traditional revolving wooden turnstile known as a torno, asks for your order, offering traditional handmade cakes, biscuits, and pastries.
Baked goods in small fists, we thanks the nuns, left and made our way to Palma Cathedral, also known as La Seu, a massive Gothic Roman Catholic landmark located right on the sea.
Not a quick project, construction on the cathedral started in 1229 after King James I conquered the island, and it was finished in 1601.
A short queue allows you inside, which is just as impressive as its imposing exterior. Famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí worked on interior restorations starting in 1904, adding a unique crown-of-thorns canopy over the altar.
But with the call of ice cream still beckoning, it was time to go. Luckily for us, Artello Gelato was just around the corner, a popular artisan ice cream shop rated five stars on Tripadvisor.
I chose pistachio, as did my two year old, while my six year old went for salted caramel. A blissful five minutes followed as we devoured what I must agree is the best ice cream in town. Careful not to waste a drop we walked over to Placa Court, an historic public square famous for its 17th-century town hall and a massive 600-year-old olive tree.
And what a tree indeed. Swirled and gnarled like something out of a story book, it’s a symbol of peace for Palma and around 7m in circumference.
Visitors often look closely at the twisted bark to spot natural formations that resemble faces, including a distinct feature known locally as the Orella de Mallorca (the Ear of Mallorca). That looks like you, mummy, said my six year old. I wasn’t sure whether to be proud or deeply offended.
Laughing, I dipped us inside the town hall, which houses a permanent display of giant festival folklore figures known locally as gegants (giants) or large festival dolls. These over-four-meter-tall mannequins are not everyday puppets; they are heavy, hollow-framed figures worn by dancers, paraded through the streets during major city celebrations, such as the Festa de Sant Sebastià (Palma’s patron saint festival in January) and Corpus Christi.
When not on duty, however, they guard the grand entrance hall to the town hall. Can I have one, asked my six year old, as I led her swiftly away.
With the midday sun now high in the sky, it was time to retreat to our hotel. We were staying a short taxi ride away at the Zafiro Palace Palmanova, a five star want-for-nothing complex ideally situated, as the name suggests, in nearby Palmanova. Set between Palma and along the coast from Magaluf, the area manages to bridge the gap between lively and tranquil – and the Zafiro Palace is the jewel in its crown.
The hotel’s back gate leads to the clean, sandy beach in minutes, lined with bars, cafes and ice cream shops. Our favourite was the breezy Turtle Beach, which made a perfect Aperol spritz. But once inside the complex, it’s hard to muster the will to leave.
Rooms are immaculate and chicly decorated, all with balconies and some with hot tubs. We were lucky enough to have a swim-up suite, meaning we could roll out of bed and into the water at a moment’s notice. Two large kids pools and several main pools lay close by however, tantalisingly beckoning us in.
When hungry, food was sublime, with plenty on offer for even the fussiest little ones. The best flat white was to be found in the bar. As I sat that evening watching the girls dance at the kids’ disco, I had already plotted our return.
*Nightly rates at Zafiro Palace Palmanova start from €438 per night with All Inclusive Redefined ®
Young Brits are swapping traditional beach-day pastimes for paddleboards, surfing and a dip in the sea – but they still love one thing
15:25, 01 Sep 2026Updated 15:25, 01 Sep 2026
Gen Z beachgoers are doing things differently(Image: PinPep)
Gen Z is redefining the great British day at the seaside, replacing traditional favourites like arcade games and crazy golf with paddleboarding and surfing. A poll of 2,000 adults found 11% of Gen Z consider paddleboarding to be essential to the perfect day by the sea, compared to just 7% of Millennials and 3% of Boomers. They were also far more likely to take a dip, with 38% saying swimming in the sea is a beach day priority.
Classic seaside pastimes appear to be losing their appeal among younger adults as 74% would skip arcade games, and 87% would happily avoid a round of crazy golf.
But seaside traditions such as tucking into fish and chips, a picnic and coastal walks were still among the most treasured experiences across all those surveyed.
Bryony Walker from Walker’s Shortbread, which brought its newly launched Wee Chunkies bites to a seaside pop-up on Brighton beach, said: “While the research shows beachgoers still crave the classic seaside experiences, it’s interesting to see what now makes up the ideal day at the beach.
“Activities like paddleboarding are becoming more popular with younger generations, but what remains constant is a dip in the sea.
“The coast holds special appeal, combining nostalgia, quality family time and the simple joys of a well-packed picnic, fresh air and time outdoors.”
The study, conducted through OnePoll, revealed that 15 minutes is considered the perfect amount of time to spend in the water.
