Palma's old town is a dense web of medieval lanes and grand squares, best explored on foot, connecting Gothic mansions, tapas bars, and boutique shopping streets.
Palma's grandest boulevard, lined with plane trees, Modernist mansions, and high-end boutiques, runs from Plaça de la Reina toward the old town center. Once a jousting ground and later the site of a medieval stream, it's now the city's premier promenade for an evening stroll or people-watching from a café terrace. The street connects easily to the cathedral, Almudaina Palace, and Sa Llotja quarter.
This 15th-century former merchants' exchange, with its elegant spiral columns and crenellated roofline, is one of the finest examples of Gothic civil architecture in Spain. Now used as an exhibition hall, the building anchors the Sa Llotja neighborhood, one of Palma's liveliest areas for evening tapas and bars, especially along Carrer de Sant Joan. The adjacent seafront promenade offers views toward the marina.
This arcaded 19th-century square, built over the site of a former Inquisition headquarters, forms the social heart of Palma's old town. Underground, the Plaça Major Market hall sells local crafts and produce, while the square above hosts artisan stalls, street performers, and cafés. It's a natural starting point for exploring the surrounding tangle of shopping streets, including Carrer de Sant Miquel and Carrer Sindicat.
Home to Palma's Baroque town hall (Ajuntament), this small square is shaded by a centuries-old olive tree, one of the city's informal landmarks. The town hall facade features an ornate carved eave typical of Mallorcan civic architecture. Just steps from the cathedral, it's a natural pause point on any old-town walking route and a popular photo spot around the ancient olive tree.
Palma's palm-lined waterfront promenade stretches for several kilometers along the bay, connecting the old town and cathedral to the yacht-filled Porto Pi marina and Bellver Castle hill. Popular with joggers, cyclists, and evening strollers, it offers unbroken views of the cathedral silhouette across the water and is especially striking at sunset. Bike rental stands are available at several points along the route.