top of page

mallorca

Palma

City, Beach

Start Now

Palma

Mallorca's capital city, home to a huge Gothic cathedral, an old Moorish quarter and some of the best food and markets in the Balearic Islands.

Palma is the capital of Mallorca, the largest of Spain's Balearic Islands, set on a wide bay along the island's south coast. Many people only pass through on their way from the airport to the beach resorts, which is a shame, because the city itself is well worth seeing. Behind its seafront you'll find a famous Gothic cathedral, an old town of narrow streets and squares, and one of the liveliest food scenes in the Balearics.

What Palma is known for

Palma is best known for its old town and its grand seafront cathedral, set in a lively capital that holds around half of Mallorca's population. That cathedral, known as La Seu, is the city's signature landmark, famous for having the largest Gothic rose window in the world. Beside it stands the Almudaina, a former Moorish fortress that now serves as the Spanish royal family's residence on the island.


Palma is also known for the old town that lies behind the cathedral, a maze of narrow lanes, small squares and warm stone buildings. Two sights in particular draw people in: the beautifully preserved Arab baths, a rare reminder of the island's Moorish past, and Sa Llotja, a grand seafront hall built in the 1400s for the city's merchants. The main shopping street, Passeig del Born, runs nearby and is lined with trees, cafés and shops.


Palma is also recognised for Bellver Castle, an unusual round fortress from the 1300s that looks out over the bay and now houses the city's history museum. Beyond the headline sights, the city has built a name for its art scene, the lively restaurants of the Santa Catalina district and a handful of beaches within walking distance of the centre, so it's worth spending a day or two exploring the city.

Things to do in Palma

If you're drawn to history and culture, begin at the cathedral and the Almudaina palace beside it, then wander into the old town to see the Arab baths and the main square, Plaça Major. For one of the best views in the city, head up to Bellver Castle or climb to the cathedral roof terraces. Art lovers should make time for Es Baluard and the nearby Miró museum, just west of the centre. And when you'd rather slow down, the city beach at Can Pere Antoni is only a short walk from the old town.

5WTP

Experience Name

Description

5WTP

Region name

Description

5WTP

Region name

Description

5WTP

Region name

Description

5WTP

Region name

Description

5WTP

Region name

Description

More Things To Do

Food and drink in Palma

Palma is the best place to eat on the island, with everything from Michelin-starred restaurants to small, traditional tapas bars. The Santa Catalina district is the heart of the city's food scene, full of lively bars and built around a popular covered market. For local produce, visit the Mercat de l'Olivar, Palma's main food market, piled high with island cheeses, cured meats and fresh seafood.

5WTP

Restaurant Name

Description

Airport Code

Region name

Description

Airport Code

Region name

Description

Getting to Palma and around

Palma has its own airport (PMI), about 8km east of the city, with direct flights from across the UK and Europe all year. The A1 bus is a cheap, quick way into the centre, and a taxi takes around 15 minutes. Ferries leave the Port of Palma for Barcelona, Valencia and Dénia on the mainland, and you can also sail to Ibiza in about two hours or take a ferry across to Menorca. In Palma itself, the old town is small and easy to explore on foot.

Nearest Airport to Palma

Palma de Mallorca Airport

PMI

Travel tips for visiting Palma

  • Book your cathedral tickets online and arrive early, when the morning light shines through the great rose window.

  • The A1 bus from the airport is much cheaper than a taxi, and just as quick into the centre.

  • Bellver Castle sits up on a hill, so it's easiest to reach by the tourist bus or a short taxi ride.

  • Visit the Santa Catalina market in the morning, when the food stalls are at their best.

  • Spring and autumn are the most comfortable times to visit, as July and August get very hot and crowded.

  • Some restaurants close on Sundays or Mondays, so it's worth checking before you head out.

Events happening in Palma

What's on in Mallorca during your travel dates - scheduled festivals, club nights and one-off events.

FAQs about visiting Palma

Helpful answers for planning your visit to Mallorca.

Ibiza

City, Beach

The capital of Ibiza, known to visitors as Ibiza Town, with a UNESCO-listed walled old town, a lively port and some of the island's best nightlife.

