Palma de Mallorca

Palma de Mallorca is the capital of the Balearic Islands and home to 423,000 residents, about half the population of Mallorca. While 20 km of boxy hotels line the coast, the city retains a magnificent Old Town centred on its Gothic cathedral and Royal Palace. The island has been settled since 2500 BC, with Roman, Arab, and medieval history layered into its streetscape. Summer brings half of Europe to the beaches, but shoulder seasons offer milder weather with fewer crowds.

Palma de Mallorca Airport (IATA: PMI) sits 9 km southeast of the city and serves daily flights from European cities, the UK, North Africa, and mainland Spain. The airport shares runways with Son Sant Joan air force base and operates as a single terminal with four modules: Module A for non-Schengen flights, Module B for small planes to Ibiza and Menorca, and Module C for Schengen destinations. Ferries connect to other Balearic islands and the Spanish mainland from the city ferry port.

EMT buses run frequent services within Palma city and along the beach strip. Bus CC orbits the city centre Monday to Friday every 40 minutes and is free. Standard 2024 fares are €2 within the city, €3 to the sea port, and €5 to the airport, payable on board with no transfers permitted. A prepaid card for ten city trips costs €15, available from green vending machines at city centre stops such as Plaza de España. Buses run by TIB do not permit journeys within city limits. Trains serve Inca and the Metro reaches Son Sardina and UIB in the north suburbs. Inner streets are too narrow for comfortable cycling, but bikes are viable along the beach areas with eight rental shops in the city centre.

Palma is an all-year destination with peak season from May through September. Summer temperatures rarely exceed 25°C due to sea breezes, though evenings may require a jacket. July to September sees Mallorca mobbed by visitors from Germany, the UK, and Ireland, and many hotels close in winter. Key events include Mallorca Live rock festival in mid-June, Festival de Pollença classical music in August, and Evolution Film Festival in the first week of November.

Accommodation ranges from budget hostels near the marina to luxury hotels along the beachfront. We Hostel Palma offers dorm beds from €33 near the marina. Midrange options include Hotel Palladium (B&B double €150) in the city centre and Hotel Amic Gala (B&B double €120) in Can Pastilla near the beach. Luxury properties include Castillo Hotel Son Vida (B&B double €450) in the hills with golf course and spa, and Palacio Ca Sa Galesa (B&B double €350), a 16th-century palace hotel east of the cathedral.

City centre dining options include La Cuadra del Maño (C del Miracle 8) for wood-fired barbecue steaks, and Es Raconet (C dels Moliners 3) opposite Fundación Juan March for bargain home-cooked food. Vegans should try Ca n'Ela Vegan Restaurant (C de la Mar 16) with changing daily menus, or Es Badulake (C de les Minyones 2) for sandwiches and wraps. Calixto (C del Banc de l'Oli 14) focuses solely on paella. For tapas, Oh Mallork Bar de Tapas serves in a cozy atmosphere. The phrase for "full English breakfast" locally is desayuno London. Nightlife clusters around the Marina with venues including Abaco, Lennox Pub, and Bodega Ca'n Rigo.

The Palma Cathedral (La Seu) at Plaça de la Seu charges €10 for adults (€8 concessions) and is open April to November Monday to Friday 10:00-17:15 and Saturday 10:00-14:15. The Royal Palace of La Almudaina on the west side of the cathedral costs €8 for adults (€5 concessions). The Banys Àrabs (C de Can Serra 3), tenth-century Arab baths 200m east of the cathedral, charges €3 for adults. Contemporary art is displayed at Es Baluard Museu d'Art Contemporani (Plaça de la Porta de Santa Catalina 10) for €6 adults. Castell de Bellver is a 14th-century circular castle with museum and city views, reachable by buses 4, 20, or 50, charging €4 for adults.

Platja de Can Pere Antoni is the most central beach, starting 500m east of Parc de la Mar beneath the cathedral, with showers and lockers available. Ciudad Jardín is 2 km east with a 450m white sandy strip seldom crowded. Ca'n Pastilla beach stretches 4 km from near the aquarium toward Playa S'Arenal. Cala Major, a suburb 4 km southwest, has a 200m by 80m beach with crystal-clear water suitable for families. Marineland marine zoo lies to the west near Costa d'en Blanes.

RCD Mallorca plays soccer in La Liga at Estadi de Son Moix (Visit Mallorca Stadium, capacity 23,000), 2 km northwest of the city centre. The bullring at Av Gaspar de Bennazar 32 stages bullfights and concerts. Golf courses at Son Muntaner and Son Vida are 3 km northwest in the hills. Aqualand El Arenal water park on the Palma–Arenal motorway (Exit 13, km 15) is open May to October daily 10:00-17:00, charging €35 for adults and €27 for concessions or children.

El Corte Inglés department stores have large branches on Av de Jaume III west of the old town (open daily) and at Av d'Alexandre Rosselló southeast of the railway station (Monday to Saturday). Mercadona supermarket at Plaça de l'Olivar, 200m south of the station, is open Monday to Saturday 09:00-21:30.

As of June 2024, Palma has 4G coverage from MasMovil/Yoigo and 5G from Movistar, Orange, and Vodafone.

Take great care of valuables as pickpockets are prevalent in the town centre. Flower girls, street touts, and other "distractors" may be working in cahoots with thieves. Old Town and El Terreno can be sleazy at night with many drug users present; drink-spiking is not uncommon.

The people of Mallorca regard themselves as Catalan, not Spanish. Respect this identity; attempts to speak Castilian Spanish will earn more goodwill than insisting on English.

Sóller is a charming small town reachable on the historic wooden train. Ferries sail to other Balearic islands including Ibiza city within a day trip. Ferries also connect to mainland Spain.