Palma de Mallorca is the island's only true city. A city on the island of Mallorca, one of the Balearic Islands off the Spanish east coast. Mallorca is one of Europe's major holiday destinations, with many tourists coming from everywhere, every year. Palma is a city of modern hotel chains, and flashy shops, yet, is dated and still retains much of the old architecture, with the Old Town having narrow streets, and showing the restored cathedral standing proud in the centre of town.

Understand

Night view of Palma's massive Gothic cathedral

Palma de Mallorca, the capital of the Balearic Islands, is the largest city in Mallorca. The population of Palma municipality was approximately 410,000 in 2018. Half the population of Mallorca lives in the city of Palma.

The city occupies the northwestern end of a bay in the southwest of the island of Mallorca. The city council also has jurisdiction over the sub-archipelago of Cabrera including the islands of Cabrera, Conejera, Estells, Imperial, Rodon, Foradada, Plana, and Pobra.

The name Palma dates back to the Roman settlement on the site of the present city, although the area had been settled during the Bronze Age. In the early Middle Ages it was conquered by Arabs, who named it Madina Mayurqa. In 1229 it was conquered by King Jaime I, ruler of Valencia and Aragon, and became an important trade city. Palma saw its Dark Ages in the 16th century, when a significant decline was caused by attacks from Turkish and Berber Pirates and through plague. Lasting until the 18th century, Felipe V changed the government which made Palma the capital of the Balearic Islands. Later, Carlos III established a free trade pact with the Indies, which had a huge impact on Palma's economy.

The city became a tourist destination in the 1950s, and tourist numbers have continually increased in the subsequent half century. Palma is a busy commercial and cultural center of Mallorca. This independent region of the Balearic Islands of Spain has over half of the island's population.

The holiday season lasts from the end of April until October. Temperatures range from 20–28 °C (68–82 °F) and may require a jacket in the evenings.

Palma de Mallorca, during the 19th century, more sea traffic would come in bringing in much economic growth for the island.

Get in

By plane

1 Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI  ^IATA) (9 km southeast of Palma), ☏ +34 913 21 10 00. A large busy airport, with daily flights from many European cities, the UK, North Africa and within Spain. Opened in 1960, it shares its two runways with Son Sant Joan air force base. For practical purposes it operates as a single terminal, then after check-in and security your departure is from one of four "modules". Typically Module A is non-Schengen, B is small planes to Ibiza and Menorca, and C is Schengen, but check the screen. The airport has the usual facilities including car hire. (updated May 2024)

Onward transport: EMT buses are blue, white and green and run year-round. Bus A1 runs to city centre (Porta des Camp, Sindicat Interchange, Railway Station, Alemanya Interchange and Passeig Mallorca) every 15 minutes from 06:15 to midnight then at 01:00, 02:00 and 03:00. Bus A2 runs southeast to S'Arenal hourly from 06:15 to 22:15. In 2024 the single adult fare for either is €5. You can pay on board; buying from the machine in the terminal costs the same but is also valid for one transfer. Bus 34 runs hourly from the airport to the north suburbs and Son Espases, but you're unlikely to use it.

TIB buses are red and yellow, and run April-Oct to other towns:

• A11 goes west to Portals Nous, Costa d'en Blanes, Son Caliu, Palmanova, Magaluf, Santa Ponça, Galatzó, Peguera and Camp de Mar.
• A32 goes northeast to Inca, Sa Pobla, Alcúdia, Platja de Muro and Can Picafort.
• A42 goes east to Algaida, Montuïri, Vilafranca, Manacor, Portocristo, S'Illot, Sa Coma, Cala Millor and Cala Bona.
• A51 goes southeast to S'Arenal, Llucmajor and Campos.

A taxi ride to city centre costs €28 daytime, €34 midnight to 05:00, and takes 15 minutes in normal traffic. See Welcome Pick-ups for rates to other towns - these are usually the best option for families or groups.

By boat

Ferries sail to Palma from Barcelona (7 hr), Denia (5 hr) and Valencia (7 hr). Inter-island ferries sail to Palma from Ibiza (2-4 hr), Formentara (4 hr) and Mahon on Menorca (6 hr).

