Palma

Palma (formerly referred to as Palma de Mallorca) is an absolute must-see on any trip to Majorca and is sure to impress.

It is a beautiful city with so much to offer, one of the main attractions being the magnificent Gothic cathedral, which dominates the city and is surrounded by cobbled streets, café-lined squares, cocktail bars, quaint restaurants and impressive shopping opportunities.

When to go

For mild winters and hot summers, both of which are accompanied by warm sunshine and spotless blue skies, it’s hard to beat the Mediterranean climate.

Between March and May you’ll be able to enjoy 8-10 hours of sunshine, and temperatures ranging between 18 ºC and 23ºC, with the added bonus of avoiding the summer crowds. Likewise, in autumn (September to October) the weather is pleasant, with highs in the mid-20s. If you’re not put-off by the throngs of people that arrive in the summer, you can expect temperatures in the high-20s to low-30s, plus around 12 hours of sunshine.

Top Attractions

The skyline of the Majorca’s capital is dominated by the impressive, dramatic La Seu cathedral and is something you simply must witness in person. One of the highlights of the whole year, quite literally, is the Night of Fire. It Is an annual event that includes street parties to accompany the bonfires and fireworks displays. Not to mention the fire run, which has locals running through the streets bearing fire torches and dressed as demons!

Beaches

On either side of this city are trademark Spanish beaches for you to enjoy. The closest one on-hand is Ca’n Pere Antoni which combines bars and restaurants on its promenade with a beautiful strip of sand. Or the collection of smaller beaches found at Playa de Palma may be more along the lines of what you’re looking for.

Dining

Forn de Sant Joan is a joint popular with celebrities, so you can be assured of its quality, if not also of its price range. It offers glamorous reinventions of traditional dishes and will require that you book in advance.

From Tapas to Paella, and from local roadside stands to Michelin-starred restaurants, Palma has a wide variety of choice where dining is concerned.

Entertainment

To enjoy a bit of open-air partying and entertainment, the Parc de la Mer holds fiestas, concerts and even cinema.

For something more conventional, Santa Catalina, Sa Gerreria and La Llonja are just some of the main hubs of nightlife found within the city. The cocktail bar Abaco in particular, while pricey, is something you should check out at least once.

Culture

This vibrant city will pleasantly surprise you, home as it is to one of the most significant cathedrals in Europe, encircled by quirky cobbled lanes packed with tapas bars. It also boasts the best museums on the island.

Palma’s old town (Barri Gòtic) is steeped in historic sights and not forgetting the Palau de l'Almudaina and Palau March, there’s plenty to get your teeth into.

Adventure and Sports

Hiring a bike for the day and cycling around the city and along the beach or taking a leisurely stroll to the marina are excellent ways to enjoy the surroundings and the sunshine.

There are a multitude of shops to wander around, plus the Unique Golf Fantasia and Aquarium experiences are only a short bus ride away. The walking tour of historic Palma will take around 2-3 hours and is a great way to explore the whole place.

Getting around

As already mentioned, bicycles offer a great way to explore Palma, but there are numerous bus services for those who wish to have the work done for them.

As with most cities, taxis are also plentiful and easy to acquire. For something out of the ordinary, the vintage wooden train which clunks through the countryside towards Soller is a very romantic trip indeed.