Jardí Botànic de Sóller

The skeleton stops people first. In the natural sciences museum inside the Modernista mansion stand the skull and full skeleton of Myotragus balearicus, the extinct Balearic cave goat, its eyes set facing forward like a primate's. Around it, fossils and plant specimens trace the island's biological and geological history.

Outside, the planting sticks to home ground: the Balearics and the other Mediterranean islands, with many endangered local species among the beds. Ferns, medicinal plants, ornamentals and succulents each have their own section, linked by well-kept paths. It is a specialist garden and makes few concessions to the casual visitor. The payoff is quiet. Few people come, and it is a calm hour away from the busier streets of Sóller.

• The garden is modest and specialist, built around local flora; plant lovers get the most out of it.
• The museum sits indoors in the mansion, so a wet day still leaves half the visit.
• The café is simple. Do not plan a meal around it.
• Sunday opening ends at lunchtime, so a weekend visit belongs in the morning.
• There are toilets on site, and the garden suits a visit with children.

The garden stands on the outskirts of Sóller, on the road that runs down towards Port de Sóller, close enough to town to reach on foot from the centre. Drivers have a free car park about 60 m away, and free street parking around it. By bus, the nearest stops are Sóller centre 2 and Sóller sud 1, both about 300 m away in a straight line, so the last stretch is a short walk through the edge of town.

Best: a weekday morning in spring.

Avoid: Sunday afternoons, and the middle of a hot summer day.

Mediterranean island plants do most of their flowering in spring, the heat builds among the beds through a summer day, and on Sundays the gates close at lunchtime.