Most people fly into Palma de Mallorca, Spain, on their way to a beach resort and never give the capital a second look. That is a mistake. There are more rewarding things to do in Palma de Mallorca than in almost any other Mediterranean city of its size: a cathedral that glows gold over the bay, an Arab-era old town you can happily get lost in for hours, food markets, design shops, and beaches you can reach on foot. If you only have a weekend, this guide covers the essentials for a first-timer while leaving room to wander.
Palma works beautifully as a short city break. The historic centre is compact and walkable, you rarely need a taxi, and within twenty minutes you can go from a Gothic cathedral to a sandy beach. Here is exactly what to do in Palma, plus the best beaches, day trips, and where to stay.
Is Palma de Mallorca worth visiting?
In a word, yes. Palma is the capital of the Balearic Islands, and around half the island’s population lives here, which gives it a real year-round buzz rather than the seasonal emptiness of a pure resort town. The old town is a maze of honey-coloured stone, shaded squares, and narrow lanes built over Roman and Moorish foundations. Wrapped around it, you will find a working port, a palm-lined seafront, and some genuinely excellent restaurants. It is stylish without being stuffy, and small enough to feel manageable on a first visit.
Exploring Palma Old Town: Cathedral, palaces and hidden squares
Palma’s old town is where most first visits begin, and the main sights sit within a ten-minute walk of one another, so this part is best done on foot.
Palma Cathedral (La Seu): The city’s must-see landmark
Start at Palma Cathedral, known locally as La Seu. It rises straight out of the old sea walls and is one of the most striking Gothic cathedrals in Spain, with a vast rose window and an interior partly reimagined by Antoni Gaudí. Go early, before the light gets harsh and the cruise crowds arrive, and walk the seafront promenade in front of it for the postcard view across the reflecting pool.
The Royal Palace of La Almudaina
Directly beside the cathedral stands La Almudaina, a 13th-century royal palace built on the site of a Moorish fortress and still used for official ceremonies. The gardens and the views back over the bay are worth the short visit, and they set up the layers of history you will keep meeting all over the city.
Left: The Royal Palace of La Almudaina by Federico Di Dio. Right: Palma Cathedral by Lucas Derksen.
The Arab Quarter & The Arab Baths
Behind the cathedral lies the old Arab Quarter, a tangle of quiet lanes, courtyards, and small museums. Seek out the Banys Àrabs (Arab Baths), one of the few surviving traces of Moorish Palma, tucked into a peaceful garden. This is the part of the old town where getting deliberately lost pays off most.
Passeig del Born & The best shopping in Palma
When you are ready for life and shade, head to Passeig del Born, the tree-lined boulevard that acts as Palma’s main artery. For shopping in Palma, the streets around the Born and Carrer Jaume III mix Spanish brands, independent boutiques, and design shops, while the smaller side streets hide ceramics, linen, and the island’s famous woven espadrilles. Stop for a coffee and an ensaïmada, the spiral Mallorcan pastry, before moving on.
Bellver Castle: The best views over Palma
Round off the old-town exploring at Bellver Castle, a rare circular fortress on a wooded hill just west of the centre. It is a short taxi or uphill walk, and the reward is the best panorama in the city: the whole of Palma, the cathedral, and the Bay of Palma laid out below. Time it for late afternoon and the golden light does the rest.
Palma’s markets, beaches & Local food scene
Once you have seen the monuments, turn to the markets, food, and seafront, the things to do in Palma that show how the city actually lives.
Mercat de l’Olivar & The best markets in Palma
Start at Mercat de l’Olivar, the city’s main covered market, for fresh produce, Mallorcan cheese, charcuterie, and a stand-up seafood breakfast. It is one of the most enjoyable free things to do in Palma and a great place to assemble a picnic. If it is a Saturday, the Santa Catalina market nearby is just as lively.
The best beaches in Palma de Mallorca
Palma is one of the few cities where you can walk or cycle to the sand. Playa de Palma is the long, lively stretch east of the centre, backed by bars and promenade. For something closer and more local, Can Pere Antoni beach sits a short walk from the old town, and the pretty fishing quarter of Portixol beyond it is perfect for a seafood lunch by the water. These are the easiest Palma beaches to reach without a car.
Where to eat: The best restaurants in Palma
For dinner, cross into Santa Catalina, the old fishermen’s neighbourhood that has become the city’s food capital. It is home to some of the best restaurants in Palma, from its buzzing market food stalls to modern Mallorcan tasting menus and casual tapas bars. Book ahead at weekends, when locals and visitors fill the terraces.
