My feet had started to get itchy and I found myself in the grip of an acute case of FOMP (Fear of Missing Out in Palma.) So when the planets, cheap flights and our diaries aligned, we escaped to the sunshine. I’m back now with some full and thorough reporting on where we stayed, shopped and played.
Where We Stayed
We stayed at the Hotel Saratoga which was the perfect base from which to explore Palma city and the Old Town. Bonus points that the bus to/from the airport drops off and picks up from across the street and only costs 5 euros each way! Result!
Our room was on the sixth floor, clean, spacious (at least by European standards) with a balcony overlooking the pool and with a cracking view of the cathedral. What a treat! We loved the bathroom with it’s fabulous walk in shower and Ritual toiletries. The robes and complimentary slippers were a nice touch too.
Another reason we chose the Saratoga was because it had not one, not two but THREE pools! There was one adults only pool on the roof (as pictured,) one in the courtyard and a larger one surrounded by sun beds which other guests liked to reserve with their towels. Yes friends, all those jokes you’ve heard about saving sunbeds are true.
Bonus points for the rooftop Sky Bar which had amazing views over the city. We popped up here a few times, it would have been rude not to!
Where We Played
We had unilaterally decided that this was a city break with break being the operative word. We decided to swap out sightseeing for sun seeking and adopted a very light schedule but we still got to see a bit of the city.
Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma
The Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma, known as La Seu and is arguably the most iconic building in Mallorca’s capital. It took more than 400 years to build – work began in the 13th century but it wasn’t completed until the start of the 20th century. Many famous architects and sculptors contributed to the cathedral, most notably Antoni Gaudi.
The Cathedral is famous for it’s statues and reliefs outside. There are over 300 sculptures unique to the cathedral and many date back to the 13th century. It really is a sight to behold.
As good as the view of the cathedral is from our balcony, we visit in person and get up close and personal. The outside is stunning so I can only imagine how beautiful it is inside. Depending on how much you want to see and do, tickets range from €10 to €25 to explore the cathedral. You can even climb the 215 steps to the cathedral terraces for panoramic views of the city. We’re too hot and bothered for that – maybe next time!
Old Town Walking Tour with VoiceMap
Voice Map is my new favourite way of exploring new destinations after we did the one of Emily in Paris. Our pick for Palma is The Secrets of Palma’s Medieval Jewish Quarter and it does not disappoint. It is a fascinating insight into the unique chapter from both the history of Mallorca and Judaism. We have so much fun exploring not just the island’s history but the maze of Palma’s medieval streets. Once again, we really appreciate the flexibility that a Voice Map tour offers.
Exploring Palma’s Old Town
One of our favourite things to do is to just wander through the streets of the Old Town, not least because it is always shady and cool. I become quite obsessed with these stunning streets – if only walls could talk… I’ll share more of the streets of Palma in a 10 on 10 post so stay tuned for that.
Where We Shopped
We find Tipika on one of our Old Town wanders. The owner takes pride in the fact that so many of the products are handmade by Mallorcan artists and the shop sells everything from original postcards to pottery and everything in between. It’s definitely a cut above your average souvenir shop.
You can even buy siurells here – these traditional clay whistling figures are whitewashed with lime and decorated with red and green brush strokes and represent the history, culture and folk art of Majorca. Of course I don’t leave empty handed. I come home with some little dishes and a siurell style Christmas decoration.
This large indoor market has fresh produce, seafood, meats, cheeses, souvenirs and a decent selection of tapas bars. There really is something for everyone here and it’s a miracle that we leave empty handed.
There’s a good balance of vendors – with plenty of stalls where you can shop and others where you can stop for something to eat and/or drink.
The market is clean, well organised and there’s a supermarket and toilets upstairs. While it’s not the biggest market I’ve visited in Europe, it’s definitely worth a visit.
This classy, stylish store has high end mens’ and womens’ clothing, homewares and gifts with high end prices too! However, even if you’re not planning to purchase, the store is well worth a visit. In addition to the beautiful wares, the building used to be a palace and although restored is a notable example of Baroque architecture. There’s also a highly rated cafe and the dogs are welcome too!
Carrer del Sindicat
This busy shopping street in the heart of Palma’s Old Town has a great mix of small local stores, independent boutiques as well as international favourites like Sephora. Let’s just say, if shopping is considered to be cardio, we get a through workout!
If you need a break from shopping cardio, there’s an abundance of ethnic eateries, juice stalls and ice cream stops along the way and be sure to check out Fika and Farina – one of Palma’s best bakeries and coffee spots. Their Scandinavian pastries are not to be missed!
Which places are on your To Visit List? Do you prefer sunbaking or sightseeing? Or a bit of both?!
All accommodation and tours were independently paid for and all opinions are my own.
