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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.

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 the Palma municipality was approximately 400,000 at the beginning of 2007. Half the population of Mallorca lives in the city of Palma.

The city occupies the north western end of a bay in the south west 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 was originally 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 turning financials around in Palma.

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 have over half of the island’s population living there. The holiday season lasts from the end of April until October, and from November to April, temperatures range from 20-28 degrees Celsius (60-70 degrees Fahrenheit) 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. Today, 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 center of town.

Get in

By plane

Palma's city airport (PMI  IATA) is the major airport in Mallorca, and has daily flights from many European cities on national and budget carriers.

PMI is 9 kilometres from the center of Palma. EMT's Line 1 bus service runs between the seaport, the city centre and the airport every fifteen minutes between 6:15am and 2:30am, and the fare is €2.50.

Modules

There are four modules at the airport: Module A, Module B, Module C and Module D.

Module A

Located in the north of the airport, it has 28 gates, of which 8 have air bridges. This is the only module that has double air bridges attached to gates. The Pier is mainly used by flights to non-Schengen destinations including the UK and Ireland. This part of the terminal building is closed during winter months and is only used in the summer.

Module B

The smallest Module, located in the north east. It has 8 gates located on ground floor, of which none have air bridges. It is used by regional aircraft of Air Nostrum, mainly operating intra-Balearic flights.

Module C
Outside view of the airport

The largest of the modules is located in the east. It has 33 gates, of which 9 have air bridges. It is used by Air Berlin, Niki and Condor along with EasyJet flights to Schengen destinations. The majority of air bridges have airberlin.com written on them.

The southern area of the module was worked on and reopened in May 2011.

Module C is also the meeting point for transfers, taxi pickup and groups.

Module D

Located in the south, it has 19 gates of which 10 have air bridges. All odd-numbered gates have a bus transfer. The majority of air bridges have airberlin.com written on them.

By train

TIB [1] runs train services between Mallorcan towns. There is no train service to the airport. The main Train, Bus, and Metro station ('Estacio Intermodal') is underground, at Placa Espanya in Palma.

'Ferrocarril de Soller' operates the quaint wooden electric train from Placa Espanya in Palma to Soller town, in the north-west of the island, and from where you can continue your relaxing scenic journey to Puerto Soller on the companion Electric Tram.

By car

Travellers can only drive to Palma from other cities in Mallorca; there are no bridges or any road links to other islands or to the mainland. Most cities and towns in Mallorca have road links directly to Palma. There are several companies in Majorca that offer transfer facilities from the airport to any destination on the island. Balearic transfer services [2], Fleet and Goo and BookTaxiMallorca are examples of these companies.

By bus

EMT [3] (ph. 971 43 10 24) runs the local bus service in Palma. Regional buses to destinations around the island are operated mainly by TIB (Transport de les Iles Balears [4]). All EMT buses are equipped with onboard screens and loudspeakers that state the current and next stop, in both Spanish and Catalán. EMT's line number 1 will take you from the airport through Palma downtown and to the outer dock of the main harbor (where most large cruise ships dock). Arrivals/departures every 15 minutes from 7:00am until 8:00pm. They operate once every 30 minutes from 6AM to 10PM. The fare is €3.00. There is only one fare, so you don't need to specify your destination to the driver/conductor! All other local EMT destinations within Palma cost €1.50, so you need to tell the driver "no aeroporto, por favor!".

In an effort to reduce drunk driving and get less people driving on the weekends, Palma offers a ´bus de nit´ bus service. In Catalán, it obviously means ´night bus´. It is full of locals, and Spaniards from the peninsula and runs from 10PM to 6AM every 20 to 30 minutes all night long. The bus costs 1€ and goes all the way down the infamous ´paseo maritimo´, which is where all the best clubs are in Palma.

Tip; if you really enjoy clubbing, do not be afraid to go a few miles along the Paseo Maritimo. The numbers start at 1 and go up to about 80. The biggest clubs (i.e. Tito´s and Level) are located in the 20´s. Farther down the Paseo the music gets better, the people are more mature, and you will find less completely drunk tourists.

