You can do Palma de Mallorca in a single day. I managed it in the 14 hours between landing and take-off: La Seu Cathedral and the old town in the morning, tapas for lunch and Ses Illetes beach in the afternoon. I’d skip the city beaches in the centre and the crowded Playa de Palma.
- How long
- I landed at 8am and flew back at 10pm, with time for the centre, a tapas lunch and the beach
- Airport to the centre
- Bus A1 to Plaza de España, pay on board, contactless cards accepted
- Bellver Castle
- The way up is steep and I didn’t go in, but the view of Palma and the bay is worth the climb
- Afternoon beach
- Ses Illetes, about half an hour from the centre on city bus 4, quiet with clean water
- Watch out for
- Noise in El Arenal; I spent five nights there and couldn’t sleep without earplugs
Contents5 chaptersHideShow
- 01Palma de Mallorca: practical tips before you go
- Palma airport to the city centre by bus
- Getting around Palma by bus
- Car hire in Mallorca
- Paying, tipping and the tourist tax
- 02My 14-hour day in Palma
- 03Things to do in Palma de Mallorca
- Plaza de España and the Sóller train
- Plaza Mayor
- La Seu, Palma Cathedral
- Palma’s old town
- Bellver Castle
- 04What to eat in Palma
- What is sangría?
- 05Beaches in and around Palma
- El Arenal
- Ses Illetes
What to see in Palma de Mallorca in one day? I’ve been to Palma three times, but it took this short visit for me to realise how much you can fit into a single day.
I wrote this article after my 2018 visit and updated the practical information in 2026. Even so, check prices and connections before you travel.
In 2024 I explored Mallorca far more thoroughly, and all my tips are in my article on what to see in Mallorca. If you’d rather watch than read, I also put my whole day in Palma into a vlog:
Palma de Mallorca: practical tips before you go
Palma airport to the city centre by bus
The A1 bus runs from the airport to the centre. A ticket costs €5 in cash, or €3 if you pay by contactless card on board (2026). The bus also stops at Plaza de España, and from there you can walk almost anywhere.
Getting around Palma by bus
A single journey on an EMT city bus costs €2 in cash. Every bus also takes contactless cards and phones, and the fare then drops to €1.20 (2026). If you pay for several people with one card, your fellow passengers get an even bigger discount. The easiest way to plan your journeys is Google Maps. If you’re only staying in Palma, you don’t need a car.
Car hire in Mallorca
If you want to see the rest of the island too, such as the Tramuntana mountains, Sóller or the beaches in the north, a car is worth it. Public transport outside Palma is slower and doesn’t go to many of the coves.
Paying, tipping and the tourist tax
In restaurants and shops, paying by card is the norm. Tipping isn’t compulsory in Spain. If you’re happy, you can leave some change or about 5 to 10% of the bill. If you’re staying overnight in Mallorca, budget for the tourist tax as well, which is charged per night. The amount depends on the category of accommodation and the season, and you usually only pay it once you’re there.
My 14-hour day in Palma
I landed in Mallorca on a Wednesday at 8am and flew back to Vienna at 10pm. My return ticket cost €9 back then. Maybe that’s why I ran into so many Slovaks in Palma that at times it felt like Bratislava. I split the day into three parts, and the article follows the same order:
- Morning: a walk round the historic centre
- Lunch: tapas and sangría
- Afternoon: the beach
Things to do in Palma de Mallorca
Plaza de España and the Sóller train
The airport bus will most likely drop you at Plaza de España. Under the square is the main bus station, with routes all over the island, and from here most of the city is within walking distance.
The square also has the station for the historic Tren de Sóller. Since 1912 it has run through the mountains to the small town of Sóller, stopping along the way at places such as Bunyola. The wooden carriages and the ride through the Tramuntana mountains are an experience in themselves. I didn’t take it that time, as I only had 14 hours in Palma. If you have more time, it’s a lovely way to see a slice of the island. In winter 2025/2026 it was out of service for several weeks for track repairs, so check the current timetable before you go.
Here are tours of Palma and trips around Mallorca:
Plaza Mayor
From Plaza de España it’s about an eight-minute walk to Plaza Mayor. The square itself didn’t do much for me. The streets around it are more interesting, with cafés, small galleries and little shops. It’s a good place to start exploring on foot.
