Palma de Mallorca. A guide to the attractions of the Spanish capital Mallorca

• Palma de Mallorca is a big city
• It hides many interesting monuments, the most important of which are the cathedral and the castle, available for a fee
• The cathedral is located in the heart of the city, and the castle rises outside the center, at the top of the hill, offering a beautiful view
• It is better to explore the city on foot and come here by bus if you sleep outside the city, because there are only paid parking lots here. There are few of them and they are not cheap

The capital of Mallorca is called Palma (Palma de Mallorca), hence you will see a lot of palm trees in the city. This impressive and large city is called Little Barcelona. It is the largest city in the Balearic Islands. Crowded, lively, but also climatic places. It combines a rich and long history with modernity. You have to go here when visiting Mallorca. But in our opinion, this is not the most beautiful city that the largest island of Spain offers. More charming are Valldemossa, the magical Fornalutx or Alcudia.

Accommodations in Palma

While visiting Mallorca, we slept all nights in the resort of El Arenal, adjacent to Palma. It is an interesting place with a bay and numerous souvenir shops, but also many restaurants, because young people like to play here. It's not super quiet here, and our Hostel Atlanta was also not of a high standard. I would say medium. In addition, there is a fully equipped kitchen with appliances (fridge, microwave, toaster) and a game room with billiards. The bathroom is a bit poor. Although rooms of a slightly higher standard are also visible on the booking. 

In the double bed there was a pillow instead of a duvet, one (and I like to have my own), but it was not a problem even in October, because it was warm and the pillowcase was wide. We had towels replaced every day and there was very good contact with the owner who was eager to help. When we arrived at night on the first day, there was no one at the reception desk, but the key to the room was waiting for us in a signed envelope. Compared to other accommodation on the island, it was really cheap here. We paid PLN 900 for 4 nights for 2 people.

Here you will find a wide selection of accommodations. By booking your stay on Booking.com through our link, you support the development of our blog — and we thank you in advance! It helps us reach many interesting places that we later love to show you and share our experiences and information with you.

Attractions in Palma, the capital of Mallorca. What is worth exploring?

It is best to spend the whole day exploring Palma. It is best to walk on it. Although it is a big city, you can get around it in 1 day, and there is no shortage of attractions and nice places here. Particularly noteworthy is the monumental cathedral and the lofty castle, and the beach is nicely suited for sunset. Check out the best tourist attractions of Palma de Mallorca!

Bellver Castle (Castell de Bellver) - the only round castle of Spain

The Gothic castle was built at the beginning of the fourteenth century under King James II to emphasize Mallorca's independence from Spanish rulers. In the past, Mallorca was a kingdom and had four rulers, three Jacobites and one Sancho.

This royal residence is the only round castle in all of Spain and one of the few Gothic castles in Europe. Its walls hide the Museum of the History of the City and interesting exhibitions, presenting the times of the reign of kings and the history of the city and the Balearic Islands, or groups of islands, the largest of which is Mallorca. 

And did you know that the name Bellver Castle means beautiful view from Catalan? From the tower you can admire a wonderful view of the whole city, the bay and the mountains in the distance. And since I mentioned it, Mallorca is bilingual. Next to Spanish, Catalan is the official language here. Hence, almost all subtitles are presented in two versions. We walked to the castle along the promenade, passing the beach and the harbour. This provides beautiful views!

Visiting the castle: Entrance to the castle costs 4 euros. It is open every day except Mondays, and admission is free on Sundays.
Address: Carrer Camilo José Cela, s/n, Ponent

La Seu Cathedral - the most important monument of Palma

Palma Cathedral is huge and amazing. It grows effectively above the bay. Its roots date back to the thirteenth century, namely 1229. Construction took nearly 400 years! Earlier, there were Islamic and Roman temples in this place. 

It is the third nave in terms of height in the world. It is outstanding and there is much to admire here. In the mid-nineteenth century, it was destroyed by an earthquake. Antonio Gaudi participated in the reconstruction. He invented a huge canopy above the altar, which symbolizes the crown of thorns.

Above it, a huge gothic rosette, called the "gothic eye", lets the light in. There are a lot of beautiful works of art here. Each chapel hides a magnificent altar. You have to see with your own eyes the wonders that have been created during the hundreds of years of the existence of this most important temple on the island.