By sea

Any number of cruise ships berth at Palma, and there are also a number of ferry services to other Balaeric Islands and to the Iberian peninsula:

The all-year-around Baleària and Acconia Trasmediterranea ships travel to and from the mainland (Barcelona) once a day, each. They both usually leave Barcelona at night (23:00) and arrive in Palma very early the next day (06:00). And they both usually leave Palma for Barcelona at 12:30 and arrive at 19:30. Tickets must be purchased in advance and westerners can book through services such as directferries.co.uk [9]. In addition, high speed ferries are now becoming available that offer reduced the travel time by a couple hours.

Palma's port has a small office on the west end of the port where customers must check in at least one hour before departure. The line can grow long so travelers may want to arrive a couple hours in advance. Please be aware that the ship may depart from the east end of the port, and that a bus will transport the customers from the check in building to the ship.

Get around

Castell de Bellver

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. Timetables and fares are available from the City Council [10]. 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 [11]) 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 10:00AM and the last bus in winter starts from the same place at 06:00PM.

Like much of the Balearic Islands and the Catalonia region of Spain, the locals speak Catalan as well as Spanish. In addition, the island of Mallorca has it's own version of Catalan called Mallorcan. For this reason, fewer locals learn to speak English. English-speaking westerners should be aware that it will be more difficult to get around without learning basic Spanish. However, the nearby communities of Magaluf and Palma Nova are home to UK Citizens, Germans, and other Europeans.

See

Pueblo Español architecture museum
  • Castell de Bellver. ph 971 73 06 57 or 971 45 12 03, fax 971 45 43 73, web page. Bellver Castle is built on the ruins of a Muslim site. It contains a museum of archaeological finds and classical sculptures, as well as having an excellent view of the bay. One of the most distinct castles in Spain; a 14th century castle set high on a hill. Castell de Bellver offers visitors the best view of the bay of Palma and the entire city of Palma. Known for its uniquely circular form, Castell de Bellver has three large towers, a central courtyard, and other features shown throughout the architecture of the interior and exterior. The greatest way to tour this castle starts with a walk around the moat. Then, proceed to the top of this castle to a patio area to experience glorious architecture. Castell de Bellver is open for visitors daily all year long. It is open on weekdays 8:30 AM to 6 PM, and Sundays and bank holidays 10AM to 5:30 pm. On Mondays the Castell closes earlier (1:30 PM). Admission for Adults is €2.60 and €1.05 for pensioners and students.
  • Pueblo Español, C- del Poble Espanyol. Ph: 971 73 70 70 or 971 73 70 75, fax 971 73 15 92, e-mail: p.espanyol@baleares.com. This architectural museum is designed like a small village containing facsimiles of the major classical works of Spanish architecture. During the week there are numerous artisans' shops, restaurants and bars operating within the museum. Open from 9.00AM until 7.00PM Admission is €5 adults and €3 children.
  • Paseo Maritimo, Paseo Marítimo Palma. 20.00. If you enjoy nightlife, don´t miss the Paseo Marítimo, along the ocean in Palma. Paseo Maritimo refers to area all along the port, where all the yachts and boats are chartered. It is where the majority of the discotecas, bars, pubs, etc. are located and it is beautiful at night because you can see the cathedral all lit up. Discotecas are very popular here; Tito's is a famous discotecas that in the 1950's, people like Frank Sinatra used to go to and it is still up and running today. Clubs stay going until about 6AM and the clubs here do not get extremely busy until at least midnight on most days. It is a great place to people-watch, even if you cannot stay up until the sun rises on the island. 6.00. 
  • 1 Fundació Pilar i Joan Miró, C. de Saridakis, 29. A museum showing works of the artist Joan Miró, who lived and worked in Palma. There's a sculpture garden and you can visit Miró's two ateliers: a modern one designed by the architect Sert, and an older one with Miró's graffiti on the walls. 

