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Palma de Mallorca
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Palma de Mallorca blends Gothic architecture, Mediterranean beaches, historic streets, island cuisine and cultural sights in Mallorca’s lively Mediterranean capital.

Island Capital and Historic Waterfront

Palma de Mallorca occupies a sweeping bay on the south-west coast of Mallorca, combining the ease of a Mediterranean seaside city with an exceptionally layered historic centre. Its waterfront curves beneath the cathedral and the Almudaina Palace, while the old city rises behind them in a maze of narrow lanes, shaded courtyards and grand town houses. Beyond the old walls, boulevards, markets and residential quarters reveal a modern capital shaped by island life, tourism and a still-active maritime economy.
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Streets, Courtyards and Culture

The centre is best understood on foot, moving between Gothic churches, former merchant residences and compact squares. The Cathedral of Mallorca, known locally as La Seu, dominates the harbour skyline, while the nearby Arab Baths preserve traces of the Islamic city. Art galleries and museums such as Es Baluard Museu d'Art Contemporani de Palma bring a contemporary note to the historic setting, and the neighbourhood of Santa Catalina is known for its market, cafés and independent restaurants. Traditional Mallorcan food remains part of everyday life, from pa amb oli and sobrasada to the island's celebrated ensaïmada.

Coastline and Island Horizons

Palma's urban beaches and seafront promenade make the coast part of the city experience rather than a distant resort setting. Parc de la Mar frames views towards the cathedral, while Bellver Castle rises among pine trees above the western side of the bay. The city also forms a useful base for exploring Mallorca's wider landscapes, including the Tramuntana mountains and smaller coastal towns, although these lie beyond Palma itself.

When is the best time to visit Palma de Mallorca?

Best: April–June · 23–31°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January1738
February1832
March2029
April (best)2340
May (best)2630
June (best)3116
July3510
August3412
September3241
October2774
November2252
December1848

Getting to and around Palma de Mallorca

How to get there

Palma is served by Palma de Mallorca Airport, also known as Son Sant Joan, located east of the city and connected to the centre by public bus and taxi services. The airport has extensive links within Spain and across Europe, although routes vary by season. Ferries connect the island with mainland ports including Barcelona, Valencia and Denia, as well as with other Balearic Islands; the maritime station lies in the western harbour area. Palma's intermodal station provides rail and bus connections to destinations across Mallorca, including Sóller, Inca and Manacor. Road access is straightforward from other parts of the island, though central parking can be limited.

Transportation

Much of Palma's historic centre is best explored on foot, particularly the cathedral quarter, the lanes around the Almudaina and the streets leading towards Plaça Major. EMT Palma operates urban buses serving the centre, residential districts, beaches and the airport, while TIB services connect the capital with towns across Mallorca. Palma's train and metro facilities operate from the intermodal station, with routes into the island's interior and northern areas. Taxis are widely used, and cycling is practical along parts of the seafront and in some flatter districts. Traffic and parking become more difficult around the old centre, where access restrictions and pedestrian streets are common.

Best attractions in Palma de Mallorca

Palma's principal attractions are concentrated around the old city and waterfront, making a varied sightseeing day possible without long transfers. La Seu, the Cathedral of Mallorca, rises above Parc de la Mar with immense Gothic interiors and views across the bay, while the adjoining Almudaina Palace reflects the city's Islamic and Christian past. Nearby, the Arab Baths preserve one of the clearest surviving fragments of Madina Mayurqa. Bellver Castle, set on a wooded hill west of the centre, adds a panoramic perspective and an unusual circular plan. Es Baluard Museu d'Art Contemporani de Palma occupies a former defensive bastion and links the city's historic walls with modern art. Beyond the monuments, the lanes of the old town, the market atmosphere of Santa Catalina and the long seafront provide contrasting ways to experience Palma's architecture, food culture and maritime setting.

