Things to Do in Palma
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to Palma, Mallorca, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Right, Palma. Island time, slow down, for once, capital of the Balearic Islands, home to a Gothic cathedral that took nearly four centuries to complete and a genuinely peaceful old Arab quarter tucked among the narrow medieval streets. This is the proper, no-nonsense guide to things to do in Palma: what things actually cost, when to go, what to skip, and which bits are worth the wander. Three main stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site to see if you were paying attention.
Palma & the Balearic Islands
Palma is the capital of the Balearic Islands, a Spanish archipelago in the Mediterranean, popular for its beaches and nightlife, Ibiza and Menorca are the other famous ones nearby, I've flown the whole chain, excellent thermals, questionable nightclub noise levels, Palma itself, on the island of Mallorca, offers a genuinely good balance of proper city culture and easy beach access, considerably calmer than Ibiza's party reputation while still holding a lively side of its own.
It's worth understanding this wider island context, Mallorca is genuinely the largest and most varied of the Balearics, mountains, beaches, and a proper historic capital all within reach of each other.
La Seu Cathedral
Palma's imposing Gothic cathedral, built directly overlooking the sea, is known locally as La Seu, took nearly four centuries to build, genuinely enormous rose window inside, a striking piece of Gothic architecture, its position right on the waterfront makes it one of the most photographed cathedral silhouettes in the Mediterranean.
The interior, including work by Antoni Gaudi on later restorations, is worth the entry fee, the rose window and the sheer scale of the nave are genuinely worth experiencing from inside, not just admiring from the harbour.
Hours Mon–Fri roughly 10am–5.15pm, shorter Saturdays, closed Sundays to tourists
Address La Seu, Palma
The Arab Baths Quarter
Palma's old town is famous for its narrow medieval streets, centred around the historic Arab Baths quarter, one of the few remaining traces of the island's Moorish past, a genuinely calm, atmospheric corner of the old town, the small surviving bathhouse structure and its garden offer a rare, tangible link to Mallorca's centuries under Moorish rule before the Christian reconquest.
It's a compact, quick visit, worth combining with a wider wander through the surrounding old town streets, genuinely one of the quieter, more contemplative spots in central Palma.
Hours Daily, roughly 9.30am–7.30pm, shorter in winter
Address Arab Baths, Palma
Best time to visit Palma
May through September gives the most comfortable weather for the amount of walking and beach time this list involves, warm and dry through the full Mediterranean summer.
Palma's mild shoulder seasons (April, May, October) offer genuinely good weather with noticeably fewer crowds than peak July and August, worth considering if you'd rather avoid the busiest months.
Getting around Palma
Central Palma, including La Seu and the Arab Baths quarter, is genuinely walkable. Buses cover the wider city and beach areas.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Palma worth visiting?
- Yes, easily, La Seu's Gothic architecture and the Arab Baths quarter's quiet, layered history give it real depth beyond the wider Balearic Islands' beach reputation.
- How many days do you need in Palma?
- Three days covers La Seu, the old town, and a proper beach day comfortably.
- Is Palma expensive?
- Moderate, generally comparable to mainland Spanish coastal cities, though prices rise considerably in peak summer season.
- What is Palma famous for?
- La Seu, its imposing Gothic cathedral overlooking the sea, its historic Arab Baths quarter, and being the capital of the Balearic Islands alongside Ibiza and Menorca.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
