Palma de Mallorca at a glance
Palma de Mallorca is the capital of the island and its main gateway: the airport lies about 8 km from the city centre. The cathedral and the Palau de l'Almudaina stand opposite each other at the edge of the historic centre. Behind them the old town holds the Plaça Major, the church of Santa Eulàlia, the bishop's palace and a series of old courtyards. The Castell de Bellver sits on a hill outside the centre and looks back over the city.
The main sights of Palma de Mallorca city are close together, so you can combine the cathedral, the palace and the old town on foot in one day and add Bellver in the afternoon or on a second day. This guide covers tickets, opening hours and how to get around. It is an independent guide, not the city's tourism office.
Palma Cathedral (La Seu): tickets, opening times and terraces
Palma Cathedral, known locally as La Seu, is the landmark of the city. The standard visit combines the cathedral with the diocesan museum. An adult ticket costs €11 in 2026. Over-65s pay €9, and a reduced ticket at €8 is available with proof for students, unemployed people and people with a matching disability. Children up to 8 years and residents of the Balearic Islands enter free or at a reduced rate, depending on the conditions at the ticket office.
Opening hours for tourist visits: from April to November Monday to Friday 10:00–17:15 and Saturday 10:00–14:15. From December to March Monday to Friday 10:00–15:15 and Saturday 10:00–14:15. The cathedral is closed to tourist visits on Sundays, and Mass times are not visiting times. Holidays change the hours: on 12 October 2026 the cathedral showed 10:00–14:15, so look at the cathedral's event calendar for your date.
- With audio guide: cathedral, museum and audio guide cost €16.
- Terraces: €25, residents €8. The operator runs the terrace visit from March to November, with a start every 30 minutes, 1 hour long, for visitors over 9 years. Start windows are 10:00–16:30 Monday to Friday and 10:00–13:30 on Saturday.
Our picks: Palma
The cathedral without a queue, a catamaran cruise and a flamenco evening.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Catamaran cruise with lunch and a swim stop
A buffet, wine and sangria with the meal, soft drinks, coffee, juice and life jackets are included. Snorkelling gear needs a €10 deposit, which is refunded.
Check availability →
Live flamenco show in Palma
The flamenco show itself is included. A drink and tapas come only with the option that includes them.
Check availability →Palma Cathedral skip-the-line ticket
Entry to the cathedral without queuing at the ticket office. The terraces are only included with the matching option.
Check availability →Palma tours and tickets
Cathedral tickets, catamaran cruises in the Bay of Palma, Sóller train combinations and island tours, with live prices and availability.
Palau de l'Almudaina
The royal palace faces the cathedral. Admission is €8 in 2026, reduced to €5 for ages 5 to 16, over-65s and students up to 25. Children under 5 enter free. Online tickets carry a fee of €0.77 each, which makes €8.77. A guided visit costs €8 extra. New visitor rooms opened in July 2026, so older notes about long closures no longer apply.
From October to March the palace is open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00–18:00, from April to September 10:00–19:00. The last entry is 1 hour before closing, and Monday is closed. In 2026 the palace is fully closed on 1 and 6 January, 1 May, and 24, 25 and 31 December. State events can add closures.
On Wednesdays and Sundays from 15:00 (until 18:00 in winter, 19:00 in summer) there is a free window for EU citizens, people entitled to live or work in the EU and Ibero-American nationals with proof. Take the free ticket from the ticket office.
Castell de Bellver
The castle stands on a hill above the city and has a round inner courtyard. General admission is €4 in the city's tourism listing. A rise to €8 was reported in the press in late 2025, so check the price at the ticket office.
From April to September the castle is open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00–19:00, from October to March 10:00–18:00. Sundays and public holidays are 10:00–15:00. Monday is closed, as are 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May and 25 December. City buses 4, 20 and 46 serve Bellver, but a stop does not necessarily sit at the entrance, so allow for a walk uphill.
The old town of Palma de Mallorca: Plaça Major, Santa Eulàlia and the courtyards
The old town of Palma, the heart of the Mallorca old town, is best on foot. The Plaça Major is the obvious starting point, the church of Santa Eulàlia and the bishop's palace lie nearby, and La Llotja, the old exchange, can be visited free of charge. Many historic houses have inner courtyards that you can sometimes see from the street.
Opening hours of individual churches and courtyards vary, so treat them as places to look into rather than fixed stops. The old town also works as a base for dinner after the sights close.
Palma city tour on foot
A self-guided Palma city tour can link the Plaça Major, Santa Eulàlia, the bishop's palace and La Llotja, which is free to visit, with the cathedral and the palace, all within walking distance.
