Palma Majorca

Historic Centre

The centre of Palma, Majorca is where most of the top attractions lie. Streets are cobbled and winding and shelter lots of quaint old residences. The biggest attraction here is the incredible gothic cathedral of La Seu, which includes some modern alterations by Gaudi. Nearby, the Banys Arabs is the old bathhouse built during the Arab occupation of Majorca and the only surviving relic of the period. The Museo de Arte Contempernaeo is also located in the old town and houses a collection of 70 artworks by modern Spanish artists including Picasso, Miro, Dali and many others. Placa del Mercat is a green square with a lovely church and some fine buildings in the distinctive Spanish art nouveau style. The Museum of Majorca is also in this part of town and has exhibits on the archaeology of the island and the Islamic period as well as a collection of paintings from the gothic and baroque periods.

West Palma

The primary attraction in the west of the city is the Bellver castle. It dates from the 14th century and is one of the few circular castles in Europe. As well as offering some incredible views out over Palma de Majorca bay, it's worth visiting the Bellver to see the city's municipal museum and the Despuig collection of classical sculptures. The castle sits within the Bosc de Bellver gardens which make for a lovely walk. Across the Calle de Andrea Doria from the castle is the Pueblo Espanol. This is a museum of Spanish architecture, designed like a small village showcasing replicas of reduced scale of the most famous buildings in the country. You'll find replicas of the Banys Arabs in Cordoba, parts of the Allhambra and some of Spain's finest gothic churches. In recent years a change of ownership has seen the Pueblo Espanjol become a trendy drinking and dining spot with a number of bars, restaurants and nightclubs installing themselves in the historical environs.

Paseo Maritimo

The Paseo Maritimo is the stretch of Esplanade that flanks the harbour on the western shore of Palma. This is where Palma's top hotels are located but also where you'll find the best of the city's nightlife. The location is very attractive, looking out over the docked yachts and charter boats in the bay and with the illuminated cathedral looming over the skyline from behind. The most famous of the night spots here is Tito's which was opened in the 1920s and - in its day - played host to the likes of Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra. Elsewhere there are nightclubs of pretty much any persuasion - straight, gay, reggae, motown, 70s rock and Latino. Most don't open until 10 and really don't get going much before midnight.

Can Pere Antoni

Though most tourists in Majorca travel out of Palma to go to the beach, Can Pere Antoni is a nice beach to head to for a cool off and it's right in the centre of the town. It's just a few minutes' walk from the cathedral and boasts pristine white sand as well as a number of restaurants and cafes. There is parking nearby, showers on the beach and lifeguards. The Can Pere Antoni is much more popular with locals than it is with tourists.