Following the dip, beachgoers enjoy wrapping themselves in a toasty towel (49%) or tucking into a warm sweet snack to restore energy levels (18%) – a tradition the Scots refer to as a ‘Shivery Bite’ – something only 9% of Brits are familiar with.
Due to the unfamiliarity with this Scottish phrase, Walker’s Shortbread decided to introduce the Shivery Bite concept to Bank Holiday beachgoers and swimmers along Brighton’s bustling seafront.
Bryony Walker added: “The insights have revealed the nation’s ideal beach day, with fresh sea air, sunshine, blue skies and that essential paddle in the water. “After a summer of intense heat, beachgoers are craving a moment of relief, whether it’s a colder coastal breeze or cosy comfort food.
“Few things beat wrapping up after a swim or enjoying a warm treat, something in Scotland we call a ‘Shivery Bite’, and our new shortbread offering is exactly for this moment, best served warm, to help make the most of the post-dip feeling.”
Family travel expert Hannah Britt says it’s time to add Marmaris in Turkey to your bucket list. An untapped gem, it provides a mix of history and nature ideal for children to explore
Hannah and her family fell in love with Marmaris
From paradisiacal waters to fascinating archeology, it’s time to add Marmaris to your family travel plans. A bustling, energetic coastal resort on the Turkish Riviera, framed by pine-clad mountains and a turquoise ocean, it blends a lively party scene and child-friendly beaches with a historic old town and scenic natural bays. Having heard tell of the “Maldives of Europe”, I packed my factor 50, swept up my two children, and went to see what all the fuss was about. And I’m pleased to report that Marmaris did not disappoint…
What to see…
Amos Ancient City
Perched on a scenic headland roughly 24km south of Marmaris, Amos is an ancient Carian settlement tucked between the modern coastal towns of Turunç and Kumlubük. Historically part of the Rhodian Peraia during the Hellenistic period (dating back to around the 4th century BC), Amos served as a key fortified coastal city.
The ruins sit atop the pine-and olive-clad hill of Asarcık, offering sweeping, panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea and surrounding bays. Despite its modest size compared to larger archaeological sites in Turkey, Amos boasts remarkable historical remnants. Its standout feature is a well-preserved ancient theatre capable of seating roughly 1,300 spectators, where visitor seating, orchestra floor outlines, and structural bases remain visible today.
Beyond the theatre, visitors can explore sections of fortified polygonal city walls with defensive towers, the traces of a Temple of Apollo, and ancient grave structures (necropolis) scattered across the slopes. Free to access and far less crowded than major tourist hotspots, Amos offers a quiet mix of history and natural beauty, accessible via a short uphill hike from Amos Bay.
Little ones: The walk up to Amos is easy, even for the littlest legs – and it’s well worth it for the view at the top. A wonderful place to sit and feel the history of the place.
Marmaris Castle
A visit to central Marmaris would simply be incomplete without seeing Marmaris Castle – a historic hilltop fortress that overlooks the scenic harbour and city beyond. According to the Greek historian Herodotus, the first fortifications on this site were built around 3,000 BC during the Hellenistic period. The current structure was largely rebuilt in 1522 by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent as a military base for his campaign to conquer nearby Rhodes.
A French warship damaged part of the castle during World War I. Local residents lived inside the fortress walls until 1979. Following major restorations, it officially opened to the public as a museum in 1991. Archeological galleries feature Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine artefacts, including amphorae retrieved from local shipwrecks, tombstones, and the Apollo Altar frieze from Knidos. Ethnographic rooms display traditional regional items, local crafts, and everyday objects from the Ottoman period.
Little ones: A walk around the ancient stone walls provided reenactment fun for my little ones, who pretended they were soldiers defending their very own castle.
Honey House
The Marmaris Honey House (known locally as Marmaris Bal Evi) is a unique, interactive apiculture museum and visitor centre located in the tiny mountain village of Osmaniye, near Marmaris. Built in an eye-catching, honeycomb-shaped architectural structure, the centre serves to educate visitors on the rich history of Turkish beekeeping and to promote Marmaris pine honey, a distinct, world-renowned regional product. In fact, the surrounding Muğla region supplies roughly 92% of the world’s pine honey, with Marmaris accounting for 30% of that total.
Indoor and outdoor galleries showcase the complete journey of pine honey production. Visitors can view traditional Anatolian hives, a glass-walled observation hive to watch live bees at work, and modern centrifuge and transport tools. Dedicated spaces demonstrate how bee products like royal jelly, pollen, propolis, and honey are used for healing and health.
