Palma de Mallorca is one of the best places to live in the world… and you will find out why. Palma is the capital of Mallorca where more than 400,000 people live. This makes it the area in Mallorca where most of the islanders live! Half of the population of Mallorca lives in Palma de Mallorca. This starts to make sense when we think about all these little villages where only a few hundred people live. Yes, you see that right. Deía for example only has 700 inhabitants and Banyalbufar has only 600 inhabitants. How come Palma de Mallorca has so many inhabitants? Well, it is also the largest city on the Balearic islands. It is located on the south coast of Mallorca. And not a little bit inland, no, it lays straight next to the coast, to the Bay of Palma.
Not only is the attractive Palma beautifully located next to the Bay of Palma, but it is also a very historical place. One spectacular building that’s typical for Palma is the ”Cathedral of Light”, and also called the Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma. The official name is La Seu, which means: the bishop’s seat. It took 400 years to build this cathedral and you can tell once you see it. There’s a long history attached to it, too. And this cathedral has room for 18.000 people to walk in there. This makes the cathedral usually never crowded, even during the peak summer months. Close to this cathedral, you will also find the official residence of the King of Spain, which is the Almudaina Palace.
Palma has been occupied by many different kinds of folks. Notably by the Moors, but also by the Romans, Vandals, and more. Now, Palma is occupied by tourists. Palma was founded in 120 BC when it was conquered by the Romans. Its name come from the 13th century when King James I of Aragon recaptured the island from the Moors. Today, the port city Palma is still the pride of Mallorca. With its historical city centre and lots of other things to admire, Palma de Mallorca is a must-visit area of Mallorca. Or even better: an amazing area to live in. The small cobbled streets deliver a cosy atmosphere, and the city is renowned for its beautiful harbour.
By the UK ‘Sunday Times’, Palma de Mallorca was declared the best place to live in the world. So not just on Mallorca. Why is this? First of all, Palma de Mallorca has properties to offer for a wide variety of budgets. These properties are well-maintained and newly built or historical. Furthermore, since its location is next to the sea: the Bay of Palma, the city offers a range of sea-view. We all know that the sea creates feelings of peace, awe, and joy. Also, according to studies, the sea releases lots of feel-good hormones.
The inhabitants who live close to the sea seem to be the happiest of all places. Sea waves offer a perfect backdrop to meditation, and for peace of mind too. Without a doubt, Palma de Mallorca is Mallorca’s greatest treasure. It has an endless array of galleries, bars, restaurants, vibrant neighbourhoods, bustling squares, and the climate is simply incredible. No matter what time it is in the year, Palma de Mallorca is always well worth visiting (or living). By the way, you can also find a great range of hotels in Palma.
From Palma, busses are going everywhere and it’s closely located in one of the most beautiful villages in Europe: Valldemossa. Close, you will find Banyalbufar too, as well as Andratz, Soller, and Fornalutx. If you’d like to read more about these wonderful places, have a look at our ultimate guide of living in Mallorca.
Palma is often described as the Pearl of the Mediterranean, and therefore it’s not surprising that it’s a prime address for property buyers. The magnificent beach promenade, its unique charm, and the historic city centre make it an amazing place to live. It offers both historical properties as well as new-built properties. One highly desirable place to live in is the old town of Palma. Therefore, it also comes with higher prices. It’s not strange to pay half a million euros for 60 square meters and a small balcony. But, you’ll live in the heart of history. Palma also offers a lot of properties, mostly apartments, for less than 300.000 euros. The apartments, penthouses and villas are usually modern.
The infrastructure and amenities in Palma de Mallorca are perfectly organized. Palma will keep its leading position, as the city is continuously developing, and renovations and investments are happening everywhere. These renovations and investments include the historic city centre, the Club de Mar marina, and the Marítimo promenade too. The most exclusive areas to buy real estate in Palma de Mallorca are the Old Town and Calatrava districts with ancient architecture. Other areas include the charming old fishing village of Portixol, and Santa Catalina, which is a bohemian district.
Prices in Palma de Mallorca can range from around 300.000 euros for a small apartment to more than 10.000.000 euros for a penthouse, villa or palace. The more affordable areas are in the northern suburbs and the area called Beliver. We offer several real estates in Palma de Mallorca, that let you enjoy the natural environment and give you everything you could ever dream of. For example, what about a prestigious 3 bedroom flat, close to Palma’s main harbour, the centre, and walking distance to shops? Or a villa in the traditional Mediterranean style, that makes you feel as if you are tucked away in a quiet corner of the island? This villa is close to golf courses, schools, and a 20-minute drive to Palma airport.
If stunning views and luxury are what you are looking for, then Palma de Mallorca could be the best place for you to live. Our real estate in Palma de Mallorca has fantastic sea-view, is located in peaceful areas, and just a few minutes drive you will find yourself perched upon mountain peaks. Here, you can look down at the sea and the local pine forests which surround this picturesque location. If you’d like to find out more about our real estate, visit bearz.com. And we are there to help you with everything you need to know to settle here.
