Things to do · Palma de Mallorca · Spain
18 best things to do in Palma de Mallorca
18 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
The essential sights in Palma de Mallorca are La Seu cathedral, Bellver Castle and Royal Palace of La Almudaina. Of the 18 picks below, 8 are free, 5 work on a rainy day and 5 suit children. Allow about 5 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- La Seu cathedral
- Free sights
- 8
- Good on a rainy day
- Royal Palace of La Almudaina
- Time to see the highlights
- 5 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Seu cathedral | Old Town | 1–1.5 hours | Mid-priced |
| Bellver Castle | El Terreno and Passeig Marítim | 1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Royal Palace of La Almudaina | Old Town | 1 hour | Mid-priced |
| Es Baluard | La Lonja | 1–1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Fundació Miró Mallorca | Cala Major | 1.5–2 hours | Low cost |
| Arab Baths | Old Town | 20–30 minutes | Low cost |
| Old town courtyards | Old Town | 1.5–2 hours | Free |
| Basílica de Sant Francesc | Old Town | 45 minutes | Low cost |
| Passeig des Born and Plaça Major | Old Town | 1 hour | Free |
| Mercat de l'Olivar | Old Town | 1 hour | Free |
| Santa Catalina market and quarter | Santa Catalina | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Parc de la Mar and the sea walls | Old Town | 45 minutes | Free |
| Sa Llotja | La Lonja | 30 minutes | Free |
| Palau March Museum | Old Town | 1 hour | Low cost |
| CaixaForum Palma | Old Town | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Portixol and the seafront cycle path | Portixol and Es Molinar | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Platja de Palma | Platja de Palma and Can Pastilla | Half a day | Free |
| Palma Aquarium | Platja de Palma and Can Pastilla | 2–3 hours | Expensive |
The 18 best things to do
Religious site · Old Town
1.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. Inside, one of the largest Gothic rose windows in the world floods the nave with colour, Gaudí designed the iron canopy over the altar, and Miquel Barceló covered a side chapel with a ceramic mural of loaves, fish and sea creatures.
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
- Book ahead
- Buy tickets online in summer to skip the ticket queue, especially on cruise-ship days.
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Art
- Photo spot
Castle · El Terreno and Passeig Marítim
2.Bellver Castle
Built in the early 14th century for King James II of Mallorca, Bellver is one of the few circular castles in Europe, with a round courtyard, a moat and a free-standing keep. It sits in pine woods on a hill about 3 km west of the centre, houses the Museum of the History of Palma and has the best panoramic views over the city and the bay.
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
3.Royal Palace of La Almudaina
Facing the cathedral, this former Moorish fortress was rebuilt as a palace for the medieval kings of Mallorca and is still used by the Spanish royal family for official receptions. Visitors see the Gothic royal chapel of Santa Anna, tapestried halls and a courtyard with views over the bay.
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
4.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. Its rampart terraces give wide views over the marina and the cathedral.
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
5.Fundació Miró Mallorca
Joan Miró lived and worked in Palma from the 1950s until his death in 1983. His foundation includes the light-filled studio designed for him by Josep Lluís Sert, which is left as if he had just stepped out, an older farmhouse studio with charcoal sketches on the walls, and a gallery of his work.
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
6.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. The visit is short but atmospheric.
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
Neighbourhood · Old Town
7.Old town courtyards
Palma's noble families built townhouses around grand patios with stone stairways, arches and wells. Many can be glimpsed through open gates in the streets around Carrer de la Portella, Carrer de Can Savellà and the Basílica de Sant Francesc, and the Plaça de Cort town hall square has an ancient olive tree.
Go in the morning, when more gates are open; look but do not enter private courtyards unless they are signposted as open.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Religious site · Old Town
8.Basílica de Sant Francesc
A Gothic Franciscan church with a two-tiered cloister of slender columns, one of the most beautiful in Palma. It holds the tomb of Ramon Llull, the 13th-century Mallorcan philosopher and writer, and a statue of the missionary Junípero Serra stands outside.
Spend most of your time in the cloister, which is especially peaceful in the late afternoon.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
Street · Old Town
1.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. Plaça Major, an arcaded square on the site of the old Inquisition building, sits at the top of Carrer de Sant Miquel.
Look up at the modernist façades of Can Casasayas on Plaça del Mercat and Can Forteza Rey near Plaça Major.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Architecture
Market · Old Town
2.Mercat de l'Olivar
Palma's main covered food market, near Plaça d'Espanya, has a large fish hall, stalls of sobrassada, cheeses, olives and fruit, and tapas counters serving seafood, oysters and glasses of wine. It is where locals do their shopping.