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Best landmarks in Palma de Mallorca

The Cathedral of Mallorca is Palma's defining landmark, a vast Gothic building whose facade and flying buttresses dominate the bay; its interior also contains important later work, including interventions associated with Antoni Gaudí and Miquel Barceló. Beside it, the Almudaina Palace occupies a fortified site that developed from the Islamic citadel and became a royal residence under the Crown of Mallorca. Bellver Castle is notable for its four-lobed circular design and hilltop position, while the Arab Baths retain columns, arches and a domed chamber connected with the medieval Islamic city. The old town's courtyards and stone mansions, including Can Oleza and other noble residences, express the wealth of Palma's merchant and aristocratic families. The former city walls and bastions, now partly integrated into parks and museums such as Es Baluard, reveal how defence once shaped the capital's edge.

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Explore Palma de Mallorca on the map

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Neighbourhoods in Palma de Mallorca

Best restaurants in Palma de Mallorca

Palma's food culture combines Mallorcan rural traditions with the island's long Mediterranean connections. Pa amb oli, bread rubbed with tomato and dressed with olive oil, is a simple local staple, while sobrasada, a soft paprika-seasoned cured sausage, appears in tapas and traditional cooking. Tumbet layers aubergine, potato, pepper and tomato; frito mallorquín brings together seasoned vegetables and meat or seafood; and ensaïmada remains the city's best-known sweet, sold in bakeries in both plain and filled forms. Restaurants in the old town range from traditional cellers and family-run kitchens to polished contemporary dining rooms, while Santa Catalina has a broad choice of cafés and international influences. Mercat de l'Olivar and Santa Catalina market offer produce, seafood and casual counters, showing how shopping and eating remain closely connected in everyday Palma.

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Best bars in Palma de Mallorca

Palma's evening life is varied rather than concentrated in one single entertainment district. The historic centre has intimate wine bars, cocktail venues and relaxed terraces in and around the lanes near La Lonja, while Santa Catalina is known for a sociable mix of bars and late-opening restaurants. The waterfront and Paseo Marítimo have traditionally attracted larger venues and dancing, although the atmosphere and businesses change over time. Smaller live-music and cultural venues provide alternatives to clubbing, and theatres and concert spaces add a more formal dimension to the night. Evenings often begin late by northern European standards, with locals moving from a drink or shared plates to music afterwards. Visitors should be considerate in residential streets, follow venue rules and use licensed taxis or public transport when returning from areas away from the centre.

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Best nightclubs in Palma de Mallorca

Palma's evening life is varied rather than concentrated in one single entertainment district. The historic centre has intimate wine bars, cocktail venues and relaxed terraces in and around the lanes near La Lonja, while Santa Catalina is known for a sociable mix of bars and late-opening restaurants. The waterfront and Paseo Marítimo have traditionally attracted larger venues and dancing, although the atmosphere and businesses change over time. Smaller live-music and cultural venues provide alternatives to clubbing, and theatres and concert spaces add a more formal dimension to the night. Evenings often begin late by northern European standards, with locals moving from a drink or shared plates to music afterwards. Visitors should be considerate in residential streets, follow venue rules and use licensed taxis or public transport when returning from areas away from the centre.

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Best shops in Palma de Mallorca

Shopping in Palma moves from traditional food markets and independent craft shops to contemporary boutiques along the central commercial streets. Mercat de l'Olivar is a major indoor market for produce, seafood and prepared food, while Santa Catalina market serves both local shoppers and visitors exploring the surrounding neighbourhood. Around Passeig del Born, Avinguda de Jaume III and Sant Feliu, retailers range from established Spanish and international names to smaller fashion, design and homeware businesses. The old town contains jewellers, galleries, leather goods shops and artisan outlets, with some products reflecting Mallorca's craft traditions, including woven textiles, ceramics, espadrilles and objects made from locally associated materials. Edible gifts such as sobrasada, olive oil, almonds and ensaïmada are widely associated with the island, but visitors should check packaging and transport rules when carrying food abroad.

