Things to Do in Palma: Sights, Seasons and Getting There

Palma is a working capital rather than a purpose-built resort, and that is its appeal. The old centre packs in most of the Palma de Mallorca sights: the cathedral and minor basilica, the Royal Palace of La Almudaina next door, the Basilica of St. Francis with the former Convent de Sant Francesc, the Basilica of St. Michael, the Museu de Mallorca and the Museu Fundació Juan March. Es Baluard, an art museum, is less than a mile away, as is the Consolat de Mar.

Further out, the Palma de Mallorca points of interest spread along the bay. Bellver Castle and the Portopí Lighthouse are both around 2 miles from the centre, the Palace of Marivent, the Spanish royal family's summer residence, and the Fundació Miró Mallorca are about 2.5 miles out, and the bullring and the Poble Espanyol museum are a little over a mile away. That makes it easy to mix a morning of culture with an afternoon by the water, which is really the shape of most stuff to do in Palma.

The city itself is the obvious base. Palma sits right on the coast, and the bulk of the things to see and do in Palma Majorca, more than thirty listed sights in all, are within its limits, so staying central means walking to almost everything on your list.

Marratxí, a town of around 36,700 people some 6 miles inland, is the other place grouped with Palma here. It is not on the coast, but it is close to the airport and has its own activities to book, so it can suit travellers who want something quieter and are happy to drive or travel in for the Palma things to see.

May and June are the pick. Daytime highs climb from about 24°C in May to 29°C in June, rain becomes scarce and evenings are warm enough for eating outside. July and August are the hottest months, peaking around 32°C with very little rain, which is fine for the beach but tiring for a day of museums and cathedral queues.

September is the wettest month on the Palma records, with about 68mm over ten rainy days, and October and November stay fairly damp, though highs of 24°C and 19°C keep them pleasant for sightseeing. From February to April temperatures run from 16°C to 20°C.

For anyone weighing Christmas in Palma Majorca, December is mild by British standards, with highs around 17°C, lows near 10°C and only about six rainy days, so the city's sights are comfortable to explore on foot over the festive season.

Palma de Mallorca airport (PMI) has direct flights from the United Kingdom and is about seven minutes by road from both Palma and Marratxí, one of the shortest airport transfers in Spain. On a package, that means you can be at your hotel very soon after landing.

If you prefer to drive, car hire is available at the airport. Palma also has a ferry port about a mile from the centre, with further ports at Alcúdia, around 27 miles away, and Ciutadella, about 64 miles away.

Most British travellers book Palma as a package, with flights, hotel and transfers together, and with a transfer this short the arrangement is especially simple. On this page you can compare package deals from Jet2holidays, TUI, loveholidays and On the Beach, checking board basis and dates side by side. Prices rise during UK school holidays, so it is worth comparing a few departure dates if you have some flexibility.

You can also check hotel prices if you are arranging flights separately, browse tours and tickets for the city's sights, and compare car hire from the airport if you plan to explore beyond Palma.