The Perfect Combination of Seaside Relaxation and Culture

A. About Palma 

Nickname: Ciutat de Mallorca

Situated at the northwestern end of a bay in the southwest of the island of Mallorca, the beautiful capital of the Balearic Islands offers the perfect combination of seaside relaxation and culture and a cosmopolitan atmosphere.

After voting on the name change since 2017 the capital of the Balearic Islands is officially named just "Palma", claiming that the ‘de Mallorca’ tag is a leftover from Spain’s centralist past. Half the population of Mallorca lives in the city of Palma.

Best Things to do in Palma

The Good:

With almost 2,800 hours of sunny weather each year — almost eight hours of sunshine per day, Palma is known for its exceptionally appealing climate, which makes it a popular year-round destination.

Furthermore, Palma enjoys a fantastic seaside location and offers great nightlife, with plenty of bars, nightclubs, and cafés.

The Not-So-Good:

Palma has no noticeable weaknesses, though the score for sights is low.

There are not so numerous attractions and only the cathedral is hugely impressive.


B. Best Things to Do in Palma in 2024 (Detailed List with Photos and Information)

In total, we count more than fifteen sights in Palma. The following sights contribute to a score of 5.4/10 in this most important category:

# Cathedral La Seu 7 3.5 out of 5 stars

Located close to the seaside, Palmas striking sandstone cathedral took an astounding six hundred years to build and is the highlight of the city. Don't miss the spectacular terrace with its wonderful views. 

Gothic on the outside, the interior is partly modern and features one of the world's largest stained-glass windows and Antoni Gaudí's canopy.

Church Prebooking for the terrace required

# Bellver Castle 6 3.1 out of 5 stars

Situated on a hill Spain’s only circular castle features the best view of the city from its rooftop and a small museum of Palma's history.

Castle 

# Royal Palace of Almudaina 5.5 2.6 out of 5 stars

Located next to the cathedral, the Royal Palace of Palma features a remarkable blend of gothic and Moorish architecture and is still used for ceremonies and receptions.

Highlights include the royal chapel and the gothic hall.

Castle 

Best Things to do in Palma | Best Cities in the World | Royal Palace La Almudaina

by Wolfgang Moroder / CC BY-SA 3.0

# Old Town (Casco Antiguo) 5 2.5 out of 5 stars

Wander the pedestrianized cobbled streets of Palma’s picturesque Old Town with its countless restaurants, bars, shops, and galleries.

City District

Best Things to do in Palma | Best Cities in the World | Old Town

by Olaf Tausch / CC BY-SA 3.0

# Spanish Village (Poble Espanyol Palma) 5 2.5 out of 5 stars

The Poble Espanyol is an open-air architectural museum containing twenty-two facsimiles in 1:2 scale of the major classical works of Spanish architecture on more than 6,300 m².

Showcase village  

Best Things to do in Palma | Best Cities in the World | Pueblo Español

by Martin Furtschegger / CC BY-SA 3.0

# Palma Aquarium 5 2.5 out of 5 stars

Situated near the airport, this aquarium, which opened in 2007, contains the largest collection of live coral in Europe.

The exhibits include more than seven hundred types and 8,000 creatures, such as more than 2 m-long sand tiger sharks in the impressive "Big Blue" tank containing three million liters of water. 

While (as number 12) the Palma Aquarium didn’t make it into our top ten list of the best aquariums in Europe it is still a great aquarium, especially if you consider, that the differences between ranks 3 and 20 are quite small.

Aquarium Biggest Tank: 3.5 million liters | Total Water Volume: 3.5 million liters | Viewing Panel: ca. 8 m wide / ca. 3 m high | Tunnel: 10 m | Species: 700 | Established: 2007 | Rank in Our List of The Best Aquariums in The World: 33

Best Cities in the World | No. 67: Palma | Best Things to do in Palma | Palma Aquarium

# La Llotja 4.5 2.2 out of 5 stars

Constructed in the 13th century, today this elegant former guildhall is a cultural center hosting art and cultural exhibitions.

Mercantile Exchange

Best Things to do in Palma | Best Cities in the World |

by Singdrossel / CC BY-SA 3.0

# Juan March Foundation Museum 4.5 2.2 out of 5 stars

Housed in a beautiful 17th-century mansion this modern art museum houses a permanent collection of seventy works by contemporary Spanish artists of the twentieth century including Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Juan Gris, and Salvador Dalí. In addition, there is a collection of meticulously crafted figures of an 18th-century Neapolitan nativity scene on display.

Modern Art Museum 

Best Things to do in Palma | Best Cities in the World | Museu Fundación Juan March Palma

by Olaf Tausch / CC BY-SA 3.0

# Paseo Marítimo 4.5 2.2 out of 5 stars

Officially known as 'Avenida Gabriel Roca' this fabulous wide seaside promenade runs 5 km (3.1 miles) along the shore of Palma's beach from the Porto Pi shopping center all the way up to the former fishing village of Portixol. Lined with beautiful palm trees, Paseo Marítimo features a pedestrianized walkway and a cycle lane.

Seafront Promenade  Length: 5 km / 3.1 miles

Best Cities in the World | No. 67: Palma | Best Things to do in Palma | Seaside Promenade Palma

by Ruta Badina / CC BY-SA 3.0

# Es Baluard Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art 4.5 2.2 out of 5 stars

Housed in a beautiful 16th-century fort incorporated into the old city walls, this small museum of contemporary art possesses a permanent collection of over seventy paintings, drawings, and sculptures by modern artists including Cézanne, Matisse, Dalí, and Picasso. From the rooftop bar you can enjoy drinks with a scenic view.

Museum FREE

Best Cities in the World | No. 67: Palma | Best Things to do in Palma | Es Baluard Museum

by Olaf Tausch / CC BY-SA 3.0

Scoring and Icons Legend (Click here for detailed information)

10 = top-10 sight in the world

9 = world-class  

8 = outstanding

7 = excellent 

6 = impressive

5 = interesting

4 = decent

3 = mediocre

2 = bad

1 = abysmal

= World Heritage Site

= Excursion

C. Other Notable Sights and Attractions in Palma 

    • Saint Eulalia's Church 4.5
    • City Beaches (Jun-Oct, 22.5-26°C) 4.5
    • Passeig des Born (shopping street) 4
    • Basilica de Sant Francesc (church) 4
    • Palau March (museum) 4
    • Arab Baths 4
    • Museu de Mallorca (museum) 4
    • Pilar and Joan Miró Foundation 4

D. Best Day Trips and Excursions from Palma 

Cuevas del Drach (network of caves, 70 km from Palma) 7

 Sóller and Port de Sóller (small towns, 25/30 km from Palma, ca. 1h by bus/vintage train) 5

 Alcudia (city, 58 km from Palma) 5


E. Top 10 List of the Best Things to Do in Palma (including close-by excursions)

To sum things up, these are the ten best sights we recommend you visit first while spending at least three or more days in Palma.

Cathedral La Seu 7

  Cuevas del Drach (caves, 72 km from Palma) 7

Bellver Castle 6

Royal Palace of Almudaina  5.5

Casco Antiguo (Old Town) 5

Spanish Village 5

Palma Aquarium 5

La Llotja 5 

Sóller and Port de Sóller (small towns, 25/30 km from Palma) 5

Juan March Museum Foundation 4.5