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Palma de Mallorca essentials

Currency and Payment
Spain uses the euro, written as EUR or €. Cards and contactless payments are widely accepted in hotels, larger shops, restaurants and transport-related businesses, although small purchases at markets, kiosks or independent establishments may still require cash. ATMs are available throughout the centre, at transport hubs and in commercial districts; visitors should check their own bank's foreign-exchange and withdrawal charges. Carrying a modest amount of cash is useful for market stalls and small cafés, while travellers should select euros rather than a home-currency conversion when a card terminal offers a choice, unless their card provider advises otherwise.
Safety
Palma is generally approached with the ordinary precautions appropriate to a busy European capital and major holiday destination. Keep wallets, phones and bags secure in crowded streets, on buses, at transport hubs and around the waterfront, and avoid leaving possessions visible in parked vehicles. The old town is pleasant to walk through after dark, but quieter lanes and poorly lit areas should be treated with the same awareness used in any unfamiliar city. Sun exposure, dehydration and heat can be significant in summer, particularly during long sightseeing walks. Take care on coastal paths, near traffic and on the old town's uneven or slippery paving.
Emergency Situations
For police, fire or medical emergencies in Palma and throughout Spain, call 112, the national emergency number; operators can handle urgent calls in several languages. For direct police assistance, Policía Nacional can be reached on 091 and Guardia Civil on 062, although 112 is usually the simplest option for visitors facing an immediate emergency. Ask accommodation staff or a local pharmacy for help locating appropriate non-urgent medical care, and carry travel insurance details and identification. In a serious medical situation, give the exact street, landmark or hotel name, since narrow historic lanes can make locating an address more difficult.
Do's and Don'ts
Dress respectfully when entering churches and other religious buildings, particularly during services, and follow any photography restrictions. In restaurants, meals are often unhurried, and it is courteous to greet staff and avoid treating local markets as purely photographic displays. Tipping is discretionary rather than compulsory, with a small amount appreciated for good service. Keep noise under control in residential streets and respect beach, park and historic-site regulations. Do not climb on monuments, touch fragile stonework or block narrow entrances while taking photographs. Mallorca has both Spanish and Catalan cultural traditions, so a simple bon dia or hola is a polite way to begin an interaction.
Local Tips
Organise the old town by areas rather than attempting every lane at once: the cathedral and Parc de la Mar, the Almudaina and Arab Baths, and the streets around Plaça Major each make natural walking clusters. Santa Catalina offers a different atmosphere from the monumental centre, with a market and everyday cafés, while the waterfront is particularly rewarding in the late afternoon. For island excursions, check whether a rail, bus or organised connection best suits the destination, as Mallorca's roads and distances can make an apparently short journey take longer than expected. Local markets are liveliest earlier in the day, when produce and food counters are most active.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHola[o-la]
GoodbyeAdiós[a-di-ós]
YesSí[sí]
NoNo[no]
Please/You're welcomePor favor/De nada[por fa-vor / de na-da]
Thank youGracias[gra-ci-as]
Excuse me/SorryPerdón/Lo siento[per-dón / lo sien-to]
How are you?¿Cómo estás?[¿có-mo es-tás?]
Fine. And you?Bien. ¿Y tú?[bien. ¿y tú?]
Do you speak English?¿Hablas inglés?[¿ha-blas in-glés?]
I don't understandNo entiendo[no en-tien-do]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseMe gustaría ver la carta, por favor[me gus-ta-ría ver la car-ta, por fa-vor]
I don't eat meatNo como carne[no co-mo car-ne]
Cheers!¡Salud![¡sa-lud!]
I would like to pay, pleaseMe gustaría pagar, por favor[me gus-ta-ría pa-gar, por fa-vor]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!¡Ayuda![¡a-yu-da!]
Go away!¡Vete![¡ve-te!]
Call the Police!¡Llama a la policía![¡ya-ma a la po-li-cía!]
Call a doctor!¡Llama a un médico![¡ya-ma a un mé-di-co!]
I'm lostEstoy perdido/a[es-toy per-di-do/a]
I'm illEstoy enfermo/a[es-toy en-fer-mo/a]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Me gustaría comprar...[me gus-ta-ría com-prar]
I'm just lookingSolo estoy mirando[so-lo es-toy mi-ran-do]
How much is it?¿Cuánto cuesta?[¿cuán-to cues-ta?]
That's too expensiveEsto es demasiado caro[es-to es de-ma-sia-do ca-ro]
Can you lower the price?¿Puede bajar el precio?[¿pue-de ba-jar el pre-cio?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?¿Qué hora es?[¿qué ho-ra es?]
It's one o'clockEs la una[es la u-na]
Half past (10)Las diez y media[las diez y me-dia]
MorningMañana[ma-ña-na]
AfternoonTarde[tar-de]
EveningNoche[no-che]
YesterdayAyer[a-yer]
TodayHoy[hoy]
TomorrowMañana[ma-ña-na]
1Uno[u-no]
2Dos[dos]
3Tres[tres]
4Cuatro[cua-tro]
5Cinco[cin-co]
6Seis[seis]
7Siete[sie-te]
8Ocho[o-cho]
9Nueve[nue-ve]
10Diez[diez]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?¿Dónde está...?[¿dón-de es-tá...?]
What's the address?¿Cuál es la dirección?[¿cuál es la di-rec-ción?]
Can you show me (on the map)?¿Puedes enseñarme (en el mapa)?[¿pue-des en-se-ñar-me (en el ma-pa)?]
When's the next (bus)?¿Cuándo es el próximo (autobús)?[¿cuán-do es el pró-xi-mo (au-to-bús)?]
A ticket (to ....)Un billete (a ....)[un bi-lle-te (a ....)]