- Tip from Milan You’ll get by in English in Palma. Still, it’s worth knowing a few Spanish phrases for your holiday; they’ve already helped me out several times.
La Seu, Palma Cathedral
You can’t miss La Seu Cathedral. This Gothic building stands on the site of a former Arab mosque. Work on it began after the Christian conquest of Mallorca in the 13th century, and it was consecrated in 1601. It’s 121 metres long and its nave is 44 metres high, which makes it one of the tallest Gothic cathedrals in Europe. Antoni Gaudí also worked on the interior in the early 20th century.
The best view of the cathedral is from the seafront promenade. From Plaza Mayor it’s about a 10-minute walk. I didn’t go inside, but the outside alone completely won me over. Below the cathedral there’s a park with fountains where you can rest for a while.
Palma’s old town
Palma’s historic centre is exactly what you’d expect from a Spanish city: narrow streets, colourful shutters, cafés, restaurants and souvenir shops. There are fashion brands and pricier boutiques too. You can do it all on foot, and with more time you could hire a bike.
Bellver Castle
Bellver Castle (Castell de Bellver) stands on a hill above the city. It dates from the 14th century and has a circular plan, something very rare in Europe. The grounds around it offer one of the finest views of Palma and the bay.
The catch is getting up there. The path climbs steeply, and in the heat it’s no pleasant stroll. I did it anyway and didn’t regret it. I didn’t go in, as there’s an admission fee and I preferred to save the money for lunch. Even if you skip the castle itself, the view is worth the climb.
What to eat in Palma
Like the rest of Spain, Mallorca has excellent food: seafood, paella, tapas and sangría to wash it all down. If you don’t like seafood, go for chicken paella, patatas bravas (fried potatoes with a spicy sauce) or tortilla, the Spanish potato omelette. Of the local specialities, try ensaïmada, a sweet spiral pastry that people take home from Mallorca in its distinctive boxes.
What is sangría?
Sangría is a mixed drink made from red wine, fruit and ice. Supermarkets sell cheap versions that taste like rough home-made wine. In good restaurants, though, they make it with good-quality wine, and it’s excellent. If you want something less sweet, try tinto de verano, wine mixed with soda water or lemonade.
Beaches in and around Palma
I ended the day at two beaches, one well known and one less so. The city beaches in the centre left me cold: there’s a port right next to them and the water tends to be murky. If you’re looking for peace and quiet, I wouldn’t recommend the long Playa de Palma either. It’s usually packed and a far cry from a postcard Mediterranean beach.
El Arenal
El Arenal lies at the end of Playa de Palma and, together with Magaluf, is one of the best-known party spots in Mallorca. It’s about 25 minutes from the centre by city bus. The beach is average, but there are plenty of sunloungers, bars and restaurants. Accommodation tends to be cheaper than elsewhere on the island. At night, though, it gets seriously loud. I spent five nights here myself years ago, and without earplugs sleep was out of the question.
The island is trying to rein in party tourism. Since 2020 El Arenal and Magaluf have had restrictions, including bans on happy hours, organised pub crawls and late-night alcohol sales in shops. Drinking in the street can get you a fine.
- Who El Arenal is for: people who want to lie on the beach by day and party until morning.
- Who it’s not for: anyone who wants to get to know Mallorca and sleep at night.
Ses Illetes
A reader who lives in Mallorca recommended the second beach to me, and she was right. Ses Illetes lies just west of Palma. City bus 4 gets you there from the centre in about half an hour. The beach is much quieter than El Arenal. The water is clean, the sand is fine and yachts often anchor just off the shore.
- There are restaurants and beach bars where you can eat well.
- You can hire a sunlounger, but your own towel will do just as well.
- The atmosphere is relaxed, with no loud parties.
If you only have one day in Palma and want a beach too, I’d choose Ses Illetes over the city beaches.
On Instagram I also discovered Playa de Muro, near Alcúdia at the other end of the island. In photos it’s all endless sand and clear water. I didn’t make it there that time, but if you have more days in Mallorca, it’s an idea for a day trip.
In one day in Palma you can fit in the centre, the cathedral, a good lunch and a swim. Palma is worth a visit even if history isn’t really your thing.
Happy travels!
A Slovak travel blogger who has been getting Slovaks out of their office chairs since 2013. Author of the book Influencer and founder of the Bez Mapy blog.
