Palma, the capital of the Balearic Islands, is a Mediterranean gem. Its architecture, culture, gastronomy and idyllic location make this city a must on any traveler’s list of dream destinations.

A day in Palma – Inturotel’s musts 

Today, at Inturotel have designed an exclusive itinerary with selected spots and things to do for you to discover the true essence of this beautiful city by the Med.

Breakfast at Bar Bosch 

There is no better place to start the day than 'Bar Bosch'. This café is one of the most emblematic in Palma. It opened its doors a month before the Civil War broke out in 1936. And over the years it was the place where Joan Miró and his sons David and Emilio met, among many other artists, intellectuals and politicians. It is, without a doubt, the meeting point for those who live in or visit Palma. This is where we recommend you start the day with a good coffee and one of its specialities: "les llagostes", as they call typical Majorcan sandwiches. They prepare them with Mahon cheese, Serrano, camaiot, sobrasada and tuna, among many others.

Modernist route through the historic quarter 

After this delicious breakfast we recommend a short walk to Plaza Weyler, where you will find one of the iconic buildings of the modernist period in the city, the 'Gran Hotel'. Built by the famous architect Lluis Domènech i Montaner, it has a richly ornamented façade with sculptural elements and coloured ceramics. It was one of the most exclusive hotels on the island, a pioneer in luxury and class. Since 1993 it has been owned by the 'La Caixa' Foundation and houses 'CaixaForum', the venue for a long list of exhibitions, concerts and conferences. It is home to a beautiful permanent collection by the artist Hermen Anglada i Camarassa, a Catalan painter who lived and died in Pollença and is considered an outstanding representative of post-impressionism. Without going any further, in front of the Gran Hotel you can see the modernist sign and counter of the old Forn del Teatre. Following the same street in the opposite direction to the ‘Teatre Principal’, two architectural gems await, "Can Casasayas" and "Pensión La Menorquina", twin buildings flanking the Costa de Can Santacília street.

Strolling along La Rambla 

Our itinerary will take you on a walk along Palma's 'La Rambla', an elegant avenue that runs from the Teatre Principal to Via Roma and Baron de Pinopar. Along the boulevard there are small flower stalls, where you can buy colourful bouquets all year round. In the same street you will find some of the most prestigious antique shops in the city, and in the neighbouring streets you will find clothing shops, bookshops, cafés... Halfway along the Rambla, stop to admire the beautiful reddish façade of the Santa Teresa monastery.

Now we are about to visit the Museum of Mallorca. The building, declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in Mallorca, dates from the 16th century, when several old houses were joined together to form a large space connected by a central patio. It is precisely in this courtyard where the remains of the first Muslim house on the island were found. Inside you will find a large selection of works and antiques, including the painting 'Paris and Helena', one of the works that formed part of the collections of the Majorcan Grand Masters of the Order of Malta, and the ceramic piece 'Fish Dish', which was found in the moat of Bellver Castle, where it must have formed part of the crockery for the royal service.

Have lunch at Mercat de l’Olivar 

The next stop is gastronomic: we’ll have lunch at the famous Mercat de l'Olivar! Located in the historic centre of Palma, just a few steps from the pedestrian street of San Miguel, Mercat de l'Olivar houses hundreds of stalls selling vegetables, fruit, meat, fish and other fresh produce. It also has a gallery of stalls where you can eat, a varied gastronomic offer, including oyster stalls, sushi, tapas, Korean food and more.

La Seu, Palau de l’Almudaina and Parc de la Mar 

Our perfect day in Palma continues by discovering the Parc de la Mar and visiting La Seu Cathedral and the Almudaina Palace. The Cathedral of Santa Maria de Palma de Mallorca, known as 'La Seu' is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, as it has the largest rose window in the European Gothic world (13 metres in diameter). Its construction began in 1229, but it was not considered finished until 1346 and work on it continued until 1601. ‘La Seu’ can be visited from Monday to Friday from 10h to 17.15h and on Saturdays from 10h to 14.15h.

Behind the Cathedral you’ll find the Palau de l'Almudaina, which is another of Palma's scenic and historic landmarks. The palace, which dates back to the 14th century, can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday from 10h to 18h (you can take advantage of free access on Wednesdays and Sundays from 3 pm to 6 pm). The icing on the cake of the visit to the Seu and the Palau de l'Almudaina is a stroll through the Parc de la Mar, an impressive space that stretches in front of the Cathedral facing the sea. It was built in the 1970s and has an enormous saltwater lake, where the Cathedral can be seen reflected every night, offering a magical spectacle to those who visit it. It is in this park where some of the most important popular events on Palma's calendar are held, such as the festivities of San Sebastià, Sant Joan, Cinema a la Fresca, among others.

Shops and art in Palma's Old Town

We continue our tour of Palma by strolling along the Paseo del Borne and discovering the capital's famous 'Golden Mile', where you'll find luxury boutiques such as Louis Vuitton, Relojería Alemana, Bvlgari, Escada, Max Mara, Rouge and more. The cobbled alleyways surrounding the Paseo del Borne are home to a long list of galleries such as 'Gallery RED', 'Soho Gallery', 'Art Loft', 'Casal Solleric', 'Galeria Pelaires' and 'Gerhardt Braun', offering you an afternoon of colour and inspiration.

Mallorcan-style snack, Ca'n Joan de s'Aigo 

We recommend you round off your visit to Palma with a visit to 'Ca'n Joan de s'Aigo', one of the most traditional cafés in Palma, where you can try the famous combination of hot chocolate and 'ensaïmada' or 'cuarto'. If you're not a fan of chocolate, try their ice cream, a real treat. Although the shop now has three locations around the Balearic capital, we recommend you visit the one on Carrer del Baró de Santa María del Sepulcre, where you'll find a traditional, family atmosphere. The almond ice cream is also a must!

Now that you have spent a day discovering the treasures of Palma, we look forward to seeing you back at Inturotel Cala Esmeralda to enjoy our spa and a delicious dinner at our restaurant 'Blau'.

We hope you enjoyed our itinerary and made the most of your visit to Palma.