Date of publication 15/07/2026
What to See in Palma de Mallorca in One Day
With more than 15 hotels to choose from in Mallorca, planning your next trip to the island becomes especially exciting. Its capital, Palma, will make you feel at home in less than 24 hours. The welcome is immediate, and it won’t take long to fall under the spell of its hospitality.
In this article, we’ll show you what to see in Palma de Mallorca in one day. We’ll explore its history step by step. After a pause to savor Mallorcan cuisine, we’ll continue discovering its heritage and its constant connection to the sea. Finally, we’ll share a few accommodation ideas in idyllic locations that are well connected to the city.
What to See in Palma de Mallorca in One Day
Cultural tourism in Mallorca complements relaxing plans on its beaches and coves with crystal-clear waters. Palma has such a creative and magnetic personality that it can be experienced in a single day, as part of a longer stay on the island. The key is simply to savor every moment you spend there.
Palma is Spain’s eighth most populous capital, with more than 430,000 residents. It's nearly 77 square miles of pure Mediterranean charm, with a historic center made for wandering, featuring emblematic neighborhoods such as Calatrava, Santa Catalina, and Portixol, inviting you to get lost in its streets. Getting there is easy. For added convenience, the airport is just 6 miles from downtown, with a journey time of around 15 to 25 minutes depending on traffic.
Discover the city’s historic soul step by step
Wander through the narrow streets of the old town
The streets, courtyards, and landmarks of the old town deserve to be explored at a leisurely pace. The best way to experience the area is on foot or by bike along the cycle path that runs beside it, parallel to the sea. Along the way, you’ll come across architectural masterpieces from different periods and traces of local legends. In the central neighborhood of Sa Calatrava, you can enjoy a meal, visit art galleries, browse shops selling traditional products, or discover concept stores for fashion and design.
La Lonja of Palma, or “La Llotja,” is a large covered Gothic space with columns and soaring vaulted ceilings that now hosts exhibitions and performances. Admission is free, and there’s always something new to discover. It was designed by Guillem Sagrera between 1426 and 1452 as a fishermen’s exchange and built using stone from Santanyí and Solleric.
Walk around the arcades of Plaza Mayor, built in the Elizabethan style, and take a break on one of its terraces. The square stands on the site of the former Convent of San Felipe Neri, which once housed the Spanish Inquisition. Its salmon-colored façades with green-painted windows and lively atmosphere make it especially distinctive. From February to November, a morning artisan market is held here, offering handcrafted leather goods and ceramics.
Next stop: the city walls, rising opposite the marina. The walk naturally leads you toward this well-preserved fortified area. If Avenida Gabriel Roca, lined with palm trees, forms the city’s maritime backbone, then the marina’s infrastructure and the fortress, whose origins date back to Roman times, act as its endpoints along the promenade.
Admire the majesty of the Cathedral of Santa María
Better known locally as “La Seu,” the Cathedral of Palma de Mallorca is a Gothic masterpiece born from a promise made in the face of life or death. According to historical records, King James I ordered its construction in 1229 after making a vow to Saint Mary, his patron, during a shipwreck: if he survived, he would build a cathedral in her honor that would be reflected in the sea.
Today, the Cathedral-Basilica of Santa María is accessible for strollers and wheelchairs. Guided tours are regularly organized, including options designed for children, making it a perfect plan for all ages.
Find a moment of calm in the Gardens of S’Hort del Rei
Take advantage of your stay at 5-star hotels in Mallorca to truly unwind and enjoy peaceful places such as the Gardens of S’Hort del Rei. This public, free-access oasis sits in the heart of the city, at the foot of the Almudaina Palace and near the cathedral. Dating back to the 14th century, it was originally designed as a private royal orchard following Andalusian architectural principles, inspired by the Acequia Garden of the Generalife in Granada. In the 1960s, landscape architect Gabriel Alomar redesigned the space, transforming it into an even more romantic setting where water takes center stage.
Pause to savor Mediterranean flavors
Mercado del Olivar
On the island, brunch culture coexists with the tradition of berenar, a mid-morning meal enjoyed in local markets and neighborhood bars. To experience it for yourself, combine a foodie stay at all-inclusive hotels in Mallorca with a visit to the Mercado del Olivar (Plaza de Olivar, 4).
With more than 100 stalls, the market offers seasonal products such as fruits and vegetables, Mediterranean herbs, fresh fish, cured meats, and homemade pastries, along with gourmet specialties from the Balearic Islands. Open since 1951, it is considered the culinary and social heart of the historic center. It also features restaurants and bars where locals and visitors gather over variats mallorquines and pa amb oli.
Try the authentic ensaimada
The Mallorcan ensaimada is one of the world’s most famous pastries. Its secret lies in its light, airy spiral dough made with flour, eggs, water, yeast, a pinch of salt, and lard, from which its name is derived, as saïm means “lard” in Catalan. A dusting of powdered sugar gives it its signature finish. It can be topped with sliced almonds or filled with cream, although the classic version remains the favorite.
The first location of Ca’n Joan de S’Aigo (Carrer Can Sanç, 10) opened in 1977, continuing a family tradition that dates back three centuries. This horchata shop and bakery, one of the oldest chocolate houses in Europe, is known for serving some of the best ensaimadas on the island, along with cocas, churros, and other traditional sweets. Its marble tables, red velvet curtains, and antique paintings transport visitors to another time.
