Solo travel · Palma de Mallorca · Spain
Solo travel in Palma de Mallorca
How to enjoy Palma de Mallorca at your own pace.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: palma aquarium, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Palma is relaxed and easy to navigate alone, with sociable tapas bars, a large international community and good buses for day trips to the mountains and beaches. Many solo travellers base themselves in Santa Catalina.
Key facts
- Base
- Santa Catalina
- Getting around
- Walking
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Language
- Spanish and Catalan
Solo travel tips
- Stay in Santa Catalina or the old town to walk everywhere and find company in tapas bars.
- Join a guided Tramuntana hike or cycling group to explore the mountains with others.
- Use TIB buses for day trips to Valldemossa, Deià and Sóller rather than hiring a car alone.
- Eat at the counters in the Olivar and Santa Catalina markets, where solo diners are the norm.
- Keep valuables close in crowded areas around the cathedral and on the Platja de Palma.
Where to stay
$$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, solo travellers and couples
Santa Catalina
West of the old walls, Santa Catalina grew up as a sailors' and fishermen's district and keeps its low houses and old windmills on the Es Jonquet ridge. Today it is Palma's liveliest food neighbourhood, with the Mercat de Santa Catalina at its centre and international restaurants, brunch cafés and cocktail bars on Carrer de Sant Magí and Carrer de la Fàbrica.
- Good
- Huge restaurant choice; Local market life; 10–15 minutes' walk to the old town
- Watch out
- Busy and noisy on weekend nights; Few large hotels
- Nearby
- Mercat de Santa Catalina, Es Jonquet windmills, Es Baluard, Passeig Marítim
Great on your own
Religious site · Old Town
La Seu cathedral
On sunny mornings around 2 February and 11 November, the light from the great rose window projects onto the wall beneath the opposite window, drawing crowds inside the cathedral.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Art
- Photo spot
Castle · El Terreno and Passeig Marítim
Bellver Castle
Walk up through the pine woods from El Terreno in the cooler morning, or take a taxi up and walk down.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Kids
- Photo spot
- Iconic
Palace · Old Town
Royal Palace of La Almudaina
Visit right after the cathedral; the two entrances are a minute apart.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Gallery · La Lonja
Es Baluard
Visit at the end of the afternoon and stay on the ramparts for sunset over the bay.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Views
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Gallery · Cala Major
Fundació Miró Mallorca
Take a city bus towards Cala Major and allow time for the gardens and the studios, not just the gallery.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Historic site · Old Town
Arab Baths
Combine it with a wander through the surrounding lanes, where several mansion courtyards can be seen through open gates.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
Meeting people
- Market tapas at the Olivar — Stand at the tapas counters of the Mercat de l'Olivar for oysters, grilled prawns or a plate of jamón and a glass of wine among the shoppers.
- Breakfast in Santa Catalina market — The bars inside the Mercat de Santa Catalina serve coffee, pa amb oli and fresh juice to locals from early morning.
- La Lonja — Tapas bars, wine bars and small pubs on Carrer dels Apuntadors and around Sa Llotja, busy every evening.
- Santa Catalina — Cocktail bars and late restaurants in the former fishermen's quarter, popular with locals and international residents.
Sensible precautions
Pickpocketing occurs around the cathedral, on crowded buses and on beaches, and distraction thefts target tourists on the Platja de Palma, so keep valuables close. In summer, protect yourself from the sun and watch for flag warnings at beaches with strong currents.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Staying connected
- 4G and 5G coverage is good in Palma and most of the island, with some gaps in the mountains; EU roaming applies to European SIMs, and eSIMs work well for other visitors.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Palma de Mallorca good for solo travellers?
Palma is relaxed and easy to navigate alone, with sociable tapas bars, a large international community and good buses for day trips to the mountains and beaches.
+Where should solo travellers stay in Palma de Mallorca?
Santa Catalina: Former fishermen's quarter turned food and café district.