Historic Centre

The facade of the Almudaina Palace

The historical centre of Palma is the oldest part of the city. It is also a refreshing area to walk in on one of Palma's hot humid days: the streets are narrow and shady. You will get a chance to peek in at a number of private courtyards. In addition, the historic center has a lot of attractions:

  • Catedral de Mallorca, ☏ 971 72 31 30 or 971 71 31 33, fax: 971 71 93 87, . And Museo Catedralicio, C/ Capiscolato, 2. Mallorca's spectacular cathedral is located close to the sea-side. The museum, located in the chapter room and vestry, has exhibits of religious paintings and silverware. The museum opens at 10AM, and its weekday closing hours are 5:15PM (April to May), 6:15PM (June to September), 5:15PM(October) and 3:15PM (November to March). On weekends it closes at 2:15PM (all year). 4 Euro to enter. 
  • Banys Àrabs, ☏ +34 971 72 15 49. C/- Serra 3. The Arab bath building is the only building in Palma dating to the Arab settlement. The baths were constructed in the tenth century, and were sauna-style: the floor was heated and water added to make the room steamy. A small courtyard and the two rooms of the baths themselves are open to ten people at a time. €2,00 adults and free for children. 
  • Museo de Arte Español Contemporáneo, ☏ 971 71 35 15 or 971 71 04 28, . 10AM to 6:30PM weekdays and 10:30AM to 2PM Saturdays. Sant Miquel, 11. This branch of the museum of contemporary art has a permanent collection of over seventy pieces by modern Spanish artists including Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Juan Gris and Salvador Dalí. Free admission. 
  • Plaça del Mercat, church and interesting art nouveau buildings.
  • Bull Ring, located on the Avenue de Gaspar Bennazar. If you are not into animal cruelty then just have a look around the arena. It is open when there are no events taking place. It is a fairly impressive structure.

Do

Town hall (Ajuntament de Palma)
  • Aqualand, Palma – Arenal Motorway, exit 13, Km 15. This water park has slides and pools of varying degrees of adventurousness. Open from early May to early October each year, its opening hours are 10AM to 5PM May - June, Sept - Oct) and 10AM to 6PM July - August). Admission is €20 adults, €18 seniors and €14 children. [12]
  • Windward Islands Yacht Charter and Sailing. Windward Islands, one of the world's largest yacht charter companies, can take care of all charter requirements, from bareboat to crewed in the Baleares. Operating from nine offices worldwide (USA, Spain, UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, Caribbean, Honk Kong and Dubai). 
  • Beach. From the town centre follow the signs to the Parc de la Mar (the park by the sea, just south of the cathedral). When you get there face the sea and walk left along the main coast road for 5-10 minutes until you reach the beach. This part of the beach is fairly noisy due to the traffic so go to the other end where the road veers away. There are also some showers here.
  • Ciudad Jardín is very a white sandy beach, 450m long and 45m wide and protected from bad weather by a series of jetties. This beach has moderate waves and is located in Ciudad Jardín residential area, a pleasant neighborhood that is surrounded by the La Torre d’en Pau Park, where all buildings are low-rise and are flourished with many outside, beautiful gardens. Ciudad Jardín offers many facilities for visitors, such as free showers, telephones, beach umbrella rentals, hammock rentals, Boat rentals, as well as plenty of bars and restaurants, and shops.
  • Cala Major (Cala Mayor) is positioned only a few kilometers West of Palma de Mallorca. The beach is 200 meters long and 80 meters wide. The water is crystal clear. The beach is surrounded by high hotels and tends to be crowded during the months of July and August. Cala Major, is suited for children, only always pedal boats, and has a promenade that visitors or locals can find a number of restaurants and bars.
  • Can Pere Antoni is 735 meters long and 25 meters wide. This beach is to be found just in front of the cathedral of La Seu, beside the beautiful promenade. This is one of the most pleasant locations in Palma to go cycling. A cycle path is available, that stretches the entire length of the Bay. Can Pere Antoni has a restaurant available as well.
  • Titos. Titos, located in Palma de Mallorca, is a hip night club. During the 1950’s and 1960’s, big stars of the day such as Marlene Dietrich and Ray Charles kept this place hip. Visitors can dance to house and R&B music. There is an illuminated elevator that will transport visitors up to the disco, which suggests a fantastic view of the city of Palma at night. Visitors need to be 20 to enter, and range from ages 20-35 years old. Titos includes go-go girls, a light show and can hold up to 2,000 guests. 
  • Marineland. Marineland is a large marine zoo, a perfect place to take children. This main attraction of this zoo can be made an entire day experience and has been in existence for 38 years. Marineland has a large aquarium, as well as, a terrarium. Sharks, tropical fish, exotic lizards, iguanas, anacondas, flamingos, and penguins can all be witnessed here. If visitors want to take a break from the animals, Calvias Costa d'en Blanes beach is close by, as well as, a playground, which all belong to Marineland. There are daily shows played here, such as shows of the Sea lions, Dolphins, and Parrots. 
  • Festivals. Festival Isladencanta – Annual music festival covering genres including rock, pop, and features Europe’s best DJ’s during the month of July.
  • Festival de Pollença – Classical annual festival featuring ensemble of renowned international artists and orchestras, occurring during the month of August.
  • Fonart Short Film Festival – Showcases rising talent from Balaeric Islands and the mainland, with regular screenings at establishments throughout the city between the months of August and September.
  • Festa de l’Estendard – Historical event of the festive new year, featuring a Mass at La Seu Cathedral during December to celebrate the marking of the end of the year and the coming of the new year. 

