How to Spend 1 Day in Palma de Mallorca: An Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

Palma de Mallorca is the capital and the biggest of the Balearic Islands. As a city rich in history and beauty, it's the perfect place to spend a full day, wandering the winding streets, marveling at the beautiful buildings, and trying some amazing tapas or paella. Whether you're stopping off as part of a cruise around the Mediterranean or you want a break from lying on the beach, Palma is the perfect place to visit.
I've been to this city several times and, while you could definitely spend a weekend here, 1 day in Palma de Mallorca is enough to see the main sites, sit in a square, and explore some of the most beautiful parks on the entire island.
Here's my ultimate guide to enjoying this amazing Balearic city.
Best Time to Visit Palma de Mallorca
When visiting Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, or Formentera, I recommend going in May or September. These months are perfect for swimming in the crystal waters, enjoying the beaches, and avoiding the large crowds that flock to the islands in July and August.
I'd still recommend avoiding Palma in July and August as it can get very hot and busy, but the rest of the year is great! I went to Palma in December last year and loved it. It was bright and sunny and the Christmas decorations and nativity scenes were beautiful too – a welcome break from the gray skies of northern Europe, like in Berlin where I am based.
Because a city break isn't as dependent on the weather as a beach holiday, you can go any time and the flights are often very cheap in the off-season.
Arriving in Palma de Mallorca
If you've only got 1 day in Palma de Mallorca, you're probably there as part of a weekend in Mallorca, on a day trip from a cruise ship, or a stopover on your way to somewhere else.
If you shop around and book in advance, you can often find really cheap flights from Palma de Mallorca airport to destinations all over Europe. It's somewhere I've flown to a couple of times to enjoy the day as a cheaper way of getting to my destination. Flights from mainland Spain to Mallorca are often as cheap as US$25!
Apart from flying to Mallorca, you can also get the ferry from other Balearic Islands, Dénia, Valencia, and Barcelona.
Where to Stay in Palma de Mallorca
If your day in the city also includes a night, then there are loads of great places to stay in Palma de Mallorca. Santa Catalina and La Llotja de Palma (the Old Town) are two beautiful areas.
Some of my favorite hotels are:
($$$) Bordoy Continental Palma
($) Casa Catalina
How to Spend 1 Day in Palma de Mallorca
My Palma de Mallorca itinerary includes the top sites to see, the best neighborhoods to walk around, and some of my favorite cafes and restaurants.
With just one day in Palma, I'm not going to recommend going to the beach but, if you fancy squeezing a dip in, I'd recommend going to Cala Comtesa. It's a beautiful cove close to the city with perfectly turquoise water and white sand.
Morning: Visiting Bellver Castle and Palma Cathedral
The first thing you should do when you arrive in Palma de Mallorca is buy a ticket for a hop-on hop-off bus. That's not something I'd usually recommend doing as I love walking around cities, but the bus in Palma takes you to Bellver Castle which is up a hill around 3 km away. Some of the tickets even include entrance to the castle, so make sure you check that in advance.
A top tip for getting the bus in Palma is to hop on it before it reaches the port. If you mistime it and a cruise has just come in, you might have to wait for a couple of buses to pass which, in just a day, is a waste of time!
Bellver Castle is one of the few circular castles in Europe that was built for the Spanish royal family in the 14th century. It's the perfect place to walk around and get an amazing view of Palma and the Mediterranean Ocean. In fact, Bellver translates to a ‘beautiful view' in Catalan.
When you've finished walking around the unique two-tiered courtyard, hop back on the bus down the hill to central Palma. There's a bus stop right in front of the incredible Palma Cathedral, more commonly called La Seu. This Gothic building is impossible to miss in the city and is one of my favorite cathedrals ever! If you're pressed for time, just have a walk around outside. If not, it's worth going inside for a look.
The stained glass in the Cathedral is incredible – two of them were even designed by Gaudi! On just two days per year, the sun perfectly hits the main stained glass window which is reflected onto the opposite wall. It's a natural light show that draws crowds from around the island.
