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Palma Cathedral (La Seu) reflected in the Parc de la Mar lake

No. 49 Top 100 City Destinations 2025

Palma de Mallorca

Spain

Mallorca's capital: a Gothic cathedral by the sea, old-town lanes, marinas and nearby beaches.

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Photo: VagabondQuest, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Palma de Mallorca is No. 49 in Euromonitor International's Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025. The capital of the Balearic Islands spreads around a wide bay on Mallorca's south coast.

Its Gothic cathedral overlooks the sea, and behind it lies an old town of narrow lanes, courtyards, markets and tapas bars. Beaches, marinas and the Serra de Tramuntana mountains are close by.

The circular courtyard of Bellver Castle, Palma
The circular courtyard of Bellver Castle, Palma. Photo: Kritzolina, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Best time to go

May to June and September to October are warm and less crowded than high summer, and good for walking and cycling.

July and August are hot and busy. Winter is mild and quiet, with almond blossom in February.

Top sights

  • 1

    La Seu

    Palma Cathedral is a vast Gothic church on the waterfront; Antoni Gaudí worked on its interior in the early 20th century.

  • 2

    Royal Palace of La Almudaina

    The palace beside the cathedral, with medieval halls and a Gothic chapel.

  • 3

    Bellver Castle

    A circular 14th-century castle on a wooded hill, with a city history museum and views over the bay.

  • 4

    Old town

    Wander the lanes around the cathedral, the Arab Baths and the Passeig des Born.

  • 5

    Es Baluard

    A museum of modern and contemporary art in the city's old bastion, with views from its ramparts.

  • 6

    Mercat de l'Olivar

    The central market, with fish, produce and tapas counters.

  • 7

    Sóller train

    A vintage wooden train, running since 1912, crosses the mountains to Sóller.

Getting there

Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) is about 8 km east of the city. The A1 bus runs to the centre, and taxis are plentiful.

Ferries connect Palma with Barcelona, Valencia and the other Balearic Islands.

Getting around

The old town is best explored on foot. EMT city buses cover Palma and its beaches, and TIB buses run across the island.

A hire car is useful for exploring the rest of Mallorca.

Practical tips

Currency
Euro (EUR). Cards, including contactless, are accepted almost everywhere.
Language
Catalan (in its Mallorcan form) and Spanish. English and German are widely spoken.
Safety
Palma is generally safe; watch for pickpockets in crowded areas. The emergency number is 112.
Visa & entry
Spain is in the Schengen Area. Many visitors, including citizens of the US, Canada, the UK and Australia, can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) now records non-EU travellers' entries and exits at the border, and the ETIAS travel authorisation is due to follow. Check the official EU site travel-europe.europa.eu and your own government's travel advice before you go.
Power
230 V, 50 Hz; plug types C and F.

Official information: Visit Palma (official city tourism website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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