Ferry lines are Trasmed, Baleària and GNV. There are no ferries to Mallorca from France, Italy or North Africa.

Cruise liners often call at Palma as they tour the Med.

2 Palma de Mallorca ferry port is 2 km southwest of town centre.

By road

All roads and routes converge on Palma from around the island. About the furthest point you could come from, Cala Ratjada on the east coast, is 83 km and takes 70 min. TIB buses run the out-of-town routes and EMT within Palma.

There are no road links from the other Balearic islands, nor plans to build any.

By train

3 Estacio Intermodal is the main train, bus and metro station, underground at Plaça d'Espanya. Metre-gauge trains run to Inca, Sa Pobla and Manacor, see TIB for timetables and fares.

Ferrocarril de Soller is the quaint wooden electric train (914 m gauge) to Sóller - these depart from across the street at C d'Eusebi Estada. See Tren de Sóller for timetables and fares. At Sóller a tram continues to the coast.

The wooden train to Sóller

Get around

By public transport

Buses and trains are the two forms of shared public transport in Palma de Mallorca. The local buses are run by Empresa Municipal de Transportes Urbanes de Palma de Mallorca (EMT) and are very frequent. They have particularly good coverage of the beaches and the centre of the city. The main train system is operated by Serveis Ferroviaris de Mallorca (SFM), Mallorca Railway Services.

The Palma City Sightseeing bus (which is numbered line 50 on the EMT bus maps) does a circuit of Palma that includes tourist attractions like Pueblo Español and major shopping centres like Av. Jaume III and Porto Pi, as well as the ferry and commercial ports. The buses are double-decker and the top floor is open air. A basic audio tour is free with the tickets. The tickets are €15 adults and €6.50 children for one day (24 Hours) which is much higher than the other city buses, but they are valid for reboarding as many times as you like within 24 hours, and this is the only bus route that visits the Castell de Bellver. The two-day fare is €16.25 for adults and €8.13 for children from the age of 8 to 16. The first bus in the winter season starts from Cathedral at 10:00 and the last bus in winter starts from the same place at 18:00.

By bicycle

Cycling is a great way to get around Palma and along the coastline near Palma. Excellent bicycle paths have been made.

• 1 Rent A Bike, Can Pastilla, ☏ +34 971 26 64 25. Good quality bicycles for rent, from €5 full day, €3 half day. 

See

Pueblo Español, Spain in miniature

• A total solar eclipse on Wednesday 12 Aug 2026, starting at 20:31 and lasting 90 seconds. The chances of a clear sky are 65%, and you need a clear view to the northwest horizon, as the sun will be setting over the sea. The Palma area is the last viewing point for this eclipse before sunset ends the show.

