Planning a holiday to Majorca? Don’t rush straight to the nearest beach resort, because you’ll be missing out on the cafes, castles and cathedral of its charming capital…

For beautiful sandy beaches, vibrant nightlife, fantastic shopping experiences and historical and cultural wonders, take a short break to Palma. As the capital city of Mallorca, which is the largest of the Balearic Islands located off the east coast of Spain, Palma is steeped in rich history and offers fabulous sightseeing as well as exciting leisure activities for the entire family. 

Take in the history

Aside from the stunning 6-kilometre long beach that runs through the three main holiday resorts and provides visitors with everything that could be required on a fun-packed, gloriously hot day from cafes, bars and restaurants to sporting and water activities, Palma also boasts historical, cultural and architectural wonders that are not to be missed. 

With Roman, Byzantine, Moorish and Catalan influences, exploring the Old City of Palma is a wonderful way to spend a sunny afternoon. Wander around the Almudaina Palace, which was originally built as a Arab fortress, and admire the breathtaking architecture and Flemish tapestries. Adjacent to the palace is the immense Cathedral of Palma. Commonly known as La Seu, this Gothic building is simply astounding and houses not only a selection of relics, statues and tombs but also boasts one of the largest stained-glass windows in the world. Another historic site that is well worth a visit is the Castell de Bellver. Situated on the hill that overlooks the entire resort and thereby provides some of the best views of the city, this circular fourteenth-century castle was once a fortress and was then used as a prison in the early eighteenth-century. Now housing the Palma Municipal Museum, visitors can view an array of archaeological relics and sculptures. 

Shopping in Palma

For a spectacular shopping experience unlike any other, visit the Passeig des Born. This quaint, tree-lined avenue is the place to go for some delicious tapas, exciting cocktails, designer and high-street retailers and fantastic street performances. Book a cheap hotel in this area during the month of July and enjoy the vibrant Festival Islandencanta, a world-renowned music festival featuring rock, pop and some of Europe’s top DJs. 

Action-packed activities for the entire family

For family fun, take a trip to the Palma Aquarium. With wonderful recreations of the world’s oceanic ecosystems that feature thousands of species of fish and other marine animals, a trip to this aquarium comes highly recommended. Feed the rays and the turtles, explore the roof-top tropical rainforest and visit the 33-metre long shark tank. 

Aqualand offers a great day out for the whole family and features several water slides, a lazy river for a spot of relaxing in the sun, a wave pool and a selection of cafés. Located near the Arenal resort, this exciting waterpark boasts some of the highest water slides in Europe including the Kamikaze freefall. 

Vibrant nightlife for a evening to remember

Well-known for its vast selection of cafes, restaurants, bars and nightclubs, Palma is an ideal location for a lively and entertaining evening. The Atlantico Café and Cocktail Bar, situated on the main promenade, is a relaxed yet vibrant venue and offers some outstanding deals on food and drink. For some serious nightclubbing, visit Pacha, Tito’s or Black Cat and dance the night away enjoying the music of some of the best DJs in Europe. 

With something for everyone to enjoy, Palma really is the place to go for an exciting and memorable holiday. So, book a cheap holiday to Majorca and enjoy all that Palma has to offer.