The three main sights compared
Adult prices and hours as published for 2026. Check the day you plan to go.
| Sight | Adult ticket | Opening hours | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cathedral and museum | €11 | April to November Mon to Fri 10:00–17:15, December to March 10:00–15:15; Sat 10:00–14:15 | Sundays |
| Almudaina Palace | €8 (€8.77 online) | Tue to Sun 10:00–18:00 (October to March), 10:00–19:00 (April to September) | Mondays, six days a year |
| Castell de Bellver | €4 | Tue to Sat 10:00–19:00 (April to September), 10:00–18:00 (October to March); Sun 10:00–15:00 | Mondays, 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May, 25 December |
Getting to and around Palma
Airport, buses, taxis and the rules for cars.
From the airport
EMT bus A1 connects the airport with the city, and A2 runs to S'Arenal. The Spanish tourism portal gives €5 for a single on the A1. Paying by bank card on EMT buses is now possible.
By taxi
The Palma tariff published for 2025 has a base fare of €2.50 on weekdays between 07:00 and 21:00 and €2.85 at night, at weekends and on holidays. The kilometre rate is €1.20 or €1.35. The minimum fare from the airport is €16.95, and a port and airport supplement of €4.65 applies once per trip. It is not a fixed price to the centre.
Public transport
Island buses are free in 2026 only for holders of the Tarjeta Única or Intermodal card. Ordinary tickets and bank card fares are still paid. There is no general free pass for tourists.
By car
Palma has a low-emission zone inside the avenues and the seafront. Until 31 December 2026 vehicles in categories B, C, ECO and 0 are allowed, and foreign plates need a separate authorisation. Extra ACIRE zones apply on top, and the city names a fine of €200 for violations. If you rent a car, park outside the old town and walk in.
A day in Palma
A simple order that follows the opening hours.
Morning
Be at the cathedral at 10:00 when it opens. Book the terrace slot first if you want it, then see the interior and the museum.
Late morning
Cross to the Almudaina Palace and visit the new rooms.
Midday
Walk through the old town to the Plaça Major, Santa Eulàlia and La Llotja. Have lunch in the old streets.
Afternoon
Take a bus or taxi to Bellver. On Sundays the castle closes at 15:00, so go earlier.
Evening
The cathedral is lit at night. A walk along the seafront by the Parc de la Mar gives a good view of it.
After heavy rain
Check before you go. On 18 October 2026 the regional government issued a red weather alert, and the city planned park closures and event cancellations in Palma from 18:00.
Plan the rest of your trip
Where to go from Palma.
The Sóller train
Palma to Sóller in about 60 minutes, with the tram on to Port de Sóller.
Valldemossa and Deià
The charterhouse, the mountain road and the Tramuntana villages.
12 best beaches and coves
From Es Trenc to Cala Deià, with access and parking notes.
Where to stay
Palma, Sóller, Alcúdia and Cala Ratjada compared by area.
Palma, Spain: facts for visitors
Palma, Spain, is the capital of Mallorca and the island's main gateway. A few Palma de Mallorca facts help with planning: the airport lies about 8 km from the city centre, and the cathedral and the Almudaina palace stand opposite each other at the edge of the historic centre. Many people search for Mallorca city when they mean Palma, and the answer is the same: this is the capital and the place to start.
Palma city centre
The Palma city centre is compact. The Plaça Major, Santa Eulàlia, the bishop's palace, La Llotja and the old courtyards are all close to the cathedral, and EMT bus A1 links the airport with the city.
Palma de Mallorca: frequently asked questions
How much does Palma Cathedral cost?
An adult ticket for the cathedral and the diocesan museum costs €11 in 2026. Over-65s pay €9 and a reduced ticket is €8 with proof. With the audio guide the ticket costs €16.
Is Palma Cathedral open on Sundays?
No. Tourist visits are closed on Sundays. Monday to Friday and Saturday morning are open, with shorter hours from December to March.
Can I visit the cathedral and the Almudaina Palace on the same day?
Yes. They face each other. Plan the cathedral first, since it closes earlier on Saturdays and in winter, then the palace.
How do I get from the airport to Palma?
EMT bus A1 runs between the airport and the city, and a taxi has a minimum fare of €16.95 on the 2025 tariff. The airport is about 8 km from the centre.
Can I drive into the old town?
Not freely. Palma has a low-emission zone and additional restricted zones, and foreign plates need an authorisation. Leave the car outside and walk.
How long do I need in Palma?
One day covers the cathedral, the palace and the old town. Add Bellver for a second half day.