PalmaMallorca · Balearic Islands

All About Palma

Mallorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands and is a perfect destination for those who love the Mediterranean beaches and lifestyle. The island’s capital is Palma (although it is often referred to as Palma de Mallorca), which is a really beautiful and interesting place with a rich historic heritage. Taking a ferry to Palma de Mallorca is easy, just use Ferryscanner to compare ferry companies and book ferry tickets. This enduring city dates back to the 13th century, from the Moors to the Romans, and beyond. Effortlessly blending with the deep history of Palma, are the countless modern restaurants, bars, studios, and galleries. In the heart of it all, a Gothic Cathedral stands tall and proud, surrounded by medieval streets that are all worth exploring.
 

Routes and Ferries to Palma

The easiest way to get to Mallorca from mainland Spain by ferry is from the port of Barcelona. The daily trip from Barcelona to Palma takes 7 hours and 30 minutes using the ferry company Balearia. Through Ferryscanner you can compare prices and ferry companies to Palma de Mallorca before making your decision. There are also daily ferries from Valencia to Palma de Mallorca, lasting almost 8 hours. Additionally, the island has its own airport, located about 10km away from Palma de Mallorca.
 

Ports of Palma

Port de Palma is the main port area, and it’s actually the largest of all five ports managed by the Balearic Islands Port Authority. Located in front of the Old Town and its winding streets, the port is divided into separate areas for commercial passengers and cargo. There are records of this port being in operation as far back as 1273, so it’s quite historical. Until the early 19th century the facilities remained largely primitive. Today, work and restorations have occurred on a continual basis to keep the authentic port modern enough to match industry standards. Once you disembark the ferry, you can hop on a bus for only 3 euros (take Line 1!) and you’ll end up in the very center of Palma de Mallorca. On the Ferryscanner website, you can easily compare prices or ferry companies and book ferry tickets to Palma de Mallorca.
 

Best Beaches

It’s difficult to select just a few beaches to recommend in the surroundings of Palma de Mallorca and the rest of the island. However, these are some of the most beautiful and special beaches, both in the surroundings of the capital and in the whole island:

Cala Comtesa

Cala Comtesa is just 12 km from Palma de Mallorca. It’s quite small, but very beautiful, and furthermore you can come by public transport. If you are looking for a bigger bathing area, Playa Illetes is about 270 meters from it.

Cala Blava

Another small beach quite near Palma de Mallorca, specifically 17 km. Normally it’s pretty calm, so it’s a good option if you want to run away from the big and crowded beaches.

Caló des Moro

Caló des Moro is in the southeast of the island and it’s a very special beach as it’s protected between cliffs, which makes it very beautiful and with a water that most of the time is pretty calm. It’s a pretty virgin beach, without any kind of service, and it’s not exactly easy getting to it, but if you like unspoiled and paradisiac beaches, for sure that you’ll love this one.

Playa de Formentor

Playa de Formentor is in the northeast of Mallorca and is pretty popular because of its white sand and calm water. It’s surrounded by mount and it has an approximate extent of 1 km. It has services of lifeguard, showers, hammocks, etc.

Cala Santany

Cala Santany is in the south, 65 km from Palma de Mallorca, and it’s eye-catching because if its turquoise water and the cliffs that protect it. Even though is not really big, it has services of lifeguard and more.
 

Places to Visit

Palma de Mallorca has a population of around 400.000 people with centuries of history and a very interesting heritage. These are some of the historic places that we recommend you to visit during your time here.

Cathedral of Santa María of Palma

This beautiful cathedral, also known as La Seu, was built between the XIII and XIV Centuries, so it belongs to the Levantine Gothic style. It’s 121 meters long and 55 meters wide. You can visit it independently or on a guided tour.

Bellver Castle

Bellver Castle is 3km from the city center. It dates back to the 14th century and stands out for its circular shape. It was used as a palace and also as a defensive building.

Palacio Real de la Almudaina

This palace was also built during the 14th century, even though they used the former Muslim fortress as well. It’s located next to the cathedral and is still the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family in Mallorca.

 La Lonja

La Lonja was built in the 15th century and it’s a great example of Palma’s Gothic style of architecture. During ancient times, it was the official meeting place of the merchants
 

Transportation Around Palma

If you want to stay in the city of Palma de Mallorca and its surroundings, you can easily move around via public transport. Apart from the underground metro lines, there are also tons of bus lines that connect the entire city – even during the night. You can also easily find a taxi willing to take you around the city. Or, if you prefer to drive yourself, head over to Avenida de Gabriel de Roca which is next to the port. There you can find tons of rental car companies.

When it comes to exploring the historic center though, that can be toured best on foot. The tiny streets are not conducive to driving, and if something piques your curiosity it’s easy to wander without a car.

A car is the most comfortable option if you decide to explore the rest of the island during your stay in Palma. You can either bring yours on the ferry or rent one upon arrival in Mallorca. Alternatively, there are bus lines connecting Palma de Mallorca with other towns and interesting places on the island. Take into account though that some bus lines (specifically to the beaches) are only operating during the high season summer months.