Exploring Palma de Mallorca’s History and Culture on a Free Walking Tour
Mallorca is more than just sandy beaches. It’s certainly more than Magaluf, with its rowdy nightlife*. And Palma de Mallorca is the perfect destination for a city break. Except we only had around 8 hours to get a taster of the city whilst soaking up the Balearic island vibes during our recent 2-week Med Cruise with P&O. So we decided to maximise our time ashore by taking a Palma de Mallorca Free Walking Tour,
*Although lets be honest, I did once have a girlie-holiday to remember in Magaluf. Surprising, considering the pints of vodka red bull.
Palma is a major port on many Mediterranean cruise itineraries and you can actually get a great feel for this elegant Spanish city in just one day. Our cruise ship docked at around 8am, and by 9:15 we were ready to start exploring.
We sailed on a two week Mediterranean cruise departing from Southampton in May/June 2024. I’ll post more about each destination over the coming weeks but our itinerary also included cruise stops in La Coruña, La Spezia, Marseille, Barcelona and Cádiz.
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Getting from the cruise port to the city
Palma has two cruise terminals – Muelle de Poniente (Estacio Maritima), and Dique del Oeste. Most ships dock at the former. The cruise terminals are around 6-8km from the centre of Palma but there are a number of different transport options to get you to the heart of the city.
Our Select package with P&O meant that we had a free return journey on the cruise shuttle bus. This is usually priced at £5 for adults and £2.50 for under 12s. The shuttle bus dropped us at Camí de l’Escullera, just a short walk from Parc de la Mer and Palma Cathedral.
Public Transport
The public bus #1 runs every 15 minutes from both cruise terminals. A single ticket is €3 and it takes about 10 minutes to reach the centre. You can purchase tickets direct from the driver. There are plenty of taxis at the cruise terminal which may work out cheaper if you’re in a group but make sure you agree a price first. Taxis should be €10-€15 at most.
If you prefer a leisurely walk, it’s about 45 minutes into the centre of Palma along the curving Paseo Maritimo. Temperatures soar in the summer months and there’s very little shade so make sure you have sunscreen and plenty of water.
A Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour is a great choice for seeing the most of Palma in a short time, and has a stop right in front of Station 2 at Muelle de Poniente (or a 10 minute walk from Dique del Oeste). There are 20 stops throughout the city on a 90 minute loop, making it easy to see all the highlights in one day. The bus is ideal if you want to visit Bellver Castle, which is located on top of a hill – the first bus is at 10am.
Our Palma Free Walking Tour
Mr Fletche and I love to seek out a free walking tour on a city break. It’s a perfect way to get an introduction to the city from those that know it best. I booked an English-language “Emblematic Palma de Mallorca” Free Walking Tour tour via the Mallorca Free Tour website. Ma and Pa Lee haven’t taken a tour like this before so I’m interested in what they think, particularly as they are quite familiar with Palma.
Our tour starts at 11am, at the tourist office next to Parc de la Mar. The meeting point is just a 15 minute walk from the cruise shuttle drop off at Camí de l’Escullera. We arrive early so take the opportunity to stroll around the artificial lake, taking in cathedral views and spend a penny at the public loos (Google map pin here!). Apart from Mr Fletche, who misses his chance when a literal boatload of people arrive, joining a queue which snakes out the door.
This was the first of two free walking tours of our cruise! In our second week we took a fascinating tour of Marseille’s Old Town with Yam. You can book a free walking tour in Marseille here!
Our guide is Alex, holding aloft the orange umbrella that marks him out from his fellow tour guides. It’s a popular meeting point for tours; Alex gathers our small group into the shade for an introduction to Palma. We’re given the sombre news about how tourists swell the city’s population, sometimes to breaking point. Indeed, just a month after our return there are protests from locals demonstrating against mass tourism. We’re aware as cruise ship passengers we’re part of the problem, visiting briefly and only contributing minimally to local economy.
But for Alex, tours – and therefore tourists -are his bread and butter. Over the next two hours, we stroll from Parc de la Mer through the streets of the Old Town of Palma, finishing at Plaza España. Alex tells us why its not a compliment if you’re told you look like the Angel of Palau, where to find the remains of the fierce dragon that terrorised Palma in the 17th century, the story of the Gaudi-inspired Can Forteza Rey, and how to eat like an authentic Mallorcan. “Variat” is tapas for those that don’t like to share food.
It’s an informative tour, and Alex is an engaging and entertaining guide. I definitely recommend reserving a spot with Mallorca Free Walking Tour to find out more about this enchanting city.
As always with “free” walking tours, make sure you tip generously at the end! A good guide will gently encourage you to donate what you feel the tour may be worth, without putting on any pressure. “Free” tour guides are often freelance and tips could be their sole income – which means they often work harder to give you the best experience possible!
If you prefer to take an organised tour how about one of the following? All are between 3-5 hours so should give you ample time before you have to return to the ship!
Time for Lunch
Our walking tour ends at Plaza Mayor, and all the talk of food has made us hungry. Luckily it is lunchtime. I’m keen to explore Mercat de l’Olivar for a little local flavour. Ma and Pa Lee wonder if I’ve gone crazy – it’s the first opportunity I’ve had to share my love of a traditional food market with them.
You can read about our visit to Seville’s Mercado Lonja del Barranco here!
