Things to do in Palma's old town, with walking times
Nine places within 20 minutes on foot, ordered by walking time, with the hours that matter.
I'm Aina, the concierge at Can Arbós. Guests ask me what to see almost every morning, so here's my answer on one page. Every time below is the walk from our door in La Calatrava. We measured each route on a map and rounded it up. On the stone streets, you'll probably walk a little slower than the map.
Seven minutes: the Arab Baths
Start small. The baths sit in the garden of Can Pit, on Carrer de Can Serra. Their central room has a ring of columns, and it was the hot bath of a private house. A warm room and a second hot room survive beside it. I like them first thing in the morning.
Ten minutes: the cathedral, the Almudaina and Plaça Major
Three places are ten minutes away. The cathedral dates from the 13th century, and its nave is about 44 metres high. Inside, look for the canopy by Gaudí and the ceramic mural by Miquel Barceló, which is 12 metres tall. April to October, it opens 10:00 to 17:15 on weekdays and until 14:15 on Saturday. Tourist visits stop on Sundays.
The Almudaina Palace is next door. It began as a Roman building, and the Moors later rebuilt it. Today it's one of the residences of the Spanish royal family. You can visit the parade ground, the Gothic chapel of Santa Anna, the Islamic baths and the terraces over the bay.
Plaça Major is the same distance to the north. I use it as a meeting point when friends get lost.
Thirteen and fourteen minutes: the Born, the market and the park
On Passeig del Born, look into the courtyard of Casal Solleric. The Morell family built the house in the middle of the 18th century, and it now shows contemporary art.
Mercat de l'Olivar has fed Palma since 1951. Go before lunch, when the stalls are full. The tapas counters serve until 16:00, and some restaurants upstairs will cook what you buy downstairs. The market closes on Sundays.
Parc de la Mar lies below the cathedral, by the old sea walls. The cathedral is reflected in its water. I take friends there at the end of the day.
Eighteen and twenty minutes: La Llotja and Es Baluard
La Llotja was the meeting place of Palma's merchants. Guillem Sagrera designed it, and its columns rise like stone palm trees into the vaults. The streets around it have plenty of places to eat.
Es Baluard is the museum of modern and contemporary art, built into the old city walls. It opened in 2004. The collection has more than 700 works, with Miró and Picasso among them.
If you only have one day in Palma
See the Arab Baths at 10:00 and the cathedral at 11:00. Eat lunch at the market. After the heat, walk the Born and finish at Es Baluard. On a Sunday, the cathedral and the market are closed to visitors, so walk to Parc de la Mar and along the Born instead.
Two things I book for you
The cathedral terraces need a time slot, so tell me the day before. And three mornings a week, I walk guests through the courtyards of the old town myself. Ask me at the door, or book the walk from My stay.
The nine places on one map
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