Visiting the cathedral: Admission costs 10 euros, which is quite a lot, but you can spend a lot of time here. A more expensive ticket also includes access to the observation decks. To avoid long queues at the ticket office, it is worth buying a ticket online. We did not do it in advance, but on the spot, standing in a queue, so we could quickly leave it.
Address: Plaça de la Seu, Centre

Almudaina Palace in Palma

The Royal Palace of Almudaina stands next to the cathedral and forms an impressive architectural complex with it, although it was built even earlier. It was built in the times of Muslim domination as an alcazar, i.e. a fortified palace. Besides, the name Almudaina comes from the Arabic word almudena, which means fortress. Later, it became the residence of kings and to this day it is a place where the Spanish Royal Family spends their holidays.

Visiting the palace: available to tourists from Tuesday to Sunday. Admission costs 7 euros, but on Wednesdays and Sundays from 15.00 the tour of the palace is free of charge.
Address: Carrer del Palau Reial, Centre

Parc de la Mar seaside park at the foot of the cathedral

Parc de la Mar is a must-see in the capital. It is here that the most beautiful pictures with the cathedral in the background are created. This picturesque seaside park looks particularly picturesque when bathed in the afternoon sun. In the water, the walls of the temple reflect, creating a magical image.

Visiting the park: daily, free admission
Address: Av. de Gabriel Roca

Royal Gardens of S’Hort del Rei

Next to the cathedral are the beautiful gardens of S’Hort del Rei, which means Royal Orchard in Catalan. In the past, fruit trees bloomed here, and in addition vegetables were grown. Today, it's a nice, shady place and a good opportunity to escape the heat. You will see here, accompanied by arcades and sculptures, fountains and Mediterranean vegetation - cypresses, orange trees and acacia.

Gardens tour: daily, free admission

Palm tree - Art Nouveau tenement houses in the style of Gaudi

On the occasion of the cathedral, I mentioned Antonio Gaudi. The work of this Art Nouveau architect was a source of inspiration for other architects who created unusual buildings in Palma. They are scattered around the capital. Walking through the streets of the city, they will surely catch your eye, because it is difficult to walk past them without emotions.

Be sure to see the Parliament of the Balearic Islands in the former Círculo Mallorquín. Also noteworthy is Can Casasayas (address: Costa de Can Santacília, 8, Centre) with the Menorquina Guesthouse. These are two "twin" buildings on Plaça del Mercat. Originally, they were to be connected by an above-ground passage, but it was never built. The wavy lines of the facade bring to mind the Casa Batlló building in Barcelona. By the way, I really liked the atmosphere of this square.

The Gran Hotel (address:Plaça de Weyler, 3, Centre) is another Art Nouveau building on the nearby Plaça Weyler that you cannot miss. It has extremely impressive decorative elements in the characteristic art-nouveau style. Sculptures, plant motifs, ceramics or railings made of wrought iron.

One of the more popular symbols of Art Nouveau in this city is Can Forteza Rey (address: Plaça del Marquès del Palmer, 1, Centre). These two adjacent buildings attract attention very strongly with richly decorated facades. Various colors of ceramics and mosaics made of broken tiles as well as winding balconies or sculptures and floral motifs on the walls create an unusual visual effect. They are located a few dozen meters from the Major Square.

The architecture of these buildings, as well as other famous tenement houses in Palma, really impresses and makes this city unique. Each of them offers unique decorations, but also a peculiar shape. This distinguishes this city from all that we have seen so far on the Mediterranean Sea. It's really worth seeing! The Art Nouveau trail can be covered on foot in 2-3 hours. This is a great opportunity to discover not only the architecture, but also the rich history and culture of the city.

Plac Major the largest square of Palma

The largest square in the city, Major, did not make a very positive impression on us. Although large, the buildings here are very monotonous, which makes them not particularly interesting. It practically looks as if one identical building surrounded it on each side. It looks harmonious, but it does not kidnap at all. However, there is a lot going on in the area, it is one of the busiest places in "little Barcelona". There are a lot of restaurants here.

