7 Reasons to book a city break to Palma de Mallorca
Last year my sister and I took a city break to Palma de Mallorca and we had the most amazing weekend enjoying lots of sun, sea and sangria! Being the capital of Mallorca, the biggest of the Balearic islands, Palma is a real Spanish gem and the perfect place for a European city break. Its combination of harbourside hotels, traditional tavernas and beachfront bars make Palma a fantastic city to visit. There was so much to see and do and we packed a lot in to our short time there, but I would recommend a minimum of 3 or 4 nights as this is a great amount of time to see all the sights and enjoy some relaxation too. From walking through the pine forest towards the historic castle, to exploring the incredible cathedral or whiling away a few hours lazing on the beach, Palma is a fantastic place for a sunny getaway no matter what time of year you travel. With that in mind, here are 7 reasons to book a city break to Palma de Mallorca.
Flights from the UK are short/cheap
With flights to Palma from just about every UK airport, this Spanish city is extremely accessible and super easy to get to, no matter what corner of the country you might be flying from. Flights range in price and vary between airlines, with low cost carriers such as Ryanair, Wizz and Easyjet offering multiple flights daily. BA, Jet2 and TUI are also popular choices with lots of flight options from various UK airports. With a flight time of approximately 2.5 – 3 hours, a city break to Palma de Mallorca is perfect if you are looking for a short weekend getaway in Europe. You can find out more info about flights to Palma on the Skyscanner website.
There is so much to see and do
There is so much to see and do in Palma that you will struggle to fit it all in if you only have a few days, but that just means you will have to return one day, right?! Must-sees would be the beautiful Cathedral and Bellver Castle, both of which are jewel’s in Palma’s crown and are not to be missed. Walk through a shaded pine forest to get up to the castle on top of the hill where you’ll be treated to stunning views over the harbour, but watch out for the many steps on the way back down! The cathedral and its incredible gothic architecture inside is also a sight to behold. A visit to the beach is a good idea (as I have explained further down this post), plus checking out the food market at San Juan Mercado Gastronomico is perfect for foodies. Don’t forget to spend some time just walking around the quaint cobbled streets too and taking in the atmosphere that makes Palma so special.
The nightlife is great
Palma is a popular place for stag and hen do’s, mainly due to its close proximity to the UK and its frequency of flights from UK airports. With cheap flights and a huge choice of budget-friendly hotels and Airbnb’s, it’s little wonder that Palma is a great choice for stags and hens who are looking for a fun-filled getaway. There are lots of bars and clubs dotted around the city, as well as hundreds of restaurants to choose from, so there’s no end of fantastic places to visit. The city was super lively when we were there as we travelled over a weekend; we saw plenty of brides to be during our city break to Palma de Mallorca, and I think it would be an amazing place to celebrate your last weekend of freedom!
You can enjoy a beach day
It was a real treat to have a beach day right in the middle of what was a very busy city break to Palma de Mallorca as it gave us a few hours to relax and simply enjoy the sunshine. There are a few beaches dotted a few miles outside Palma, but the main one is Ca’n Pere Antoni beach which is close to the centre of the city. A short 1km walk along a footpath/cycle route that runs along the coastline, Ca’n Pere Antoni can be reached on foot from Palma Cathedral in approximately 20 minutes. The sandy beach stretches for 750 metres and there are plenty of sunbeds and parasols to hire, as well as toilets and showers for your convenience and a few bars and restaurants too. During the summer season there are watersports to enjoy, and the sea is perfect for swimming in!
It’s a great foodie destination
There are some fantastic cafe’s, bars andrestaurants in Palma, making it an amazing city for food lovers. Whether you want to people watch with a pastry near the Cathedral or devour delicious tapas on one of the many side streets, there is something for everyone. My sister and I found a multitude of Spanish, Italian and Mediterranean style restaurants located in the Santa Catalina area as this was close to the hotel we were staying in, plus there were a few bars located nearby too. This was a really lively area and great for couples or groups looking to extend their night and stay out late for a few drinks after dinner. If, however, you are staying closer to the Cathedral area, it might be better to stay close to the historical centre and eat in one of the many bars or restaurants that surround the shops and cafe’s. We found some brilliant places to eat on the streets around Plaza la Reina too.
The historic Cathedral is amazing
No city break to Palma de Mallorca would be complete without paying a visit to the city’s stunning Cathedral. Dating back to the 13th century and built in a Mediterranean Gothic style, the Cathedral is one of the most visited sights in Palma and the beating heart of the city. The 44m high central nave makes it one of the tallest Cathedrals in Europe and its stunning stained glass windows are truly a sight to behold! We spent hours just wandering around the Cathedral and the water right in front of it, eating ice cream and marvelling at the architecture from all angles. One of my favourite things about the Cathedral was that there was an amazing violinist busking outside every day; he played incredible music that just sounded so beautiful and caught the ears of hundreds of passers by each day, so we spent lots of time in this area. You can buy tickets online to enter the Cathedral, prices are EUR 9 per adult. Please note the Cathedral is closed to tourists on Sunday’s.
Combine it with a cruise and stay
If you’ve never done a cruise before, I highly recommend starting with a European one instead of a Caribbean one to give you a taste of life at sea without venturing too far from the UK. Marella Cruises by TUI offer several Mediterranean cruises that start/end in Palma, and also give you the option of adding on a few nights in the city at the end of your cruise too. This can be an amazing way to relax and unwind after a busy week-long cruise, plus it’s great to spend a few days exploring one destination fully rather than flitting between several ports every day. Check out the Marella Cruises website for some inspiring itineraries – not an ad or sponsored at all, I just love their cruises and think Palma would make a brilliant place to hop on board! You can also read this post of my first ever Mediterranean cruise to get more of an idea of what to expect from your first cruise.
So there we have it, there are my 7 reasons to book a city break to Palma de Mallorca. I had such an amazing time in Palma that I already cannot wait to plan a return visit soon. I stayed in the gorgeous Hotel Costa Azul during my city break to Palma de Mallorca, and it was the perfect base. Located right opposite the pretty marina, we were about a 15 minute walk to the old town and the Cathedral area but right around the corner from plenty of bars and restaurants so it was a perfect location for us. I would highly recommend staying at Hotel Costa Azul; the rooms were super spacious and clean, with our balcony overlooking the marina, and we loved the sea-front spa and pool as well! Have you visited sunny Palma before? I’d love to hear what you thought of it, and to hear all of your recommendations too!
Love Jess x
