Palma de Mallorca is one of those cities you fall in love from the first moment. With his cathedral facing the sea, its streets full of history, local life and cuisine and a mediterranean ambience unique. On the island you can make a lot of plans, but in the capital has the perfect mix of culture, architecture and local life.
Palma de Mallorca itinerary in 1 day
If you only have one day to visit Palma, you can see what is essential, and bring you a good impression of the city, always you can leave something so as to have the excuse to return. If you arrive by bus from the airport or from another area of the island, you can leave your bags in our lockers luggage to move with total freedom throughout the day.
Where should you start your itinerary in Palma?
Start your tour visiting the symbols of the city: the Cathedral of Palma, also known as La Seu. A gothic gem on the sea that was built over an old mosque in the THIRTEENTH century. Their spectacular rose window, one of the world’s largest gothic, mirrored on the inside with a magical light at dawn. The visit lasts between 45 minutes and an hour. If you want to avoid queues, we recommend going early.
Just next door is the Royal Palace of the Almudaina, the former residence of the kings of Majorca. Its rooms combine gothic elements and muslims, and from its terraces you can see the port and the bay. The visit lasts about 30-45 minutes. After this visit, walk aimlessly through the old town, Stroll through the Barrio of Calatrava, one of the most authentic and quiet, with winding cobbled streets and art galleries. If you have time, you can visit the Arab Baths, a small corner historical, surrounded by lush gardens in which to relax a while.
Where to eat in Palma city center?
At the time of eating, you can visit any of the markets, the more traditional of Palma de Mallorca. The Market of Santa Catalina is a small, cozy and friendly neighborhood. Perfect if you want to mingle with the locals. The Market of the Olive grove, in contrast, is more extensive, and cheap, but with great gastronomic offer and a good product.
What is the traditional mallorcan cuisine that you can't miss?
You can try local products such as sobrasada, queso de Mahón, ensaimadas freshly made, olives, mallorquin… And to accompany it with a vermouth or a cane in one of the bars on the market. If you prefer to sit down to eat in a restaurant, in the center you’ll find options with traditional dishes. Among his specialties include ratatouille (vegetables with potatoes, eggplants and peppers), the frito mallorquin (offal with potatoes and vegetables), the arròs brut (rice stew with meat) and the ensaimada.
The fish Market and the waterfront
After lunch, take a stroll through the neighborhood of La Lonja. There is the gothic building of the FIFTEENTH century it was the headquarters of the Association of Merchants. From there you can go down to the Boardwalk and walking distance to the Marina, which is one of the ports most exclusive of the Mediterranean. If you want to rest a bit, you can take something in one of the terraces with sea views. Returning to the centre, stroll along the Paseo del Born, the main artery of Palm trees, shops and cafes, the classic. The Jaime III street is full of shops, but if you are looking for something more local and artisanal, the shops of old are handmade products and manufactured on the island.
Best view of Palm for the sunset
If you are still forces (and time), visit the Bellver Castle is 3 km from the centre. It is one of the few castles circular in Europe and offers spectacular views of the city, especially at sunset. You can access by taxi or public transport. For dinner, if you dare, a great option is to spend in the neighborhood of the Market, The area with the best nightlife. There are bars with tapas, restaurants mallorcan cuisine, mediterranean or even international options to suit all tastes.
Other plans in Mallorca
A single day in Palma de Mallorca is enough to fall in love with a city full of life, history and mediterranean flavor. Without a doubt, the best time is spring and autumn, when the weather is mild and there is less mass tourism. And if you have more days on the island, we advise you to rent a car and visit the villages like Valldemossa, Sóller and enjoy the beautiful views offered to us in the north of the island the Serra de Tramuntana (world Heritage site).
On the following map, you can see all the places in Palma that we’ve mentioned, so you can have a better route and stay oriented.
Discover more ideas for your trip with our guide to the best plans in Mallorca during winter.