Lunch: Tapas and Paella
If you've only got 1 day in Palma de Mallorca, then you'll need to try tapas and/or paella. But, because Mallorca is a popular place for tourists, there are lots of tourist traps offering pretty mediocre paella – and that's not just me saying that, that's according to my Spanish husband and a friend from Mallorca!
So, some recommendations for lunch are:
- Ca'n Manolo Palma: A wonderful restaurant, close to the port that offers great rice dishes, tapas, and fresh seafood.
- FERVOR Palma: They serve amazing lobster paella!
- LA MALVASIA MALLORCA: Great for tapas – the huevos rotos, a kind of potato dish with fried eggs and jamón were particularly good.
Afternoon: Gardens and the Old Town
Depending on where you had lunch, I'd recommend walking it off along the Parc de La Mar. It's a peaceful, tree-lined walkway that passes in front of Palma Cathedral and around the pretty lagoon. It's across the street from the sea, so you get some beautiful views too.
From here, walk along to S'Hort del Rei. The last time I visited Palma de Mallorca, it was really hot, so these shaded gardens were a welcome break. They used to be part of the Palau Reial de l'Almudaina, the Royal Palace, but they're now separate. The gardens are beautiful and designed in a typical Moorish style, with ornate sculptures, water features, and plants.
You can then either decide to visit the Royal Palace, a beautiful Arabian fort still used by the Spanish Royal Family, or head up to Palma's Old Town.
Walking around the shaded and winding streets of the old town is a must when visiting Palma. Almost any of the little streets lead you to a beautiful Gothic building, pretty courtyard, or interesting garden. I'd head first to Basílica de Sant Francesc, a Gothic and Baroque church in a wonderful square, and then on to the Santa Eulàlia Church.
If you're feeling hungry, you have to go to Ca'n Joan de s'Aigo. There are three of them around the city, and one is very close to Santa Eulàlia Church. The best thing about Ca'n Joan de s'Aigo is the authentic Mallorcan atmosphere. The pastries are amazing, especially the cocas and ensaimadas, and they're famous throughout the city for their hot chocolate.
After a quick stop, wander over to Plaça de Cort to see the Olivera de Cort, a 600-year-old olive tree in front of the Town Hall. It was moved from Pollença, a town in the north of the island, to Palma in 1989 as a symbol of peace. It's beautiful to see and something I'd really recommend.
If you've got time, head up to Plaza Mayor from here. It's a grand square and a popular place in Palma for street festivals and parties. There are lots of cafes and bars around and it's the perfect place for a last drink before heading on to your next stop!
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1 Day in Palma de Mallorca: Frequently Asked Questions
⏰ Is One Day Long Enough to Visit Palma?
There's so much to do that you can easily spend a weekend in Palma, but a day is long enough to see the main sights, try some local food, and get a feel for the city. If you're in Mallorca for a week, I'd definitely suggest spending a day wandering around Palma.
🛀🏽 Why Are the Arab Baths Not on This Palma Itinerary?
The Arab Baths are amazing and the only reason they're not on this itinerary is that if you only have 1 day there's no time to go. It makes more sense to head to the Old Town rather than east to the baths. However, if you do want to add them, you can easily go after seeing Palma Cathedral and on your way to Parc de la Mar.
⛱️ Is It Possible to Go to The Beach if You've Got 1 Day in Palma de Mallorca?
There are lots of great beaches close to Palma, and you can visit many by bus. Of course, you'll miss out on seeing lots of the city, but it's possible to enjoy them for a few hours. The beaches close by that I'd recommend are:
Illetas
Cala Comtesa
Cala Blava
Cala Mayor
🚘 How Do You Get from Palma to Other Parts of The Island?
Some buses run from Palma to the other major towns and villages on the island, so that's one possibility. It might also be worth hiring a car if you want to explore the island or if your next stop is more rural.
1 Day in Palma de Mallorca: Final Words
Palma is the perfect city to visit for the day. It's small enough that you can see most of the sites, either by hopping on a bus or walking, but big enough that there's plenty to do for everyone.
You can make it as action-packed as you like or take out some of the sights on this itinerary and sit and watch the boats go by in the port. If you're lucky, you might even see the King of Spain's boat which was there the last time I was!
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