Buy

  • El Corte Ingles. Two large branches of the Spanish national department store, in Palma at The Avenidas and at C/ Jaime 111. Anything and everything you might want to buy, in the UK at a good branch of Debenhams, or in the U. S. at Macy's! 

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 Magalluf, 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 euros!. 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 [13]

Eat

  • Pamboli - traditional "sandwich", made with Majorcan bread, plenty of oil and tomato, and then with the topping of your choice.
  • Ensaimada - literally translated as "made from pork fat" - traditional pastry here, sometimes it just has powdered sugar on top, other times it is filled with chocoloate, cream, fruit filling.
  • Sobrasada - Raw,cured sausage that is typical of Mallorca.
  • Bunyols - (sweet pastries)- they are typical only in autumn. Bunyols are commonly made of boiled potatoes, flour, eggs, butter or lard, yeast and sugar; they are fried in hot oil and then sprinkled with sugar. (A fried Donut)


Budget

  • Tapas Tuesdays or Ruta Martiana: several dozen bars in Sa Gerreria (quarter in the old town, about 100m south-east of Plaza Mayor) offer cheap tapas and a drink on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Mid-range

  • Plaça d'en Coll: previously a reasonably good town square in the Casco Antiguo part of the old town of Palma, with a few quite respectable bars and cafes but with the incongruous and slightly disquieting presence of 'the travelling population' with their giant supermarket-style plastic bottles of warm San Miguel concealed in brown paper bags. All very nice polite guys (and girls) actually! - but recently (May 2011) Placa d'en Coll is transformed into a veritable plethora of bars and cafes, vying with each other on quality and price: the ideal place to visit for a 3-course menu del dia for less than fifteen Euros! - a veritable serendipity!
  • Cafe Port Pesquer, C/- Moll de la Llotja. ph 971 725 868 or 971 715 220. This portside cafe is a seafood specialist, and also serves local specialties like tapas and platos mediterráneos. It is popular with locals and tourists, but is perhaps a little under-staffed. Mains €14 - €20.
  • XII Apóstoles, ☏ +34 971 262 015, fax: 971 264 765, . C/- Sant Ramon Nonat., This opulently decorated pizza restaurant has a pizza topping for each of the eponymous apostles. The enormous pizzas have a thin crust and sparse but intense toppings. Bookings advised if you're eating after 8:30PM. Pizzas €10 - €15. Wine €20 - €50. 
  • Rock City Pizza y Copas, +34 971 450 976, c/ Caro, 24. Quality fresh ingredients, generous portions, each pizza hand tossed to order (no molds or frozen dough) and all at a great price. Rock City serves a Pizza with thin a crust and in three sizes, 24 cm, 33 cm and 46 cm. With a wide variety of salad and appetizer options, this is the place to come for more than just great pizza. Decorated with various photos of rock legends in their prime while some of the best rock, jazz and r&b plays in the background, Rock City's decor and ambience maintain a style and elegance you won't find in any other pizzeria in town. Apps & salads €5,50-€12,00 Pizzas €7,00-23,50 Cocktails €4,50 Wine €9,00-€22,00

