No trip to Mallorca is complete without spending a day in the capital city of Palma! In this 1-day itinerary, I’m sharing the top things to do and see in Palma de Mallorca no matter the season.
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Palma is the bustling capital of the Spanish island Mallorca. With 300 days of sunshine per year, there’s no bad time to book a trip to Palma de Mallorca!
The city center is compact and easily walkable, yet it’s packed with boutiques, cafes, museums, and historic landmarks.
There are far too many things to do in Palma to fit them all into a single day, but you can certainly see the city’s top attractions in one day.
This 1-day itinerary will help you make the most of your visit to Palma de Mallorca. Feel free to adjust it to your liking and take things slower if desired. The Old Town in particular is wonderful to explore aimlessly, and the magic of Palma can really be felt when you’re relaxed!
Table of Contents
Click “show” to see the full table of contents for this post. You can jump around the post as desired by clicking on the individual sections listed below.
Stop 1: Eat Breakfast
Kickstart your day in Palma de Mallorca with a simple breakfast of ensaimada (a snail-shaped sweet bread local to the island) from a bakery and a cup of coffee or Spanish hot chocolate.
Or, fuel up properly by breakfasting at one of these local cafes:
- Rosevelvet Bakery (Carrer de Can Maçanet, 1) — Modern cafe with excellent croissants and coffee. Perfect for a light breakfast!
- Cafe Noti (Carrer de Josep Tous i Ferrer, 2) — A local coffee roaster with heartier breakfast and brunch fare, including good vegetarian options. Try the avocado toast or loaded granola bowl.
- Mistral Coffee House (Plaça de Weyler, A2) — Mallorca’s first specialty coffee roaster. Their cafe has a beautiful outdoor seating area on Plaça de Weyler. As expected, the coffee here is highly rated, but they also serve a variety of artisanal teas, toasts, yogurt bowls, and baked goods.
Stop 2: Visit the Cathedral of Mallorca
Opening hours: April through October 10 am – 5:15pm (Mo – Fr), 10am – 2:15pm (Sa). / November through March 10am – 3:15pm daily. Always closed Sundays.
Cost: 10 Euros (grants access to the cathedral and the Museum of the Sacred Arts; book tickets here)
Construction on Mallorca’s soaring Gothic cathedral was started in the 1200s but wasn’t finished until the early 1600s.
King James I of Aragon chose this spot for the island’s cathedral because it was formerly the site of a large mosque (left from the period of Islamic rule prior to the Conquest of Mallorca).
The interior of the cathedral is a feast for the eyes. The nave is lined with stained glass windows which infuse the space with a multicolored glow.
Keep an eye out for the more modern Chapel of the Holy Trinity, which the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi redesigned in the early 1900s.
After exploring the cathedral, make your way to The Museum of Sacred Art (which is included with your cathedral ticket!). The museum is located within the 13th century Episocopal Palace, which is where the Bishop lives, and displays a number of religious artifacts and works of art.
Claire’s Tip: Note that the Cathedral of Mallorca is still a functioning catholic cathedral. As such, you need to make sure your shoulders and thighs are covered, and that you’re otherwise respectfully dressed.
Stop 3: Tour the Royal Palace of La Almudaina
Opening hours: April through September 10am to 7pm / October through March 10am to 6pm (Closed Mondays)
Cost: 7 Euros to enter + 5 euros for an optional audio guide (book tickets here). FREE entry is granted on Sundays and Wednesdays between 3pm to 6pm.
Originally an Islamic fortress, the Royal Palace of La Almudaina was transformed into a Gothic Spanish palace in the 14th century.
The Royal Palace is still used by the King and Queen of Spain when they visit the island, but when they’re not in residence visitors are allowed to tour the building.
Get excited to see the following:
- The Royal Apartments — This series of rooms is made even more special by the fact that actual royalty actually uses them!
- Arab Baths — I found it hard to spot the Moorish influence on the palace, but the Arab baths were a dead giveaway that the Spanish didn’t always rule over Mallorca. The baths are broken into three rooms (once the hot, warm, and cold rooms).
- Chapel of Santa Ana — This small onsite chapel is a jewel box of a room.
I also strongly suggest making your way out onto the terraces (if they’re open!) to take in the epic ocean view.
Even if you only have one day in Palma, you absolutely must see the royal palace!