City centre

• El Casco Antiguo is the historical centre, encompassing most city sights such as the cathedral and Royal Palace. It's a pleasant area to stroll, with narrow shady streets and glimpses of private courtyards. It's bounded by city walls (Dalt Murada) with an inner elevated plaza, while the ring-road outside zig-zags past the Vauban fortifications.
• 1 Palma Cathedral (La Seu), Plaça de la Seu, ☏ +34 971 713133, info@catedraldemallorca.org. M-Sa 10:00-17:00. Huge ornate cathedral, impressive outside and within. It was started in 1229 but only completed in 1601, in mostly Gothic style; Gaudí had a go at improving it but quit in a strop. The Royal Chapel is the resting place of kings Jaime II and III. You can ascend the tower for an extra €15, but it's a lot of steps. The standard ticket includes Museo de Arte Sacro (aka Museu Diocesà), with religious paintings and silverware; this has a separate entrance east. Adult €10. (updated May 2024)
• Ses Voltes is the plaza south side of the cathedral. It has views over Parc de la Mar and sometimes hosts events.
• Royal Palace of La Almudaina (west side of cathedral). Tu-Su 10:00-18:00. The fortress dates back to Roman times but what you see now is a rebuild from 1309. The ground floor is medieval while the upper floor, added in the 16th century, has the grand state rooms and suites. It was a seat of the kings of Mallorca and is still used as a residence by the Spanish royal family. Adult €7. (updated May 2024)
• S'Hort del Rei are Moorish gardens just west of the palace.
• Banys Àrabs, C de Can Serra 3 (200 m east of cathedral), ☏ +34 637 046534. Daily 10:00-17:30. Sauna baths built in the tenth century, with under-floor heating; it's the only building in Palma dating to the Arab settlement. Only two or three small rooms are open, but there's a pleasant courtyard garden. Adult €3, child free. (updated May 2024)
• Convent of St Clara is east side of Banys Àrabs. The "Poor Clares" (Hermanas Pobres) were founded in 1212 and the church is from 1671. The nuns make cookies, remaining in seclusion as you pass your money through a hatch and they push out the goodies.
• Museum of Mallorca, C de la Portella 5 (block north of Banys Àrabs), ☏ +34 971 597995. Tu F-Su 09:00-14:00, W Th 09:00-19:00. Small museum of city heritage, crowded with artworks. (updated May 2024)
• 2 Basílica de Sant Francesc, Plaça de Sant Francesc 7, ☏ +34 971 712695. Church and cloister founded in 1281, in similar style to the cathedral but without the tourist hordes. The Franciscan nuns moved in with the Poor Clares in the 19th century. (updated May 2024)
• Santa Eulàlia is an attractive gothic church 100 m west of Sant Francesc, but many visitors feel it's not worth the €5.
• 3 Fundación Juan March Palma, C de Sant Miquel 11, ☏ +34 971 710428. M-F 10:00-18:30, Sa 10:00-14:00. Museum of modern art, a branch of the Madrid foundation of financier Juan March Ordinas (1880-1962). Big names on display here include Picasso, Miró and Dalí, and the building is a stately 17th century mansion. Free. (updated May 2024)

Castell de Bellver

• Basílica de Sant Miquel is 100 m north of the Foundation. It was a mosque converted to a church in 1229, but re-built in the 14th century and expanded in the 17th.
• 4 Plaça del Mercat is a leafy triangle in the west of Casco Antiguo with many interesting Art Nouveau buildings. The church of San Nicolás just south was completed in 1712.
• 5 Llotja de Palma (Sa Llotja). Medieval mercantile building with impressive architectural features, near the waterfront. It is occasionally used as event space but stands empty most of the time. (updated Apr 2024)
• 6 Es Baluard Museu d'Art Contemporani, Plaça de la Porta de Santa Catalina10, ☏ +34 971 908200. M-Sa 10:00-20:00, Su 10:00-15:00. Three-storey collection of 19th-20th century works by artists from the Balearic islands. Adult €6, conc €4.50, under-12 free. (updated May 2024)

Further out

• Paseo Marítimo is the promenade, flanked by busy Av de Gabriel Roca. Its east end is under the town walls, with Parc de la Mar and the artificial lake. It continues past Llotja and the marina, then the coast trends south to the ferry pier and main harbour. This south end is a pub and club strip, with discos thumping music till dawn, and the floodlit cathedral in the background.
• Transilvania Cafetería-Museum is a schlock-horror waxworks. It's at C de Jaume Ferran 38, 200 m north of Jacint Verdaguer railway station, and open Tu-Sa 17:00-00:00.
• 7 Pueblo Español, C del Poble Espanyol 55, ☏ +34 971 731062. Daily 10:00-18:00. "Village" containing replicas of notable Spanish buildings. In season there are artisan shops, restaurants and bars within, and it's an events venue, but it's a bit hollow at other times. Adult €10, child €5. (updated May 2024)
• 8 Castell de Bellver, C de Camilo José Cela (Bus 4, 20, 50), ☏ +34 971 735065. Tu-Sa 10:0-18:00, Su 10:00-15:00. An unusual circular castle enclosing a courtyard, built in the 14th century over a Moorish fort. A circle is not the best design in the age of artillery, but there's an outer ravelin and it withstood two sieges. Within is a museum of archaeological finds and classical sculptures. Its hilltop site commands good views of the city and the bay. Adult €4, conc or child €2. (updated May 2024)
• 9 Pilar and Joan Miro Foundation, C de Saridakis 29, Cala Major, ☏ +34 971 701420. Tu-Su 10:00-18:00, Su 10:00-15:00. Joan Miró lived mostly in Barcelona and Paris but had extended spells in Palma. His two former studios display 6000 works, and there's a sculpture garden. Adult €10. (updated May 2024)
• 10 Museu Històric Militar de Sant Carles, Castillo de San Carlos, Cala Major, ☏ +34 971 402145. Tu-Su 10:00-14:00, Su 10:00-15:00. Military museum in a 17th century Vauban-style bastion by the harbour. (updated May 2024)
• 11 Palma Aquarium, C de Manuela de los Herreros 21, ☏ +34 971 746104. Daily 09:30-18:30. Aquarium focused on Mediterranean and coastal ecosystems, with a huge shark tank and vast collection of live corals. Reservations advised. Adult €32.50, child €22. (updated May 2024)

