Palma de Mallorca (sometimes written Palma de Majorca in English) is one of the most rewarding city stops in the western Mediterranean. The Gothic cathedral La Seu rises directly above the harbour, the old town is compact and full of good things to eat, and the island beyond the city offers mountains, coves, and villages for those who want to go further. It is a port that works equally well as a gentle morning stroll or a full day of proper exploration.
The cruise terminal sits 3 kilometres west of the old town, but most ships offer a free shuttle to the cathedral area and the walk along the waterfront promenade is a pleasant alternative in cooler weather. Once you are in the old town, everything is within easy reach on foot.
If you would like help putting a day together, the Port Day Planner can map a simple route and keep timings easy.
Port Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Port Type | Dock |
| Distance to Town | Cruise terminal (Moll Adossat) is 3 km west of the city centre; free shuttle or taxi |
| Currency | Euro (€) |
| Language | Spanish u0026amp; Catalan (English widely spoken) |
| Best Known For | The vast Gothic cathedral La Seu rising above the harbour, a sophisticated old town, and some of the most beautiful coves in the Balearics. |
- Cruise Terminal , Moll Adossat, Palma port
- La Seu Cathedral , Gothic cathedral, waterfront
- Old Town , Palma old town u0026amp; squares
- Palma Beach , Platja de Palma, city beach
Palma de Mallorca: Dock Port · View larger map
Getting From the Port to Town
Walking: The Best Option
Free (but long)- Walk time: 40 – 45 min walk from Moll Adossat terminal to La Seu Cathedral
- It is possible to walk from Moll Adossat along the palm-lined Passeig Marítim waterfront promenade into the city centre: it is a pleasant, mostly flat route and takes about 40 – 45 minutes. In the cooler months this is a lovely way to arrive. In July and August, the heat makes it less appealing and most passengers take the shuttle or a taxi.
Local Bus
Free shuttle (cruise line operated) or €1.50 city bus- Most cruise lines operating from Moll Adossat run a complimentary shuttle bus to the city centre (near La Seu Cathedral). Check whether your ship offers this before paying for alternatives. City bus line 1 also runs from the port area to the city centre for €1.50. The EMT bus network covers Palma well if you want to explore further.
Taxi
€10 – €15 to old town; €20 – €30 to beaches further afield- Taxis are available at the terminal exit. The fare to the old town or La Seu is typically €10 – €15. For the popular beach area of Platja de Palma east of the city, expect to pay €20 – €25. Uber does not operate in Mallorca: official taxis are your only option.
Top Excursions
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Book This ExcursionMallorca Southern Cliffs and the Salt Marshes Guided Tour
This route will take us to the southern part of the island, where we will find the most rugged coastline of the island, with impressive cliffs that we will approach to take amazing pictures. Whether you come with your own car, or if you hire our Vip-Trip service, with our communication system betwe
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Mallorca: 5-Hours Hidden Marvels Tour
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Tour Sa Calobra, Torrent de Pareis y Cala Tuent
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Mallorca Shore Excursion Bellver Castle and Cathedral Private Tour
Admire one of the best preserved architectural marvels of medieval times and visit the inside of the Cathedral with your skip-the-line tickets and you'll be stunned by its magnificent interior. Pick up at Hotel or Cruise Terminal.
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Popular excursions from Palma fill up ahead of peak sailings. Compare tours and prices before you sail.
Things to Do in Palma de Mallorca
Palma rewards independent exploration. The cruise terminal sits right on the waterfront, a flat 10 to 15 minute walk (or a €5 to €7 taxi) from the old town, and almost every main sight clusters within a compact area you can cover on foot. La Seu cathedral dominates the skyline from the moment you dock and makes the obvious first anchor for the day.
A well-paced self-guided day works best if you spend the morning on the cultural core, cathedral, palace, Arab Baths, then drift westward into Santa Catalina for lunch, leaving the afternoon free for the Born boulevard and any last-minute browsing before returning to the ship.
- La Seu Cathedral. One of the finest Gothic cathedrals in Europe, built on the waterfront from the 13th century onwards: entry is €9. The extraordinary wrought-iron baldachin canopy over the high altar was designed by Antoni Gaudí during his 1903 to 1915 restoration, his only major work outside Catalonia.
- Dalt Murada Ramparts. The medieval city walls that run alongside La Seu offer a free, elevated promenade with sweeping views over Palma Bay. The walkway links Carrer de la Portella to Carrer de l’Almudaina and takes around 15 unhurried minutes end to end.
- Royal Palace of La Almudaina. The Moorish-origin royal palace sits directly opposite the cathedral; check patrimonionacional.es before sailing as it periodically undergoes renovation. When open, adult entry is around €7, with free admission on the first Sunday of the month.
- Arab Baths (Banys Àrabs). A small but atmospheric 10th-century hammam: the best-preserved Islamic monument on Mallorca: tucked down Carrer de Can Serra 7 in the old town; entry is around €3.50. The garden courtyard alone makes it worth 20 minutes of your time.
- Passeig des Born. Palma’s grand tree-lined boulevard, built on a former riverbed, runs from the old town toward the waterfront and is completely free to stroll. Lined with plane trees, pavement cafés, and boutiques, it is the natural route between the cathedral area and Santa Catalina.
- Santa Catalina & Mercat de Santa Catalina. A ten-minute walk west of the Born, this former fishing quarter is now Palma’s best foodie neighbourhood: Carrer de la Fàbrica and Carrer del Cotoner are lined with tapas bars. The covered market (open Monday to Friday until 17:00, Saturday until 14:00) has 50 stalls and eat-in bars, ideal for a straightforward, authentic lunch.
