Palma de Mallorca Spain

Palma is beautiful. Rising in honey-colored stone from the waters of the Badia de Palma, this city dates back to the 13th-century Christian reconquest of the island, and to the Moors, Romans and Talayotic people before that. It is rich with historical sites, and has an endless array of galleries, restaurants, craft studios and bars. It is without doubt Mallorca’s greatest treasure. Take a stroll in any direction from the awe-inspiring Gothic Cathedral, and you’ll find streets lined with aristocratic townhouses, baroque churches, public squares, bohemian neighborhoods and markets overflowing. You can spend weeks in this city alone, and still uncover new joys every day. There are more than 200 beaches around Mallorca’s beautiful coastline. Over 30 of these are designated as ‘Blue Flag’, which assures not just the water quality but the provision of bathroom facilities, lifeguards and other tourism services.

Palma de Mallorca Weather – When to Visit

The best time to visit Palma de Mallorca is from March to May, when average temperatures are in the 60s and 70s and the crowds of summer tourists haven’t yet descended on the island. Summer has a long stretch in here, from June to September. Summer is peak tourist season, with travelers flocking to the island’s resorts, beaches and clubs. It’s a good idea to book your hotel a few months in advance to ensure you get a room. July and August tend to have the highest room rates of the year and the highest temperatures, which have been known to reach 100 degrees. Fall is another nice shoulder season with mild temperatures and cooling rains, but January and February are the best times to score decent deals on room rates.

Best Palma de Mallorca Beaches

Cala Formenter

Cala Formentor Beach is at the most northerly point of Mallorca and is one of the island’s most well-known beaches. The setting is second to none, the beach is backed by lush vegetation and green pine forests, and has views over turquoise green seas and the Bay of Pollenca. The soft sandy beach itself is one km long but it is extremely narrow, so there’s not much room for children to play.

Portals Nous Beach

Portals Nous Beach is located right next to Puerto Portals marina. The bay is sheltered so you can normally enjoy perfect swimming conditions in pristine turquoise seas. Water sports facilities are good here, from (SUP) paddle boarding and pedalo hire through to jet skiing available at the neighboring marina. There’s the choice of a cracking beach bar and a trendy beach club on the other side of the marina, or you can dine at one of the many first class restaurants in the Port.

Camp de Mar Beach

Camp de Mar Beach is close to Andratx in the southwest and has all the amenities you’ll want for a great day at the beach. The beach itself is of medium size with fine golden sand and beautiful green-blue waters. You can even dine in the middle of the sea as there is a restaurant which you can only reach by crossing a rickety wooden bridge.

Playa d’Alcudia Beach

This beach is one of the best in Spain with fine white sand, shallow sheltered seas and plenty of space for the kids to bury themselves up to their necks, build fortresses and play ball. Water sports such as jet skis and parasailing are also available for the more grown-up members of the family and there are lifeguards on duty to provide an extra pair of eyes. There is a climbing frame and play area and wooden walkways to ease access with a buggy. Cafes and restaurants alongside the beach mean you won’t have to go far when everyone gets hungry.

Playa de Muro Beach

Playa de Muro beach is just beyond Alcudia beach and continues on to Can Picafort. This area of beach tends to be quieter than Alcudia and space is plentiful along it’s five kilometer length. Fine golden sands dip into shallow, idyllic turquoise waters. There are resorts directly behind the beach, and good quality beach bars and restaurants close by to enjoy. 

Palma de Mallorca Tours & Activities

Palma de Mallorca Bike Tour with Optional Tapas

Enjoy an alternative sightseeing experience on a 3.5-hour bike tour of Palma de Mallorca. Follow a knowledgeable guide through the winding streets of the capital at a leisurely pace and discover spectacular sights like the stunning Palma Cathedral and the atmospheric Old Town. See historical highlights like the Basilica of St Francesco and gain fascinating insight into local heritage from your guide. Upgrade to pleasure your palate with traditional tapas at an ambient local bar for an authentic cultural experience. Learn more about the Palma de Mallorca Bike Tour with Tapas

Small-Group Cliff Jumping Experience in Mallorca

Get your adrenaline soaring as you shimmy along rocky ravines, abseil down sheer cliffs and dive into startling blue lagoons on this fun-filled 4.5-hour tour from Mallorca. Zip up your wet suit and prepare for a daring cliff jumping adventure in the heart of the UNESCO-listed Serra de Tramuntana mountains, leaping off cliffs and ledges into icy plunge pools. This small-group tour is limited to eight people and includes full instruction, so there’s no experience necessary. Learn more about the Small-Group Cliff Jumping Experience.

