Palma de Mallorca is not just Mallorca's capital — it is one of the most captivating Mediterranean cities in its own right. Rising behind a crescent-shaped bay, the city skyline is dominated by La Seu, one of Europe's most spectacular Gothic cathedrals, whose flying buttresses catch the golden afternoon light in a way that has drawn artists for centuries. Below the cathedral, the Casco Antiguo (Old Town) unfolds in a tangle of honey-stone lanes, Renaissance courtyards and Moorish archways that reflect more than 2,000 years of Phoenician, Roman, Arab and Catalan history.
But Palma is far from a museum piece. The Santa Catalina neighbourhood buzzes with chef-driven restaurants, natural wine bars and weekend brunch spots. The sweeping Paseo Marítimo promenade connects the old harbour to the modern marina, lined with palm trees, yacht clubs and rooftop cocktail bars overlooking the bay. Art lovers find world-class collections at Es Baluard Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art and the Fundación Pilar i Joan Miró, Miró's former studio perched above Cala Major.
Beyond the city, the Serra de Tramuntana — a UNESCO World Heritage mountain range — rises dramatically just 20 minutes north, offering hiking trails, stone villages like Valldemossa and Deià, and olive groves that have been cultivated for a thousand years. Palma's beaches, from the urban sands of Can Pere Antoni to the long stretch of Playa de Palma, offer crystal-clear Mediterranean swimming virtually year-round. With direct flights from across Europe landing at Palma Airport (PMI) — Spain's third-busiest — you can be on a rooftop terrace with a cold Estrella Damm in hand within 30 minutes of touchdown.
Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) is superbly connected, with direct flights from London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, Stockholm, Milan and dozens more European cities. From the terminal, EMT bus line 1 runs every 12–15 minutes to Plaça d'Espanya — the city's transport hub — in about 20 minutes. Taxis cost roughly €20–25 and take 15 minutes. If you plan day trips into the mountains or eastern coast, car rental desks are inside the arrivals hall, though Palma itself is best explored on foot or by bus.
Within the city, EMT Palma operates over 30 bus routes covering every neighbourhood, and BiciPalma offers docked bike rentals at stations across the centre. The pedestrianised heart of the Old Town is compact enough to walk end-to-end in 15 minutes, and the Paseo Marítimo promenade stretches 4.5 km along the waterfront — ideal for a morning run or evening stroll.
For choosing your base, the Casco Antiguo (Old Town) is perfect for history, architecture and tapas within steps of your door. Santa Catalina is the foodie quarter, centred around the Mercat de Santa Catalina with its seafood stalls and local produce. Paseo Marítimo suits travellers who want yacht-harbour views and easy access to waterfront restaurants. Playa de Palma, a 15-minute bus ride east, delivers a 6 km sandy beach with shallow, family-friendly water.
Don't miss day trips into the Serra de Tramuntana: the vintage 1912 Sóller train departs from Plaça d'Espanya and winds through tunnels and mountain scenery to the orange-grove town of Sóller. Valldemossa — where Chopin composed during a famous Mallorcan winter — is 20 minutes by car. Further north, the hairpin road to Cap de Formentor ends at a lighthouse with some of the most dramatic sea-cliff views anywhere in the Mediterranean. Closer to Palma, the Coves del Drac near Porto Cristo host underground lake concerts in one of Europe's most surreal natural settings.
The historic heart of Palma, a labyrinth of medieval streets surrounding La Seu Cathedral. Boutique hotels occupy converted palaces and townhouses. Best for culture, architecture and evening tapas crawls along Carrer de Sant Miquel and La Lonja.
Palma's trendiest neighbourhood, built around a 19th-century food market. Independent restaurants, craft coffee shops, vintage boutiques and a laid-back local vibe. A 10-minute walk west of the Old Town — great for foodies and longer stays.
The sweeping 4.5 km waterfront promenade lined with palm trees, yacht clubs and seafood restaurants. Hotels here offer sea views and sunset terraces. Ideal for travellers who want the buzz of the marina and easy walking access to both the Old Town and Santa Catalina.
A 6 km stretch of fine sand and shallow turquoise water, 10 km east of the centre. Beachfront hotels with direct sand access, water sports, and the Can Pastilla promenade. Connected to the centre by EMT bus lines 15 and 25 (15 minutes).
All bookable through IMPT — same price as Booking.com, with 1 tonne of CO₂ removed per reservation and 5% cashback in IMPT tokens.
A 13th-century palace converted into a 12-room boutique hotel, steps from Plaça de Sant Francesc. Original stone arches, a candlelit courtyard, rooftop plunge pool with cathedral views, and a Michelin-noted restaurant. One of Palma's most intimate luxury stays.
A sleek contemporary tower on Palma's premier shopping avenue. 160 rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, a rooftop pool and CUIT restaurant with panoramic bay views from the 11th floor. Walking distance to La Seu, the Born district and Paseo Marítimo.