Stop 4: Admire the View from Parc de La Mar
The Parc de la Mar (Ocean Park) features a saltwater pond surrounded by lush palm trees.
This park space was created in the 1960s following the creation of the Avenida Gabriel Roca road and promenade. Before the new road was put in, the Bay of Palma stretched all the way up to the base of the Cathedral, and the stunning building was reflected in the water below.
Today, the man-made pond preserves the reflection of the Cathedral.
If you find yourself needing a break after so much time on your feet in the Cathedral and Royal Palace, find a bench beneath the palm trees and soak up the view.
Palma is smaller than you think, so don’t feel like you have to rush through this itinerary to see it all!
Stop 5: Lunch in the Old Town, Then Explore
After your attraction-packed morning, treat yourself to a hearty lunch before getting lost in the Old Town.
I can recommend Restaurante Buscando El Norte, a modern tapas restaurant about 20 minutes from the Parc de La Mar. Or, walk just 10 minutes to Restaurante Provenzal, which serves more traditional Spanish dishes.
One last option is to purchase something at the Mercat de l’Olivar, a large covered market hall in the heart of Palma. There are stalls selling fresh produce, meats, cheeses, and fish, plus small eateries selling tapas, sushi, and more.
After lunch, wander at will! Palma’s Old Town is chock full of winding alleyways and shopping streets. There are naturally quite a few “tourist” stores selling cheap trinkets and souvenirs, but there are also lovely local boutiques.
Claire’s Tip: If you don’t know where to start your explorations, begin at the Plaça Major, Palma’s central square. From there, you can make your way over to Plaça de Cort where the beautiful Town Hall is located.
Stop 6: Window Shop Along Passeig del Born
If you’re traveling on a budget but have trouble saying “no” to shiny new things … DON’T walk down Palma’s gorgeous shopping street, Passeig del Born!
Passeig del Born is paved with large tiles and lined with trees, which makes it feel incredibly luxurious.
Thankfully, there’s a good mixture of high street and luxury brands represented here, so if you’re unable to afford that Louis Vuitton purse you’ve had your eye on for ages, feel free to join me at the Zara or H&M.
(I mean, Zara is Spanish so Palma is arguably the best place to shop here!)
Claire’s Tip: If you’re not a big window shopper, consider booking a walking tour of the Old Town to fill your afternoon. Or, skip lunch altogether and book a food tour or cooking class! (Depending on when the tours are, you might have to flip-flop this Palma itinerary and start your day with one of the tours and then end with the Cathedral and Royal Palace.)
Stop 7: End the Day with a Special Experience
When planning this Palma 1-day itinerary, I wanted to pass along some tips based on my own incredible experiences in this vibrant Spanish city while also leaving room for you to tailor it to your own interests and budget.
With that in mind, I recommend ending your day in Palma with a special experience of some kind. The exact timing is up to you — stay out late or opt to enjoy an early night in following a full day on your feet.
Here are some ideas:
- Drive to Castell de Belver to see Palma from above — Just 10 minutes from downtown Palma is a 14th century fortress-slash-castle. There’s a small history museum within the castle, but what you really need to see is the epic view from the very top!
- Book a 2-hour atmospheric evening tour of the Old Town — This is a great way to see the city in a different light (pun intended) and learn more about the local culture and history from a licensed guide.
- Relax on a sunset cruise — The best way to see the Bay of Palma is from the water!
- Party on a sunset boat tour — This 3-hour sunset tour of the Bay of Palma includes one free drink, a live DJ, and plenty of room to dance.
Map for This 1-Day Itinerary
I’ve marked all of the Palma attractions mentioned in this day trip itinerary on the map below, in walking order. I also pinned all of the cafes and restaurants I suggested.
Frequently Asked Questions
Personally, I think so! Palma is fairly compact and easy to walk around, and I think one full day is enough to see the main attractions and do some shopping.
Heck no! You can walk everywhere mentioned on this itinerary, or get around via the public transportation system. Or, book tickets for the Hop On, Hop Off bus if you want to make your life easier.
Enjoy Your Day in Palma de Mallorca!
Now that you know what to see and do in Palma de Mallorca, it’s time to start planning your trip!
If you have any questions about how to fill your day in Palma, or questions about Mallorca in general, don’t hesitate to leave me a comment below.
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