Town Hall and Olivera de Cort, an olive treeon Placa de Cort

We liked the much smaller Placa de Cort much more, next to the town hall building (Ajuntament de Palma). The building is also amazing. It is decorated with a beautiful clock and an intricate roof hood, and the interior is also impressive. On the other hand, the noble olive tree known as Olivera de Cort came here from the Serra de Tramuntana (Sierra de Tramontana) mountains. It is said to be up to 800 years old. Its circumference is as much as 7 meters. I wanted to hug him, but unfortunately it's fenced.
Address: Plaça de Cort, 1, Distrito Centro

Gothic Church of St. Eulalia

Another impressive building rises near Placa de Cort. It is thechurch of Saint Eulalia, incidentally a beautiful name. The portal on the facade is impressive. It is one of the largest medieval churches in Palma. It has 3 naves and a dozen or so chapels.
Church tour: paid admission
Address: Plaça de Santa Eulàlia, 2, Distrito Centro

Monument to Fryderyk Chopin

On the square, a statue of Chopin rises on a pedestal to the west. They remember him in Palma, but Valldemossa in Mallorca is famous for the presence of Fryderyk Chopin with his love George Sand, with whom he spent the winter here in the 1930s. 19th century.
Address: Plaça Frederic Chopin, 4, Centre

The building of the former Llotja de Palma stock exchange

La Llotja is a great example of Gothic architecture in the capital. It was built in the first half of the fifteenth century and became the seat of the College of Merchants. Today, its interiors showcase exhibitions. The property is located on a square near the sea and is surrounded by exquisite restaurants. 
Sightseeing: daily, free admission
Address: Plaça de la Llotja, 5, Centre

Banys Arabs Palm Arab Baths

We didn't visit this experience, but we know you might find it interesting. They date back to the 10th century and are an important trace of Muslim times in the island's capital. They were built on the model of Roman baths and were a place of entertainment and rest. Of course, they were also to perform ritual functions, because Muslims had to wash the body before praying.

Sightseeing of the baths: entrance fee of 3 euros, open daily
Address: Carrer de Can Serra 7, Centre

Beach in Palma

To the sunset we went to the beach in Palma Platja de Can Pere Antoni. It is sandy, wide and quite pleasant, although it does not delight with its beauty like other beaches we saw on the island. It's just a nice place, perfect for relaxing after a day of sightseeing and admiring the sun. It is located on the promenade, at Anima Beach Palma.
Beach sightseeing: daily, free admission

La Rambla in Palma

La Rambla is a very impressive and elegant avenue. One of the most beautiful streets in the city. It is a kind of reflection of the famous Barcelona promenade. Here, similarly, car traffic takes place on both sides of a centrally located pedestrian street, where you stroll among sumptuous plane trees, cafes, and flower stalls. In winter, this place is wonderfully illuminated by Christmas lights.

Sightseeing: daily, free admission
Address: La Rambla, Centre

Other things to do in Palma

• Museo de Mallorca - The Museum of Mallorca offers rich collections on the history of the island, including archaeology and decorative art
• Es Baluard Museu d'Art Modern i Contemporani de Palma - the museum of modern art presents works by both Spanish and international artists
• Promenade - leads to the sea and offers beautiful views of the bay, the port and the city. You walk here among many palm trees
• Passeig del Born - an interesting street with exclusive shops
• Villa backyards - it's worth looking into the open backyards, some of the houses are beautiful villas, created in an Italian style
• Old windmills in the El Jonquet district - historic objects that look interesting in the city skyline

Map of Old Town attractions

Below on the map we have marked the attractions of Palma and the places where we ate. This will definitely make it easier for you to find and plan your walk around the capital of Mallorca.

Our video about Mallorca

We invite you to watch our video from your stay in Mallorca, Spain. At the end, there are a few minutes devoted to its capital.

What and where to eat in Palma de Mallorca?

Palm tree is a big city, so you can't visit it all the time. For such pleasant breaks, there are plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants that offer traditional Mallorca cuisine. We were tempted by the iconic chocolate bar, which has 17th-century roots. It is called Ca'n Joan de s 'Aigo(Carrer del Baró de Santa Maria del Sepulcre, 5, Centre). There are several of them in the city, we chose their oldest place. We bought ensaïmada here. This is a very popular Majorcan specialty. They are usually bought in a round form, like pizza, in similar boxes. To-go, you can buy either smaller round versions or quarters on the spot. It's a cake that can be alone, without filling or with different fillings. I ate it with pumpkin jam in this cafe. On top of that hot chocolate. It was delicious, and the iconic almond ice cream is also worth tasting here. This place is famous for them, just like the whole of Mallorca is famous for almonds in general. They didn't come very close to me, it's like frozen pieces of almonds.

