The locals simply call it ‘Palma’ and it’s the capital city of the Spanish Balearic island of Mallorca. If you pick up a hire car at Palma de Mallorca’s airport you’ll find the city itself is five miles to the west. This is Mallorca’s only international airport and becomes one of the busiest in Europe during the summer tourist season. Mallorca is the biggest island of the Balearics and Palma is the biggest city, so as well as its role as a tourist portal, it serves as the commercial, business, shopping and cultural hub for all the islands.
After you hire a car at Palma de Mallorca Airport, you’ll find the city itself stands in the middle of a large gulf on the south of the island. Much of this ‘Bay of Palma’ is taken up with tourist resorts like Magaluf and Palma Nova, but Palma itself is a pleasant surprise. The pretty waterfront is dominated by the enormous cathedral and nearby there’s a chance to wander the narrow streets of the Old Quarter. It’s a great spot for browsing independent design boutiques, craft shops and local restaurants.
