A Weekend in Palma

11/7/2018

Palma, the largest city and the jewel in the crown of the Balearic islands, is only a stone's throw (or more like 100 miles or so) off the coast of mainland Spain. Easily accessible from all over Europe, Mallorca is a popular holiday destination with a lot to offer; and best of all, it's only a two and a half hour flight from the UK.

A classy city and swathed in culture, there is more to Palma than meets the eye. I don't know about you, but when I first imagine Mallorca, I think of Magaluf and all inclusive sun holidays; if that's what you're into then by all means take advantage! But for me, there's a lot more to see and do on this marvellous island (alongside a few cocktails!).

The charming narrow streets of Palma old town are bursting with traditional tapas restaurants and trendy cocktail bars to unwind in, so for a great start I'd recommend heading to Hotel Almudaina's Sky bar. This place is a hidden gem which boasts impressive views of the terracotta rooftops below, and further to that, the glistening waves of the Med. Almudaina is located on Avenida de Jaume III, not far from El Corte Ingles department store; it's easy to miss so keep an eye out.

If cocktails aren't your thing then follow the streets downhill to the marina or La Seu cathedral. Palma's gothic "Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma" began construction in 1229 by King James I of Aragon, but wasn't completed until almost 400 years later, in 1601. The building also heralds a large canopy designed by Gaudi in the 1900's. This gothic structure is undeniably worth a visit, even if religious buildings aren't of interest to you. Looking around the city, you can see Gaudi's influence over many of the old buildings, and there is a "mini Barcelona" feel to the place. Palma is very much reminiscent of the Catalan capital, and in particular the tree-lined shopping street Passeig del Born has a much smaller, but striking resemblance to Las Ramblas. What's nice about Palma is that although it has a city feel, all of the main attractions are easily circumnavigated on foot.

I could wander the streets of Palma for hours, without any real aim. I think it's important in any trip to take some time out and just walk - not heading for anywhere in particular, and you never know what you'll stumble upon. I find it refreshing, taking in your surroundings, and I'm a particular fan of quaint traditional Spanish streets; they're ideal if you like taking photos. With this city, I felt a strong juxtaposition between the Old Town and the beachfront - they seemed very distinct from one another and could easily have been different towns; not that this is a bad thing - they do say that "variety is the spice of life" after all!

After our daytime stroll, we headed down to the sea and relaxed with a drink at Anima Beach. This bar is, as aptly named, right on the beach, and is surprisingly serene considering the location. It's got an upmarket feel to it (and upmarket prices!) and serves an array of Spanish and Mediterranean food. It's a nice place with pleasant views of the sea, it's also one of the only places to go to in the immediate vicinity; so unless you fancy a walk back along towards the marina area, I'd highly suggest a rest stop here. The walk back into the city is appeasing and made even more interesting by the spectacular views of La Seu, which can be seen from most places in Palma (the cathedral looks even more magnificent when it's lit up at night!).

For night time drinks, the sea front area, near to the marina is a great place to start. There are numerous bars which offer live music and entertainment, although the city's nightlife isn't overly busy on a weeknight. Who can go wrong with cocktails and a great view though? For the second night of our break, we hit the British stereotype nail right on the head and got a taxi into Magaluf for some really cheap drinks. The Magaluf strip is exactly as you'd expect; Brits abroad - nevertheless it was a fun night out. If you do go here, bear in mind that it doesn't get busy until after midnight; we arrived early as we didn't know this, but there are some lovely bars on the beach front which aren't as rowdy as the rest of the resort.

Overall, Mallorca is a picture-perfect postcard island and has a variety of things to see and do for everyone, best of all, it's so accessible from the UK with reasonably priced flights and accommodation.