From the specifics of Mallorca, it is worth tasting paella. It is a Spanish dish, based on rice, with the addition of saffron and fried in a metal pan with two handles. There are many varieties, paella can contain pieces of seafood, rabbit meat, poultry or various vegetables. We took the mixed version, which means all in one. We ate it at Cafe Paris (Major 1 Square).

Tapas are also very popular. These are small snacks with various additions. They hide meat, vegetables, seafood or eggs. They are usually consumed with alcohol, e.g. red wine. They can be served on bread, but not necessarily.

 And speaking of bread, we also recommend pambola, or bread with olive oil in the literal sense. It is a traditional Mallorcan snack, in fact known since antiquity. We tasted the version with the Sobrasada sausage typical of this region. And everything can be drunk with sangria, a wine drink with fruit. It's also a Spanish delicacy.

The Mercat de l 'Olivar in Palma is a great place to get to know the local cuisine. It's a bustling market where you can find fresh local produce and try traditional tapas.

Getting around Palma de Mallorca - by car, bus or bike?

Palma offers a variety of transport options that allow you to explore the city in comfort. Choosing the right means of transport is up to you.

By bus and on foot

We lived in the neighboring resort of El Arenal and arrived comfortably by bus line 23 (2 euros per person, zone 0, we paid in cash, but you could pay using a special application after logging in, blue-green buses). In accelerated buses (yellow and red) you can pay with a card and then it gets a bit cheaper, but we had a stop of our line just below the hostel and we chose it. Then we walked around the city. This is most convenient. You can also take advantage of the extensive public transport system, e.g. blue-green buses. However, we preferred to walk the streets of the capital and feel its atmosphere. We started the tour from the castle, which we reached by the promenade to the sea, and then descending from the hill we entered the heart of the Old Town.

Bike

There are many cyclists moving around both Palma and the entire island. We also saw bicycles that can be rented. For us, it was not an option, because we visited Palma in 1 day, we had interior plans and we were in several pubs, so we did not want our bikes to make it difficult.

Car in Palma and Mallorca

We rented a car in Mallorca at Fast24 - Mallorca/Mallorca Rental, run by Poles. It was a great choice and we recommend, we visited so many beautiful places on the island, easier and faster than by public transport, e.g. Formentor. But we happened to take a bus to Palma. Because Palma is difficult to drive, there are a lot of narrow streets, and above all, it offers very few parking lots and they are expensive. In fact, if you parked, you'd still have to walk.

Parking lots in Palma

However, if you decide to go by car to the capital, we drop off 2 paid car parks. The first one is more expensive, but it is located in the heart of the city. The second one is closer to the castle:

• Parc de la Mar, address: Av. de Gabriel Roca
• Aparcament Marquès de la Sénia, address: Carrer del Marquès de la Sènia, 32, Ponent

By the way, I will write that in Mallorca you can stand for free in places marked with a white line. Paid parking zones are marked with a blue line and yellow lines indicate no parking. Avoid these places, because it is a risk not only of a fine, but also of towing, which is already associated with high costs and problems.

When to go to Mallorca or the weather in Palma

Mallorca is a dream place to extend your holiday. In the summer, the heat is onerous and there are crowds everywhere, so it is worth going here in the autumn months. We visited Palma at the beginning of October and it was warm and sunny every day, although at times clouds obscured the sky. The mornings and evenings were already cold, although some wore T-shirts with straps until late at night. In the short sleeve you could walk if you are not cold. During the day it was very warm and we bathed in the sea. In the summer, there is very little rainfall, in October it may happen more often, but it did not rain for a moment, and we were there for 5 days.

Rent a car

Exploring becomes much easier when you have your own means of transport. You don’t have to worry about buses or taxis, and you can plan each day your way. The search box below will help you find the right car – right where your journey begins.

What's worth seeing in the area?

You don't have to travel far to find more interesting places. Within a radius of 100 kilometers, there are many attractions waiting for you that will certainly enrich your stay Your trip with additional memories.

• Mallorca, distance: 0  km
• Valldemossa in Majorca, distance: 15.9  km
• Soller in Mallorca, distance: 22.8  km
• Cala del Moro in Mallorca, distance: 49.5  km
• The most beautiful beaches in Mallorca, distance: 49.5  km
• Alcudia in Mallorca, distance: 51.4  km
• Drach Cave in Mallorca, distance: 58.6  km
• Formentor in Mallorca, distance: 65.1  km