Palma de Mallorca Walking Tour: 50 Free Video Stops

This Palma de Mallorca walking tour links 10 sights and 50 short video stops narrated by Clarissa, from La Seu cathedral on the seafront to the vintage train to Sóller. The notes below turn those stops into practical day plans, with walking order, timing, transport, etiquette and the free sights worth knowing before you go. For official visitor information and events, also check Visit Palma, the official tourism website of the city of Palma.

Route 1, the royal seafront (stops 1, 3 and 4). Start at Palma Cathedral, La Seu, with the Seafront Facade and the Portal del Mirador, then step inside for the nave and rose windows and the sanctuary that Antoni Gaudí redesigned in the early 20th century, next to the ceramic chapel by the Mallorcan artist Miquel Barceló. Next door, the Almudaina Palace videos cover the walls, the royal courtyard, the Gothic halls and the Chapel of Saint Anne. Then walk west along the old walls to Es Baluard, the modern art museum inside the Sant Pere bastion, for its terraces over the port.

Route 2, the Old Town and the market (stops 5 to 7). From Es Baluard, head into the Old Town at Plaça de Cort, with its gnarled old olive tree in front of the town hall. Follow the videos to the Arab Baths, one of the few buildings left from the Moorish city, the Basilica of Sant Francesc and Plaça Major. Walk on to the Mercat de l’Olivar for the fish hall, the fruit stalls and the tapas bars, then finish on the Passeig des Born at Plaça de la Reina, the sphinx fountains, Casal Solleric and Avinguda Jaume III.

Route 3, castle and art above the bay (stops 2 and 8). Bellver Castle, built between 1300 and 1311 for King James II of Mallorca, is one of the few round castles in Europe. The climb through the pine forest is steep, so many walkers take a taxi up and walk down. Inside, the City History Museum fills the rooms around the circular courtyard. Continue west to Cala Major and the Miró Foundation, where Joan Miró lived and worked from 1956 until his death in 1983, for the Moneo building, the Sert Studio and Son Boter.

Route 4, beach and mountains (stops 9 and 10). Give the coast and the train their own day. Playa de Palma stretches east from Can Pastilla past the numbered beach clubs, the balnearios, to El Arenal, and the long seafront path is ideal for an easy walk or a swim. On another morning, board the Sóller Train at Plaça d’Espanya. It has run since 1912 through the Serra de Tramuntana, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape, in polished wooden carriages with tunnels and viaducts on the way to Sóller.

If you only have one day, Routes 1 and 2 give the best Palma de Mallorca walking tour on foot, because the cathedral, the palace, the Old Town, the market and the Born all sit within a short walk of each other. A three-day Palma de Mallorca walking tour works well as Routes 1 and 2 on day one, Route 3 on day two and Route 4 on day three.

Spring and autumn are the best seasons for a long Palma de Mallorca walking tour, with warm days, calmer streets and the sea still pleasant in October. July and August are hot and very busy, especially on days when several cruise ships are in port, so start early and save the beach for the afternoon. Winter is mild and quiet, and the almond trees across the island blossom in late winter.

Plan the cathedral visit for the morning, when the low sun from the east lights the stained glass. Twice a year, around early February and mid-November, the morning sun projects the colours of the great east rose window onto the wall below the west rose, a moment locals call the Festival of Light. Check the cathedral and the Almudaina's official websites for current opening days before you go, since both can close for services and official events.

Palma's centre is compact and best seen on foot. City buses run by EMT Palma link the centre with Bellver, Cala Major and Playa de Palma, and taxis are easy to find at the ranks around the Born and Plaça d’Espanya. The seafront promenade has a long cycle path, so a rental bike is a pleasant way to reach Playa de Palma. Buy Sóller Train tickets at the station on Plaça d’Espanya or from the railway's official website, and arrive early in summer.

Use the Map button at each stop to check the walking time. Most of Route 1 and Route 2 is flat, but some Old Town lanes climb gently, and Bellver sits on a steep hill. Carry water in summer, because the seafront and the castle terraces have little shade.

Inside the cathedral and the Basilica of Sant Francesc, dress respectfully, keep your voice down and avoid visiting during services. Away from the beach, cover up: walking around the Old Town or into shops in swimwear is frowned upon. A simple “Bon dia” in Catalan or “Buenos días” in Spanish is always welcome, since locals speak both.

For food on the route, try an ensaïmada, the coiled sweet pastry of Mallorca, with hot chocolate in one of the historic cafés of the Old Town. At the Mercat de l’Olivar, the tapas bars serve fresh seafood, and the stalls sell sobrassada, the soft paprika sausage, and local cheeses for a picnic. Pa amb oli, bread rubbed with tomato and olive oil, makes a cheap lunch. Lunch is usually taken after 1 pm and dinner is late, so plan your Palma de Mallorca walking tour around a long midday break.

Palma is a safe city, but pickpockets work the busiest spots, including the cathedral square, the Born, the market and the beach promenade. Keep bags closed and never leave valuables on the sand while you swim. Be wary of people offering sprigs of rosemary or “good luck” flowers near the cathedral, and walk on politely.

Wear comfortable shoes with grip, because the polished stone of the Old Town can be slippery. Bring a hat and sunscreen for the open seafront and the castle roof. Many small shops close for a few hours in the afternoon and on Sundays, so do your shopping in the morning on a Palma de Mallorca walking tour.

Several stops cost nothing at all. The Old Town lanes, Plaça de Cort, the Passeig des Born, the seafront below the cathedral, Parc de la Mar and the Playa de Palma promenade are all free to walk, and the Mercat de l’Olivar is free to browse. The cathedral, the Almudaina Palace, Bellver Castle, Es Baluard, the Miró Foundation and the Sóller Train charge for entry or tickets. That is why this free walking tour Palma de Mallorca visitors can start at any hour works so well: the 50 videos are free, and you only pay for what you choose to enter.

Some museums offer free or reduced entry on certain days, or for students, seniors and residents, but the rules change often. Always confirm current prices, free days and opening hours on each site's official website before your Palma de Mallorca walking tour, and buy train and museum tickets only from the official sellers.

For accessibility, the seafront promenade, Parc de la Mar, the Born and Playa de Palma are flat and smooth, which makes them the easiest stops for wheelchair users and strollers. The Old Town has narrow lanes and some slopes and steps. Bellver Castle is best reached by taxi, and the Sóller Train's historic carriages have steps at the doors, so ask the railway about assistance in advance.

When you finish this Palma de Mallorca walking tour, carry on with more free walks in Spain: the Barcelona walking tour and the Valencia walking tour, both linked to Palma by ferry, the Madrid walking tour and the Seville walking tour. You can browse every city on the Free City Tours home page.