Planning Palma sightseeing: from the cathedral to the castle
Palma's sights pull in different directions: the cathedral sits above the sea at the old town's edge, while Bellver Castle stands on a wooded hill in the Ponent neighbourhood. Between them lie the compact old-town stops — the Arab Baths on a narrow street, Es Baluard inside a Renaissance bastion, and a pair of squares that cost nothing to wander.
The cathedral is the obvious first call, and it deserves 80–100 minutes: start at the sea-facing Mirador portal, then give the nave, the two chapels and the rose window proper time. Bellver takes about two hours, with seasonal hours to check — winter Mondays are closed — and a steep walk up.
Some stops need no booking at all: the Arab Baths charge around €2 at the entrance, Es Baluard charges admission, and the Passeig del Born and Plaça Major are free public spaces. Keep the square's four entrances in mind, since they look alike.
| Place | Time to allow | Cost | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palma Cathedral (La Seu) | 80-100 minutes | – | old town, above the sea |
| Bellver Castle, Palma | about two hours | 4€ standard, 2€ reduced, free Sundays and under-14s | Ponent neighbourhood, Carrer Camilo José Cela s/n |
| Arab Baths Palma | 30-45 minutes | around €2, paid at the entrance | Carrer de Can Serra, old town |
| Es Baluard Museum, Palma | about an hour | Paid entry | Plaça Porta Santa Catalina, 10 |
| Passeig del Born, Palma | 20-30 minutes | free public street, no ticket | Old town, central Palma |
| Plaça Major Palma | 20-30 minutes | free entry | Palma old town, off Carrer de Sant Miquel |
Palma attraction guides
Palma Cathedral (La Seu): What to See and How to Visit
A Gothic cathedral begun in the 14th century and finished two hundred years later, sitting above the water at the old town's edge. Start at the sea-facing Mirador portal, then give the nave, the two chapels and the rose window proper time.
80-100 minutes · Best for first-time visitors to Palma
Bellver Castle, Palma: Visitor Guide, Hours and Tickets
A 14th-century circular fortress on a wooded hill above Palma, with a two-level courtyard, a city-history museum and a roof terrace over the bay. Note the seasonal hours: winter Mondays are closed and the walk up is steep.
about two hours · 4€ standard, 2€ reduced, free Sundays and under-14s · Best for architecture, city history and bay views
Arab Baths Palma: Guide to the Banys Àrabs
A small 11th-century Islamic bath suite behind a horseshoe arch on a narrow old-town street; the dome, twelve mismatched columns and the garden of Can Fontirroig reward close looking, though the entrance is easily walked past.
30-45 minutes · around €2, paid at the entrance · Best for close looking at Islamic architecture
Es Baluard Museum, Palma: Contemporary Art in the Old Ramparts
Contemporary galleries sit inside a Renaissance sea bastion, with outdoor sculpture terraces over the marina and Bay of Palma. The ramparts and the view justify the trip even if the art does not, but Monday visits are impossible.
about an hour · Paid entry · Best for art lovers and bay views
Passeig del Born, Palma: What to See on Palma's Golden Mile
A 200-metre tree-lined avenue through the old town, linking Plaça de la Reina with Plaça de les Tortugues. Walk it in half an hour to see grand facades and the Casal Solleric, or linger over shops and shaded cafés.
20-30 minutes · free public street, no ticket · Best for architecture, shopping, shaded strolls
Plaça Major Palma: What to See in Palma's Main Square
A long rectangle of yellow façades with green shutters, ringed by arcades where traders once sheltered from sun and rain. Twenty minutes covers the circuit; the four entrances look alike, so note which street you came in by.
20-30 minutes · free entry · Best for a short pause between sights
Free stops between the paid sights
The Passeig del Born costs nothing: a 200-metre tree-lined avenue linking Plaça de la Reina with Plaça de les Tortugues, walked in 20–30 minutes for grand facades and the Casal Solleric. Plaça Major is free too, a long rectangle of yellow façades with green shutters that takes another 20–30 minutes. Bellver Castle opens free on Sundays and for under-14s.
One day in Palma: cathedral first, then the hill
With a single day, begin at Palma Cathedral, the Gothic landmark above the water, and allow 80–100 minutes inside. Then head to Bellver Castle for the circular fortress, city-history museum and roof terrace over the bay — about two hours, with a steep climb. If time allows, the Arab Baths take 30–45 minutes and cost around €2 at the entrance.