Mallorca ranked best for retirement

Photo: Overdaforest

The consultancy’s Global Lifestyle Review compared destinations using key lifestyle factors, from education and climate to leisure facilities and quality restaurants. The Spanish island was beaten only by Dubai, but performed consistently well across all factors.

Knight Frank also categorised its review into three types of buyers: the entrepreneur, the family and the retired couple. Mallorca scored the top spot for retirees.

“I am not surprised that Mallorca’s ranked strongly for retirees,” says Daniel Chavarria Waschke, Managing Director of Mallorca Sotheby’s International Realty.  Indeed retirees make up one-fifth of their market activity, something that Daniel attributes to its supply of 24 golf courses, a variety of theatres, five Michelin starred restaurants and excellent medical facilities.

Dubai won its top ranking thanks to a range of international schools and leisure pursuits, as well as 350 days of sunshine every year – even more than Mallorca’s astonishing 300 days.

“There are some aspects, in my opinion, where Dubai falls short in comparison to Mallorca,” argues Daniel.  “350 days sunshine a year is great, but in the height of summer temperatures can soar to 50 degrees Celsius and it’s almost impossible to be outside of an air-conditioned building, even at night.”