Make the most of the afternoon between the sea and the city’s heritage
Unwind with a stroll beside Parc de la Mar
Did you know that, in its early days, La Seu was the only cathedral in Europe reflected in the sea? Over the centuries, however, the city grew around it, eventually filling the strip of land between the building and the water. Parc de la Mar now serves that same mirror-like purpose, with a large lagoon surrounded by steps, terraces, sculptures, and green spaces with lawns and trees, ideal for an impromptu picnic or a little exercise. Several walking routes suitable for all ages run along the cathedral façade.
At La Bicicleta Roja, a bookstore-café with live DJ sessions and exhibitions (Passeig Dalt Murada, 2), you can stop for a drink while taking in spectacular views of the sea and park with an alternative touch.
Discover the exclusive boutiques of Passeig del Born
One of the island’s best-kept secrets is its “Golden Mile,” or Passeig del Born, which connects the main shopping streets in central Palma. This broad, shaded, tree-lined pedestrian avenue is surrounded by luxury boutiques and also sits close to stores from more accessible brands.
If you feel like having a coffee or cocktail before heading back to your area of hotels in Mallorca, this is an ideal place to do it. The surrounding streets are filled with venues offering outdoor terraces. As a curious detail, you may be surprised to learn that before becoming an iconic street, it was once the bed of a river: the Sa Riera torrent, transformed into a promenade in the 17th century.
Feel the lively energy of the Santa Catalina neighborhood
Walking through Palma’s neighborhoods reveals the capital’s most approachable, everyday, and authentic side, especially relaxed during a winter getaway at hotels for couples in Mallorca. The route we suggest passes through Santa Catalina, a neighborhood with lively energy all year round.
After a breakfast made with local, organic ingredients at Mama Carmen’s (Carrer de Cervantes, 21), make a literary stop at La Salina, a Mediterranean bookstore with editions in Spanish, Catalan, English, and French (Carrer Bayarte, 21). Other worthwhile addresses in the neighborhood include Orígenes Café (Carrer de Rossiñol, 12), ideal for enjoying a cup of specialty coffee and joining one of its tarot workshops, and Santa Catalina Municipal Market (Plaça de la Navegació, s/n), an essential local meeting point.
Admire the bay at sunset from Bellver Castle
Mallorca’s art has the gift of connecting past and future. To climb up to Bellver Castle, located more than 330 feet above sea level, you’ll need a little determination. The route is steep and includes a staircase of around 460 steps. The reward? A walk with incomparable views through a lush pine forest. There are also paved routes for cars and bicycles.
Once at the top, the 360-degree sunset panorama over the bay is paired with the option to visit the Museum of the History of the City of Mallorca, its secret tunnels, and its intriguing circular floor plan, an unusual layout among 16th-century Gothic castles.
Find your ideal Mediterranean refuge to recharge
Iberostar Waves Playa de Muro
Iberostar Waves Playa de Muro is among the all-inclusive hotels in Mallorca most highly rated by families traveling with children. Endless options for fun, nature, and sports, including its own cycling station, come together at this 4-star resort powered by 100% renewable electricity. Its spacious, accessible rooms, with terraces and sea views, are perfect for giving every member of the group their own space without losing that sense of togetherness.
Iberostar Selection Es Trenc
Iberostar Selection Es Trenc is a haven of peace designed especially for couples who want to relax and embrace wellbeing in a unique natural setting. If you are looking for sophisticated 5-star hotels in Mallorca with exclusive services, this property will become your happy place: its rooftop pool, yoga sessions, dinners at the Mediterranean restaurant Salivent, and wellness treatments with Es Trenc salt will lead you into a state of absolute calm, well-deserved after an active day exploring the capital.
Iberostar Selection Llaut Palma
Hotels for couples in Mallorca, such as Iberostar Selection Llaut Palma, reveal the island’s most hedonistic side. Just minutes from the center, this 5-star hotel designed for adults is full of elegance and sensory appeal. Balance body and mind in its spa of more than 14,000 square feet, then treat yourself to a sunset ritual high above the city at Katagi Blau, its restaurant serving responsibly sourced fish and seafood. Its excellent service has been recognized by guests.
Iberostar Waves Cala Millor
Iberostar Waves Cala Millor brings together the best of adults-oriented beachfront hotels and relaxing nature-focused travel, with quick and easy access to the protected natural area of Punta de n’Amer and panoramic views of the Mediterranean. Choose it if you are looking for a 4-star hotel integrated into the landscape, where attention to detail, meaning your comfort and enjoyment, is a priority.
Iberostar Waves Club Cala Barca
If you want to stay at family hotels in Mallorca that feel like a large vacation village, Iberostar Waves Club Cala Barca will captivate you with its impressive facilities, spacious enough to fit more than ten regulation soccer fields. At this cove-front resort, boredom simply does not exist, thanks to its pools for every preference, five of them for children, an all-inclusive offering with restaurants and bars where guests can try different cuisines, and endless water activities and daily shows.
Our hotels in Mallorca are the beginning of a journey full of possibilities, where you can explore both the beach and the city from strategic locations.