Do

The bullring also stages concerts

• Platja de Can Pere Antoni is the most central beach, starting 500 m east of Parc de la Mar beneath the cathedral. Some traffic noise, the east end is a little quieter. There are showers and lockers here.
• Ciudad Jardín is 2 km east of Platja de Can Pere Antoni. It's a white sandy strip 450 m long, seldom crowded, with a series of jetties to curb erosion.
• Ca'n Pastilla beach starts further east near the aquarium and airport, and stretches 4 km to become Playa S'Arenal.
• Cala Major is a suburb 4 km southwest of Palma de Mallorca with lots of high-rise hotels. The beach is 200 m long and 80 m wide and can get busy at the height of summer, but the water is crystal clear and suitable for kiddy-bathing.
• Aqualand El Arenal (Palma – Arenal motorway, Exit 13 at km 15), ☏ +34 696 158177. May-Oct daily 10:00-17:00. This water park has slides and pools for kids of all ages. Adult €35, conc or child €27. (updated May 2024)
• Marineland: see Magaluf for this marine zoo to the west near Costa d'en Blanes beach.
• Football: RCD Mallorca play soccer in La Liga, Spain's top tier. Their home ground is Estadi de Son Moix or Visit Mallorca Stadium (capacity 23,000), 2 km northwest of city centre.
• Plaza de Toros is the bullring, and still used for bullfights, but also stages concerts. It's at Av Gaspar de Bennazar 32, 500 m north of Jacint Verdaguer railway station.
• Golf: the closest courses are Son Muntaner and Son Vida, together in the hills 3 km northwest of city centre.

• Mallorca Live is a rock and pop music festival in mid June.
• Festival de Pollença is classical music, throughout August.
• Evolution Film Festival is first week in November. Fonart Short Film Festival is no longer held.
• Smooth Jazz Festival is likewise first week in November.
• Festa de l’Estendard is an end-of-year event in December, with a Mass at La Seu.

Buy

Town Hall

• El Corte Ingles is the Spanish national department store. It has large branches on Av de Jaume III west side of old town (open daily), and at Av d'Alexandre Rosselló southast of the railway station (M-Sa).
• Town centre supermarkets are small, but Mercadona is a large store at Plaça de l'Olivar, 200 m south of the station. It's open M-Sa 09:00-21:30.

Work

All EU citizens have the legal right to work. Getting a job, even temporary ones, for non-Spanish speakers is hard to find in a Spanish speaking environment (most Spanish do not speak English). So you may try looking for temporary jobs as bartending or waiting at English, Irish or German owned bars and restaurants, mainly in cities outside Palma like Magaluf, S'Arenal and Peguera (for German speaking travellers). In Palma you may try getting day-work washing boats at Palma's Marina. There are several boats and some of the owners may need a hand. Be around 8AM at the Marina and start asking for "day work" to people around the big boats. If you're lucky you'll be making around €100! If you are seeking a career aboard one of the many superyachts in Palma de Mallorca a good place to register and start looking is Crew Central.

Eat

Banys Àrabs

See Mallorca#Eat for typical island dishes. Useful to know: the phrase for "full English breakfast" is desayuno London.

Budget

Budget places are mostly in the old town centre, with a scattering north to Plaça d'en Coll and south to the marina.

