Palma de Mallorca: What to See in the Capital of Mallorca

I once spent a month in Mallorca to explore it properly, of which about a week was spent in Palma, where I also returned once by boat on a cruise. It’s a really beautiful little town, which has the misfortune of being on Mallorca, where there are so many places that as a result you don’t have time to stay too long to catch “all” the beauty.

Where to stay in Palma

There are plenty of lovely hotels and hostels in the centre of Palma, and if you’re here for one or two nights, it makes the most sense to stay here. If you’re heading around the island by bus afterwards (or before), the best place to go is around Plaza de España, where there’s also a train station.

If you want to be by the sea, there is a hotel zone along Playa de Palma beach with lots of large and small hotels. It’s further away from the centre, but there’s a nice cycle path along the coast that will have you in the centre in no time.

Tickets, day trips and experiences in Mallorca

The La Seu cathedral in particular tends to have queues, and in high season it’s worth having a ticket in advance. The Caves of Drach have limited capacity and trips from Palma sell out ahead of time.

• Palma: hop-on hop-off bus – A nice way to get an overview of the city, especially if you’re short on time and don’t want to deal with transport between the more distant stops.
• Caves of Drach – half-day trip with a concert – The caves are in the east of the island and hard to reach on your own without a car. Capacity is limited and in high season it tends to sell out.
• Guided tour of the Old Town – Palma’s Old Town is beautiful, but without a guide you’ll easily miss plenty of hidden courtyards and details.
• Catamaran cruise with lunch – A five-hour cruise around Palma Bay; in high season it sells out fast.
• La Seu Cathedral – skip-the-line ticket – The queues at the ticket office get pretty long in high season. With a skip-the-line ticket you walk straight in.
• Serra de Tramuntana – coasteering and cliff jumping – Groups are small and spots fill up fast. Without a booking you won’t get on this trip.

Things to see in Palma de Mallorca

People often only stop in Palma on the day of arrival or departure, or even just to catch a quick bus to somewhere else in Mallorca. It’s a shame, Palma is a beautiful city and while, admittedly, a day is enough to see the highlights, you can have a good time here for longer.

La Seu, Cathedral of Our Lady of Palma

Palma’s iconic landmark, the Gothic La Seu Cathedral, was begun in 1229 and took almost 400 years to build. There are magnificent stained glass windows or the famous candelabra by Antoni Gaudí. It is one of the largest cathedrals in the world, the length of the nave is 121 metres, width 55 metres, height 44 metres. There is also a huge rosette window with a diameter of 12 metres.

The cathedral is beautifully visible from a distance from the sea and from the promenade around the coast. It’s practically at the centre, 10 minutes walk from Plaza Mayor.

Parque del Mar by the cathedral

Right below La Seu Cathedral is a beautiful park, which takes its name (Marine Park) from the fact that it was built where the sea used to be. Today the sea is far away, separated from the park by a large road. However, there is an artificial lake built in the park to mimic the proximity of the sea.

Of course, the park has a beautiful view of the cathedral, it is an ideal place for a walk or a picnic, and it is also the venue for various events. At night, the park is beautifully lit, and the reflections of the cathedral in the pond make for a particularly impressive scene.

Casco Antiguo and the streets of the historic centre

Like other Spanish cities, the historic centre of Palma de Mallorca is a labyrinth of narrow, winding streets that offer a charming atmosphere full of history and Mediterranean life. This part of the city, Casco Antiguo, is one of the oldest districts and, in addition to the historic houses, there are plenty of cafes and restaurants and it’s simply lively.

Plaza Mayor

Plaza Mayor is the centre of the city. The buildings with arcades on the square have green shutters and balconies, typical of Mallorcan architecture. Around the square are cafes, restaurants and galleries.

Various markets, art exhibitions and festivals are held here throughout the year. At Christmas there is also the traditional Christmas market.

Palau de l’Almudaina

The Royal Palace, combining Arabic and European architecture, is next to La Seu Cathedral. The history of the palace stretches back to the Middle Ages, when it was the site of an Arab alcazar, a fortified residence during the Arab rule.

The passage of several styles is visible at first sight. While from the outside it is more of a Gothic building, the courtyards with arches and inner courtyards are more Moorish features. The most beautiful area of the palace is the courtyard with its beautiful gardens and sea views.

