Palma is Mallorca’s buzzing capital, stylish, pocket-sized and bursting with life. With a backdrop of the imposing La Seu Cathedral and the sweeping Bay of Palma, the city views are hard to beat. The historic centre is a hive of activity with its medieval buildings and narrow lanes as well as wide open boulevards and colonnaded shopping streets filled with the usual familiar stores but also with a wonderful selection of historic shops and cafes.
The Bay of Palma is alive with yachts dropping anchor to refuel and enjoy the sights. After tourism, the continuing boom of the nautical sector is an important source of income to the city as evidenced by the Palma International Boat Show and the Super Yacht show which take place in April each year.
West of Palma lie delightful little coves with azure blue waters such as Cala Comtessa and Cala Vinyas as well as the lively beach resort of Palma Nova. A short way further west along the coast is the glitzy Port Adriano designed by Philippe Starck and attracting super yachts from around the world to its Marina. At the end of the peninsula is Port de Andratx and its pretty harbour backed by the southern end of the Tramuntana mountains and the start of a walking trail, the GR221,which extends all the way to Pollensa in the north and is becoming more popular each year.
East of Palma are the golden sands of Playa de Palma stretching for some 10 km with a traffic free cycle path the whole of its length. Unheard-of in most other European cities.
Between the Playa and Palma several beachfront neighbourhoods such as Portixol and Cuitat Jardi have become very chic enclaves.
It is easy to see why Palma de Mallorca topped a Sunday Times list of “the best places to live” beating destinations across the world with its “picturesque old town”, “fancy shops” and “slow-paced charm”.