Mountains, Villages, and a Hidden Beach Day Tour from Palma

Escape the tourist crowds on Mallorca and try something a bit more active during this day trip walking amidst the island’s rugged Mediterranean mountains. Trek through historic villages and enjoy panoramic island vistas on your way to a hidden beach known only to locals. You’ll celebrate your trip with an included seaside picnic lunch of tasty Mallorcan foodstuffs. Learn more about the Mountains, Villages, and a Hidden Beach Day Tour from Palma.

Local Tapas Night in Palma

Enjoy a Mallorcan-style tapas evening on this experience in Palma. Inspired by the local ‘Ruta Martiana’ tradition of a free drink served with every tapas order, this tour takes you to several bars to enjoy this evening ritual, with five tapas or ‘pinchos’ (tiny open sandwiches) and five drinks included. Savor delights like tortilla and grilled lamb with wine, beer, or soda, and get insider tips on Palma’s tapas and bars on route. Learn more about Local Tapas Night in Palma.

Mallorca Hot Air Balloon Ride

Soar over the scenic sprawl of northeast Mallorca during an exhilarating 2-hour hot-air balloon experience. Ascend to the air from Cala Milor and feel your excitement heighten as you take to the skies and see blissful beaches and verdant beauty from a unique perspective. Gaze at panoramic vistas of the idyllic island throughout your 2-hour ride then return to the ground to toast your flight with a glass of lavish Champagne. Learn more about Mallorca Hot Air Balloon Ride.

Best Palma de Mallorca Restaurants

To get an idea of how good the food is, head to Palma’s amazing market, the Mercat de L’Olivar. You’ll find stalls piled with wonderful fresh produce from the island and from mainland Spain. The tomatoes are delicious. The best thing is that you can buy some prawns or fish, and they will cook it for your lunch in one of the bars upstairs. It’s also a good place to get some Mallorcan charcuterie and wine to take home, or some flavored salt from Es Trenc down on the south coast.

Can Cera Gastro-Bar $11 – 30

This restaurant spills onto a lovely inner patio at the Can Cera hotel, housed in a palau that dates originally from the 13th century. Dine by lantern light on tapas-sized dishes such as frito mallorquín (seafood fried with potato and herbs), Cantabrian anchovies, and pork ribs with honey and mustard. The vertical garden attracts plenty of attention from passers-by. Telephone: 971 71 50 12 Web: Can Cera Gastro-Bar

Marc Fosh $31 – 60

This stylish gastronomic destination introduces novel twists to time-honored Mediterranean dishes and ingredients, all within the converted refectory of a 17th-century convent. The weekly lunch menu is a very reasonable way to enjoy dishes such as foie gras and duck terrine, or truffled pasta with burrata. Telephone: 971 72 01 14 Web: Marc Fosh

Toque $11 – 30

A father-and-son team run this individual little place with real pride and warmth. The food is Belgian-meets-Med (perhaps cauliflower cream with butifarrón sausage, raisins and pine nuts, or pork cheeks with peach) and has generated a loyal following among palmeros. Wines are well chosen and modestly priced, and the lunch menu is a dead-set bargain. Telephone: 971 28 70 68 Web: Toque

Restaurant Celler Sa Premsa $11 – 30

A visit to this local institution, going strong since 1958, is almost obligatory. It’s a cavernous tavern filled with huge old wine barrels and faded bullfighting posters – you find plenty of these places in the Mallorcan interior but they’re a dying breed here in Palma. Mallorcan specialties dominate the menu. Telephone: 971 72 35 29 Web: Restaurant Cellar Sa Premsa

Fosh Kitchen $11 – 30

Expertly executed assemblies of top-notch ingredients are the focus of the slick, contemporary Fosh Kitchen, the less-formal cousin of Michelin-starred Marc Fosh’s flagship restaurant. Within the striking Modernista building once home to iconic Palman confectioner Confiteria Frasquet, you’ll love dishes such as Iberian bacon with potatoes, mustard seeds and watercress, and Mallorcan-style sea bass. Telephone: 971 72 13 54 Website: Fosh Kitchen

