A day in … · Palma
A day in Palma's Old Town
From breakfast in a traditional café via Art Nouveau façades, the royal palace and the palm-lined promenade to a wine bar in the evening – a day on foot, stop by stop, with checked addresses and opening times.
- approx. 09:00–22:00
- entirely on foot
- around 5 km
- all year round
Quick answer
How do you spend a day in Palma's Old Town?
On foot and in a loop: breakfast behind the church of Santa Eulàlia, then Art Nouveau façades around Plaça Major, in the late morning the Palau de l'Almudaina with the S'Hort del Rei garden, at lunchtime Plaça del Mercat, in the afternoon La Llotja and the palm-lined promenade Passeig de Sagrera, and in the evening wine and cocktail bars. All stops are within about 20 minutes' walk of each other.
- Time needed
- a full day, roughly 09:00–22:00
- Distance
- around 5 km on foot, almost flat
- Admission
- Palau de l'Almudaina €8, reduced €5; S'Hort del Rei garden free
- Note closing days
- Almudaina closed on Mondays, Fornet de la Soca closed Sun/Mon, Fría Sophia closed Sun/Mon
- Getting there
- from the airport by bus A1 to Plaça d'Espanya, then approx. 15 minutes on foot
- If it rains
- Almudaina, cookery course at Forn de sa Llotgeta, cafés on Plaça del Mercat
Breakfast, Art Nouveau and a royal palace
The morning belongs to the upper Old Town around Santa Eulàlia and Plaça Major. Distances are short, and the lanes are still quiet in the morning.
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Breakfast at Can Joan de s'Aigo
The café is tucked away in a narrow lane behind the church of Santa Eulàlia. Here the day starts with Mallorcan pastries such as ensaïmada and a café con leche – indoors, among tiles and marble tables.
- Directly behind the church of Santa Eulàlia
- Open
- daily 08:00–21:00 (Google, as of 07/2026)
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Can Forteza Rey
A few steps from Plaça Major stands an Art Nouveau house with ceramics, wrought iron and floral ornaments. You can view the façade from the street at any time – take two minutes and look all the way up to the roof.
- Can only be viewed from outside
- No admission fee
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Fornet de la Soca in the former Forn des Teatre
The old Forn des Teatre bakery closed in 2017. Since 2018 Fornet de la Soca has been baking here – behind the same Art Nouveau façade. A good place for a second pastry to take away.
- Original Art Nouveau façade of the former Forn des Teatre
- Open
- Tue–Sat 09:00–20:00, closed Sun/Mon (Google, as of 07/2026) – check before you go
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Palau de l'Almudaina and S'Hort del Rei
The royal palace stands right next to the cathedral. Around an hour is enough for the tour of the halls, courtyard and chapel. Afterwards, head down into the S’Hort del Rei garden with its fountains and pools – with a view of the palace walls.
- S’Hort del Rei garden is free to enter
- EU citizens: free admission to the palace on Wednesdays and Sundays from 15:00
- Open
- Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00 (Oct–Mar), 10:00–19:00 (Apr–Sep), closed Mon, last entry 1 hour before closing
- Admission
- €8, reduced €5, guided tour €16
- Closed
- 1 Jan, 6 Jan, 1 May, 24/25/31 Dec and during official events
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La Seu Cathedral
The cathedral stands directly next to the palace. Early in the morning it is still quieter inside, before the day groups arrive – if you want to see both, allow another hour for the cathedral.
Lunch around Plaça del Mercat
From the Almudaina it is a ten-minute walk to Plaça del Mercat. There, Can Casasayas and the Pensión Menorquina – twin Art Nouveau buildings with curved façades – face each other. Several places to eat are clustered around the square – three options, depending on your appetite and budget.
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Pasta e Pesto
Small Italian restaurant right on Plaça del Mercat, open at lunchtime and in the evening. An easy option for a lunch break between the palace and the promenade.
- Open
- Mon–Sat 12:30–22:30, closed Sun (Google, as of 07/2026)
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De Tokio a Lima
If you prefer something more upmarket: Japanese-Peruvian cuisine on the second floor of the Hotel Can Alomar, just a few minutes from Passeig del Born.
- Japanese-Peruvian Nikkei cuisine
- On the 2nd floor of the Hotel Can Alomar
- Open
- daily 13:00–15:30 and 19:30–22:30 (Google, as of 07/2026)
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DUE – Our Italian Kitchen
Italian cuisine with pizza, just below the town hall – although at lunchtime only on Mondays and Thursdays.
- Open
- Mon and Thu 12:30–15:30 and 18:00–22:00, Fri–Sun 18:00–23:00, closed Tue/Wed (Google, as of 07/2026)
- Price
- approx. €10–20 per person
La Llotja, the palm promenade and an ice cream
In the afternoon, head down into the La Llotja quarter, where the Old Town meets the water.
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Mia & Victoria – The Cheesecake Shop
A small cheesecake shop on the way from the Born down to the Llotja – for an afternoon coffee break.
