Palma Local Attractions

Alcúdia (Old Town) stands between two huge bays, Badia de Pollença and Badia d'Alcodia, Alcudia is a busy town which was once a Roman settlement. Just outside the walls are the remains of the Roman city of Pollètia and its amphitheatre, and at the museum in Alcudia you can see a number of artifacts from the site.

Arta is an ancient hilltop town close to the east coast of Mallorca which has remains of its Bronze Age settlement at Ses Paisses. There are some spectacular views from the Sanctuari de Sant Salvador, which is the chapel-shrine just outside the town surrounded by groves of olive, carob and holm oak trees The town is particularly lively on Tuesdays which is market day.

Deia is an idyllic town with a bohemian feel attracting a large number of artists, writers and musicians over the years. English poet Robert Graves died here in 1985 and is buried in the hillside cemetery. The main street is lined with workshops and galleries selling locally produced work, and there are many bars and cafes where you can sketch, write poetry or just have a drink and watch the world go by.

Lluc is about 32km from Soller, after driving through the steep winding roads of the Sierra de Tramuntana in the north of Mallorca, this remote mountain village is situated in a valley that has been an important place of pilgrimage since the 13th century. It became the island’s most sacred site when a shepherd boy discovered a wooden statue of the Virgin in a cleft in the rock which he tried to place in the local church but it miraculously returned to its cave three times Now the statue (La Moreneta) is encrusted with precious stones and has its own chapel where pilgrims and tourists come to pay homage. Every Sunday at 11.00 am a local boys' choir gives a concert where the statue resides.

Palma de Mallorca is the island’s capital city. Traditionally it is the haunt of celebrities and royalty, combining natural beauty with glamour and is the perfect base from which to explore the rest of the island. It is a stylish cosmopolitan city that offers a number of attractions including:

Castell de Bellver is a round hilltop castle which was built in 1309 to be used as the summer residence of the kings of Mallorca when the island had a Royal family. The fortified castle has a double moat and also served as a prison. Today it is Palma’s Municipal Museum with some fascinating archaeological artifacts, coins, antiques, suits of armour and some beautiful Flemish Globelin tapestries. It is surrounded by Moorish style gardens with fountains and has views over the harbour.

La Seu is an imposing Gothic Cathedral and is well worth spending an afternoon to look around. It is located in the old town overlooking the ocean and is dedicated to Palma's patron saint, San Sebastian. Construction first started in 1300 and its vast central vault is 43 metres high with columns towering to 20 metres. The wrought iron canopy over the main altar was added by Gaudi in 1909. There is a also a fascinating museum here.

Museu d'Art Espanyol Contemporani is a restored mansion on the Carrer Sant Miguel which contains works collected by the Juan March Foundation. The collection focuses on modern works including Picasso’s Head of a Woman and paintings by Miro, Dali, Juan Gris and Antoni Tapies

Banys Arabs is a bathhouse in the medieval quarter and is the only remaining complete Moorish building in Palma. It has an elegant horseshoe arched and domed chamber which is supported by 12 columns. It is surrounded by gardens with picnic tables.

Pollensa is a peaceful old town situated in the hills towards the north east of Mallorca. It is a popular family resort with some of its medieval centre remaining around the Plaça Major, including the church of Nostra Senyora dels Àngels. The main square is full of bars and cafés and a busy market on Sunday morning. Just north of the square is the Via Crucis which is a long stone stairway bordered by ancient cypress trees with a small chapel at the top with a much-revered statue of Mother of God at the Foot of the Cross. Perched on a hill just south of Pollensa is a rambling eighteenth century monastery which will take you about an hour to walk to and offers wonderful views of the surrounding area.

Soller stands in a lush valley of orange groves between the mountains and the sea half way along Mallorca's’s north-west coast. A good way to get there is by the old train from Palma which twists and turns past trees and olive groves, through the Tramuntana Mountains. The journey takes about an hour and the views are truly spectacular. It is a charming place to explore, with excellent examples of modernist architecture, tropical gardens and open plazas. Bars and restaurants border the main Plaça de la Constitució square with its 16th century Església Parroquial de San Bartolomé. An ex-San Francisco tram takes visitors down to the attractive Port de Sóller on the coast where you can get boat trips to Sa Calobra, Deià, Sant Elm and Illa sa Dragonera.

Valldemossa is an attractive town which owes its fame largely to Frédéric Chopin and his lover George Sand, who spent their famous “winter of discontent” in Cartuja de Valldemossa in 1938. . The shocked locals shunned Chopin and his lover, and the couple were so unhappy that their relationship never recovered from the wet, windy and miserable winter in the monastery. Today the cells that they occupied are open to visitors as the Museo de Chopin. The library and old pharmacy can also be visited and there is a small art museum with works by Picasso, Miro and Juli Ramis Mallorca.

Parc Natural de l'Albufera is a nature reserve which is excellent for walking, cycling and bird-watching with moorhens and coots in the grass, and herons and flamingos in the reeds. If you do not want to rent a car, then buses go to the park from Port d'Alcúdia where you can catch another bus to connect to Palma.

Coves del Drac (Caves of the Dragon), Porto Cristo are 2000 metres of caves and six subterranean lakes which were discovered near Porto Cristo on the east coast in 1896. The organised tour takes about an hour where you will see beautifully illuminated clusters of stalactites and stalagmites named after things they resemble (with some labels are more obvious than others). The highlight of the tour is a group of musicians playing classical music from boats on a large underground lake. You can also take a boat ride across the lake before you leave the caves. And if you want to stay in the dark, Porto Cristo's large aquarium is not far from the caves with the deadly sea creatures on display being a favourite with children.

To get there by car take the principal coastal road which runs through Porto Cristo. You can also get buses to Palma, Port d'Alcúdia and Deià.

If you are planning to explore the area outside of the city centre and play some golf or go to some of the more out of the way beaches then you might consider hiring a car. There are a number of car hire firms based at Palma Airport who will be pleased to have a vehicle awaiting your arrival. This also cuts down on transfer costs for you and your family.

We also provide information on other sporting and leisure amenities in Palma including an Area Guide, the best Palma Shopping Areas, Local Markets in Palma, Golf Courses in Palma, the different types of Palma Beaches and recommended Restaurants in Palma. If you are looking for things to keep you occupied and if you want to find out something about the local culture and history of the island, visit our Palma Local Attractions Guide If you are here on a family holiday then we have put together a Palma guide to amusement parks for great days out.