History of Palma de Mallorca

Before Roman Palma

The area around present-day Palma was inhabited long before the city acquired its modern form. Mallorca's prehistoric communities left talaiotic monuments across the island, while the sheltered bay encouraged maritime contact with peoples of the western Mediterranean. Phoenician and Carthaginian influence was followed by Roman expansion, and the island became part of the Roman world during the conquest of the Balearics in 123 BC. The Romans established Palma, conventionally identified with Roman Palma, as an urban settlement and developed the island within a wider network of Mediterranean trade. Though later construction has obscured much of the Roman city, archaeological remains and the street pattern beneath the old centre reflect Palma's early role as a port and administrative settlement.

Medieval Islamic Madina Mayurqa

Muslim forces conquered Mallorca in 902, bringing the island into the political and commercial sphere of al-Andalus. Palma, known as Madina Mayurqa, expanded as a fortified port and centre of agriculture, craft production and maritime exchange. Irrigation techniques supported cultivation beyond the walls, while the city developed neighbourhoods, baths, mosques and markets characteristic of an Islamic Mediterranean capital. The Almudaina area and the surviving Arab Baths provide tangible reminders of this period, although much of the medieval Islamic city lies beneath later buildings. Madina Mayurqa connected Mallorca with North Africa, the Iberian Peninsula and other Mediterranean ports, giving Palma a cosmopolitan character that continued after the Christian conquest.

The Catalan Conquest

James I of Aragon conquered Mallorca in 1229, ending Muslim rule and incorporating the island into the Crown of Aragon. Palma was reorganised as a Christian city, its principal mosque was replaced by a cathedral and new churches, institutions and settlement patterns reshaped the urban landscape. The island became the centre of the separate Kingdom of Mallorca in the thirteenth century, with Palma serving as its political and commercial capital. The Catalan language and legal traditions became established, while Jewish, Muslim and Christian communities contributed to the city's complex social history. The old city walls, religious buildings and palace precinct still express the scale of this medieval transformation.

