PMIPalma de Mallorca Airport
5 mi from downtown
- To Palma center
- Route A1; check the current EMT timetable
Take EMT route A1 for central Palma or A2 for S’Arenal. Taxis and car hire are at the airport. Pick A1 or A2 by your hotel’s address.
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Family-friendly Palma hotels
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Hotel Saratoga
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Hotel Hesperia Mallorca
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Hotel Costa Azul
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Protur Naisa Palma Hotel
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Cheapest night by star rating
221 hotels compared
- 2-star hotels
- from $4014 hotels
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- 5-star hotels
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About Palma
Palma is Mallorca’s capital, with a Gothic cathedral above the bay, narrow old-town streets and beach neighborhoods on both sides of the port. Choose the center for museums and evenings out, or the coast for days in the water.
La Seu cathedral and the Royal Palace of La Almudaina face the waterfront at the south side of the old town. Behind them, lanes lead to the Arab Baths, Plaça Major and Mercat de l’Olivar. Explore the streets on foot. A hotel inside the old core can be hard to reach by car.
La Llotja and Passeig des Born lie west of the cathedral. Across the torrent of Sa Riera, Santa Catalina has its market and a dense run of restaurants around Carrer de Sant Magí. Es Baluard museum sits between the two. Expect busier evenings around the market and La Llotja.
East of the center, Portixol and Es Molinar follow the seafront path past small beaches and fishing-boat views. West of the port, Cala Major has a sandy cove near the Fundació Miró Mallorca, and Bellver Castle stands uphill above El Terreno. Both are a ride from the old-town sights.
Palma is a city, not a name for the whole island of Mallorca. Intercity buses and trains leave from the Estació Intermodal at Plaça d’Espanya, including services toward Sóller and towns inland. The airport is east of town, with separate airport buses for the center and the S’Arenal beach strip.
- Island
- Mallorca, Balearic Islands
- Languages
- Catalan and Spanish
- Time zone
- Central European Time
- Airport
- Palma de Mallorca (PMI)
- Bus and rail hub
- Estació Intermodal, Plaça d’Espanya
Photo credits
- La Seu cathedral and the Almudaina palace above the Parc de la Mar pool in Palma by LucT, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Plaça de la Llotja by Amada44, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Santa Catalina market by Chixoy, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Portixol waterfront by Rafael Ortega Díaz, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cala Major by Chixoy, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bellver Castle by Vicenç Salvador Torres Guerola, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Royal Palace of La Almudaina by Wolfgang Moroder, CC BY-SA 3.0
Where to stay in Palma
Old Town and La Seu
- First visit
- Historic sights
- Walking
Stay near La Seu for the cathedral, Almudaina palace and the Arab Baths. The lanes around Plaça Major and Mercat de l’Olivar are walkable, but vehicle access and luggage drop-off can be awkward.
Around here: La Seu, Royal Palace of La Almudaina, Arab Baths, Plaça Major
La Llotja and Passeig des Born
- Dining
- Architecture
- Central evenings
La Llotja has restaurants and the Gothic merchants’ exchange beside the port. Passeig des Born leads toward shops and galleries, with the old town still close. Ask about street noise if the room is above a late-night bar.
Around here: La Llotja, Passeig des Born, Es Baluard
Santa Catalina
- Restaurants
- Longer stays
- Nightlife
The market and Carrer de Sant Magí make this the pick for dining. Es Baluard and the port are nearby. The cathedral is farther on foot across the old center. Restaurant streets stay lively after dark.
Around here: Mercat de Santa Catalina, Carrer de Sant Magí, Es Baluard
Portixol and Es Molinar
- Seafront walks
- Couples
- Cycling
This eastern coast has a seafront promenade, small beaches and waterfront restaurants. Pick it for morning walks by the bay. The cathedral and old town are a bus or bike ride away.
Around here: Portixol, Passeig des Molinar, Bay of Palma
Cala Major and Bellver
- Beach time
- Art
- Castle views
Cala Major has a sandy beach and the Fundació Miró Mallorca. Bellver Castle is uphill above nearby El Terreno. Stay here for the water or castle views. Trips to the old town need a bus or taxi.
Around here: Cala Major beach, Fundació Miró Mallorca, Bellver Castle
Best time to visit Palma
May and June bring warm walking days before the hottest beach weeks. Highs reach the mid-80s °F at the port in July and August, with little rain. October and November are wetter, so plan on the cathedral, palace and museums instead of the beach.
Average high and low (°F)Days with rainDrier months
- Jan: average high 62 °F, low 48 °F, 6.2 days with rain
- Feb: average high 62 °F, low 48 °F, 5.9 days with rain
- Mar: average high 65 °F, low 50 °F, 4.6 days with rain
- Apr: average high 69 °F, low 54 °F, 4.7 days with rain
- May: average high 74 °F, low 60 °F, 3.1 days with rain
- Jun: average high 81 °F, low 67 °F, 1.9 days with rain
- Jul: average high 86 °F, low 72 °F, 0.6 days with rain
- Aug: average high 87 °F, low 73 °F, 1.8 days with rain
- Sep: average high 82 °F, low 68 °F, 5.3 days with rain
- Oct: average high 76 °F, low 62 °F, 6.3 days with rain
- Nov: average high 68 °F, low 55 °F, 7.2 days with rain
- Dec: average high 65 °F, low 50 °F, 5.9 days with rain
Getting to Palma
Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) is about 5 miles east of the center. The A1 airport bus goes to Palma center. The A2 runs toward S’Arenal and the eastern beach strip.
Other ways to arrive
- Ferry
- Ferries use Palma’s port for mainland Spain and other Balearic islands. Check the terminal before arranging a transfer.
- Train and bus
- The Estació Intermodal at Plaça d’Espanya is the hub for island trains, metro and intercity buses. The Sóller train has its own station nearby.
- Car
- A car is worth having to tour Mallorca. In Palma’s old town, parking and access take planning.
Questions about Palma
Which area is easiest for a family beach stay?
Cala Major has a sandy beach. Portixol is better for a long promenade and small beaches, with restaurants beside the water.
What can children do away from the beach?
Visit Bellver Castle above El Terreno or walk the old town between La Seu, the Almudaina and Plaça Major. Bellver is uphill, so plan the climb or use transport.
Is the old town practical with a stroller?
The main sights are close, but narrow lanes and some uneven paving slow you down. Ask how you reach the hotel entrance with a stroller and luggage.
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