Palma de Mallorca Itinerary – How to have the perfect 4 days

Palma, Spain, is the dream European city break, offering a little bit of everything. From a beautiful old town and delicious food to easy access to nearby mountain towns and the beach. What more could you ask for? This Palma de Mallorca itinerary shows you how to spend the perfect four days. It is the ideal budget-friendly city break.

How to get to Palma de Mallorca

Getting to Palma couldn’t be easier. Jet2 offers flights to Majorca from 13 different airports in the UK. Flight times range from 2 hours 10 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes. And with so many options, take advantage and grab a morning flight to maximise your 4-day Palma de Mallorca itinerary.

I flew on a 7 am flight from Manchester Airport, which was perfect, arriving in the city just before lunch on day 1 of my trip. There are, on average, 2 flights a day from Manchester Airport. So if you don’t fancy the early start, there are other options!

Are 4 Days Enough for a Palma de Mallorca Itinerary?

If you plan four days in your Palma de Mallorca itinerary, it will give you the perfect amount of time to explore both the city and the surrounding areas. This itinerary isn’t jam-packed, so there is plenty of downtime to enjoy a coffee or sangria from many of the adorable cafes and bars around the city.

Palma de Mallorca Itinerary – Overview

• Day 1: Arrive, tapas tour and drinks
• Day 2: Walking tour, cathedral and sunset boat cruise
• Day 3: Sóller and Port de Sóller
• Day 4: Valldemossa

Top Tip: If you want to add a day trip to your visit to Palma, these are the best of the best! Day Trips From Palma: 5 places you need to visit

Palma de Mallorca Itinerary – Day 1 – Tapas in the City

Take an early morning flight and arrive in Palma just before lunch, ready to explore the city.

Wine and Tapas tour

Name a better way to get to know a city when you first arrive. This self-guided tapas tour lets you sample 5 different bites, as well as a choice of cava, sangria, wine or beer at each stop. The food includes croquettes, sobresada, tortillas, albondigas and calamari. There are also options for vegetarians. It’s such a great way to try some local cuisine, as well as soak up different areas of the city, from quiet courtyards, squares and bustling streets. Highly recommend.

Top Tip: By booking THIS TOUR, you have the whole day, until 10 pm, to visit all the restaurants. You could do it as a light lunch, a pre-dinner snack or take your time and spread it across the whole day.

Sunset Drinks

After some time to digest your tapas and freshen up, it is time for sunset drinks. A great way to celebrate the end of your first day in Palma in style. Head to the rooftop bar of Nakar Hotel. With panoramic views over the city, it is the perfect spot to watch the sun dip below the horizon as you sip on a cocktail.

Palma de Mallorca Itinerary – Day 2 – Palma

Day 2 of the Palma de Mallorca itinerary focuses on exploring the iconic sites of Palma and strolling through the city.

Walking tour of Palma

For the second morning of the Palma de Mallorca itinerary, book yourself a walking tour. Palma can get quite busy, so this tour takes you to some of the quieter, more ‘off-the-beaten-track’ parts of the city. You’ll be amazed at how peaceful the streets can be and discover some of Palma’s true hidden gems.

Stops include Plaça Major, which is the old centre of the city, Basílica de Sant Francesc, Ajuntament de Palma (Town Hall), and the ancient olive tree, Olivera de Cort. As well as stopping by Ca’n Joan de s’Aigo cafe, which is one of the first ice cream makers in Palma.

Top Tip: If you are looking for a tour of the old town, why not try this walking tour, with a private guide to add a layer of local knowledge and customise the tour to suit!

Palma Cathedral (La Seu)

Conclude your walking tour with a stroll along the old city walls, which lead to one of Palma’s most iconic landmarks, the Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma, also known as La Seu. This stunning building is as unmissable as it is imposing on the city’s skyline.

The building of Palma Cathedral began under King James I of Aragon in 1229, but was not completed until 1601. At 44 metres tall, its nave is one of the highest of all Gothic cathedrals. Take some time to walk around the outside, but do not make the mistake of not going inside. While it is busy, it is incredibly impressive to see, not least the changes made by Gaudí over the years.