Little ones: It’s fascinating to see the bees in the glass-fronted hives, and my six year old loved spotting the queen. Almost as much as she loved trying the pine honey at the end…
Where to eat…
Orfoz
Orfoz Restaurant is a popular riverside dining spot located directly on the edge of the crystal-clear Azmak River in Akyaka, Muğla. Tables are set right along the riverbank under the shade of mature trees. Some tables even allow guests to dip their feet directly into the ice-cold Azmak River while eating. Diners can watch ducks, geese, and passing river boats turn around near the restaurant.
Known primarily as a fish restaurant, it features a large cooler/display cabinet where guests can choose their own fresh fish to be grilled to order. Orfoz also offers a wide variety of traditional Turkish cold and warm mezzes, unique salads, and small plates (such as pomegranate, plum and parsley mezze, and grilled onions with yogurt sauce). We had the grilled octopus, which was cooked to perfection.
Little ones: a gaggle of friendly geese and ducks provided endless entertainment while we ate in the shaded spot, coming right up to the kids to say hello.
DEDE
Dede Restaurant is one of the oldest and most respected family-run dining spots in Marmaris, located right on the historic marina. Opened in 1973, the name “Dede” (grandfather in Turkish) was chosen in honour of the family patriarch, Ali Denizelli, a local figure who lived to 104.
Currently run by the grandchildren and fourth generation of the founding family, it sits on the marina front and provides a great people watching spot and specialises in fresh daily seafood, signature Aegean mezzes, Mediterranean dishes, and classic Turkish options. An upscale yet casual waterfront dining with views overlooking the bay and boats. The people watching is sublime – better than TV!
Little ones: Children are welcomed with open arms at this Marmaris institution and the menu, in particular the seafood, is divine.
The day trip
Turkist gulet cruise
The highlight of our stay in Marmaris had to be the day we spent on Diva Deniz, a 29m luxury ketch-style traditional Turkish gulet available for private cruise charters. We were picked up from our hotel pier and taken on board for a spectacular journey around the bays near Marmaris. Once moored, we could jump in the beautiful water to snorkel.
The boat, run by Gulet Point, was stunning, with places to lounge in the sun and shade – and a delicious freshly cooked lunch served, with garlic prawns, pan fried fish and mezze. When I say we did not want our day on the Diva Deniz to end, it’s an understatement. The cruise allowed us to see the real beauty of Marmaris, and is something we will remember forever.
Little ones: A paddleboard provided on the boat was brilliant, allowing the kids somewhere to sit awhile and bob on the lapping water.
Where to stay
Grand Yazici Club Turban
The Grand Yazici Club Turban Hotel is a four star all-inclusive resort nestled where pine forests meet the Aegean Sea. It sits directly on a pretty sand-and-shingle beachfront with its own private pier; connected by a scenic coastal promenade to Marmaris. It’s big, with over 500 rooms, but thanks to its leafy setting, feels incredibly tranquil.
For the hungry, there are plenty of places to eat, from upmarket restaurants to chilled out cafes. A main buffet restaurant provides something for all tastes, from pizza to local cuisine, alongside specialised venues like La Querida Beach Club & Restaurant and the Italian à la carte restaurant Le Farfalle, plus dedicated snack, pastry, and ice cream shops.
When it comes to activities, you’re spoiled for choice with multiple outdoor swimming pools (including a main activity pool, relax pool, and adults-only sections), an indoor thermal pool, and a mini water park with slides. Elsewhere, there are two spas featuring separate Turkish hammams and saunas for men and women, plus thermal bath facilities and massage rooms. There are tennis courts, volleyball, a fitness gym, live music performances, and evening shows in the amphitheater too.
We stayed in a family suite, with shared access to a private pool. It was spotless, stylish and absolutely huge, with a comfy living room to read in when the midday sun got too hot. A beautiful terrace overlooked the sea, on which we were served a daily Turkish breakfast with a well made flat white. A brilliant want-for-nothing family hotel less expensive than many of its five star counterparts.
Little ones: There’s a dedicated kids’ club, children’s pool, playground, trampolines, and a mini football pitch.
Cost: Grand Yazici Club Turban Hotel room prices start from around £63 per night for standard bookings in low season, while complete all-inclusive holiday packages start from approximately £369 per person.
*For more on planning a trip to Türkiye, see Go Türkiye
A woman has shared a video of her trip to a charming seaside town, where she said ‘time slowed down’ and visitors feel like they’ve stepped back in time
There are some great hidden spots in the UK and away from tourists(Image: Justin Paget via Getty Images)
One Norfolk spot is one of those classic British seaside towns that has managed to hold on to its old-school charm. Set on the North Norfolk coast, it offers far more than just a day at the beach, with historic attractions, independent shops, local food and plenty of scenic walks.