Palma

City, Beach

Mallorca's capital city, home to a huge Gothic cathedral, an old Moorish quarter and some of the best food and markets in the Balearic Islands.

Alcúdia

City

A walled old city in the north of Mallorca, built on the Roman town of Pollentia and ringed by 14th-century medieval walls you can still walk.

Cala d'Or

Beach

A bright, Ibizan-style resort on Mallorca's southeast coast, spread across a string of small sandy coves around a busy marina.

Deià

Mountain, Rural

A hillside village on Mallorca's northwest coast, long a home for artists and writers, with a small cove and dramatic mountain views.

Felanitx

Rural, Mountain

An inland city in the southeast of Mallorca at the centre of the Pla i Llevant wine region, known for its Sunday market and the Sant Salvador sanctuary.

Inca

City, Rural

A working inland city in the centre of Mallorca, famous for its huge Thursday market, its leather workshops and its traditional celler restaurants.

Platja d'en Bossa

Beach

Ibiza's longest beach and its biggest party strip, just south of Ibiza Town, home to world-famous clubs Ushuaïa and Hï Ibiza.

Pollença

Rural, Mountain

A historic market town at the foot of Mallorca's Tramuntana mountains, known for its Sunday market and the 365 Calvari steps.

Port d'Alcúdia

Beach

A lively beach resort in the north of Mallorca, with a long sandy bay, a busy marina and ferries across to Menorca.

Port de Pollença

Beach, Mountain

A relaxed family beach resort on a wide bay in north Mallorca, famous as a cycling base and the gateway to Cap de Formentor.

Port de Sóller

Beach, Mountain

A sheltered horseshoe bay on the northwest coast of Mallorca, reached from Sóller by vintage tram, with calm beaches and a promenade.

Porto Cristo

Beach

A seaside town on Mallorca's east coast, best known for the Caves of Drach, their underground lake and a sheltered sandy beach.

Portocolom

Beach

A quiet old fishing town on Mallorca's east coast, set around one of the island's largest natural harbours and a photogenic lighthouse.

Sant Antoni de Portmany

Beach

A lively resort town on Ibiza's west coast, famous for its sunset strip, its bars and clubs, and a wide, sheltered bay.

Sant Josep de sa Talaia

Rural, Mountain

A quiet, traditional village inland in southwest Ibiza, below the island's highest peak and a gateway to its wild southwest coast.

Santa Eulària des Riu

Beach

A relaxed, family-friendly town on Ibiza's east coast, known as the island's food capital, with a marina, a promenade and a hilltop church.

Santanyí

Rural

A golden-stone market town in southeast Mallorca, known for its twice-weekly market, its art galleries and its Baroque church organ.

Sóller

Mountain, Rural

A pretty town in a mountain valley in northwest Mallorca, famous for its orange groves and the vintage train and tram that reach it.

Valldemossa

Mountain, Rural

A stone mountain village in the Serra de Tramuntana, best known for its Carthusian monastery where Chopin spent a winter.

More Places to Stay

More places to stay in Mallorca

Where you base yourself shapes the trip. Palma suits anyone who wants city life, culture and restaurants, with the lively Santa Catalina district for going out. Port de Sóller and the mountain villages of Deià and Valldemossa are best for scenery and calm. In the north, Alcúdia and Pollença offer long sandy beaches and a family-friendly pace.

More destinatons in Spain

Browse to find a destination you'll love in Spain or filter by selecting your vibe and preferred region.

Filter by region
Choose your vibe

Valencia

Alicante

City, Beach

A sunny Costa Blanca port city, with a hilltop castle, a palm-lined seafront promenade and golden beaches right beside the lively old town.

Catalonia

Barcelona

City, Beach

Catalonia's Mediterranean capital, famous for Gaudi's wild architecture, a medieval old town, city beaches and a food scene to match.

Basque Country

Bilbao

City

The Basque Country's biggest city, transformed by the Guggenheim from an industrial port into one of Spain's leading spots for art, design and food.

Andalusia

Cadiz

City, Beach

One of the oldest cities in Western Europe, an Atlantic port almost surrounded by sea, with golden beaches, a famous carnival and great fried fish.

