10 Best Things to Do in Palma de Mallorca

Palma’s Old Town is a very pleasant and compact area to stroll around. It hosts a lively scene of quaint cafés and restaurants, as well as art galleries and boutiques. The Old Town’s cobblestoned alleyways take you around the many historical landmarks left by the Romans, Moors and Christians, who successively occupied Mallorca. These include the Royal Palace of Almudaina, La Seu Cathedral, and La Lonja (the maritime trade exchange building).

Built early 14th century at the top of a hill covered with pine trees, Bellver Castle is one of the few circular Gothic-style castles erected in Europe. Its elevated position offers splendid views of the port and the city. Bellver castle hosts the city history museum and can be visited for a modest entrance fee – take the audio guide to get detailed info during your visit. The ticket desk is in a cool café.

Locally known as Playa C'an Pere Antoni, Palma City Beach is the closest strip of sand to the Old Town. Stretching on almost 800 metres, it features a restaurant at each end, and it’s equipped with sun loungers and straw umbrellas as well as toilets, showers and a lifeguard tower. Offering stunning views of the cathedral 900 metres away, the excellent location of Palma City Beach makes it a pretty busy spot during summer.

This 200-metre-long tree-lined avenue is the perfect place for a stroll under refreshing shade. The centre of the street is pedestrianised and has a few benches. Filled with cool bars and restaurants that set up their terraces under the trees, Passeig del Born is the main commercial street in Palma. It’s lined with shops and boutiques including a non-exhaustive list of international brands such as H&M, Zara, and MaxMara.

Locally called La Seu, the Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma sits in the south of the Old Town, a stroll away from the port. It’s built in golden sandstone and is designed in a stunning Catalan Gothic style with a Northern European twist. From its tall nave of 44 metres to its 12-metre large rose window, most people are in awe of this monumental religious edifice. Don't miss the modern ornaments and décor respectively added by Antoni Gaudí and Miquel Barcelo.

The centrally located Mayor Plaza is Palma’s main social and cultural hub. Established at the end of the 19th century, this 3,000 sq m rectangular open space is surrounded by 4- and 5-storey buildings. Filled with bars, restaurants, shops and street artists, it’s the perfect place to start the exploration of El Casco Antiguo, the Old Town of Palma de Mallorca. Mayor Plaza is also famous for the craft market it hosts all year round.

Known as the Paseo Marítimo in Spanish or Passeig Marítim in Catalan, Palma’s seafront promenade runs for 3 km along Avenida Gabriel Roca. Shared between walkers and cyclists, the best times to enjoy a stroll are early morning and late afternoon. Passing right next to the heart of the city, you’ll find many pause opportunities during your walk. Bars, restaurants and shops are plentiful along the way.

The Baluard Museu (Es Baluard Museu d'Art Contemporani de Palma) occupies a former military fortress in Palma. This cultural institution for research has an impressive collection of 20th and 21st-century pieces from the Balearic and Mediterranean regions. Inside, you can marvel at paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and drawings by contemporary artists.

The Baluard Museu covers around 5,000 square metres of exhibition space across 3 storeys. The museum also has a tower and viewing terrace with incredible views of the Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma, Paseo Maritimo, and the Bay of Palma.

Mercat de Santa Catalina is the place you should go to experience a genuine local feel in Palma de Mallorca. Sit down at the table of one of the many stalls at hand, grab a cerveza (beer), a few plates of tapas, and watch the world go by. Besides the fresh products available here, you’ll find a few stalls selling Balearic specialities such as arros brut (rice dish with vegetables and meat), bunyols (local doughnut) and pa amb oli (bread, olive oil and tomato).

Santa Catalina neighbourhood is located just west of the Old Town from which it’s separated by the Parc de la Feixina. This area hosts a lively nightlife scene. We’ve selected 3 recommended venues for you to enjoy an entertaining night in Palma de Mallorca. Located on Carrer de Pou, Wine Industry is a cosy wine bar with nice selection of tapas. Further south, on Carrer de Sant Magí, you’ll find Chakra, a glitzy and warm cocktail bar. On the same street, you can also head to LAB Cocktail Bar Food & Bartending Solutions. It’s praised as much for its mixed drinks as it is for its friendly ambience.