A surprising attraction in Sheringham is hidden beneath the waves. The Cromer Shoal Chalk Reef, which runs along the coast just offshore, is described by North Norfolk tourism authorities as the longest chalk reef in the world, stretching for around 20 miles.
At first glance, it might seem fairly ordinary, with a population of just 7,100 residents, according to the 2021 census. But most visitors quickly change their minds, with countless tourists claiming they feel as though they’ve stepped back in time upon arriving in this delightful town.
There’s no shortage of things to do, with an award-winning beach, breathtaking nature and parks to explore, as well as local and military museums to visit, reports the Express.
A traditional seaside beach
Sheringham’s Blue Flag beach is a big draw, with a long promenade, colourful beach huts and plenty of space to enjoy the coastline.
At low tide, patches of sand appear between the pebbles, while the rocky shoreline is ideal for rock pooling. The town has a much more traditional seaside feel than some of Britain’s busier resorts, with fishing boats, cafés and independent shops lining the streets rather than rows of large amusement attractions.
Ride a steam train
One of Sheringham’s best-known attractions is the North Norfolk Railway, also known as the Poppy Line.
The heritage railway runs between Sheringham and Holt, taking passengers through the Norfolk countryside on restored historic trains. With its old-fashioned stations and steam locomotives, it’s a particularly appealing way to see the surrounding area and adds to the town’s nostalgic charm.
A fishing town at heart
Sheringham’s roots can be traced back to its days as a fishing village, and that heritage is still visible today. Small fishing boats continue to operate from the town’s slopes, with crab and lobster among the catches associated with the area.
For anyone wanting to find out more about the town’s past, Sheringham Museum is well worth a visit. Its collections explore everything from fishing and farming to local life and the lifeboat service, alongside fossils and prehistoric discoveries from the surrounding coastline.
Taking to TikTok, one woman decided to share her experience of visiting the charming coastal town, describing it as a place ‘where time slowed down’.
“Sheringham – a cosy seaside town where time slows down. Colourful cottages, fresh sea breeze, and the sound of waves – it’s the kind of place that makes you want to stay a little longer,” she wrote in the caption of the video.
She went on to post her clip, which opened with a woman, dressed in a blue dress and wearing a sunhat, strolling along the platform at the train station. The footage was filmed from inside a vintage train, which immediately created the sensation of having stepped back in time.
The TikTok creator went on to share brief clips from their visit to Sheringham, highlighting the delightful high street decorated with colourful bunting strung above, before capturing a procession of older women dancing and parading through the town centre.
They then shifted their focus to the beach, where visitors were enjoying the scenery and taking part in various activities in the blue waters, despite the grey skies above.
Viewers were quick to rush to the comments section to share their thoughts, with many expressing their joy at how peaceful and beautiful the Norfolk town looked.
“I love Britain one of my favourite countries,” one person wrote.
Another viewer said: “This is not just a video. It’s like opening up to a brand new dimension of extraordinary power!”
In reality, Dave Franco has a strict routine for Sundays, one he takes very seriously. He and his wife, actor Alison Brie, stay in bed all day, watch four movies and Postmate every single meal. But for the sake of Sunday Funday, the actor, director and screenwriter gave us a hypothetical Sunday where they actually leave their house.
In Sunday Funday, L.A. people give us a play-by-play of their ideal Sunday around town. Find ideas and inspiration on where to go, what to eat and how to enjoy life on the weekends.
The couple have lived in Los Feliz since 2012 and have bounced around to a few different spots in the neighborhood during that time. “We love that there are certain pockets that feel tucked away in nature where you don’t feel the buzz of the city,” Franco says, “but when you’re in the mood for a great meal or a night out, you’re still only a five-minute drive from all the action.”
Franco and Brie have collaborated on multiple projects, including the horror film “Together” (where they were the two leads) and the rom-com “Somebody That I Used to Know” (which he directed, she starred in and they co-wrote). Up next, Franco will roll solo as an actor and producer of the dark action comedy “Idiots,” out in theaters on Friday.
Sunday remains a day that he and Brie dedicate to being with each other. “No matter what else is happening in our lives or what we have coming up for that following week, we know we’re going to be together on Sunday,” Franco says. “Let’s spend the whole day together, let’s be connected, and it just resets us in a nice way for the week.”
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for length and clarity.