A Palma institution since the 1960s, recently renovated with a stunning rooftop infinity pool overlooking the bay and the Old Town. 187 rooms, ground-floor brasserie, and a prime location between the Born shopping district and the seafront. Excellent value for a 4-star in central Palma.
A 16th-century palace with just 12 rooms, directly opposite the cathedral. Roman-era mosaics in the basement, an indoor heated pool, antique-filled salons and personalised butler service. Relais & Châteaux quality in one of Palma's most prestigious addresses. The rooftop terrace offers an unobstructed view of La Seu's rose window.
Meliá's design-forward lifestyle brand in the heart of Palma. Modern rooms with rain showers, a rooftop pool with 360° views, co-working lounge, and a location 5 minutes on foot from the Sóller train station at Plaça d'Espanya. Excellent for younger travellers and digital nomads who want style without the five-star price tag.
A grand seafront hotel in the Cala Major neighbourhood, 4 km west of the centre. 133 rooms with sea-view balconies, direct beach access via a private path, two outdoor pools (one saltwater), spa, and the La Terraza restaurant overlooking the bay. Just 500 metres from the Fundación Pilar i Joan Miró. A Palma landmark since the 1950s, restored to five-star splendour.
A well-positioned 4-star hotel on Palma's main shopping boulevard, Avinguda de Jaume III. 79 rooms with clean modern decor, a rooftop terrace with bay views, and an ideal location midway between the Old Town and the Paseo Marítimo. Popular with business travellers and couples seeking a central base without the boutique price tag.
Set in a restored 16th-century Mallorcan manor house on the quiet end of the Old Town, Hotel Born combines original stone walls and painted ceilings with simple, elegant rooms. A peaceful courtyard, warm service, and a location two minutes from the Passeig del Born make it a favourite for repeat visitors to Palma.
A design-led boutique hotel in a renovated Old Town building with just 15 rooms, each individually decorated with locally sourced art and design pieces. A rooftop terrace with a small plunge pool, honesty bar, and views across the Old Town rooftops toward La Seu. Ideal for design-conscious travellers who want character and an intimate atmosphere.
A polished 4-star hotel with 88 modern rooms, an excellent rooftop pool and sun deck, and a prime location on Passeig de Mallorca between the Old Town and the seafront. The hotel's restaurant serves Mediterranean cuisine with local ingredients. Walking distance to both Jaime III shopping and the cathedral.
Palma's towering Gothic cathedral, begun in 1229 after the Christian reconquest and not completed until 1601. La Seu stands 44 metres tall — one of the highest Gothic naves in Europe — and its enormous rose window, 13 metres in diameter, is the largest in the world. Inside, look for Antoni Gaudí's early 20th-century renovation of the main chapel and Miquel Barceló's contemporary ceramic mural in the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament. Entry costs around €9 and the morning light through the rose window (when it aligns with the western facade in February and November) is known as the "Festival of Light."
Directly beside the cathedral, this Moorish-era fortress became the royal residence of the Kings of Mallorca in the 13th century and is still used for official functions by the Spanish Crown. Highlights include the Gothic Hall of the Tinell, the Royal Chapel of Santa Ana, and the gardens overlooking the Parc de la Mar. Admission is about €7, free on Wednesdays and Sundays for EU citizens.
Perched on a pine-covered hill 3 km west of the centre, Bellver is one of the only circular castles in Europe. Built in the 14th century for King James II of Mallorca, it offers sweeping 360° panoramas of the bay, the city and the Tramuntana mountains. The castle now houses a city history museum and hosts open-air concerts in summer. Entry is around €4, and the surrounding forest has well-marked walking trails.
Joan Miró lived and worked in Palma for the last 27 years of his life, and his studio at Cala Major has been preserved exactly as he left it — canvases leaning against walls, paint-spattered floors, brushes in jars. The foundation also includes a modern gallery designed by Rafael Moneo housing over 2,500 works, plus sculpture gardens. Entry is about €8.
Housed in a renovated section of Palma's Renaissance-era city walls, Es Baluard holds works by Picasso, Miró, Barceló and Tàpies alongside rotating exhibitions of Balearic and international contemporary art. The rooftop terrace offers one of the best free viewpoints in Palma, looking across the harbour to the cathedral.
Hidden in a garden courtyard in the Old Town, these 10th-century Moorish baths are one of the few surviving relics of Islamic Palma (then called Medina Mayurqa). The horseshoe-arched bathhouse and its 12 columns — each salvaged from different Roman and Byzantine buildings — is small but atmospheric, surrounded by citrus trees and palms.
Palma's largest covered market, open since 1951 on Plaça de l'Olivar. Ground-floor stalls sell fresh fish, cured meats (including Mallorca's famous sobrassada), local cheese, olives and seasonal produce. The upper floor has tapas counters where you can eat freshly grilled prawns or oysters with a glass of local wine — an essential Palma experience for foodies.