This food market is located in the historic old town and is a great place to browse and soak up the sights and smells of fresh Mallorcan delicacie. There are plenty of vendors to sample mouthwatering dishes among the locals. Some have counter-style seating, others have a separate seating area. After locating the public toilets, Mr Fletche and I order a selection of tapas from Can Jaume for us all to share. No variat for us; we’re all happy to dig in. There’s also sangria involved. Naturally.
We are joined by a hen party. The bride clearly has some tasks to complete; one of which appears to get a bemused group of English tourists to join in with a Mexican Wave. We happily participate, and then pose for photos. I hope the blushing bride remembers us fondly.
Highlights of One Day Ashore in Palma
Following a similar route to the one that we followed on our Palma Free Walking Tour, it is easy to see the highlights of the city. Palma’s centre is quite small, making it easy to navigate and plan an efficient route to its main attractions.
Palma Cathedral (Catedral-Basilica de Santa Maria de Mallorca, or La Seu)
The imposing cathedral is the most important building in the city and dominates the city’s skyline. Construction began in 1229 but it wasn’t completed until 1601. Le Seu features several different architectural styles and has one of the tallest naves in the world at 44 metres. The cathedral contains one of the largest stained glass rose windows in the world, featuring more than 1230 pieces.
The cathedral is Palma’s top attraction for day trippers so I recommend buying a skip-the-line entrance ticket to save valuable queueing time. Current ticket costs are €10pp. There is also a ticket which includes terrace access; you can purchase tickets from the cathedral website: https://catedraldemallorca.entradasdemuseos.com/visit/catedral-de-mallorca-terrazas-1. Admission tickets include access to the Museum of Sacred Art of Mallorca.
In summer the cathedral is open to visitors from 10am to 5:15pm Monday to Friday, and until 2pm on Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays
The Royal Palace of L’Almudaina
The Royal Palace is one of the official summer residences of the Spanish royal family. Built on top of a Roman fort in the 10th century, today’s palace dates back to the 14th century with a mixture of Gothic & Moorish architectural styles. It encapsulates centuries of Mallorcan history, reflecting its multicultural heritage. A visit to the palace currently costs €7,00; tickets are available from https://tickets.patrimonionacional.es/en/tickets/palacio-almudaina
The Arab Baths (Banys Arabs)
The Arab Baths are one of the only remnants of Moorish Palma, formerly known as Medina Mayurq. Arab Baths, or hammam, were an important tradition, where Muslim communities met to clean both their bodies and their souls. Built during the 10th century, these well-preserved baths were only discovered around 100 years ago. There are a series of rooms, adorned with intricate carvings and horseshoe shaped arches. Admission is €2,50.
Plaça de Cort
Plaça de Cort is a bustling square, home to the impressive city hall (Ajuntament de Palma). In front of the city hall is a stone bench, locally nicknamed “banc de sinofós” or “bench of the lazy people”. The square is also known for its giant twisted olive tree. The 600 year old tree was a gift from Pollença, re-planted in Palma in 1989.
Palma’s Old Town – through the lens of Mr Fletche
Many of Palma’s must-see attractions are in the picturesque El Casco Antiguo. But there’s also plenty of joy to be found simply strolling the streets, admiring the beautiful architecture and stopping to appreciate the archways of Mallorcan patios and peaceful courtyards. Aside from the market halls, this is where you’ll find the best spots to eat and drink. The Old Town is a maze of narrow pedestrian friendly streets, lined with shops, restaurants and galleries.
Plaça de Major
This vibrant square was the seat of the Spanish Inquisition for around 300 years. Now it is the epicentre of Palma life, with markets, festivals and other events held here. It is surrounded on all sides by buildings with the traditional green shutters; look out for the striking Edifici Casasayas.
Bellver Castle
To quote Ed Sheeran, Palma has its own Castle On a Hill. The 14th century Bellver Castle offers incredible views across the city and port. In fact, Castell de Belver in Catalan translates to “lovely view”. It’s one of the few circular fortifications in Europe, and houses the Palma Municipal Museum and Despuig Classic sculpture collection. Many hop on hop off bus tickets include admission to the castle and the bus has a stop right outside the castle.
The castle is open Tuesday-Sunday, from 10am-6pm. We come from the UK and practically have castles on every corner so we decided to leave Bellver for a future visit and focus on the old town.
Final Thoughts: One day in Palma de Mallorca
One day in Palma isn’t enough to experience the best of this enchanting city but it has plenty of highlights that can be enjoyed even with a short visit. It’s easy to while away the time getting gloriously lost in picturesque streets. There are plenty of green spaces and gardens to sit and soak up the atmosphere, including the tranquil S’Hort del Rei – The King’s Garden – with its beautiful Cypress trees, gurgling pools and towering palms. It’s lush greenery is so vibrant that it almost hurts the eyes
Booking a Palma de Mallorca free walking tour definitely allowed us to see the best of the Old Town. We will definitely consider popping Palma on the list for a city break when we can explore the city at a more leisurely pace.
For now however, we head back to Arvia. We have a sea day ahead before our next destination – Italy’s La Spezia.
We visited Palma de Mallorca as part of our 2 week cruise on P&O Arvia, also stopping in La Coruña, La Spezia, Marseille, Barcelona and Cadiz. You can find similar P&O Mediterranean cruises here!