- Castell de Bellver. A rare circular Gothic castle on a pine-forested hill 3km from the centre, with 360-degree views over Palma Bay; entry €4, free on Sundays. Take EMT bus 50 from the city centre directly to the castle.
- Plaça de la Seu & Waterfront Walk. The open plaza in front of the cathedral, with the Almudaina palace on one side and the bay on the other, is one of the finest urban set-pieces in the Mediterranean and costs nothing to enjoy. The palm-lined Passeig Sagrera runs along the water back toward the cruise terminal, making a pleasant final leg.
The Cathedral of Palma (La Seu) is extraordinary inside: the nave is one of the widest Gothic naves in Europe and the stained glass floods the interior with colour. Entry is €9 and the queue can be long in summer. Arrive early or book ahead online at catedraldemallorca.org. The Gaudí-designed canopy over the altar is a genuine surprise.
Best Restaurants in Palma de Mallorca
La Malvasia
Somos un restaurante de cocina mediterránea en Palma. Nuestra terraza y los gin tonics que servimos nos han convertido en una referencia entre los tardeos del centro de la ciudad. Especialidades: tartar de atún, mini burgers de Angus y tacos de secreto ibérico. Productos frescos
#17 of 2,913 Places to Eat in Palma de Mallorca
View on TripAdvisorForn de Sant Joan
This restaurant is located in the heart of Palma, in the emblematic neighbourhood of La Lonja. FORN is situated in an old finca dating back to the 19th century, which still retains part of its original structure, revealing its history as a bakery from that period.
#60 of 2,913 Places to Eat in Palma de Mallorca
View on TripAdvisorBar Espanya
Bar Espanya, the best tapas bar restaurant in Palma. Lively atmosphere, music, quality wines, craft beers and delicious food.
#71 of 2,913 Places to Eat in Palma de Mallorca
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Getting Around
If your ship runs a free shuttle, the queue to board it back to the ship in late afternoon can be very long: particularly from around 4pm onwards when everyone heads back at once. Either leave the city by 3:30pm or take a taxi (€10 to €15) direct to the terminal to avoid a long wait in the heat.
Essential Travel Tips
Palma’s old town rewards serious wandering. The Arab Baths (Banys Àrabs) on Carrer de Can Serra are a remarkable survival from Moorish times (entry €3), the Almudaina Palace overlooking the cathedral is worth a visit, and the narrow streets of the Santa Catalina neighbourhood just west of the centre have the best independent restaurants and tapas bars.
Palma receives an enormous number of cruise passengers and the narrow old town streets become very congested from mid-morning. If you want to visit the Bellver Castle or Marivent Gardens on the western hillside, do it first thing: both are on the way from the cruise terminal and much quieter in the morning before the main crowds arrive.
Nearby cruise ports: Barcelona, Valencia, and Malaga.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cruise terminal (Moll Adossat) is 3 km west of the old town. Many ships run a free shuttle bus to La Seu Cathedral area: check your daily programme. Alternatively, taxis from the terminal cost €10 to €15, or you can walk the pleasant waterfront promenade in about 40 to 45 minutes.
Yes: once you are in the old town, everything is compact and walkable. La Seu Cathedral, the Royal Palace of La Almudaina, the Arab Baths, and the main shopping streets are all within easy walking distance of each other. Wear comfortable shoes as the old streets are cobbled.
Platja de Palma is the main city beach, about 6 km east of the centre and reached by city bus or taxi (€15 to €20). For something prettier, Cala Major is 5 km west and closer to the cruise terminal. For the stunning coves the island is famous for: Cala d’Or, Cala Pi: you really need a full-day excursion or hire car.
Yes, with planning. Sóller and its mountain railway is a popular day trip (about 30 km north). The Tramuntana mountain villages are beautiful. An organised excursion is easiest, but hiring a car from the terminal or city centre is also straightforward and gives more flexibility.
If you only have 3 to 4 hours, walk from the shuttle drop-off to La Seu Cathedral, spend an hour inside, walk along the old town waterfront to the Passeig des Born, have coffee and an ensaïmada at a terrace café, and browse the streets around the Mercat de l’Olivar before heading back. It is a perfectly satisfying short visit.
Cruise ships dock at the Estación Marítima, about four kilometres west of central Palma. The number 1 city bus runs to the cathedral in 15 minutes for around 5 euros; a taxi takes the same time for around 12. The walk along the Passeig Marítim takes 30 to 40 minutes for those who prefer it on foot.
Cathedral, Old Town, and a Long Lunch in Santa Catalina
Palma is one of the most satisfying city stops in the western Mediterranean: beautiful, food-obsessed, and with enough depth to reward a full day without any sense of having scraped the surface. Book La Seu tickets ahead of your cruise, check whether your ship offers a free shuttle, and leave yourself a comfortable margin for the return journey.
How We Verify Port-Day Details
We aim for practical, low-risk guidance. Before publishing and during updates, we check core planning details against official sources and current operator information.
What We Check
- Berth and terminal details, including whether the port is walkable or requires a transfer
- Transport options and realistic return timing for different port types
- Details that change frequently, such as fares and schedules, with up-to-date notes where relevant
Typical Sources
- Official port authority and terminal updates
- Cruise line port notes and day-of-call instructions
- Local transport operators and official tourism resources