Best Palma de Mallorca Bars

Ca la Seu

An institution in Palma, this traditional bar in the Sa Gerreria neighborhood is a must-visit. Its first 500 years of life was spent as a basket shop owned by the same family, and the decor has changed little since its transition to a bar. Sip on cheap (but good) Cava while picking at the array of freshly cooked tapas and pintxos on the long marble bar. Tapas Tuesday nights are an especially good time to bar hop in this area, sample great food and soak up the lively atmosphere. Telephone: 871 57 21 57 Web: Ca la Seu

Es Baluard Restaurant & Lounge

Part of the city’s main contemporary art gallery, Es Baluard is a great place to sip a cool drink on a summer evening. Enjoy the gentle breeze on their expansive terrace with views of both the marina and Cathedral. People often go here to watch the sunset over Castle Bellver in the distance. Drinks aren’t too pricey and the food is delicious. Telephone: 971 90 82 00 Web: Es Baluard Restaurant & Lounge

Sa Sifoneria

Sa Sifoneria is a great hole-in-the-wall cellar-style bar. The novelty isn’t just about sitting on little soda crates to sample a variety of local wines and vermouths, you can also buy many of them straight from the barrel to go. It’s hard not to love purchasing locally produced tipples at very reasonable prices. Telephone: 655 77 01 93 Web: Sa Sifoneria

Sky Bar, Almudaina Hotel

This is a fantastic spot for soaking up some afternoon sun. Recline in deck chairs on the rooftop or admire the breathtaking sea views from the lower terrace with a cold drink in hand. There is also a large indoor bar with comfy sofas and widescreen TV for watching sporting events. It’s one of the more quiet and peaceful bars in the the city’s shopping district. Telephone: 971 72 73 40 Web: Sky Bar, Almudaina Hotel

Bar Flexas

Bar Flexas is a popular hang out of the hipper local crowd, with retro decor and eclectic vintage furniture. There are always plenty of parties, exhibitions and events here, including the ever popular transvestite night. It also has a small kitchen that knocks out some great gourmet bar food, as well as one of the more entertaining websites you’ll find around. Telephone: 971 42 59 38 Web: Bar Flexas

Best Palma de Mallorca Hotels

Sant Francesc Hotel Singular

The 5-star hotel is located inside a restored and renovated 19th-century mansion on the magnificent Sant Francesc Square, in the heart of the historic center of Palma de Mallorca. The property has 42 rooms and suites, many with wood-beamed ceilings and covered verandas, as well as others that feature original frescoes and moldings. Delicious culinary creations are served at restaurant “Quadrat” with al fresco dining in the garden.

Iberostar Selection Playa de Palma

The refurbished Iberostar Selection Playa de Palma hotel is an exciting hotel for adults and couples. Because it’s located just 10 minutes from Palma, it guarantees all the experiences that this vibrant city has to offer while also allowing guests to enjoy the best part of the beach at Playa de Palma. Its rooms and suites have been completely refurbished to offer a superior experience in comfort. But these are just the beginning of a range of high-quality services and facilities, including the Star Prestige service that has a VIP zone for adults with a solarium and an infinity pool on the rooftop and late check-out among other luxury amenities.

Zafiro Palace Alcudia

Luxury, delicious gastronomy, comfortable rooms, impressive swimming pools, solarium and much more is waiting for you at the Zafiro Palace Alcudia hotel, the ideal accommodation to enjoy some unforgettable holidays in Majorca.

Park Hyatt Mallorca

Enjoying a privileged location on the east coast of Mallorca, with four major golf courses nearby, five minutes from the sea and overlooking the picturesque Canyamel valley, Park Hyatt Mallorca reflects the true essence of a traditional Mallorquín hilltop village, complete with a convivial village square, a range of authentic cuisines to cater for all tastes and the magnificent Serenitas Spa. The first Park Hyatt resort in Europe features 142 spacious and luxuriously appointed guestrooms, including 16 uniquely designed suites.

Gran Hotel Son Net

That majestically shape the skyline. Fashioning its very own vineyard, Son Net estate dates back to 1672 and exemplifies quintessential Majorca. Gran Hotel Son Net’s rooms and suites are awash with colonial influences; including beautiful four-poster beds and immaculate marble bathrooms.

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