Did you know that also Cabrera belongs to the municipality of Palma? Cabrera, an island of pure nature, is the fifth-largest island of the Balearic islands, after Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera). Also, it’s the largest uninhabited island in the Mediterranean. Some sources say that a handful of people live there, but it seems uninhabited. It became a National Park in 1991. And if you’re wondering how big this island is: it’s 15.69 km², and the length of its coastline is 38.3 km.
What makes this island worth visiting, is the local wildlife and beautiful seascapes. You will find rare species and fauna, and the crystal-blue water makes it a fantastic place for snorkelling and diving too. A big recommendation is to take a boat trip to this island! Also, know that the underwater world is more special than you think. There are dolphins, whales, turtles, and hundreds of types of fish swimming around Cabrera. The flora on Cabrera is also quite diverse, as it has about 450 different types of plants like junipers, oleas, savins, and more. There are also numerous bays, caps, and caves. The most famous cave on Cabrera is the Cova Blava (the blue grotto).
Playa de Palma is a lovely and wide beach that is perfect for spending your days here. It’s very well-maintained, clean, has soft sand, and there’s a warm sea (especially during summer months). Playa de Palma has a wonderful background of the city landscape of Palma de Mallorca. The beach is 6km long and eventually merges into Can Pastilla and later again in El Arenal. It has a long promenade with many terraces, cafes, and shops. Therefore, you can perfectly combine this beach with shopping or getting yourself a meal or refreshment. The centre of the city is located only 10 kilometres away! And you can reach Playa de Palma with a 10-minute drive from the airport.
Because Playa de Palma is one of the largest holiday resorts in Mallorca, it is also a tourist hotspot. This also comes with some benefits, as Playa de Palma is very well organized. You will find lifeguards, many free-to-use bathrooms, and places to buy or rent an umbrella or sun lounger. And not to forget the fantastic bars and food that you can get there. Good to know is that Playa de Palma isn’t deep either, making it child-friendly as well. Be aware that this is not a very quiet beach, and there could be beach sellers walking around trying to sell you things. After all, this beach is the heart of Mallorca so it’s not crazy to expect quite some people here.
The Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma is also known as La Seu (which means: the bishop’s seat, and it’s a title many other churches use), is a Gothic Roman Catholic cathedral. It is 121 metres long, 40 metres wide and 44 metres tall! King James I of Aragon in 1229 started the build, but it only finished in 1601. So it took a few centuries to finish this cathedral! It is located in the old city of Palma, and close to the Royal Palace of La Almudaina. Furthermore, it overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and the Parc de la Mar. Parc de la Mar is a vast area below the Cathedral. It has an artificial lake, which was created to remind visitors that once, the city walls of Palma reached the sea.
This cathedral is very gorgeous and impressive, and you can see why the local people of Palma de Mallorca are so proud of it. It has stunning rose stained glass windows and when you go there on a beautiful day, it will be an amazing experience to see the sun come through the windows. Given the size and splendour of the site, the entrance fee (8 euros) is relatively modest. Why not take 15 minutes out of your schedule to check out this amazing building and appreciate its splendour?
Btw, even during the busiest months, this cathedral is usually never crowded. It has room for 18.000 people to walk in it. And what’s also impressive, is that the Palma cathedral has 1 bell that weighs 4.517 kilos! It’s called the ‘N’Eloi’.
Once you get to the old town of Palma de Mallorca, you start to notice why this is an amazing Mediterranean paradise. The historic city has remarkable monuments and hidden landmarks for you to discover. The best spots in the town are the Cathedral area, the Almudaina’s Palace, City Hall, Jewish quarter, Rambla, and other historical squares and shopping areas. Besides walking around in the old town, another great way of exploring this is by participating in a bike tour. Then you will also have a guide who tells you more about the local people’s way of life and their culture.
We highly recommend a visit to Palma’s picturesque old town. It is also known as ‘El Casco Antiguo’ in Spanish. It has stunning Gothic and Baroque architecture and lots of narrow cobbled streets that wind to reveal peaceful courtyards and pretty squares. The old town of Palma is where the majority of must-see attractions are located. We’ve talked about the impressive cathedral of Palma and the Royal Palace of La Almudaina before, so we’re now going to dive a little bit deeper into the other best spots of the town.
The Palma city hall is where a lot of guides start their tour around the city. It is one of the most stunning buildings in Palma de Mallorca, designed in Neo-Gothic architecture. This building comes from the 17th century where it was the seat of the ‘Jurados’. This means it was the head seat of the Mallorcan jurisdiction. Inside the city hall, you will also find an exhibition of former kings! And if you like, you can take a guided tour inside. The Palma city hall is inherited by the city of Palma during the 18th century – so it’s not used for jurisdiction anymore.
