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Mallorca travel guide: Palma Old Town walks, Passeig del Born bases and Sóller train

Mallorca pairs a monumental Mediterranean capital in Palma de Mallorca with the limestone peaks and citrus valleys of the Serra de Tramuntana just thirty minutes north. Combining one day on foot around Palma's sandstone cathedral walls and seafront boulevards with a second day across the mountain pass to Sóller balances architecture and coastal scenery.

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Arrival and getting around in Mallorca

Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) connects to the city centre every 12 to 15 minutes via the EMT Line A1 bus, stopping along the seafront, Passeig Mallorca and Plaça d'Espanya.

  • For regional TIB buses across the island, simply tap a contactless bank card or phone when boarding and tap out again on exit for the lowest zonal fare.
  • The historic 1912 wooden Ferrocarril de Sóller train departs from its own terminal beside Plaça d'Espanya in Palma and climbs through 13 mountain tunnels into Sóller.
  • If renting a car, avoid entering Palma's camera-controlled ACIRE Old Town zones; use the underground car park at Parc de la Mar right below the cathedral ramparts instead.

Sources: Mallorca geographic reference (GeoNames 2514239)

Where to stay in Mallorca

Splitting your stay or choosing between historic Palma and the Tramuntana valley depends on whether you prioritize evening dining squares or immediate mountain trailheads.

  • Palma Old Town (La Seu, Cort and 3 Palma de Mallorca - Passeig del Born): restored courtyard palaces within a five-minute walk of the cathedral and harbour promenade.
  • Sóller and Port de Sóller: stone townhouses surrounded by orange groves and Tramuntana peaks, connected to the bay by the vintage wooden orange tram.
  • Avoid budget beachfront strips in El Arenal or Magaluf if your goal is quiet architecture, local dining and mountain excursions.

Sources: Mallorca geographic reference (GeoNames 2514239)

Two-day route for Mallorca

Dedicate day one to Palma's seafront ramparts and tree-lined boulevards, then cross the Serra de Tramuntana ridge to Sóller on day two.

  • Day 1: explore Palma de Mallorca starting at the reflecting lake and Parc de la Mar lawn (1 Cathedral meadow) and the elevated terrace perspective above the 2 Cathedral parking garage, then walk through the Gothic quarter to the leafy plane trees of 3 Palma de Mallorca - Passeig del Born and the coastal 4 Palma de Mallorca - Palm Avenue.
  • Day 2: ride the morning wooden train from Plaça d'Espanya (or TIB bus 204) across the mountains to Sóller, admire the Modernista bank and church on Plaça de la Constitució, and take the historic tram down through the orchards to Port de Sóller.
  • On windy or rainy days, tour the Royal Palace of La Almudaina next to Palma Cathedral and the Joan Miró studios at Fundació Miró Mallorca.

Sources: Mallorca geographic reference (GeoNames 2514239)

Seasonal timing and practical rhythm

Mallorca enjoys over 300 sunny days a year, with mild almond-blossom late winters, warm breezy springs and hot, humid mid-August afternoons.

  • April to June and September to October deliver warm sea temperatures, comfortable hiking weather in the Tramuntana around Sóller and uncrowded Palma terraces.
  • Photograph the sandstone buttresses of Palma Cathedral and Parc de la Mar in the first hour after sunrise or at golden hour, when the south-facing facade glows over the water.

Sources