Palma nightlife: Bars, wine & Live music
Palma nightlife is more grown-up than the island’s resort strips. Santa Catalina and the lanes around La Lonja are full of wine bars, cocktail spots, and live music, while the seafront Paseo Marítimo has the latter clubs. A glass of local wine on a quiet plaça is just as valid a way to end the night.
The best beaches in Mallorca beyond Palma
If you have a third day, the best beaches in Mallorca are an easy drive from the city. Highlights include Es Trenc, a long stretch of white sand and shallow turquoise water in the south; the dramatic cove of Cala Llombards; and the calm, family-friendly bays around Alcúdia in the north. Hire a car early, as parking fills fast in summer.
The best day trips from Palma de Mallorca
Mallorca rewards exploring, and the best day trips from Palma are simple to organise:
- Sóller and the vintage train. The historic Sóller train rattles through the mountains from Palma to the pretty town of Sóller, then a tram continues to the harbour. It is the single most scenic half-day trip on the island.
- Valldemossa and Deià. Two of the prettiest villages in the Tramuntana mountains, full of stone houses, art history, and terraced views down to the sea.
- Cap de Formentor. A spectacular drive north to the island’s wild northern tip and its lighthouse.
Where to stay in Palma de Mallorca: Best areas & Hotels
For a short trip, the old town is the obvious base. Staying near the cathedral, Mercat de l’Olivar, and Passeig del Born means you can cover most of this guide entirely on foot, which is the whole point of a Palma city break.
For genuine character, Casa Roca is a boutique hotel in Palma Old Town, a lovingly restored building in the heart of the Casco Histórico that carries 175 years of heritage alongside modern, design-led comfort. The location is hard to beat for a first visit: Plaça Major is around the corner, the Mercat de l’Olivar is five minutes on foot, and Palma Cathedral, the Arab Baths, and the shopping streets of Calle Jaume III are all an easy stroll. The Pere Antoni beach and the pretty port of Portixol are a short walk along the seafront, so you can sightsee, shop, and swim without ever needing a car.
Inside, the style is part Modernist sanctuary, part Art Deco glamour. Accommodation runs from City Suites with deep soaking tubs to Luxury Suites with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the old-town skyline, larger Retreat Suites, one and two-bedroom Residences with super-king en-suites and private terraces, and a three-bedroom Penthouse crowned by a sunny rooftop terrace. There is a spa, a rooftop, and even a secret speakeasy bar tucked inside, and the whole property can be booked for exclusive occupancy for weddings, milestone celebrations, or group retreats. Recent guests give it a perfect five-star rating, repeatedly singling out the design, the attention to detail, and the warmth of the service.
What really sets Casa Roca apart is its focus on Mallorcan food and wine. It is a dedicated wine hotel, with a collection of more than forty local labels you can pour by the glass using a personal Wine Pass and the hotel’s wine machines, perfectly matched with signature tapas. Guests can go deeper through a programme of experiences run from the in-house Tasting Room, including wine tastings led by fifth-generation island winemaker Tomeu Llabrés, an Olivar Market tour and Mallorcan cooking class, small-group gourmet food tours, and vermouth, gin, and coffee tastings. It is independently run, properly embedded in its neighbourhood, and has been featured by IB3, the BBC, and Diario de Mallorca.
When is the best time to visit Palma? A quick weather guide
Palma’s weather is kind for most of the year. May, June, September, and early October are the sweet spot: warm, bright, and far less crowded than peak summer, with sea temperatures still pleasant. July and August are hot and busy, ideal for a beach-first trip but less comfortable for sightseeing. Winters are mild and quiet, and late January brings the Sant Sebastià festival, when the whole city spills outdoors for street parties and bonfires. Whenever you come, pack for the sun and bring comfortable shoes for the old town’s cobbles.
How to get around Palma de Mallorca
Central Palma is best explored on foot, and the historic alleys can only really be seen that way. The EMT bus network is cheap and reliable for the airport, port, and beaches, and bike lanes run throughout the city, so renting a bike or e-bike is a fun way to reach the coast. You will rarely need a taxi within the centre, and a car is more hindrance than help in the old town, where parking is genuinely difficult.
For more European city break ideas, browse our destination guides.
Final tips for your first trip to Palma de Mallorca
A short break in Palma gives you a golden cathedral, an old town built for wandering, a market breakfast, a beach you walked to, and a long dinner in Santa Catalina. Add a third day for the Sóller train or a southern beach, and you have one of the most complete city breaks in the Mediterranean. Book restaurants ahead in summer, start your sightseeing early to beat the heat and the cruise crowds, and do not be surprised if you leave already planning a longer return trip.
