Palma de Mallorca is Mallorca’s lively capital, with a beautiful old town, grand cathedral and waterfront lined with palm trees. It’s a great mix of culture and Mediterranean holiday atmosphere, with galleries, markets, beaches and plenty of good restaurants and bars. And when you need a break from sightseeing, the city’s long seafront is made for cycling, strolling and watching the boats sail by.
For the most atmospheric stay, look around the Old Town, where narrow lanes, historic palaces, galleries and excellent restaurants are right on your doorstep. There’s a good mix of boutique, design and luxury hotels here, including stylish conversions of historic buildings. Santa Catalina is livelier, known for its food market, independent restaurants and bars, and suits couples who like a sociable neighbourhood. Along the waterfront, Paseo Marítimo & Marina is a good base for sea views, nightlife and easy access to the city centre, with plenty of smart hotels and restaurants overlooking the harbour. For a proper beach holiday, Cala Mayor is a popular choice, with a sandy cove, clear water and a good selection of hotels, from affordable family-friendly properties to stylish upscale stays.
Ideal for: Sightseeing, history, foodies, architecture, boutique hotels
The Old Town centres on La Seu Cathedral, the Royal Palace of La Almudaina and a maze of narrow lanes lined with pretty courtyards, galleries and independent shops. It’s also a great base for foodies, with everything from traditional Mallorcan restaurants to buzzy wine bars and cafes tucked into the old streets. Come to this neighbourhood for boutique hotels, stylish design stays and a few seriously luxurious properties in restored historic buildings. It’s busy with visitors during the day but becomes much more atmospheric in the evening, when the sightseeing crowds thin out and the restaurants and bars come into their own.
Did you know? Palma’s Old Town is home to one of Europe’s largest historic Jewish quarters, known as the Call, where narrow medieval lanes still weave through the heart of the city.
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Ideal for: Markets, couples, nightlife, foodies, boutique hotels
Once a traditional fishing neighbourhood, Santa Catalina is now one of Palma’s most sociable areas, centred around the colourful Mercat de Santa Catalina, with tapas bars, international restaurants, cocktail spots and independent shops filling the surrounding streets. It’s easy to walk into the Old Town and down to the waterfront, while Es Baluard Museum is close by for a dose of contemporary art. It is known for stylish boutique hotels and smart apartments, with plenty of places to eat and drink on your doorstep. It’s lively rather than peaceful, but that’s exactly the appeal.
Did you know? Santa Catalina is home to Es Jonquet, a tiny historic quarter of whitewashed houses and old windmills overlooking the harbour. Its seven surviving windmills are a reminder of the neighbourhood’s agricultural past, when they were used to grind grain.
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Ideal for: Sea views, waterfront stays, nightlife, cycling, yacht watching
Paseo Marítimo & Marina is the place to stay if you want Palma’s waterfront on your doorstep, with a lively mix of boats, bars, restaurants and nightlife. It’s particularly good for couples, groups and visitors who like being close to the action, while the seafront promenade is ideal for walking or cycling. You’re within easy reach of the Old Town, Bellver Castle and Santa Catalina, and there are a number of smart hotels overlooking the marina. In the evening, the waterfront comes alive with restaurants, cocktail bars and clubs, while the marina provides a glamorous backdrop of yachts and sailing boats.
Did you know? Palma’s marina has a long connection with sailing: the city hosted the Copa del Rey sailing regatta for the first time in 1982, and the event has grown into one of the Mediterranean’s best-known annual sailing competitions.
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Ideal for: Beach holidays, families, swimming, sea views
Cala Mayor's main draw is the sandy beach, clear, shallow water and plenty of places for a swim, while the nearby promenade has various restaurants, cafes and beach bars. You’re also close to Marivent Palace, the Spanish royal family’s summer residence, and the Joan Miró Foundation. There’s a good choice of family-friendly resorts and smart beachfront hotels, making Cala Mayor better suited to a relaxed seaside stay than a sightseeing-focused break.
Did you know? Cala Mayor takes its name from its beach, whose name means “larger cove” in Spanish.