The Jewish quarter of Palma was the zone where the Jewish community used to live. Once, it was destroyed and burned to the ground, making it that there’s not much left of it. However, you can still find the history there if you look for it. Some features and details help you draw in the neighbourhood of this Jewish quarter. It is also known as ”Call Maior”. It was also a kind of city in its own right because it had its own entrances and it was walled. Even though it was located close to most touristic areas like the Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma or the Cityhall and Plaza Mayor, the Jewish Quarter is still known for its peace, quietness and serenity.
Palma Rambla is an attractive tree-lined boulevard that shares some of the same characteristics as the famous Las Ramblas in Barcelona, but then it’s much shorter and quieter. What makes it special, is that it is designed for pedestrians. Furthermore, it is known for its fresh flower stalls that are lined up in the centre. The traffic flows next to the paved walkway and on either side of La Rambla, some streets lead to other good destinations, such as great restaurants and popular shopping streets. The shaded walk in the middle is very pleasant. Usually, Palma Rambla is the place for locals to buy flowers for special occasions. You can park the car at the end of La Rambla in the Plaza Major, for example. This is an underground car park where it gets very busy, but it’s great to use for a central walk to everything you want to see on foot.
Paseo del Borne is also known as ‘’The Golden Mile’’. And some call it the soul of the city. It’s one of the most elegant shopping streets in Palma de Mallorca. And as you know, there are many shopping streets. So why is this one of the best? It signifies an area for games, such as jousting tournaments between knights in the middle ages. After the reconstruction, Paseo del Borne became a public space that’s also used for celebrations. Because it’s such a popular place, it’s not surprising that many luxury brands like Rolex, Sandro, Louis Vuitton and Carolina Herrera have settled in this place. And of course, there are many restaurants to find. From typical Mallorcan dishes or hamburgers: Paseo del Borne gets you covered.
Did you know that Paseo del Borno once was a narrow gulley, which carried the water that flowed from the torrent of Sa Riera? It didn’t exist as a street in the first place. There was a time in the year 1403 when a great deluge of rain made the torrent burst its banks. This resulted in a huge flood that reached a big part of the town, and the entire area of Borne. About 1,500 houses were destroyed and 5.000 people didn’t survive this tragic event. At this time, only 30.000 people were living in Palma de Mallorca. That’s not much compared to the 400,000 people that live in Palma de Mallorca today.
When you walk through the old town of the beautiful Palma de Mallorca, chances are that you will visit Placa de Cort. Now, what makes this place so special? Here you can come across a square with a very thick tree: a symbolic part of Palma that you shouldn’t miss. This is an olive tree that’s at least more than 500 years old! This is noticeable as the trunk meanders in all kinds of directions. Some people try to spot faces in this unique tree (that’s a thing, apparently). You will also see the town hall with a façade that dates back to the 17th century. By the way, this ancient olive tree came from the Serra de Tramuntana mountains and was planted here in 1999 as a symbol of peace.
We can’t avoid talking about some excellent hotels that Palma de Mallorca has to offer. After all, it is the heart of Mallorca and therefore it attracts many tourists and people who live in other parts of the island. Are you ready for some of our best hotel picks?
The name itself says it all: Playa de Palma. This means there will be a beach nearby, wouldn’t it? Yes, that’s right. In Iberostar Playa de Palma you can even book rooms with spectacular views of the sea. And the facilities are excellent. There’s air conditioning, you have a private balcony, a flatscreen-tv, a bath, family rooms, and much more. It has a swimming pool too if you want an alternative to the sea. You can stay in this hotel for your cycling holidays, for pure relaxation, for meetings, and much more. All the rooms are well-maintained and the staff is fantastic. With varied buffets, a Champagne Bar, and delicious wines, cocktails and smoothies you will have a great time eating here too.
Another hotel where you get excellent service for the price is Protur Naisa Palma Hotel. It has a fantastic location, a delicious and extensive breakfast, nice and clean rooms, and even a rooftop bar with a charming swimming pool. The people here are very kind and are happy to help you in all areas, such as looking for the best cycling route or walking trip. You can even hire bikes or cars here. Now, where is this hotel located exactly? It’s not at the beach as we talked about with the Iberostar Playa de Palma hotel. This hotel is situated more towards the heart of Palma. On the rooftop terrace, you will get nice views of this bustling city.
Saratoga Hotel Palma knows what it is to get a place to rest. Here they have everything to offer you to fill up your energy levels. The area is very family-friendly, as there are lots of attractions and restaurants nearby such as Passeig des Born, which is an excellent place to start the evening. You can admire the relaxing fountain and the gardens that sit outside the impressive walls of the ancient Almudaina palace. And if you’re in for an interesting piece of architecture you can visit Sa Llotja: an impressive, beautiful building that was created as a trade fair in the 15th century. Saratoga Hotel Palma is a perfect base for exploring the area of Palma the Mallorca. You can use the swimming pool on the roof, have a great breakfast, and sleep in clean and well-maintained hotel rooms.
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