Splurge

Drink

  • Cappuccino Palau March, Conquistador 13 (in a palace near the cathedral), ☏ +34 971 717 272. Good breakfast till 12 noon. Then cocktails and salads. Nice, romantic and comfortable. But not cheap. Various breakfasts including 'full English' ("Desayuno London") at €12. 
  • Jah Garden - Reggae Bar, Joan Miro (the road up to Castell de Bellver leads of this one). This bar plays non-stop reggae DVDs on a wide-screen TV. The drink prices are a bit steep (€5 for a bottle of Heineken) but they don't seem to put any one off as people keep disappearing into the toilets at frequent intervals. There is an electronic lock on the front door so you won't get in if the barman doesn't like the look of you. 
  • Abaco, Carrer Sant Joan 1, La Llonja, Palma. The world-famous cocktail bar, set in a magnificent old-town former coaching house,where every Friday at 11:30pm (-ish), the classical background music rises to a crescendo and fresh rose petals fall from a hidden balcony above the imposing open stone fireplace. A ceremony not to be missed.

Ignore the killjoys who tell you it's a rip-off: true, the bar only serves drinks (no food), frowns even on using the Cappuccino machine, and pushes an expensive cocktail menu on you as soon as you walk through the daunting entrance door. But the cocktails are all made with fresh fruit juices and are HUGE!! - or just have a cerveza or a copa de Vino. Everyone should visit Abaco at least once in a lifetime! 

Sleep

The Mallorca high season is between July and September. Book especially early during any holiday weeks or weekends in the United Kingdom or Germany, as Mallorca and Palma in particular are popular holiday spots for people from these countries.Many hotels close in winter so that booking is also advised then.

Budget

  • Hostel Terramar, Pl. Mediterránia, 8, ☏ +34 971 73 99 31. Reviews describe this as a particularly clean hostel with very friendly staff. A guest kitchen is available. Dorm beds are €15-17 per person, and double rooms are €17 per person (€22,50 with en suite). 
  • Hostal Ritzi, Apuntadors, 6, ☏ +34 971714610. Open in winter, English owned and cheap, conveniently placed near the cathedral and with numerous really cheap tapas bars around. 

Mid-range

  • Hotel GALA, C/ XABEC , 5, ☏ +34 902 400 661, fax: +34902 888 769, . Check-in: 13:00h, check-out: 11:00h. 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). 
  • Hotel Isla Mallorca, ☏ +34 971 28 12 00, fax: 971 45 65 03, . Plaza Almirante Churruca, 5. ). Reviews describe this hotel as being 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). 
  • Hotel Leman, Avda. Son Rigo, 6 07610 Playa de Palma, ☏ +34 971 260 712, fax: +34 971 492 520, . Check-in: 13:00h, check-out: 11:00h. 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 seaviews from the 4th floors up. About halfway between Ca'n Pastilla and S'Arenal, very nice location. Bus to Palma stops only 70 meters away.Value for money 
  • Hotel Miraflores, C/ XABEC , 4, ☏ +34 902 400 661, fax: +34902 888 769, . Check-in: 13:00h, check-out: 11:00h. Located close to Hotels Leo and Linda in Can PAstilla , really nice area and one of the best sandy beaches of Majorca .Family atmosphere just 5 min to the airport PMIValue for money 
  • 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 center, lounge, salon, and offers parking available on-site. 
  • Linda Hotel Can Pastilla, Calle Octavio Augusto 2, Can Pastilla. 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. 

