Where to stay · Palma de Mallorca · Spain
Where to stay in Palma de Mallorca
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Old Town. Medieval lanes, stone mansions and courtyards behind the cathedral. Best alternatives — families: Platja de Palma and Can Pastilla; budget: El Terreno and Passeig Marítim; nightlife: La Lonja.
Key facts
- First visit
- Old Town
- Families
- Platja de Palma and Can Pastilla
- Budget
- El Terreno and Passeig Marítim
- Nightlife
- La Lonja
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Old Town | Medieval lanes, stone mansions and courtyards behind the cathedral |
| Families | Platja de Palma and Can Pastilla | Five kilometres of sandy beach and resort hotels near the airport |
| Couples | Old Town | Medieval lanes, stone mansions and courtyards behind the cathedral |
| Budget | El Terreno and Passeig Marítim | Hillside villas below Bellver Castle above the marina and club strip |
| Luxury | Old Town | Medieval lanes, stone mansions and courtyards behind the cathedral |
| Nightlife | La Lonja | Tapas bars and terraces around the Gothic Llotja near the harbour |
| Food lovers | La Lonja | Tapas bars and terraces around the Gothic Llotja near the harbour |
| Solo travellers | Santa Catalina | Former fishermen's quarter turned food and café district |
| Quiet stays | Portixol and Es Molinar | Seafront fishing quarter with a small harbour and cycle path |
| Beach | Portixol and Es Molinar | Seafront fishing quarter with a small harbour and cycle path |
Palma de Mallorca neighbourhoods in detail
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, culture and luxury
Old Town
Palma's old town (Casc Antic) spreads behind La Seu and the Almudaina palace, a maze of narrow streets with grand townhouses whose patios can be glimpsed through open gates. It holds the Arab Baths, the Basílica de Sant Francesc and Plaça Major, and many of the city's boutique hotels occupy restored mansions.
- Good
- Walk to all the main sights; Atmospheric boutique hotels; Quiet lanes in the evening
- Watch out
- Expensive in summer; Cars restricted, so luggage means walking
- Nearby
- La Seu cathedral, Almudaina Palace, Banys Àrabs, Plaça Major
$$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers and couples
La Lonja
Between the Passeig des Born and the seafront, the streets around the Gothic Llotja exchange building are packed with tapas bars, wine bars and restaurants, especially on Carrer dels Apuntadors. It is central, close to Es Baluard museum and the marina, and busy until late.
- Good
- Best concentration of bars and restaurants; Steps from the seafront and old town; Lively in the evenings
- Watch out
- Noisy at night; Touristy restaurants on the main lanes
- Nearby
- Sa Llotja, Es Baluard, Passeig des Born, Parc de la Mar
$$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, solo travellers and couples
Santa Catalina
West of the old walls, Santa Catalina grew up as a sailors' and fishermen's district and keeps its low houses and old windmills on the Es Jonquet ridge. Today it is Palma's liveliest food neighbourhood, with the Mercat de Santa Catalina at its centre and international restaurants, brunch cafés and cocktail bars on Carrer de Sant Magí and Carrer de la Fàbrica.
- Good
- Huge restaurant choice; Local market life; 10–15 minutes' walk to the old town
- Watch out
- Busy and noisy on weekend nights; Few large hotels
- Nearby
- Mercat de Santa Catalina, Es Jonquet windmills, Es Baluard, Passeig Marítim
$$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays and beach
Portixol and Es Molinar
East of the cathedral along the seafront path, Portixol is a little fishing harbour lined with cafés and design hotels, and Es Molinar behind it keeps its low fishermen's houses. The promenade is popular for running and cycling, and small beaches at Portixol and Ciutat Jardí are close by.
- Good
- Seaside village feel; Bike or walk to the cathedral along the sea; Good seafood restaurants
- Watch out
- About 30–40 minutes' walk to the old town; Limited nightlife
- Nearby
- Portixol harbour, Ciutat Jardí beach, Seafront cycle path
$$ · Best for budget, nightlife and solo travellers
El Terreno and Passeig Marítim
El Terreno was Palma's first resort district in the early 20th century, with old villas on the slope below Bellver Castle. Below it, the Passeig Marítim runs along the yacht marina with hotels, bars and the city's main clubs. Prices are lower than the old town, and Bellver is a short uphill walk.
- Good
- Good-value hotels; Bay and marina views; Close to Bellver Castle
- Watch out
- Some streets feel rundown; Club noise along the seafront
- Nearby
- Bellver Castle, Passeig Marítim, Plaça Gomila, Marina
$$ · Best for beach, families and budget
Platja de Palma and Can Pastilla
Palma's long city beach runs east from Can Pastilla towards S'Arenal, backed by a promenade of hotels, apartments and beach restaurants. The Can Pastilla end is the calmer, more family-friendly part, while S'Arenal at the far end is known for beer halls and party crowds. The Palma Aquarium is nearby and buses run to the centre in about 30 minutes.
- Good
- Long sandy beach with shallow water; Many family hotels; Ten minutes from the airport
- Watch out
- Resort feel far from the old town; S'Arenal end is rowdy in summer
- Nearby
- Platja de Palma, Palma Aquarium, Can Pastilla marina, Airport
$$$ · Best for beach, quiet stays and families
Cala Major
Cala Major is a small, sandy cove with hotels and apartments about 5 km west of the centre, below the royal summer residence of Marivent. The Fundació Miró Mallorca, in the artist's former studios, is on the hillside above, and buses run along the coast road to the city and to Illetes.
- Good
- Beach on the doorstep; Quieter than the city centre; Close to the Miró foundation
- Watch out
- Bus needed for the old town; Small beach gets crowded in summer
- Nearby
- Fundació Miró Mallorca, Cala Major beach, Illetes
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Old Town | $$$$ | La Seu cathedral, Almudaina Palace, Banys Àrabs, Plaça Major |
| La Lonja | $$$ | Sa Llotja, Es Baluard, Passeig des Born, Parc de la Mar |
| Santa Catalina | $$$ | Mercat de Santa Catalina, Es Jonquet windmills, Es Baluard, Passeig Marítim |
| Portixol and Es Molinar | $$$ | Portixol harbour, Ciutat Jardí beach, Seafront cycle path |
| El Terreno and Passeig Marítim | $$ | Bellver Castle, Passeig Marítim, Plaça Gomila, Marina |
| Platja de Palma and Can Pastilla | $$ | Platja de Palma, Palma Aquarium, Can Pastilla marina, Airport |
| Cala Major | $$$ | Fundació Miró Mallorca, Cala Major beach, Illetes |
Getting to your hotel
Palma de Mallorca Airport is about 8 km east of the centre. EMT bus A1 runs to Plaça d'Espanya and the city centre in about 15–25 minutes, and a taxi takes about 15–20 minutes.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Palma de Mallorca for first-time visitors?
Old Town. Palma's old town (Casc Antic) spreads behind La Seu and the Almudaina palace, a maze of narrow streets with grand townhouses whose patios can be glimpsed through open gates.
+Where should families stay in Palma de Mallorca?
Platja de Palma and Can Pastilla: Long sandy beach with shallow water.
+Which area of Palma de Mallorca is best for a budget stay?
El Terreno and Passeig Marítim ($$): Hillside villas below Bellver Castle above the marina and club strip.