7:30 a.m.: Coffee and doughnuts
I’ll set my alarm so I can roll out of bed and get to Maru Coffee right as it opens in an attempt to avoid the insane line that will inevitably snake down the entirety of Hillhurst Avenue. If I don’t want to wait in line, I’ll head to Dayglowin Silver Lake where some of my favorite baristas are generous enough to let me try whatever new concoction they’re experimenting with. But no matter where I end up, I’ll typically grab a cold brew for myself and an iced oat cappuccino for my wife.
If I’m feeling extra magnanimous, I’ll then drive to Proof Bakery in Atwater Village for our favorite croissants, or I’ll go all the way to Bob’s Donuts at the Farmers Market at the Grove and grab a couple of old-fashioned glazed.
Doughnuts on Sunday is a very important ritual for us. I legitimately think it’s a big reason our marriage has been so successful. We work hard and then we get to look forward to sharing something decadent at the end of each week.
11 a.m.: First movie of the day
After digesting our pastries, we will catch a late-morning movie at the Los Feliz 3, the Vista or the Landmark Sunset. When we get to the movie theater, Alison will ask whether we should get a small or large popcorn. I always reply, ‘Get the small. I don’t want any. I’m just going to have Red Vines.’ Inevitably, I’ll finish my Red Vines before the movie has even started and then Alison will begrudgingly allow me to have a few handfuls of her popcorn, but she is not happy about it. I’m not exaggerating when I say this happens every single time we go to the movies.
1:30 p.m.: Strictly vintage
After the movie, we might pop by Denim Revival in West Hollywood, which has the best vintage shopping in town. It’s a small curated collection, but if you’re into vintage Levi’s and old band T-shirts, this is your spot. My wife typically gets bored quickly in a vintage clothing store, but when I find her the perfect-fitting Tom Petty or John Lennon shirt, she perks right up.
Most of what’s in my closet is vintage. I can’t think of a T-shirt that I’ve worn in the past handful of years that wasn’t a vintage T-shirt. I have a pretty good collection at this point. I’m hitting all the different angles where I have anything from Beastie Boys to Jimi Hendrix to Britney Spears to Hansen.
I will definitely scour eBay or Grailed to find the perfect white T-shirt, which I have 10 of already, but it’s an endless search to expand that collection.
3 p.m.: Big Sur in L.A.
If we are in the mood for a pre-dinner snack, we’ll pop by the Trails cafe [in Griffith Park] for their famous egg in a basket, which is their take on the classic breakfast dish, toad in a hole. We’ll sit at Trails’ wooden benches surrounded by nature where it almost feels like we’re not in LA. It’s the closest we can get to Big Sur in Los Angeles.
We could sneak in a hike. We’ll sometimes start at an entrance across from the Greek Theatre, which will loop us all the way around past the [Griffith] Observatory and back to the Greek. We feel very fortunate that we live close to some very nice hikes in L.A., and so we definitely try to take advantage of that.
5 p.m.: Oysters, always
Even though we just ate, we are already thinking about where we should go for dinner. We like a very early dinner that verges on being a very late lunch. We’ll likely end up at Found Oyster. We’ll order a dozen oysters, a scallop tostada and a little steak frites if we’re feeling cheeky.
I’ve been an oyster person for as long as I can remember. I’m such an oyster person that I’ve actually gotten food poisoning twice in the past two years from oysters and I will not let that stop me. In both of those instances, I was begging for death — death would be better than whatever I was going through — and then a week and a half later I’m back fiending for more. But I’m not saying I got food poisoning from Found. I just want to make that clear.
7:30 p.m.: Time for another movie
The good thing about an early dinner is that you can be home and in bed by 7:30 p.m., where there’s still enough time to sneak in at least one more movie and some dessert.
We always try to have a pint of ice cream in our freezer from Henry’s Secret, which you can only order online for the time being. This is the guy who was making ice cream at Antico Nuovo for many years, which was always our favorite ice cream in L.A. And now he’s got his own little underground operation.
My wife is a massive [movie] re-watcher. She has seen “The American President” and “The Prestige” 150 times each, but I’ll always push to watch some hidden gem that’s been on our list for the past decade. She’s sometimes hesitant, then almost every time the movie finishes and she says, “I loved it.”
I’m not on Letterboxd. I have lists of movies that we want to watch in my Notes app on my phone. There are certain times where the list really grows, but we’ll knock them off pretty quickly because we really do try to watch one movie a night. When you’re doing that, you’re watching seven plus movies [a week] because on Sunday we’re watching multiple movies.
10 p.m.: Early bedtime
We go to bed relatively early. We’ll eventually fall asleep from food coma exhaustion and then we’ll wake up early the next morning to hit the gym and get back to a somewhat healthy routine, until the following weekend of more gluttonous excess.
