Palma comes as a surprise to many people - it is stylish, sophisticated, intimate yet bursting with life. Half of Mallorca's population live here, enjoying the island's best restaurants, shops and nightlife as well as a thriving arts scene and a lively cafe society. It is often compared to Barcelona for it's architecture and it is an equally desirable destination for a city break.
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The good, the bad and the ugly sides of Mallorcas tourist development meet along a 25-km stretch of coast. Tacky resorts sit next to exclusive retreats, it seems that everyone wants a slice of Palma Bay. One moment you can be in Portals Nous, with its chic marina crammed with millionaires' yachts, the next in seedy Magaluf, all British pubs and wet T-shirt contests.
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The main shopping areas in Palma are Avinguda Jaume III and the Passeig des Born for up-market boutiques, and the pedestrian streets around Placa Major for small specialist shops. There is also a modern shopping mall and hypermarket complex - the Centro Comercial Porto Pi - 2km from the centre. For the shopper, the relatively small size of Palma is of great advantage.
read more in... Shopping & the Markets in Palma de Mallorca (Majorca)
Most of the main sights are located within the area bounded by the old walls, especially to the north and east of the cathedral. Wander along any alley in the ancient Arab quarter, peering through wrought-iron gates and heavy wooden doors, and you will be rewarded with glimpses of one magnificent patio after another, with their stone staircases, galleries and arcades. You have not truly seen Palma until you have surveyed it from the waterfront, with the cathedral and Almudaina palace rising proudly above the defensive walls of the old city, their golden sandstone lit up by the afternoon sun.
read more in... Sightseeing in Palma de Mallorca (Majorca)
This walk starts in Placa d' Espanya and passes close to all of Palma's main sights. Begin by heading for Mercat Olivar, where you can look round the market. Leave via Placa Olivar and turn left into Carrer Sant Miguel. Soon you reach Placa Major with its outdoor cafés and street entertainers. Continue across the square and fork right into Carrer Jaume II.
read more in... City Walks around Palma de Mallorca (Majorca)