Andalusia

Cordoba

City

An inland Andalusian city with one of the world's great buildings at its heart, the Mezquita, plus flower-filled patios and a deep Moorish past.

Canary Islands

El Hierro

Rural, Mountain

The smallest and most remote of the main Canary Islands, a quiet UNESCO reserve known for world-class diving and a pioneering green spirit.

Balearic Islands

Formentera

Beach

The smallest Balearic island, reached only by boat from Ibiza, with white-sand beaches, clear shallow water and a slow, car-light pace.

Canary Islands

Fuerteventura

Beach, Desert

The Canary Islands' beach island, with miles of pale sand, dunes and warm winds that make it one of Europe's top spots for watersports.

Catalonia

Girona

City

A medieval Catalan city of colourful riverside houses, a steep old town and one of Europe's best-preserved Jewish quarters, near the Costa Brava.

Canary Islands

Gran Canaria

Beach, Mountain, Rural, Desert

Known as a continent in miniature, with golden dunes, a buzzing capital city, mountain villages and a UNESCO-listed sacred landscape inland.

Andalusia

Granada

City, Mountain

Home to the Alhambra, Spain's most famous palace, with a Moorish old quarter, free tapas and the Sierra Nevada mountains as a backdrop.

Balearic Islands

Ibiza

Beach, Rural

The Balearic island of two sides, where world-famous nightlife in the south meets a quiet, pine-covered north of hidden coves and small villages.

Canary Islands

La Gomera

Mountain, Rural

A small, green Canary Island of deep ravines and ancient laurel forest, where locals still speak across the valleys with a whistled language.

Canary Islands

La Graciosa

Beach, Desert

A tiny, car-free island off Lanzarote, reached by ferry, with sandy streets, white-sand beaches and a peaceful, back-to-basics feel.

Canary Islands

La Palma

Mountain, Rural

Known as the beautiful island, La Palma is green and steep, made for hikers and for some of the clearest stargazing skies in the world.

Canary Islands

Lanzarote

Beach, Desert, Rural

A Canary Island shaped by volcanoes and by the artist Cesar Manrique, with black lava fields, vineyards in volcanic gravel and a low-rise look.

Madrid

Madrid

City

Spain's lively capital, home to world-class art museums, grand squares, leafy parks and some of Europe's best eating and nightlife.

Andalusia

Malaga

City, Beach

The capital of the Costa del Sol and birthplace of Picasso, a sunny coastal city with a Moorish fortress, good beaches and a thriving art scene.

Balearic Islands

Mallorca

Beach, Mountain, Rural

Spain's largest Balearic island, where a Gothic cathedral, mountain villages and quiet coves sit alongside the beaches it is famous for.

Andalusia

Marbella

Beach, City

The Costa del Sol's glamorous resort town, known for its yacht marina at Puerto Banus, golden beaches and a pretty, often overlooked old town.

Balearic Islands

Menorca

Beach, Rural

The quietest of the Balearic Islands, known for white-sand coves, a clifftop coastal trail and prehistoric stone monuments found nowhere else.

Castilla y León

Salamanca

City

A golden sandstone university city in western Spain, home to one of Europe's oldest universities and one of the country's grandest main squares.

Basque Country

San Sebastian

City, Beach

An elegant Basque beach city famed for its golden crescent bay, world-class food and more Michelin stars per head than almost anywhere on earth.

Andalusia

Seville

City

The warm heart of southern Spain, home to a vast cathedral, a Moorish royal palace, flamenco and some of the country's liveliest tapas bars.

Canary Islands

Tenerife

Beach, Mountain

The largest Canary Island, home to Spain's highest peak, the volcano of Mount Teide, along with old towns, whale-rich seas and year-round sun.

Castilla-La Mancha

Toledo

City

A walled hilltop city near Madrid, where Christian, Muslim and Jewish history meet, crowned by a great cathedral above the Tagus river.

Valencia

Valencia

City, Beach

The birthplace of paella, where a futuristic arts complex, a sandy beach and a lively old town sit beside a long park in a dried-up riverbed.

Receive VIP alerts about our upcoming group holidays and travel shows.
bottom of page