Palma: planning your stay in the capital of Mallorca

Where Palma is and how big it is

Palma, often called Palma de Mallorca, lies on the south coast of Mallorca on the Bay of Palma. It is the capital of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands and, with 434,786 residents at 1 January 2025 according to Wikidata, the largest city in the archipelago. Almost half of the people on Mallorca live here. The municipality covers about 209 square kilometres according to Wikidata. For administrative purposes the uninhabited Cabrera archipelago off the south coast also belongs to Palma.

For planning, that means Palma is not a resort but a year-round city with a port, an old town and its own bus network. If you want both beach and city, you find them in the same bay.

What to see in Palma

• La Seu cathedral: The Gothic Cathedral of Santa Maria stands on the seafront against the old city walls. Building began shortly after the conquest of 1229 and went on into the 17th century. The nave is 44 metres high and the rose window is nearly 14 metres in diameter. From 1903 Antoni Gaudí oversaw restoration works.
• Royal Palace of La Almudaina: The palace faces the cathedral. It was originally an Arab fortress, was rebuilt at the start of the 14th century and is one of the official residences of the Spanish royal family.
• Old town and Arab Baths: The old town starts behind the cathedral, with narrow lanes. The Banys Àrabs are among the few remains of the Moorish period.
• Bellver Castle: The Gothic castle was built in the 14th century for King James II of Majorca, stands on a hill about three kilometres west of the centre and houses the city history museum.
• Es Baluard: The museum of modern and contemporary art opened on 30 January 2004 and holds more than 700 works.

Opening times and admission change, so check them on each venue's own website before you go. For sights across the island, see things to see.

Getting there and getting around

Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI), also known as Son Sant Joan, lies about eight kilometres east of the city. According to Aena, the airport operator, bus line A1 links the airport with Palma city centre and line A2 with S'Arenal (checked on 2 October 2026). Current fares and timetables are published by each bus operator.

The transport hub of the city is Plaça d'Espanya. The Estació Intermodal there is the departure point for island buses and trains. Within the city, buses are run by EMT. The old town itself is best explored on foot, as many lanes are narrow and only partly open to traffic.

Day trips from Palma

Palma works as a base for the whole island. In a straight line it is about 16 kilometres to Valldemossa and about 22 kilometres to Sóller, and the road through the mountains is longer.

• By train to Sóller: The Ferrocarril de Sóller is an electric narrow-gauge railway with a 914 millimetre gauge. It runs from Palma via Son Sardina and Bunyola through 13 tunnels to Sóller. More on the Serra de Tramuntana page.
• On the water: Many boat trips start in the Bay of Palma, see boat trips.
• Day destinations: Ideas by region are under excursions and on the map.

Who Palma suits as a base

Palma suits you if you want culture, restaurants and short distances, and do not plan to spend every day on the same beach. For a short break of two or three days the city is the obvious choice, because the airport is close and you can manage without car hire. There is also enough to do in poor weather, with ideas under Mallorca in the rain.

Palma is less suitable if you mainly want quiet, nature and coves. In that case look at the Tramuntana, the north or the east coast. You can compare places to stay in every region under accommodation.