Old town
First-timersAround the cathedral.
Palma city guide
Things To Do In Palma
Mallorca's capital: a Gothic cathedral over the water, an old town of palaces and patios, a serious food scene and the Tramuntana mountains inland.
1
Hostels in the city
9.4
Average, from 23 reviews
1229
The cathedral begun
1912
The Sóller train
2011
The Tramuntana joins UNESCO
Mallorca's city
Palma is a real city, not just an airport for the beaches. Its Gothic cathedral, La Seu, rises over the bay, with the Moorish-era Almudaina palace beside it, and the old town behind is a maze of mansions with hidden courtyards.
Beyond the city, the Serra de Tramuntana, a UNESCO World Heritage mountain range, runs along the north-west coast, with stone villages, olive terraces and some of the best walking in the Mediterranean.
Mallorca has become one of the most visited islands in Europe, and residents have protested against overtourism. Two or three days in Palma is right, with the mountains and beaches as day trips.
Where to stay
Stay in the old town or Santa Catalina for food and bars.
Santa Catalina
Food and barsThe old fishermen's quarter.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 1 top-rated hostels. Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Palma
La Seu, the cathedral, has a stained-glass rose window and interior work by Gaudí and the artist Miquel Barceló. The Almudaina palace next door is still used by the royal family.
Walk the old town's lanes and patios, and up to Bellver Castle, a unique circular castle on a hill above the city.
Es Baluard, a modern art museum in the old city walls, has a rooftop with a view of the bay. The Santa Catalina market and neighbourhood are the city's food centre.
Take the vintage wooden train from 1912 over the mountains to Sóller, then the tram to the port.
Free things
Free things to do in Palma
The old town, the seafront and the walls are free. The city beach at Can Pere Antoni is free.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Palma
Mallorcan food: ensaïmada, a spiral pastry, sobrassada, a spreadable sausage, and tumbet, a vegetable dish. Pa amb oli, bread with oil and tomato, is the simple classic.
Santa Catalina and the old town have excellent restaurants. A menú del día is €13 to €18.
Nightlife
Going out in Palma
Palma's nightlife is in Santa Catalina and La Lonja, near the old town, and in the clubs along the Paseo Marítimo.
A drink is €3 to €5.
Getting around
Getting around Palma
The old town is walkable. The A1 bus reaches the airport in about twenty minutes.
Buses cover the island, and the Sóller train and tram are the scenic route to the north coast. A car is easiest for the Tramuntana. Ferries run to Barcelona, Valencia, Ibiza and Menorca.
Costs
What Palma costs
Palma is expensive in summer. Dorms start around €25. A careful day is €50 to €70.
The Balearic sustainable tourism tax is charged per night at your accommodation.
The euro is the currency. Cards work almost everywhere, though small bars still like cash.
Safety
Staying safe in Palma
Palma is safe, with pickpockets in the old town and on the beaches.
In the Tramuntana, carry water and start early in summer.
Emergency number is 112, with English-speaking operators usually available.
Day trips from Palma
Mountains, villages and coves.
Sóller
A valley town and port through the mountains.
Valldemossa
A mountain village where Chopin stayed.
Deià
A stone village on the coast.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Sant Joan and Sant Sebastià are the big festivals.
January
Sant Sebastià
Palma
The city's patron saint festival, with bonfires and concerts.
23 June
Nit de Sant Joan
Beaches
Midsummer on the beaches.
September
Nit de l'Art
Galleries
A night when galleries open late.
Hostels
Where to stay in Palma
The top-rated places to stay in Palma right now, live from Hostelworld.
When to go
April to June and September to October. July and August are very busy.
Jan
Sant Sebastià
Feb
Almond blossom
Mar
Spring
Apr
Hiking
May
Excellent
Jun
Sant Joan
Jul
Very busy
Aug
Very busy
Sep
Nit de l'Art
Oct
Good
Nov
Quiet
Dec
Christmas
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Excludes the tourist tax. Summer prices run higher.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Palma travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Palma worth visiting?
Yes, for the cathedral, the old town and the food, with the mountains close by.
How do I get to Sóller?
By the vintage 1912 train over the mountains.
Is there a tourist tax?
Yes, the Balearic sustainable tourism tax, charged per night.
How do I get from the airport?
By the A1 bus, about twenty minutes.
Do I need a car?
For the Tramuntana, it helps; buses cover the main towns.
How many days do you need?
Two or three.
When is the best time to visit?
April to June and September to October.
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