• 1 La Cuadra del Maño, C del Miracle 8, ☏ +34 636 040740. Tu-Th 20:00-00:00, F Sa 14:00-17:00, 20:00-00:00, Su 14:00-18:00. Popular barbecue restaurant with steak grilled over a wood fire. Great service and value for money. (updated May 2024)
• 2 Es Badulake, C de les Minyones 2, ☏ +34 871 571999. M-F 09:00-17:00. Sandwich shop, also with wraps and tacos, lots of vegan alternatives. Takeaway only, eat in the shade on the adjacent Passeig del Born. (updated May 2024)
• 3 Ca n'Ela Vegan Restaurant, C de la Mar 16, ☏ +34 871 776653. M-Sa 13:00-16:00, 19:00-22:00. All-vegan restaurant, some dishes are gluten-free. Menus change daily. (updated May 2024)
• 4 A Estribor, C de Berenguer de Tornamira 5, ☏ +34 971 726216. M-Sa 08:00-17:00. Small Chinese cafe bar, fast friendly service. (updated May 2024)
• 5 Casa Julio, C de la Previsió 4, ☏ +34 971 710670. Daily 13:00-23:00. Trad homemade food in a popular cafe, you may have to queue. (updated May 2024)
• Es Raconet, C dels Moliners 3 (opposite Fundación Juan March), ☏ +34 971 724012. M-Sa 13:00-16:00. Great home-cooked food for a bargain price. (updated May 2024)
• 6 Calixto, C del Banc de l'Oli 14, ☏ +34 652 556880. M-Sa 12:00-23:00. Paella is all they serve, and it's good. (updated May 2024)
• Cappuccino Palau March, C del Conquistador 13 (north side of Royal Palace), ☏ +34 971 717272. M-Th 09:00-22:00, F-Su 09:00-23:00. Good all-day place for breakfast and light bites. (updated May 2024)
• 7 Oh Mallork Bar de Tapas, Francisco Roselló Pintor 4, ☏ +34 633 648099. M-F 13:00-16:00, 18:00-22:30. Cozy friendly tapas restaurant. (updated May 2024)

Mid-range

• Pesquero, Moll de la Llonja (Marina opposite Llotja), ☏ +34 971 715 220. Daily 11:00-23:00. Portside restaurant for seafood, paella, tapas and the like. Mixed reviews on whether it's worth what you pay. (updated May 2024)
• 8 A Ma Maison, C Soler 18A, ☏ +34 971 919697. Tu-Sa 13:00-15:00, 19:30 - 22:00. French Tunisian homemade dishes, a one-man show. Vegan, GF and other diets no problem. (updated May 2024)
• 9 Boira Restaurante, Plaça Francesc García i Orell 8, ☏ +34 971 274594. Daily 07:30-22:30. Great value for their day-long Med cuisine. (updated May 2024)
• 10 La Mirona, C de Sant Jaume 21, ☏ +34 871 231995. Tu-Sa 19:00-22:30. Small place that you need to book, serving whatever the chef finds best today, no written menu. (updated May 2024)

Splurge

• 11 Marc Fosh Restaurant, C de la Missió 7, ☏ +34 971 720114. Tu-Sa 13:30-14:30, 19:30-21:30. Chic place with fine dining. (updated May 2024)

Drink

• City centre has Arlequin, Es Petit Bar, Bar Savoy, Gibson Bar, Bar Nicholas, Can Frasquet and Manto Negro.
• Marina has Lennox Pub, Abaco (below), Bar Dia, Bodega Ca'n Rigo and Corner Bar.
• Abaco, C Sant Joan 1 (block north of Llotja), ☏ +34 971 714939. Su-Th 20:00-00:30, F Sa 20:00-01:30. Pricy and posy cocktail bar in a former coaching house, no food and reckon €20+ per cocktail. But you come for the over-the-top decor and atmosphere: Fridays at 23:30, the classical background music rises to a crescendo and fresh rose petals fall from a hidden balcony above the imposing fireplace. (updated May 2024)

Sleep

A penitent in Holy Week

High season is July to September, when Mallorca is mobbed by visitors from Germany, the UK and Ireland. Many hotels close in winter.

