Palma Cathedral and the Almudaina Palace above the city walls, reflected in the lake of Parc de la Mar
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Palma de Mallorca in 2 days

  • 2 days
  • 4.8 km on foot
  • 17 stops
  • Audio guide

With two days, Palma stops being a quick glance: you go inside the cathedral and the royal palace, climb to the round castle of Bellver and see where Miró worked for almost thirty years. It's a weekend at a good pace, with walks in the morning, afternoons for the great interiors and the views, and long dinners in old-school cellers.

Day 1From the Cort olive tree to the light of La Seu

Set off early for "Palma Highlights: From the Cort Olive Tree to the Sea" before the Born fills up: Plaça de Cort, the Modernista façade of L'Àguila, the Gran Hotel and Sa Llotja, all the way to the walls of Es Baluard. For lunch, a llonguet at Bar Bosch. In the afternoon, when the heat builds, retreat inside the cathedral and the Almudaina Palace, which stand side by side. Rest in the gardens of s'Hort del Rei, then at dusk head to Santa Magdalena to begin "Palma in the Shadows: Dragons, Saints and the Inquisition". Finish with arròs brut at Celler Sa Premsa.

  1. Morning

    Palma Highlights: From the Cort Olive Tree to the Sea

    Mixed · 1.6 km · 1 h 40 min

    1. Plaça de Cort and the ancient olive treePalma City Hall, the island's kilometre zero and an olive tree more than six centuries old planted in the middle of the square.
    2. Can Forteza Rey and L'ÀguilaA grimacing face between two dragons: Palma's most Gaudí-like Modernisme.
    3. Gran Hotel (CaixaForum)Mallorca's first luxury hotel: its own electricity, a lift and hot water in 1903.
    4. Passeig del BornAn open-air drawing room under the plane trees, built over the bed of a torrent that once flooded the city.
    5. Sa LlotjaThe merchants' temple: spiral columns like palm trees and an angel guarding trade.
    6. Es Baluard and the city wallsA Renaissance bastion that was nearly destroyed and is now a museum overlooking the whole bay.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  2. Lunch

    Try Pa amb oli and llonguets at Bar Bosch. Plaça del Rei Joan Carles I, 6

  3. Afternoon

    Inside La Seu

    Inside, the Gothic cathedral is as luminous as it is tall: rose windows, Gaudí's canopy over the altar and the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, lined with ceramics by Miquel Barceló. In season, rooftop terrace tours are often offered, booked separately: check dates and buy tickets online.

    Directions

    Inside the Almudaina Palace

    Once an Islamic fortress, later the palace of the Kings of Mallorca, it is still the King of Spain's official residence on the island and is run by Patrimonio Nacional. You'll see Gothic halls, the courtyard and the Chapel of Santa Anna. It's next door to the cathedral: visit both back to back.

    Directions

  4. Early evening

    Palma in the Shadows: Dragons, Saints and the Inquisition

    Mysteries & legends · 1.9 km · 1 h 45 min

    1. Convent of Santa MagdalenaA peasant girl from Valldemossa, her ecstasies and her battles with the devil: the saint Palma still visits.
    2. The Cap del MoroA turbaned head watches you from a façade on the Born. Nobody agrees on why it is there.
    3. Plaça MajorBeneath the café terraces stood the headquarters of the Inquisition. Palma's most painful story starts here.
    4. Bishop's Palace and the Drac de na CocaA stuffed crocodile, a knight and a lady: the legend of the dragon that lived in Palma's sewers.
    5. La Seu: the Vow, the Light and the Walled-in LadyA king who promised a cathedral in the middle of a storm, a figure of eight made of light that appears twice a year and a woman enclosed in a wall.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  5. Dinner

    Try Arròs brut at Celler Sa Premsa. Plaça del Bisbe Berenguer de Palou, 8

Day 2Castle, pines and Miró

Start first thing with "From Madina Mayurqa to the Kingdom of Mallorca": the Almudaina and La Seu from outside, the Arab Baths, Montesió and the old Call, and Sant Francesc, where Ramon Llull is buried. Then cross the centre to the Mercat de Santa Catalina for frit mallorquí at Can Joan Frau, which only opens in the morning and at lunchtime, so don't be late. In the afternoon, take a bus or taxi up to Bellver Castle for the view over the bay, then carry on to Cala Major and the Pilar and Joan Miró Foundation. Bus back along the seafront.

  1. Morning

    From Madina Mayurqa to the Kingdom of Mallorca

    History · 1.3 km · 1 h 30 min

    1. Almudaina Palace (Palau de l'Almudaina)Roman fort, Islamic citadel and palace of the kings of Mallorca: three cities in a single wall.
    2. Palma Cathedral (La Seu)Three centuries of building, a 44-metre nave and a Gaudí who turned the interior around.
    3. Arab Baths (Banys Àrabs)The oldest room still standing in Palma: a steam bath from Madina Mayurqa hidden in a garden.
    4. Montesió and the old CallWhere the main synagogue once stood there is now a Baroque church: the memory of Palma's Jewish community.
    5. Basilica of Sant FrancescThe church chosen by James II, the tomb of Ramon Llull and the statue of a friar who reached California.
    6. Church of Santa EulàliaThe parish where Mallorca's first king was crowned, with dragon gargoyles and a needle-sharp bell tower.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  2. Lunch

    Try Frit mallorquí at Bar Can Joan Frau (Mercat de Santa Catalina). Plaça de la Navegació, s/n

  3. Afternoon

    Bellver Castle

    A circular Gothic castle built in the early 14th century for James II on a pine-covered hill. It houses the city history museum, but the real draw is the rooftop, with the whole bay at your feet. You can walk up, take a bus or grab a taxi.

    Directions

    Pilar and Joan Miró Foundation

    Miró lived and worked in Palma from 1956 until his death. The foundation preserves the studio Josep Lluís Sert designed for him, the Son Boter farmhouse and a building by Rafael Moneo that displays his work. It's in Cala Major, close to Bellver.

    Directions

The map

Palma de Mallorca in 2 days, on the map

Each route’s stops are numbered in order; the stars are the extra sights.

Mixed Mysteries & legends History Extra sight

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Before you go

Tips for Palma de Mallorca in 2 days

  • Buy tickets for the cathedral and the Almudaina online, especially during cruise season. The Almudaina hosts official ceremonies and occasionally closes: check opening times before you go.
  • For Bellver and Cala Major, use the city bus or a taxi. Walking up to the castle along the forest paths is lovely, but in high summer it's only worth it early in the morning or late in the day, and with water.
  • Bellver, the Miró Foundation and many of Palma's museums usually close on Mondays and open shorter hours on Sundays: if one of your two days is a Monday, swap the order of the plan.

Questions

Palma de Mallorca in 2 days: your questions

Are two days enough for Palma?

For the city, yes: you cover the old town with the three walks, go inside La Seu and the Almudaina, and add Bellver and Miró. If you also want beaches, the Serra de Tramuntana or the Sóller train, you'll need a third day or more: the island offers far more than its capital.

How far will I walk?

The three walks add up to about 4.8 km: 1.6 and 1.9 on the first day, 1.3 on the second. With the interiors and getting between areas, count on about 7 km on day one and a bit less on day two if you take a bus or taxi to Bellver and Cala Major.

How do you get to Bellver Castle?

It sits about 3 km from the centre, on top of a wooded hill. You can walk up from El Terreno along the forest paths, which are fairly steep, or go by bus or taxi. Check the bus line before you set off: some drop you at the bottom of the woods, leaving a good climb.

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