48 hours in Palma de Mallorca: The perfect two-day itinerary

1. Day 1

   
   1. Morning

      Grab breakfast in the Old Town (1 hour)

      

      Start your first day in Palma de Mallorca with a stroll and breakfast in Casco Antiguo of Palma, the historic Old Town. You can grab pastries and coffee from Can Joan de S’Aigo, one of Europe’s earliest ice cream makers and chocolatiers, at its 300-year old patisserie — make sure you order the house speciality, the creamy almond horchata. Or, take things more leisurely and sit down for eggs and avo at La Molienda, Palma’s first third wave coffee shop, with local produce and beans roasted in the closest big city, Barcelona.

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   2. Explore Palma by bike (2-3 hours)

      

      Pedal off your breakfast with a bike ride around Palma. Thanks to year-round beautiful weather, stunning scenery and perfect road conditions, the island is known for its cycling community. Either book a guided tour around the Old Town, taking in views of the Cathedral of Palma, City Hall, and Plaza Mayor, or have the option to speed up off the beaten track by renting a bike.
      

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   3. Afternoon

      Soak up the sun with a snack in Plaza Mayor (1 hour)

      

      If you take the bike tour, you’ll end in Plaza Mayor, where your guide will help you find some local tapas and drinks at the end of your ride. If you’re on foot, this large square in the heart of the city is filled with lovely little bars where you can easily find a place for an afternoon snack and drink. It’s also known for its artisanal markets which pop up on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, all year round. Choose your preferred spot and enjoy some people watching in the sun.

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   4. Get a closer look at Palma’s cathedral and Royal Palace (2 hours)

      

      Even though this grand cathedral is unmissable from many parts of the city, going inside for a closer look is a must. Book an entrance ticket to skip the line and explore the sandstone monument built by the Crown of Aragon on the site of a Moorish mosque. The resting place of many a king and queen, it’s also home to master architect Gaudí’s early 20th century additions, as well as artworks by Miquel Barceló in the Santísimo Chapel. A walk along the Parc de la Mar, a pretty public park in front of the Cathedral, brings you to the Royal Palace of La Almudaina, an old Arabian fort it has stood since the 14th century and is the official residence of the Spanish royal family when they’re in town. With a ticket to go inside, you’ll discover ornately decorated hallways, under stone arches, and past furniture and tapestries that speak of different eras in the palace’s history.

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   5. Evening

      Go shopping on Passeig del Born (1.5 hours)

      

      After a culture-filled day, reward yourself with a jaunt down the tree-lined boulevard of Passeig del Born. It’s lined with endless lovely stores, where you can pick up local favorites and souvenirs, such as Mallorca’s famed Palmaira sandals or pottery, as well as some higher-end designer boutiques.

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   6. Dinner and nightlife La Lonja (2-3 hours)

      

      Your credit card warmed up, walk over to the La Lonja neighborhood for dinner and a foray in Palma’s nightlife. En route, stop to admire Llotja de Palma, an architectural wonder with high-vaulted ceilings where you can picture the vendors and merchants who made their living there more than 500 years ago. Palm tree-strewn La Lonja is home to some of the best restaurants and bars in town, especially the concentration around Passeig el Born and the marina. Settle in for a night of tapas and G&Ts — nobody pours them quite like the Mallorcans.

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2. Day 2

   
   1. Morning

      Set sail along the coast (4 hours)

      

      Visiting an island and not getting out on the sea would be a big mistake, so take a bus from the center of Palma to Platja de Cala Major, grabbing some breakfast from one of the many waterfront spots along Avinguda de Joan Miró when you arrive. Book yourself onto a sailboat tour that will cruise south along the coast towards Cala Vella, dropping anchor in beautiful coves along the way to swim and snorkel in the crystal clear Mediterranean. On board, you’ll be treated to delicious tapas and Cava too. Prefer the beach to boats? The morning is perfect to spend some time soaking up the sun on the sand before other tourists arrive in their droves around lunch time.
      

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   2. Afternoon

      Discover surreal sights at the Miró Foundation (2 hours)

      

      Just outside of the city lies a hidden gem, the Miró Foundation, which offers an intimate glimpse into the mind of the famed Spanish surrealist painter, Joan Miró. Booking an entrance ticket allows you to explore his studios where he lived and worked for 30 years and get an insight into his creative process, as well as see many of his finished works. Even better, you can meander through the Foundation’s lush gardens, which are filled with his sculptures.

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   3. Stroll through the Jardines de Marivent (1 hour)

      

      After immersing yourself in all things Miró, take a stroll through the Jardin de Marivent, a wonderfully serene (and free) botanical garden next to the Marivent Palace, the summer home of the Spanish royal family. Set right on the cliffs, the views of the castle and surrounding nature are breathtaking. Plus, the gardens are home to more than 40 varieties of native Mallorcan plants, and a dozen more bronze sculptures by Miró.
      

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   4. Evening

      Take in the view from Bellver Castle (2 hours)

      

      From the Jardines de Marivent, catch a 10-minute bus ride from outside the garden entrance to another Palma must-see: Bellver Castle. One of Europe’s first castles to be entirely round, it has stood over the city for almost 700 years. Once you’ve made it to up the steady hill to the entrance, take your time to appreciate its central courtyard with its fine Gothic arches, before walking over the moat, around the keep and onto its rooftop. Meaning ‘lovely view’ in Catalan, Bellver does not disappoint with its panorama over the city and the sea — and entrance is a bargain at just €4. If sunset isn’t too far from the castle’s closing time, you’d be smart to time your trip accordingly. You can skip the climb to the castle with a hop-on hop-off bus ticket, that takes you to the entrance, and is a great way to follow this itinerary and get around many of the main spots at your own pace.
      

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   5. Wine and dine in Santa Catalina

      

      To round off your two days in Palma, head back towards the center for dinner and drinks in Santa Catalina, one of the city’s trendiest neighborhoods. It overlooks the harbor, so you’ll be treated to a postcard-perfect view of the cathedral La Seu, and its lights reflecting off the water, as you settle into one of its many foodie hotspots. To get an authentic taste of Palma, try fideuà, the city’s riff on paella; or adventurous types should sample some caragols, snails boiled in fennel and mint-seasoned water — dip them generously in aioli.
      

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