Budget

• 1 We Hostel Palma, C Germans Schembri 1, ☏ +34 871 209244. Clean hostel by the marina. Dorm €33. (updated May 2024)
• 2 Hostal Ritzi, Apuntadors, 6, ☏ +34 971714610. Open in winter, English owned and conveniently placed near the cathedral and with numerous cheap tapas bars around. Single room with shared bathroom €40. Twin room €65.. (updated May 2019)

Mid-range

• Hotel Amic GALA, C/ XABEC , 5 Can Pastilla, ☏ +34 902 400 661, fax: +34902 888 769, booking@amic-hotels.com. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 11:00. Reviews describe this three-star hotel as in a good location near the beach and not far from the airport. It is described as an ideal family hotel with plenty of entertainment and a good distance from local restaurants and activities. Double rooms €69 per night (high season, 16 July - 15 Sept), €49 per night (low season). Cheaper single occupant rooms also available. 
• 3 Hotel Isla Mallorca, Plaza Almirante Churruca, 5, ☏ +34 971 28 12 00, fax: +34 971 45 65 03, info@islamallorca.com. Well equipped and close to the commercial centre of the city. The facilities are oriented towards business travelers and include Internet access and a fax service for guests. Double rooms with breakfast only €100 per night (high season, July - Sept), €80 per night (low season). Double rooms with all meals €140 per night (high season), €120 per night (low season).. 
• BG Java at C de la Goleta 7 is comfy enough but sits at the end of the runway, needs better soundproofing.
• Hotel Ilusion Calma is near the airport and Can Pastilla Marina at C d'Horaci 5. Mostly good reviews.
• 4 Hotel THB El Cid, C del Vaixell 2, ☏ +34 971 260850. Good beachfront hotel, geared up for cyclists. B&B double €180. (updated May 2024)
• Alua Leo is a Hyatt hotel a short block east of El Cid.
• HM Tropical at C de Marbella 16 and HM Gran Fiesta at #28 get mixed reviews.
• HM Ayron Park further south at Trasimeno 7 gets better reviews but rooms are cramped. Adults only.
• HM Dunas Blancas adjacent is similar.
• BG Hotel Pamplona, C de Neopàtria (block north of Iberostar Selection), ☏ +34 971 264900. Value-for-money midrange hotel. B&B double €100. (updated May 2024)
• BG Caballero next door has similar price and quality.
• HM Balanguera Beach is an arty place next to BG Hotel Pamplona, at C de Marbella 35.
• 5 Iberostar Selection Playa de Palma, C de Marbella 36, ☏ +34 971 266450. Bright welcoming beachfront hotel. B&B double €300. (updated May 2024)
• Iberostar Bahía de Palma is next to Iberostar Selection, similar price and quality.
• Iberostar Christina is inland next to Iberostar Selection, slightly cheaper but similar quality.
• Tent Capi Playa is an inexpensive hotel south side of the Iberostar complex.
• THB Maria Isabel is a clean well-run place east side of the Iberostar complex.
• Copaiba by Honne is another block east at C de Villagarcia de Arosa 24. Comfy enough, the main gripe is that the restaurant doesn't accept cards or room-credit, you have to pay everything in cash.
• 6 Hotel Leman, Avda. Son Rigo, 6 07610 Playa de Palma (About halfway between Ca'n Pastilla and S'Arenal, very nice location), ☏ +34 971 260 712, fax: +34 971 492 520, info@hotel-leman.com. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 11:00. Nice, family-owned 4-star hotel, with a very good breakfast and dinner (no lunch) buffets. Indoor and outdoor pools. Only 1 block away from the beach with unobstructed sea views from the 4th floors up. Bus to Palma stops only 70 meters away. Value for money 
• 7 Pure Salt Garonda, C de la Mar Negra 2, ☏ +34 971 014040. Pleasant beachfront hotel and spa with rooftop pool. Adults only. B&B double €200. (updated May 2024)
• Aubamar Suites, C Misión de San Diego 17 (100 m north of Hipotels Gran Playa), ☏ +34 971 724347. Slick comfy hotel set back from the beach. B&B double €250. (updated May 2024)
• 8 Hipotels Gran Playa de Palma, Prolongación C de las Canyes, ☏ +34 971 268045. Good all-round hotel. B&B double €180. (updated May 2024)
• Universal Hotel Neptuno is at C del Llaüt 34, on the beachfront by Gran Playa. Mostly good reviews but some gripes, and noise from the nearby Megapark. Adults only.
• Hotel Paradiso Garden, C de la Perla (block south of Gran Playa), ☏ +34 971 260616. High standard of comfort and service. B&B double €160. (updated May 2024)
• Hotel Amic Miraflores, C/ XABEC , 4 (close to Hotels Leo and Linda in Can Pastilla, really nice area and one of the best sandy beaches of Majorca.), ☏ +34 902 400 661, fax: +34902 888 769, booking@amic-hotels.com. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 11:00. Family atmosphere 5 min to the airport PMI by bus or taxi. 
• 9 Castillo Hotel Son Vida Palma, Calle Raixa 2, Urbanizacion Son Vida. Surrounded by an 18-hole golf course called Son Vida Golf. This beautiful, 171 room high rise setting over the city of Palma de Mallorca has private bathrooms, air conditioning, cable television, Wi-Fi, coffee makers, a minibar, spa facilities, laundry, tennis, swimming pool, game room, fitness centre, lounge, salon, and offers parking available on-site. 
• 10 Linda Hotel Can Pastilla, Carrer Octavi August 2, Can Pastilla (At the airport). A more poular hotel in Can Pastilla. This 189-room hotel, close to the beach, shopping, bars, restaurants, water sports, gold and an aquarium. This hotel offers a lounge, bar, restaurant, swimming pool, sun lounging areas, parking, internet access, 24 hour reception, game room, tennis, laundry service, and currency exchange. Rooms consist of en-suite bathrooms, balcony, satellite TV, telephone, etc. All of these amenities make this hotel an ideal spot for a holiday vacation in Mallorca. 
• Whala!fun is a simple clean place at C Terral 23 in S'Arenal, part of HM chain.
• Tent Bahia de Palma is adequate for what you pay. It's at C Trencadors 74 in S'Arenal.
• Bahamas I & II are further inland along Av Europa in S'Arenal.