Splurge

  • Hotel Dalt Murada, ☏ +34 971 42 53 00, fax: 971 71 97 08, . C/- Almudaina., . Reviews describe this small hotel as delightful: it is located in a refurbished 16th century building near the cathedral, and the rooms have period furnishings. The rooms have hydromassage baths, internet access and satellite TV. Double rooms from €140 per night and suites from €186 per night. 
  • Palacio Ca Sa Galesa, ☏ +34 971 71 54 00, fax: 971 72 15 79. C/- de Miramar, 8. This luxury hotel goes all out with the rooms: silk curtains, antique furnishings and original paintings are in every room. The facilities are also top rate: private phone line, Internet access, and climate control. Double rooms €278 per night, suites from €332 per night. 
  • 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: 971 27 50 25, . 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€. 
  • Gran Melia Victoria, Avenida Joan Miró, 21 (Paseo Maritimo in the heart of the bay of Palma), ☏ +34 971 732542, . 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. 

Connect

  • Big Byte, ☏ +34 971 71 17 54, fax: 971 72 62 67, . C/- Apuntadores 6, Bajos. This internet cafe includes DSL and wireless access and printing and fax facilities. 
  • Cyberc@fe, Terrazas Porto Pi, Paseo Maritimo, 54, ph 971 70 38 79. This Internet cafe has 34 computers available using a broadband connection.
  • CyberCentral, ☏ +34 971 71 29 27, fax: 971 72 01 68. Soledad 4, Bajos. This Internet cafe has DSL access and laptop access for €3 per hour. Printing is €0,20 black and white and €0,90 color. 

Stay safe

  • Be aware of pickpockets when walking around the centre. They can even steal loose change from your back-pocket!
  • If you do stop at any of the many terraces in the centre, keep an eye on your valuables and never leave them alone.
  • You will probably find women offering flowers around the Cathedral. They will do their best to take what ever they can from you. If you see them, pass on.
  • The people on Mallorca are Catalan, not Spanish. Do not make any jokes about "Catalan just being Spanish spoken with a lisp" or any remarks that could be construed as support for the Madrid government.
  • Italian troops were stationed on Mallorca during the 1930s. The Franco regime named a road and erected monuments in their honor. However, the local population were less hospitable and there is still some residual resentment. If you are of Italian origin and this comes out during conversation then don't be surprised if it comes to an abrupt end.

Most areas of Palma are safe to wander around even after dark. Visitors should refrain from wandering alone after dark through the empty narrow streets of the Old Town and El Terreno. The gay and lesbian area of town, the Latter, can be rather sleazy in parts and known to attract drug users.

Remember Palma de Mallorca (as well as the other Baleric islands) is full of club drugs. Extasy, cocaine, marijuana, and more can be found especially in the club scene. Be cautious of drugs like GHB, ketamine, and others which can be slipped into drinks (especially in Sangría found in restaurants). Personal drug possession in Spain is legal (considered to be less than 500 doses), but trafficking is illegal.

Keep all valuables out of sign when sightseeing, such as wallets and purses to be kept in front or hidden in pockets. Any excess cash, cards, passports, and valuable documents are best left in the hotel or wherever visitor is staying to stay safe. It is always safe to take a taxi during late hours, especially if you are alone. Use your common sense to stay safe.

Go next

  • Take a journey on a vintage train from the Plaza d'Espanya to Sóller. Sóller is a beautiful small-town getaway, and the slow train journey through the citrus groves has magnificent views of the western mountains. Groups can get a deal for about 10 euros, but depending on the day of the week, tourists can make the round-trip day adventure for about 17 euros.
You can then take a tram from Soller train station to the Port de Sóller, located on a large bay. The journey takes about 15 minutes and costs 4 euros (one way). The port of Sóller is full of tourists attractons and shops, and has breathtaking views from the top of the hill on the island.
This city travel guide to Palma de Mallorca is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.


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