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Mallorca · Spain
A Gothic cathedral on the sea, and one of the Mediterranean's most important cruise ports.
La Seu cathedral, opened up inside by Gaudí, faces the bay below the old town. Bellver's round castle looks over the city, the Olivar market has fed Palma since 1951, and a 1912 wooden train runs to Sóller.
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See Landmark
Old town
Gaudí opened the Gothic interior to the light, and the main rose window is the largest in the Gothic world. Visit Palma lists tourist hours from Monday to Saturday.
Plan Your Cathedral Visit (opens a new tab)Unwind Beach
Palma seafront
A city beach with lifeguards, a watch tower and flag signals. In 2026 lifeguards are on duty from 28 March to 31 October.
See Palma's Beaches (opens a new tab)Taste Market
Old town
A covered food market with stalls from 7 AM, Monday to Saturday. The food counters serve until 4 PM.
Visit the Olivar Market (opens a new tab)Explore Castle
Hill above Cala Major
A round hilltop castle with city views, run by Palma city council. It is closed on Mondays, a ticket costs €4, and entry is free on Sundays.
Bellver Castle Hours and Prices (opens a new tab)Skip the excursion desk
Where your ship docks decides the route: the Poniente quays and Moll de Paraires by Estació Marítima 1 to 4, or the West Breakwater, farther from the old town.
Palma airport is 8 to 10 miles by road from the cruise piers.
If you do one thing here
A wooden train opened in 1912 runs from Palma through Bunyola and the mountains of northern Mallorca to Sóller. The ride takes 1 hour each way, and a single costs €23 or €30 return.
Palma station is at Plaça d'Espanya, where EMT line 1 stops, and tickets are sold there. Check your all-aboard time before you choose a return train.
Tren de Sóller (opens a new tab)Timetable and Fares (opens a new tab)
Crime figures are for the city of Palma, per resident.
Crime figures: Spain's Ministry of the Interior, Balance de Criminalidad 2025, with INE population on 1 January 2025. Weather: AEMET, Palma airport station, 1981 to 2010.
Make it part of your voyage
Mediterranean cruises start, end and call here.
In the middle of the city, in front of the old town. Ships berth at the Poniente quays, Moll de Paraires and the West Breakwater, and the same ship can use different berths on different visits. Your cruise line's app or daily planner shows yours.
The cathedral is about 3.1 miles by road from Estació Marítima. By our estimate from the official tariff, a weekday taxi costs about €13.
Bellver Castle is the nearest big sight, 1.3 miles uphill. The cathedral is 2.3 to 2.6 miles away, so take EMT line 1 or a taxi to the old town.
The city bus is EMT line 1, from Estació Marítima 1 to 4. A single ticket costs €2 and buses run every 20 minutes on weekdays. Get off at Argentina - sa Feixina, 0.6 mile from the cathedral. The City Sightseeing bus also stops at Estació Marítima.
Taxis use the meter. It starts at €2.50 on weekdays and €2.85 at night and on weekends, plus a distance charge. Trips to or from the port or airport add €4.65, and the minimum fare from the airport is €16.95.
Take line A1 (€5, every 15 minutes on weekdays) to Passeig Mallorca - Jaume III, then line 1 (€2) to the port. A taxi uses the meter; we estimate about €23 to Estació Marítima on a weekday.
There is no beach at the piers. Cala Major is 2 miles by road and Can Pere Antoni is 3.1 miles on foot. Both have lifeguards from 28 March to 31 October.
See La Seu cathedral, eat at Mercat de l'Olivar, climb to Bellver Castle or ride the Sóller train into the mountains. The old town is 2 to 3 miles from the piers, so plan on a bus or taxi.
Recorded theft in Palma was 2.8 times Spain's rate in 2025, counted per resident, and summer brings many more visitors than residents. The UK Foreign Office warns that thieves in Spain use distraction and often work in teams.
Highs average about 75°F and lows about 56°F. October is the wettest month, with about 2.4 inches of rain on about 6 days.
