The capital city of the Balearic Islands is often overlooked as a destination for a city break. But we are here to tell you why Palma is where you should go to get ahead of the curve!
Land in Palma de Mallorca Airport early, 10am is a great time for you to get the very best out of your hours in the city! Hop off the plane and into a cab, this is the speediest way to get to your hotel, and only costs around €20 to get to the centre.
After checking in, (we stayed at the INNSIDE Palma Center) get out to explore Palma on foot, this is without a doubt the best way to see the city as you are sure to stumble on some unexpected hidden gems. You’ll be thankful to know that you will be shrouded in shade for most of the walk, thanks to the narrow streets, tall buildings and towering verdant trees.
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After all that travelling and walking you must be starving! Thankfully Palma is full to the brim with fabulous tapas joints around every corner. One of the best spots to find some however, is on the Paseo del Borne. This street is also the epicentre for shopping and is home to some of the most elegant architecture in the city. We grabbed some tapas dishes at Gastrobar, at the far end of the street. Be warned though – if you are wearing white take caution with the patatas bravas, that sauce gets everywhere!
Make your way to the iconic cathedral, known to the Majorcans as La Seu. Head inside for some seriously mesmerising mosaics and artwork, or just marvel at its beauty from the exterior. You simply cannot miss this stop if you are in the capital! Give yourself some time to take some pictures and just watch the world go by for a few moments.
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Just opposite La Seu, you will find the Royal Palace of La Almudaina. This is also worth a visit, purely for the serenity you will enjoy inside the high walls. Entry to the palace is free to European citizens from 5pm to 8pm every Wednesday and Thursday during April to September. So even during peak season you can make the most of the freebies.
After exploring these two architectural beauties, cool off in the palace gardens, Jardines de S’hort del Rei – a manicured oasis shaded from the intense Majorcan sun. This is also an idyllic place to snap those all-important shots for the ‘Gram.
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Now it’s time to head back to your hotel for a little while, if you’re lucky you’ll have a pool to cool off in, but if not – it’s always nice to follow tradition and have yourself a little siesta. After freshening up, we went out in search of paella and were pleasantly surprised by what we found.
After hearing great things about the area of Santa Catalina, we headed in that direction for some authentic Spanish cuisine. Decorated in a traditional Iberian style, with hues of orange and yellow and legs of cured meats hanging from the ceiling, Cafe Toni is a true hidden gem.
The food was reasonably priced, authentic, and portions were very generous. We therefore only ordered one portion of paella, as we weren’t that hungry following the hefty tapas dishes at lunch. Everything is served up on the restaurant’s very own terracotta plates, hand-painted with the name of the restaurant on the rim. Before we left, we were offered a traditional Majorcan digestif on the house – a herb liqueur that certainly packs a punch. The drink is traditional to the island and is known as Herbs de Majorca – the herbs are often left preserved inside the bottle to lock in flavour.
After all this excitement, head back to your accommodation for a good night’s sleep ready for tomorrow!
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Day Two
If you are the enterprising type, you’ll already have breakfast included at your hotel. But if like us you didn’t, there are plenty of places to grab a pastry on the go. You could always opt for a croissant, though a more traditional choice would be to go for the Balearic’s very own pastry, the ensaïmada.
Tasting like a cross between brioche and a croissant with icing sugar sprinkled on top, the ensaïmada can come filled with chocolate, topped with apricots, or plain! The most authentic place, and therefore the best and only place, to grab these swirled buttery delights is Horno Santo Cristo, a bakery that has been making them for over 100 years. If you wander around the city, you will undoubtedly see the blue and white octagonal cardboard boxes that these emblematic pastries are served in and that’s where to find them! You’re welcome.
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A trip to Palma wouldn’t be complete without a browse through the shops, start where you indulged in tapas yesterday – the Paseo del Borne. Here you will find Zara, H&M, Massimo Dutti and Louis Vuitton among many other international brands. Meander through the Old Town’s streets and you will find independent boutiques and plenty of places to buy pearls plucked from the Med. Another street to check out is Carrer de Sant Miquel. Here you will find a variety of high street stores and leather shops.
Whether you have shopped ‘til you dropped or bought just one souvenir to slot nicely into your hand luggage, you will surely be hungry by now. Head to Cappuccino for lunch, a Spanish restaurant group that has a few eateries dotted across the capital. A little oasis of calm is Cappuccino Palau March, cuddled into the archways of a traditional building next to steps leading up to the cathedral, this is a great spot to grab lunch. We recommend sharing the bruschetta, but if you are looking for something a little more substantial, you can’t go wrong with a club sandwich and a cocktail.
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After lunch take a walk around the back of the cathedral and towards the water, wander along the seafront towards the marina. You can also rent bikes if you wish and cover more ground. Pop into 49 Steps for some afternoon drinks and a party vibe, it is also a fabulous spot to snap some pics for the ‘Gram. Slowly head back to your hotel to relax for a while before heading out for some posh nosh at Marc Fosh.
Hidden in the back streets of the city and branded ‘Palma’s premier dining destination’, this Michelin-starred restaurant is certainly worth a visit if you have the money to spend. The restaurant serves up tasting menus which take advantage and showcase the produce of the Balearic Islands, with wine pairings to complement each course.
That brings us to the end of 36 hours in Palma. We do recommend booking to stay on elsewhere in Majorca if you have the time so that you can soak up as much of its beauty as possible. If not, you’ll just have to go back again!
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