Palma de Mallorca is not just the gateway to one of the most visited tourist destinations in Spain. It is the capital of the island of Mallorca as well as the political center of the Balearic Islands. Slightly more than 400.000 people live en Palma itself and if you include the greater metropolitan area of Palma this number is more than half a million people. So a great city, not only in size – but definitely also in the quality of what this city has to offer its visitors, its tourists, and its many ex-pats. The city itself is located on the South side of the island, about 275 kilometers from mainland Spain. The old town of Palma de Mallorca is a complex labyrinth of narrow streets of Arab origin where you constantly feel the presence of history at every turn and every step.
Museums of all kinds, the majestic cathedral, and its charming streets and buildings make the old town a pleasure to stroll around in.
A city with a historic presence but also a city that knows how to constantly renew itself and offer visitors what they need – whether you are here to shop for local crafts or to seek fashionable boutiques including shops of the best brands. Other inevitable sites to visit in Palma include The grand and unique Roman-Catholic cathedral, The Bellver Castle, San Juan Mercado Gastronómico, the Ancient Arab Baths, visits to the studio of famous artist Joan Miró, the Royal Palace of La Almudaina and the Lonja Fish market.
If you are a traveler who believes that you don’t really know a place until you try its food, you’ll do well here, since Palma offers countless restaurants and eateries of both international cuisines as well as delicious typical Mallorcan dishes. Palma also has an active
nightlife, and you can party and dance the night away in the bars and clubs around Plaza Quadrado.
If you have the time and don’t just want to rush on to the island’s sandy beaches, then give Palma a try. It’s a charming capital city, full of urban pleasures that the whole world seems to come to visit – which again gives Palma that lovely mix of local and cosmopolitan
atmosphere.