The 4.5 km waterfront promenade stretching from the cathedral and the old fishing harbour of Portixol to the modern Club de Mar yacht marina. Lined with palm trees, seafood restaurants and cocktail bars, it's the city's social spine — perfect for a sunset walk or a bike ride. The views back to La Seu from the western end are spectacular.
The neighbourhood market in Santa Catalina, dating from the 1920s, is smaller and more local than Olivar. Come for fresh produce, artisan bread, Mallorcan pastries (ensaimadas, cocas), and stand-up coffee counters where Palmesanos start their mornings. The surrounding streets — Carrer de Soler, Carrer de Fàbrica — are packed with independent restaurants and wine bars.
Start at Plaça d'Espanya and walk south along pedestrianised Carrer de Sant Miquel, past the church of Sant Miquel (one of Palma's oldest). Continue through Plaça Major — the city's grand central square with arcaded cafés — then wind down to the Plaça de Cort (home to a centuries-old olive tree and the City Hall). Head south to the Cathedral and La Almudaina, then loop through the La Lonja district past the 15th-century Llotja de Palma (the Gothic merchants' exchange) before following the narrow lanes of the Calatrava quarter to the Arab Baths. End at Plaça de Santa Eulàlia for a vermut at one of the terrace bars.
Begin at the Club de Mar marina near the cathedral end of the Paseo Marítimo and walk east along the seafront. Pass the Real Club Náutico, the Auditorium concert hall, and the fishermen's quarter of El Molinar. Continue to the former fishing village of Portixol, now a charming district of colourful houses, waterfront cafés and a small harbour with traditional llaüt boats. Return by bus (line 25) or on foot. The route is especially beautiful at sunset when La Seu is silhouetted against the western sky.
From Plaça de Gomila in the El Terreno neighbourhood, follow signs uphill into the Bosc de Bellver — 112 hectares of Aleppo pine forest within the city limits. Well-marked paths wind through the woods to Bellver Castle at the summit (112 metres above sea level). Circle the castle walls for panoramic views of the bay, the city, the harbour and the Tramuntana range. Descend via the eastern trail past picnic areas and exercise stations. The forest is popular with local joggers and dog walkers, and pleasantly cool even in summer.
Palma de Mallorca is one of the most walkable cities in the Mediterranean, with a compact historic centre where the cathedral, museums, markets and restaurants are all within a 20-minute stroll. The city has an extensive bus network (EMT Palma) with over 30 routes, a public bike-share scheme (BiciPalma), and the pedestrianised Old Town encourages car-free exploration. The Balearic government has also invested heavily in sustainable tourism initiatives, including restrictions on tourist cars and a sustainable tourism tax (Ecotaxa) that funds environmental projects. When you book through IMPT, 1 tonne of CO₂ is removed from the atmosphere per booking at no extra cost to you.
Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) is just 8 km east of the city centre. EMT bus line 1 runs every 12–15 minutes to Plaça d'Espanya in the centre, taking about 20 minutes and costing around €5. Taxis take 15 minutes and cost approximately €20–25. Several hotels offer private transfers, and there are also car rental desks at the terminal. The airport is Spain's third-busiest, with direct flights from most European capitals.
For a first visit, the Casco Antiguo (Old Town) puts you within walking distance of La Seu Cathedral, the Royal Palace of La Almudaina, the Arab Baths, and dozens of tapas bars. Santa Catalina is ideal if you prefer a trendier neighbourhood with independent restaurants and the Mercat de Santa Catalina. Paseo Marítimo suits those who want sea views and a buzzing promenade, while Playa de Palma is best for beach-focused holidays with direct sand access.
The Serra de Tramuntana, a UNESCO World Heritage mountain range, is just 30 minutes from Palma. Popular day trips include Valldemossa (a hilltop village where Chopin and George Sand spent a winter), Sóller (reached by a vintage 1912 wooden train), Deià (a stone village beloved by artists), and Cap de Formentor (dramatic sea cliffs at Mallorca's northernmost point). Closer to Palma, the Coves del Drac near Porto Cristo feature an underground lake with classical music concerts.
The best times are the shoulder seasons: May–June and September–October. Temperatures range from 22–28 °C, the sea is warm enough for swimming, and flights and hotels are more affordable than peak summer. July and August bring peak heat (30–35 °C) and the largest crowds. Winter (December–February) is mild (10–16 °C), perfect for sightseeing and hiking, and in February the almond trees across the island burst into spectacular bloom.
Hotel prices in Palma vary by season and category. Budget-friendly 3-star hotels start from around €70–100 per night in shoulder season. Mid-range 4-star hotels like Hotel Saratoga or Hotel Almudaina range from €120–200. Luxury 5-star boutique hotels such as Hotel Can Cera or Palacio Ca Sa Galesa start from €250–400. Book through IMPT for the same prices as Booking.com, plus 5% cashback in IMPT tokens and 1 tonne of CO₂ removed per booking.