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Palma de Mallorca is the height of Spanish elegance. Picture pretty cobbled streets, local architecture and a mix of traditional and upmarket restaurants. A city break to Mallorca is the perfect antidote to the rainy British weather and is easily accessible with multiple daily departures from UK airports.
Palma de Mallorca is perfect for a city break if you:
- Want to enjoy Spanish food and culture
- You want to see beautiful local architecture and décor in the old town
- Enjoy dining out at excellent restaurants
- Want to enjoy a little bit of luxury on your trip
Things to do in Palma de Mallorca
The Royal Palace of La Almudaina is next to Palma’s epic Cathedral. This is a beautiful building dates back to the 14th century and to this day is an official residence of the Spanish Royal family. Here you will get to see a range of interesting rooms and also a pretty courtyard. It was not too busy when we visited, so it felt like you could explore at your own pace.
Of course the Cathedral itself is one of the most popular sights in Palma. For full disclosure it is worth saying that we did not go inside, mainly because we have visited many cathedrals and they are never a highlight for us. Of course it comes highly rated as an attraction and does get busy, so if you plan to visit book your ticket in advance.
The Arab Baths are very central and in my opinion are worth a visit. As well as seeing the baths themselves, there is a very pretty and peaceful courtyard garden. They are not the biggest and grandest baths that you will ever see but I found them to be interesting. No need to book your ticket here, you can just walk in and pay a few euros at the entrance.
A very easy and wonderful day trip from Palma is to Jardines de Alfabia. Here you will find the most beautiful gardens tucked away on the edge of the Tramuntana mountain range. I’m a lover of tropical plants including monsteras and bird of paradise plants, and so I was in my element here. There is also a snack bar situated in a peaceful and sunny spot where you can enjoy a drink.
As well as the gardens, there is a historic house to explore. If you want you can imagine yourself living there.. or perhaps that was just me!
You can reach the gardens by public bus on the route from Palma to Soller. It was very easy to find and navigate from the main bus station in Palma.
If you are in the exploring mood, it is easy to jump back on the bus and head to the port of Soller after your visit to the gardens. This is a pretty seaside town with a little bit of a French feel. This is because the area was historically quite cut off from the rest of the island due to the mountain range.
I had visited and stayed in Port de Soller on a previous trip to Mallorca and it’s a lovely spot with tapas bars a plenty and a laidback feel. This time around it was nice to return and have a drink on the port before heading for the bus back.
Notably there is a traditional tram service that connects Soller and Palma, so this is another option for transportation. We didn’t take this option because we wanted to visit the gardens and because the tram system has become busy in recent years. For more information on the tram system check out this guide from a fellow travel blogger.
Restaurants in Palma de Mallorca
Regular readers will know that food and culture is an integral part of a city break for me. Palma lived up to very high expectations. These were my favourites:
Mercat de l’Olivar which is a traditional food market in the city. As with many food markets in Spain you can sit in and eat as well as buying food to take away. This makes for a very traditional and inexpensive meal, so is a great place for lunch.
Café Ca’n Toni is a traditional Mallorcan restaurant and was only a few metres from our lovely hotel (more on this later). It looks very unassuming from the outside and we never would have found it without a recommendation from the hotel, but we are so glad we did. We tried a local Mallorcan pork and cabbage dish which was lovely. Portions here are enormous so try not to over-order like we did!
The most upmarket and gorgeous meal we had was at La Paloma. This place was truly divine and you knew that you were eating somewhere special. I had a fish dish and as you will see from the photo, it was huge, and delicious. Mr Travel Psychologist had the steak and enjoyed it.
For after dinner cocktail WhyNot Cocktail Bar is an amazing find and is just few metres from La Paloma. This is a tiny little bar with a friendly Italian barman. He really knew how to make a great cocktail!
How long do I need for a city break in Palma de Mallorca?
We stayed for 3 nights, which we felt was ideal as we got to explore without feeling rushed. Two nights would be ok if your flight times could accommodate two full days of exploring.
If you wanted to stay longer than 3 nights I would recommend combining your stay in Palma with 2 or 3 nights in Port de Soller.
Where to stay in Palma de Mallorca
I’d highly recommend Hotel San Lorenzo, which is an adults only boutique hotel in the Old Town. It is within easy walking distance of all of Palma’s sites. The hotel and rooms are large and gorgeous, with traditional Mallorcan décor and thoughtful touches. Breakfast is truly excellent. Being adults-only it is a great place to stay if you are visiting as a couple.
If you plan to combine your visit with a stay in Port de Soller I’d recommend Hotel Eden Nord. It’s not quite as luxurious as San Lorenzo but is clean and comfortable, and in an excellent location.
When is the best time to take a city break to Palma de Mallorca
I’d say that shoulder season is ideal because Mallorca gets very busy in the summer months. I have visited in April and September and found the weather to be ideal for exploring at these times. In April it was a little too cold to swim (although I did try!) but May would be fine. September was ok for swimming in the sea.
Last but not least…
If you are feeling hedonistic: Check out El Fornet de la Soca: a family run artisan bakery. We discovered this place by chance when we saw the enormous queue coming out of the door. Perfect if you want to try something that is both indulgent and local!
If you want a sense of accomplishment: Mallorca is known for being one of the best places for mountain biking in the world. If this is your thing, you will find plenty of routes here! You won’t find me on a mountain bike, but like any other city break, I’ll be wracking up plenty of steps whilst exploring.
Reasons to be optimistic: The local language here is Mallorquín, which has elements of Catalan, French and Spanish. Despite the popularity of the island with tourists, this local dialect has remained over the years, which is pretty special. Of course many locals speak Spanish and English too, it’s always lovely to see how specific dialects have stood the test of time despite increasing tourism.
If you liked this guide please check out Sevilla: The Perfect City Break
Please note our destination guides contain personal recommendations and not professional advice.