Early last month, I took a mini break to a beautiful Spanish island in search of some sun as the weather began to turn in Scotland. As a devoted summer person, I made it my mission this year to prolong the warmer season for as long as I could get away with. But what struck me most about this island was not the weather, but its abundance of culture.
Magaluf is widely known as a notorious party town, but that was not my experience. I was there to attend a book festival, FLEM | Literatura Expandida a Magaluf. The literary festival has been on the go since 2019, and is growing in popularity year upon year. But this year, Bridget Jones author Helen Fielding was headlining the festival. I attended her panel, which was insightful and full of laughs.
During the show, Ms Fielding thanked the festival for allowing her books to reach Magaluf, and said: “Books are for everyone and it has been shown that reading improves mental health. Everyone reads on the beach, and I think that’s great.”
It was clear many people had travelled from far and wide for the festival, but the bulk of people had travelled from nearby Palma itself, a perfect weekend trip if you ask me.
The literary festival took place at INNSiDE by Meliá Calvià Beach, which is a lovely hotel that has elements of party, with its rooftop pool and bar, but it also has a very relaxed feel; its rooms are super clean and offer beautiful views over Majorca.
The bright decor of the hotel suited the vibe of the festival perfectly, as FLEM’s branding uses bright neon pinks, greens and yellows to represent Magaluf’s vibrant nightlife, something that they are keen not to shy away from, as it is important to remember that this is what draws people to the seaside town.
Sofia Muntaner, senior brand manager at INNSiDE, Meliá Hotels International said: “At INNSiDE, we’ve always believed in celebrating Magaluf for what it truly is – a vibrant, ever-evolving destination with so much to offer. FLEM encapsulates this by attracting a new generation of curious and creative travellers in search of authentic cultural experiences.
“Welcoming Helen Fielding as part of our international line-up of authors and artists was a defining moment for the festival, symbolising just how far FLEM has come in establishing global relevance since its inception five years ago. This year, we’ve welcomed over 12,000 visitors – a 20% increase from last year – a true testament to how the event continues to grow as a cornerstone of Mallorca’s cultural calendar.”
Other authors on this year’s lineup included John Boyne, acclaimed Irish author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, an international bestseller, Siri Hustvedt, award-winning essayist and novelist known for her international bestsellers What I Loved and The Summer Without Men, among many others.
Magaluf offered the perfect setting for a book festival; there are many restaurants and bars to choose from, although not at the cheapest of prices (expect typical Spanish seaside costs), but certainly affordable. Alongside this, you have the beach just across the road, which offers calm sunbathing locations as well as water sports and a beach club if that’s your MO.
Of course, we ventured to the strip to see what it was all about, and yes, it is very much what you expect from Magaluf, but due to a lower level of tourists, it did not feel as chaotic as imagined.
It was also surprisingly beautiful, there were mountainous views, crystal blue waters and lush greenery in abundance. October is an ideal time to travel to the island, as there are fewer tourists and the weather is also spot on at 25 °C for the most part. I was lucky enough to experience some amazing sunsets during my time there, and the view of the island from the roof of my hotel was also stunning. The sea was crystal blue and so clean, it was surprisingly a lovely temperature.
If you are into books and love a bit of autumn sunshine, I’d highly recommend a trip to Magaluf’s FLEM festival next year, I know I’ll be back.