Splurge

Retable in Sant Miquel

• Palacio Ca Sa Galesa, C de Miramar 8 (east side of cathedral), ☏ +34 971 715400. Small 16th century palace converted into a hotel, and very plush. Some found it fusty, but most rate it highly for atmosphere and service. B&B double €350. (updated May 2024)
• Portixol Hotel (Portixol Hotel), C/ Sirena 27, 07006 Palma (At the end of the Paseo Marítimo on the way to highway, follow the right side by sea. After first traffic light in the small fishing harbour, turn right twice), ☏ +34 971 27 18 00, fax: +34 971 27 50 25, hotel@portixol.com. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. A small 4-star hotel facing the sea and the small harbour of Portixol, mixing Scandinavian decoration with Mediterranean style. Nothing pretentious but offering high standard accommodation. Rooms with views to the sea. €200. 
• 11 Gran Melia Victoria, Avenida Joan Miró, 21 (Paseo Maritimo in the heart of the bay of Palma), ☏ +34 971 732542, gran.melia.victoria@solmelia.com. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Five-star hotel offering guestrooms, Suites, and Junior Suites are affixed with state-of-the-art technologies and accentuated by furnishings that combine both traditional and island-luxury styles. (updated May 2019)

Connect

As of June 2022, Palma has 4G from MasMovil/Yoigo, and 5G from Movistar, Orange and Vodafone.

Stay safe

Take great care of valuables, as town centre has pickpockets a-plenty. Flower girls, street touts and other "distractors" may be working in cahoots with them.

Old Town and El Terreno can be sleazy at night. There are lots of drug misusers, and drink-spiking is not uncommon.

The people of Mallorca regard themselves as Catalan, not Spanish. Respect this, though your roto attempts to speak mainland (Castilian) Spanish will earn more kudos than insisting on English.

Go next

• All the rest of Mallorca is within an hour or so of Palma. Sóller is a charming small town, reached on the rinky-dinky wooden train.
• Ferries sail to the other Balearic islands, and Ibiza city is within a day trip.
• Ferries also sail to the Spanish mainland.