Maritime Power and Gothic Palma

During the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, Palma prospered through shipping, trade and connections across the western Mediterranean. Its merchants dealt in textiles, foodstuffs and other goods, while shipbuilding and maritime commerce supported an increasingly wealthy urban society. The Cathedral of Mallorca grew over several centuries and became the city's defining Gothic monument, and Bellver Castle was built in the early fourteenth century as a royal residence and defensive stronghold. Palma's position within the Crown of Aragon brought opportunity but also exposure to political conflict, epidemics and attacks at sea. The grand town houses and churches of the historic centre preserve the imprint of this mercantile age.

Imperial Change and Modernisation

The union of the Crowns of Aragon and Castile in the late fifteenth century changed Palma's political context, while later imperial and commercial developments redirected some Mediterranean activity towards Atlantic routes. The city nevertheless remained Mallorca's administrative and trading centre. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, changes to government, commerce and transport encouraged urban growth beyond the medieval walls. New civic buildings, wider streets and bourgeois residences appeared alongside older religious and mercantile structures. The demolition of substantial sections of the medieval walls during the nineteenth century opened the city to expansion, creating the broad avenues and districts that link the old centre with the modern capital.

Tourism and the Contemporary Capital

Improved transport and the growth of Mediterranean tourism transformed Palma during the twentieth century. The harbour, airport and expanding road network connected Mallorca with national and international visitors, while new residential and hotel development extended the urban area around the historic core and bay. Tourism brought employment and investment but also intensified pressure on housing, public space and the coastal environment. Alongside this change, Palma retained its role as Mallorca's cultural and administrative centre, with museums, galleries, markets and restored historic buildings contributing to contemporary civic life. Today, the Roman, Islamic, medieval and modern layers remain visible within a compact city whose identity is closely tied to the island and the sea.

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Evendo - Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Palma de Mallorca

Discover Palma de Mallorca with Evendo, your 100% free app-based travel guide covering attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, and more.

  • Detailed information on attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, and experiences
  • Rich set of information for each location: images, descriptions, local tips, maps, and contact details
  • Easy booking for hotels, tours, tickets, and experiences
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More about the Evendo app

Explore Palma de Mallorca like never before with Evendo, the free travel guide app that offers detailed information on attractions, landmarks, shops, and more. Plan and book your perfect trip effortlessly.

  • Historical insights and travel essentials for Palma de Mallorca
  • Curated local tips to experience the city like a local
  • Intuitive app navigation and 'Near Me' feature
  • Completely free with no in-app purchases or hidden costs

Welcome to Palma de Mallorca, Spain's sun-soaked gem in the Mediterranean. With Evendo, your journey through this vibrant city will be nothing short of extraordinary. Imagine walking through the iconic Gothic Cathedral of Santa Maria (La Seu), exploring the historic Bellver Castle, or strolling down the bustling Passeig des Born, all with curated local tips at your fingertips.

Evendo provides detailed information on Palma's best attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, and nightclubs. Discover exquisite dining experiences at renowned restaurants like Marc Fosh and Tast Club, or unwind at local favorites such as Bar España. Each location features comprehensive details including images, descriptions, maps, and contact information, ensuring you never miss a highlight.

Planning your trip is seamless with Evendo. Book hotels, tours, tickets, and unique experiences directly through the app. Whether it's a guided tour of the Almudaina Palace or a sunset boat cruise, Evendo makes it easy to organize your itinerary. No more endless searches for what to see and do—everything you need is in one place.

Additionally, Evendo includes historical insights about Palma de Mallorca, travel essentials, and tons of local advice to enhance your visit. The app's intuitive navigation and 'Near Me' feature help you explore the city effortlessly, while curated local tips ensure you experience Palma like a true local. Best of all, Evendo is completely free, with no in-app purchases or hidden costs.

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