- Open
- Mon–Fri 11:00–18:00, Sat 11:00–15:00, closed Sun
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Plaça de la Llotja
With its palm trees and cafés, the square in front of the Gothic La Llotja exchange building is a meeting point for the quarter. Right on the square you can get gelato at Rivareno.
- Rivareno Gelato at Plaça de la Llotja 1, daily approx. 11:00–01:00 (Google, as of 07/2026)
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A stroll along Passeig de Sagrera
The palm-lined promenade runs for around 500 metres alongside La Llotja and was laid out in 1910. In the late afternoon the light falls low through the palms – a quiet moment before the evening.
- Approx. 500 m long, laid out in 1910
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Cookery course at Forn de sa Llotgeta
If you would rather cook yourself: the courses start with a shopping trip together to the Mercat de l’Olivar and can also be booked in German.
- Starts with shopping at the Mercat de l’Olivar
- Can also be booked in German
- Dates
- by booking only
The whole loop as a walking route: Can Joan de s’Aigo → Can Forteza Rey → Fornet de la Soca → Almudaina → Plaça del Mercat → La Llotja → Passeig de Sagrera → Plaça de la Quartera.
Open route in Google MapsWine, cocktails and a hidden hotel bar
In the evening, head back towards Plaça del Mercat and Plaça de la Quartera. The three bars are less than 15 minutes' walk apart.
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Fría Sophia
Small wine and champagne bar on Plaça de la Quartera – for a glass to start the evening.
- Wine and champagne
- Open
- Tue–Fri 18:00–23:00, Sat 14:00–20:00, closed Sun/Mon (Google, as of 07/2026)
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Sundowner on a roof terrace
Several hotels in the Old Town also open their roof terraces to non-residents, such as Es Princep in Calatrava or the Nakar on Avinguda de Jaume III (roof from 19:30). In Palma the sun sets behind the city – you will see golden evening light over the cathedral and the harbour, not a sunset over the sea.
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Bar Nicolás
A café by day and a cocktail bar in the evening – with a terrace right on Plaça del Mercat. A good spot to spend the evening outdoors.
- Terrace on Plaça del Mercat
- Café by day, cocktails in the evening
- Open
- Mon–Thu 12:00–01:00, Fri–Sun 12:00–02:00 (Google, as of 07/2026); other sources give different times
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Mirall Bar at the Nobis Hotel
To round off the day, a cocktail bar in the Nobis Hotel, a few steps from Plaça del Mercat.
- Open
- daily 17:00–01:00 (Google, as of 07/2026)
Good to know
Tips for your Old Town day
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Plan differently on Mondays
The Palau de l’Almudaina is closed on Mondays, Fornet de la Soca on Sundays and Mondays, and Fría Sophia as well. On a Monday you can fill the morning with the cathedral and the Old Town lanes.
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Free time slots
EU citizens and residents can visit the Almudaina free of charge on Wednesdays and Sundays from 15:00. Then simply reverse the day plan: La Llotja in the morning, the palace in the afternoon.
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On Sundays
On Sundays the Mercat de l’Olivar, Fornet de la Soca and Pasta e Pesto are closed, as are many shops. Can Joan de s’Aigo and the Almudaina are open – focus on the sights and the promenade.
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If it rains
The cathedral, the Almudaina and the market hall are under cover; there are also museums such as Es Baluard, the Palau March and the Museu de Mallorca. Museums for rainy days
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Only got an hour?
The cathedral from outside, through the S’Hort del Rei garden, across the Born to Plaça de la Llotja and Passeig de Sagrera – you can do this loop in an hour.
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Check opening times
The times for the cafés and bars come from Google listings (as of July 2026) and may change with the season. Check quickly before you set off.
FAQ
Questions about a day in Palma's Old Town
Can you explore Palma's Old Town on foot in one day?
Yes. All the stops on this plan are in the Old Town and the La Llotja quarter; the total distance is around 5 kilometres and almost flat.
How much does the Palau de l’Almudaina cost?
€8, reduced €5, with a guided tour €16. EU citizens and residents get free admission on Wednesdays and Sundays from 15:00. The palace is closed on Mondays.
Is the S’Hort del Rei garden free?
Yes, the garden below the palace is free to enter.
Does the Forn des Teatre still exist?
The old bakery closed in 2017. Since 2018 Fornet de la Soca has run the premises behind the same Art Nouveau façade on Plaça de Weyler.
Which day of the week suits the plan?
Tuesday to Saturday. The Palau de l’Almudaina is closed on Mondays; the Mercat de l’Olivar and many shops are closed on Sundays.
How do I get from the airport to the Old Town?
Take bus A1 to Plaça d’Espanya; from there it is about a 15-minute walk to Plaça Major.
Read more
More about Palma
Image credits: La Seu Cathedral in Palma in the evening light, with the city wall in front: photo Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Palau de l'Almudaina and the cathedral above the city wall, with palm trees in front: photo Wolfgang Moroder, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Art Nouveau oriel of Can Forteza Rey with ceramic mosaics: photo Enric, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Gothic main façade of the Llotja in Palma: photo Malopez 21, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Passeig del Born in the evening with illuminated plane trees and the Casal Solleric: photo Enric, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.