3 days in Palma de Mallorca

Day by day

1. Day 1: La Seu cathedral and Royal Palace of La Almudaina

   La Seu cathedral, Royal Palace of La Almudaina and Arab Baths, then Santa Catalina market and quarter in the evening.

   1. Morning

      La Seu cathedral

      Begun after the Christian conquest of 1229 on the site of the main mosque, Palma's Gothic cathedral rises above the old sea walls with flying buttresses facing the bay.

   2. Late morning

      Royal Palace of La Almudaina

      Visit right after the cathedral; the two entrances are a minute apart.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ensaïmada

      Historic bakeries and cafés across the old town; boxed ensaïmadas are also sold at the airport.

   4. Afternoon

      Arab Baths

      The Banys Àrabs are among the few surviving buildings from Moorish Palma: a small domed hall with horseshoe arches on mismatched columns, set in a shady garden in the old town.

   5. Evening

      Santa Catalina market and quarter

      Have breakfast or a mid-morning tapa at the market bars, then return for dinner in the evening.

2. Day 2: Bellver Castle and Es Baluard

   Bellver Castle, Es Baluard and Fundació Miró Mallorca, then La Lonja in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Bellver Castle

      Walk up through the pine woods from El Terreno in the cooler morning, or take a taxi up and walk down.

   2. Late morning

      Es Baluard

      The modern and contemporary art museum is built into the Renaissance Sant Pere bastion of the city walls, with works by Miró, Picasso and Barceló and Balearic artists.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Sobrassada

      Market stalls at the Mercat de l'Olivar and delicatessens in the old town.

   4. Afternoon

      Fundació Miró Mallorca

      Take a city bus towards Cala Major and allow time for the gardens and the studios, not just the gallery.

   5. Evening

      La Lonja

      Tapas bars, wine bars and small pubs on Carrer dels Apuntadors and around Sa Llotja, busy every evening.

3. Day 3: Old town courtyards and Basílica de Sant Francesc

   Old town courtyards, Basílica de Sant Francesc and Passeig des Born and Plaça Major, then Santa Catalina in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Old town courtyards

      Palma's noble families built townhouses around grand patios with stone stairways, arches and wells.

   2. Late morning

      Basílica de Sant Francesc

      Spend most of your time in the cloister, which is especially peaceful in the late afternoon.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Pa amb oli

      Cafés and bars across the city, especially at lunchtime.

   4. Afternoon

      Passeig des Born and Plaça Major

      The tree-lined Passeig des Born is Palma's classic promenade, lined with mansions, cafés and fashion shops, leading up to the shopping streets of Avinguda Jaume III and Carrer de Sant Miquel.

   5. Evening

      Santa Catalina

      Cocktail bars and late restaurants in the former fishermen's quarter, popular with locals and international residents.

Before you go

• La Seu cathedral: Buy tickets online in summer to skip the ticket queue, especially on cruise-ship days.

If it rains

• Swap in CaixaForum Palma (Old Town): Pop in to see the restored modernist façade and lobby, and check what temporary exhibition is on.
• Swap in Palma Aquarium (Platja de Palma and Can Pastilla): Combine it with a beach afternoon at Can Pastilla, a short walk or bus ride away.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Old Town keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, La Lonja ($$$) suits nightlife, food lovers and couples. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 11–14 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.4 hours in December to 14.9 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Palma de Mallorca
• 2 days in Palma de Mallorca
• 5 days in Palma de Mallorca

Questions travellers ask