Today, the palace is the official residence of the Spanish royal family when they visit Mallorca, but it is not often used.

S’Hort del Rei gardens

Just below the Royal Palace are the S’Hort del Rei (translated as the King’s Garden). Formerly, there were orchards and fields where fruit and vegetables were grown for the royal court.

Later, the gardens were reduced in size, replaced by a city, and now no longer used for cultivation, they have been redesigned to resemble Moorish and Andalusian gardens. So there are water features, fountains and cypress alleys.

Passeig des Born

The main street and shopping street of Mallorca. A wide tree-lined boulevard between Plaza de la Reina and Plaza Joan Carles I. There are historic buildings, cafes, restaurants and luxury brand shops.

At both ends of Passeig des Born are the sphinxes that protect this part of the city.

Mercat de l’Olivar

The large traditional market in Palma de Mallorca is a short walk from Plaza de España. The market is literally packed with colourful stalls of fish, lobster, prawns and other seafood that are shipped directly from the local ports.

The market has several small bars and restaurants where you can taste tapas, fried calamari or grilled shrimp, drink sangria and enjoy the atmosphere of the market.

Llotja de Palma

The former trade exchange, also known as Sa Llotja, is one of the highlights of the local architecture. It is close to the harbour on Paseo Marítimo, and is a symbol of Mallorca’s economic prosperity in the Middle Ages. Today it serves as a space where art exhibitions and cultural events are held.

Bellver Castle

The 14th-century Castell de Bellver is on a hill above the town. It has a circular plan, which is unusual in European castle architecture. It gets its name “Bellver” from the Catalan word for “beautiful view“, so you can probably guess why you should go here.

From the centre, bus 4 takes about 20 minutes, then you have to go uphill for a little over half a kilometre.

Palma Aquarium

Near Playa de Palma beach is an aquarium with more than 8,000 marine animals from 700 different species that come from different parts of the world.

The aquarium is divided into thematic sections representing the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean. Each section has specific species of fish, corals and other sea creatures that live in these regions. Among the most impressive are the coral reefs, which are replicas of real ecosystems.

What to taste in Palma

The best way to start your morning in Palma is with an Ensaimada, a spiral of yeast dough baked in many sizes and often dusted with sugar. Another popular local speciality is the sobrassada, a soft spreadable sausage with minced peppers.

For lunch, try the tumbet, a layered dish of fried potatoes, eggplant and peppers in a tomato sauce that tastes like ratatouille but is much richer. And for a quick snack on the go, look for coca de trampó in bakeries. It’s a savoury, crisp pastry covered in a fresh mixture of tomatoes, peppers and onions that’s more typical of the Balearics than Spanish tapas. But of course you’ll get a taste of traditional Spanish cuisine here too.

Where to go in Palma for food and coffee

Palma has a great gastronomic offer and the café scene is quite good by Spanish standards.

I’ll start with the top of Palma and that is the Fornet de la Soca bakery, you’ve probably already come across it, because every guidebook will send you here, but it’s really not just an over-hyped tourist place. It’s a kind of old bakery with a great offer both to taste and to look at.

As far as coffee goes, the Mistral Coffee Banc is a great cafe, a small cafe with a few seats inside and a bench outside the door. Then Café Riutort, where you can also eat. La Finca Corner is a great place for both coffee and breakfast, as is NOTI – coffee & kitchen.

For ice cream at Rivareno or Gelateria Ca’n Miguel.

And finally for food Botanic (no not vegetarian), the small bistro Toque de Queda, La Vieja de Jonay Hernandez or Stagier Bar.

Where is Palma de Mallorca

Palma is the capital of Mallorca and the capital of the Balearic Islands, which are part of Spain. It is right on the sea and is also an important port not only for ferries between the islands but also for connections to the mainland.

How to get to Palma de Mallorca

Unless you take a ferry, you’ll probably fly in. Ferries run from Menorca and Ibiza, and from the mainland in Valencia or Barcelona. Otherwise you land at Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI), just a few kilometres from the centre. The cheapest flights here are usually Ryanair and Smartwings.

The A1 bus runs straight from the airport into the city centre for €5. It stops along a route that practically circles the historic centre. One of the stops is Plaça d’Espanya, which is also where buses to the rest of Mallorca leave from.