Step into a world of stylish pavement cafes, chic boutique shops on winding streets: vibrant and sophisticated, Palma has cultural and architectural delights aplenty, a buzzing atmosphere and upbeat nightlife.
Palma de Mallorca, or Palma, is Majorca's capital city and home to its airport, which is about 6km east of the city itself.
Situated in middle of the Bay of Palma in the south west of the island, Palma is a glittering city, packed with culture, style and sophistication. Its architecture and ambience are breathtaking and there is so much to see and do in the city that you will never be bored.
Palma is busy and cosmopolitan, beautiful yet often crowded and hectic, as tourists mingle with residents going about their day to day lives. There are plenty of narrow streets and squares or plazas, with an array of chic boutiques and galleries. The city is a shoppers delight and has a very fashionable array of shops offering designer clothing, jewellery and accessories.
Palma is a fascinating place for people watching and there are plenty of stylish cafes and bars in which you can lounge for hours watching the crowds go by over a few coffees or beers. Palma is romantic and chic, with a wonderful atmosphere that has long attracted artists and musicians as well as the rich and famous.
For dining, the city has a great number of excellent restaurants - there is plenty of traditional cuisine: tapas, seafood and fresh locally caught fish, rustic meat stews and lamb dishes. You will be spoiled for choice whatever your fancy.
Nightlife is fairly vibrant although less full-on than Majorca's party resorts. There are also many theatre and ballet shows in Palma, and the city hosts many festivals and exhibitions throughout the year. A far cry from the lively tourist resorts of Magaluf and El Arenal, the city is a chic and hip, and increasingly attracts city-break tourists and weekend visitors.
Palma has a great number of hotels, mainly at the luxury end of the market.
Visitors are often attracted to the colourful history of Majorca's capital city. which is known to date from Roman times, although many of the streets and features date from the 19th and 20th centuries as the city has been transformed, with many old Roman features sadly lost to development of roads.
The skyline of Palma is dominated by the stunning 14th century gothic Cathedral, La Seu, which overlooks the city and glittering harbour, frequented by luxury yachts and cruise ships.
Other notable tourist attractions around the city include Bellver Castle, Almudaina Palace and Banyas Arabs, famous Moorish baths dating from the 10th century.
There is only a very small beach in Palma itself however it is a short distance in either direction to find lovely beaches at Can Pastilla and Cala Mayor. Public transport in this area is good and it is easy to take a bus from Palma to any of the surrounding resorts.
The city of Palma de Mallorca has a resident population of around 300,000 (approximately half of Majorca's total population).
“A sophisticated and charming city, with an array of galleries and boutiques, bars and restaurants. Chic and cultured, a perfect European city break destination.”
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