Go late morning for tapas at the counters; the fish hall is at its best early.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- Shopping
Neighbourhood · Santa Catalina
3.Santa Catalina market and quarter
The old fishermen's quarter centres on the Mercat de Santa Catalina, Palma's oldest market, where bars serve breakfast and tapas among the stalls. Around it, streets such as Carrer de Sant Magí are lined with restaurants, and the Es Jonquet ridge has old windmills overlooking the harbour.
Have breakfast or a mid-morning tapa at the market bars, then return for dinner in the evening.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- After dark
- Shopping
Park · Old Town
4.Parc de la Mar and the sea walls
A seafront park with a large saltwater lake laid out below the cathedral and the old sea walls, where La Seu reflects in the water. Paths lead along the top of the walls (Dalt Murada) and down to the seafront promenade and cycle path.
Photograph the cathedral reflected in the lake in the late afternoon light, then walk the walls towards Es Baluard.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Couples
Architecture · La Lonja
5.Sa Llotja
The 15th-century Gothic exchange designed by Guillem Sagrera was where merchants traded, its single hall supported by spiralling columns like palm trunks. It is used for temporary exhibitions, and the square outside is the heart of the La Lonja bar district.
Check whether an exhibition is on to see the interior; otherwise admire the turreted exterior from Passeig de Sagrera.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Free
Museum · Old Town
6.Palau March Museum
A 20th-century palace beside the cathedral that holds a terrace garden of sculptures by Rodin, Henry Moore, Chillida and others, a large 18th-century Neapolitan nativity scene, and painted ceilings by Josep Maria Sert.
The sculpture terrace has views of the cathedral and the Almudaina; visit on a sunny day.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Off the beaten path
- Views
Gallery · Old Town
7.CaixaForum Palma
The Gran Hotel, Palma's first luxury hotel when it opened in 1903, is a landmark of Catalan modernism by Lluís Domènech i Montaner. It now hosts changing art exhibitions and a permanent display of works by the Catalan painter Hermen Anglada-Camarasa.
Pop in to see the restored modernist façade and lobby, and check what temporary exhibition is on.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Art
- Rainy day
Waterfront · Portixol and Es Molinar
8.Portixol and the seafront cycle path
A dedicated cycle and walking path follows the shore from the cathedral east past the fishing harbour of Portixol and the old houses of Es Molinar to Ciutat Jardí and the Platja de Palma. It is flat, with sea views all the way and cafés at Portixol.
Rent a bike in the centre and ride to Portixol for breakfast by the harbour, continuing to Ciutat Jardí for a swim.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Active
- Kids
Beach · Platja de Palma and Can Pastilla
9.Platja de Palma
Palma's longest beach is about 5 km of fine sand and shallow water from Can Pastilla to S'Arenal, with lifeguards, sun loungers and beach restaurants. The Can Pastilla end is calmer and more family-oriented; the S'Arenal end draws party crowds in summer.
Stick to the Can Pastilla end with children and go early on summer weekends to find space.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Outdoors
Aquarium · Platja de Palma and Can Pastilla
10.Palma Aquarium
Near the Platja de Palma, the aquarium recreates Mediterranean and tropical seas, with a large, deep shark tank, jellyfish and rooftop jungle gardens. It is one of the main family attractions in the Palma area.
Combine it with a beach afternoon at Can Pastilla, a short walk or bus ride away.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Rainy day
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | La Seu cathedral, Es Baluard, Fundació Miró Mallorca and Palau March Museum |
| History | La Seu cathedral, Royal Palace of La Almudaina, Bellver Castle and Arab Baths |
| Views | Bellver Castle, Es Baluard and Palau March Museum |
| Outdoors and nature | Parc de la Mar and the sea walls, Portixol and the seafront cycle path and Platja de Palma |
| Food and markets | Mercat de l'Olivar and Santa Catalina market and quarter |
| After dark | Santa Catalina market and quarter |
| With children | Bellver Castle, Parc de la Mar and the sea walls, Portixol and the seafront cycle path and Platja de Palma |
| On a rainy day | Royal Palace of La Almudaina, Es Baluard, Fundació Miró Mallorca and CaixaForum Palma |
What to book ahead
- La Seu cathedral: Buy tickets online in summer to skip the ticket queue, especially on cruise-ship days.
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Palma de Mallorca?
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.
+What can you do for free in Palma de Mallorca?
Old town courtyards, Passeig des Born and Plaça Major, Mercat de l'Olivar, Santa Catalina market and quarter and Parc de la Mar and the sea walls. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Palma de Mallorca when it rains?
Head indoors to Royal Palace of La Almudaina, Es Baluard, Fundació Miró Mallorca and CaixaForum Palma.
+What is there to do in Palma de Mallorca at night?
Santa Catalina market and quarter are best after dark.