One day in Palma de Mallorca
Officially Germany consists of 16 federal states, but unofficially we all know that it´s 17, counting Mallorca as one of them. Especially during summer, the Germans beleaguer the Spanish Island, drinking Sangria, flirting or just enjoying the nice weather, which we don´t have a lot in “real” Germany.
Even though I thought that Palma de Mallorca might be a nice city, I had some prejudices. I mean it wasn´t my first choice travel destination, to be honest. In my imagination, I saw drunk people making out with each other, while dancing to German Volksmusik (there isn´t even a proper translations for this kind of music).
Nevertheless, I was happy to see the city and open for new experiences. Right after leaving the airport building I was happy anyway, because of nice and warm weather. And all my prejudices were gone in an instant…
Palma in one day
With a population of 399.093, Palma is not a big city and it is manageable to see a lot in just one day. You can even have a walk and visit all historic sites by foot.
After spending a whole day in Palma, I count myself as a fan. I especially liked the atmosphere – quiet, historic and very clean. I don´t know the city during summer, when all the tourists are wandering through the streets, but during autumn it was just amazing.
Still, I wouldn´t choose Palma as a typical travel destination because of the size and opportunities and due to the fact that I´m neither a beach nor a Ballermann person. For me it is the perfect place for one or two days. Of course, this is only true for Palma. Mallorca itself offers a lot of beautiful sights and next time I will rent a car and see the whole Island. Mallorca, you will see me again!
Catedral de Mallorca
What a beautiful church! I already saw it from the seaside and thought, “hmm, this is bigger than I expected”. However, the size alone is not what it makes such a beautiful building, but the architecture and location. This is definitively a must-see in Palma de Mallorca. Even though, you have to be blind or incredibly drunk to overlook this big colossus.
Tip: Even if you have to pay admission charge, you definitively should go inside!
Baños Árabes
Don´t expect a breathtaking building or ruin, because it´s not. Nevertheless, this place is a historic location as it is one of the few remaining examples of Muslim architecture in Palma. It dates back to a period between the 10th and 12th centuries and the Baños Árabes were built by recycling capitals from previous periods. It is a quiet place with a nice garden and if you ask me, it is worth a visit.
Through the alleys of Palma
I liked the historic sights of the city, such as the cathedral or baños árabes. But I liked the small alleys and streets even better. There was a special atmosphere I find difficult to describe. It might be a result of low season, where streets are empty and tourists are few. What surprised me most was the cleanliness of the city – no cigarette ends, no waste on the streets. So, just wandering through the alleys of Palma is definitely a must-do.
Passeig Del Born
Lined with a selection of shops, such as H&M, Zara or Louis Vuitton, this promenade in the center of Palma is a good starting point for a shopping tour. And don´t miss the small alleys nearby, with their small boutiques and unusual shops. Especially nice is the area around the church Església de Sant Nicolau.
Julia Andrea 