One of the highlights, however, is taking a trip up to the terraces – up all 170 steps. Standing under the impressive arches, overlooking the beautiful city, is a moment not to be missed on any Palma de Mallorca itinerary.

Top Tip: The cathedral gets VERY busy, so make sure to book your ticket in advance with this skip-the-line entry ticket.

Sunset Boat Trip

One of the great things about Palma is that the city is set right on the sea, with both a port and a marina. Given this, it would be remiss not to include taking a trip out on the water on this 4-day Palma de Mallorca itinerary. And what better way to do this than a sunset cruise, complete with tapas?

If you are a group of people, you can charter a boat complete with a skipper. Sail out of the marina with a welcome glass of cava in hand. Head to a secret swimming spot and take the opportunity to go on a paddleboard. You can also choose to add on tapas, and if you do, you will not regret it. The most delicious food. The perfect evening.

Palma de Mallorca Itinerary – Day 3 – Sóller

After spending the first two days exploring Palma, use this day to visit some of the surrounding areas. Starting in the heart of the city, take a full-day tour to discover more of what lies beyond Palma.

Want to head to Soller? This post tells you all you need to know:
Day Trip to Soller from Palma: The Ultimate Scenic Train Experience

Sóller

Begin your day by catching the train from the Ferrocarril de Sóller station in Palma, just near Plaça d’Espanya. It’s a separate station but close to the main terminal. The narrow-gauge, antique wooden train, running since 1912, takes about an hour and is very much part of the experience. It winds through stunning mountain scenery and 13 tunnels before arriving in the charming town of Sóller.

You reach the cute, historic town of Sóller, which is the ideal morning stop. Take a wander through the cobbled streets, admire the church which takes centre stage, and peruse the local shops. Make sure to time it right so you can capture the tram (to Port de Sóller) going through the middle of the town, right in front of the church.

Port de Sóller

From Sóller, you can catch the antique tram to Port de Sóller, which is a perfectly picturesque bay and marina. It is packed with lovely restaurant choices, so the ideal place to have some lunch. Post lunch, check out the independent stores for some souvenirs, and make sure to take a dip in the sea to cool off. Afterwards, get the tram back to Sóller to get the train back to Palma.

Palma de Mallorca Itinerary – Day 4 – Valldemossa

For the final day, spend the morning exploring another mountain village before soaking up the last of Palma ahead of your flight home.

Valldemossa

Valldemossa is a village located in the Tramuntana mountains, is a very easy morning trip from Palma. It takes just half an hour by taxi, or you can catch the bus 203 from Estació Intermodal. Once you have arrived, it feels like you have stepped into a fairytale. With beautiful yellow brick buildings set against the backdrop of the mountains, you will be instantly charmed.

Visit the Carthusian Monastery Valldemossa, Església de Sant Bartomeu and explore the Old Town Streets.

Find out all the wonderful things to see in Valldemossa:
Wonderful Things to do in Valldemossa – The Most Charming town

Santa Catalina District

Catch the bus back to Palma and head to the Santa Catalina district for a late lunch. This trendy and vibrant neighbourhood is known for its bohemian charm, colourful streets, and lively food scene. The perfect place to stop for a final lunch and ice cream. Take your pick from all the restaurants in the area, serving everything from tapas to Mexican food.

Head to the Airport

Book yourself an evening flight to ensure you make the most out of your 4-day Palma de Mallorca itinerary. After your late lunch, it will be time to gather your bags and make your way to the airport. It only takes around 15-20 minutes by taxi (depending on traffic) to get to the airport, making it really convenient for maximising your time in the city.

Where to stay in Palma

I stayed in the HM Jaime III Hotel with Jet2 Holidays. It was the perfect location to explore the city, with very easy access to the old town, restaurants and bars. As well as the bus station for day trips, and the port.

For other options, take a look at these Palma Hotels.

Check out my other Majorca posts:

• Day Trip to Soller from Palma: The Ultimate Scenic Train Experience
• Wonderful Things to do in Valldemossa – The Most Charming Town
• Day Trips From Palma: 5 places you need to visit

Blogger disclaimer. This Palma de Mallorca itinerary was written as part of a collaboration. A huge thank you to Jet2 for this trip, and for showing me the best things to do in Palma. My trip to Palma was a complimentary PR press trip, but all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

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