Palma Plaza Mayor

Built on the site of a medieval convent and the former headquarters of the Spanish Inquisition, today Plaza Mayor is all about leisure. After strolling around or browsing market stalls, people-watch over a coffee or sangria as you admire the elegant ocher-coloured townhouses and colonnades that line the square.

Taking a tour offers the advantage of a guide’s commentary and directions around Palma’s maze-like Old Town. Time-crunched travelers can choose private or group walks that focus on Plaza Mayor and other essential landmarks like Palma Cathedral, while foodies can pair guided walks with a traditional Mallorcan meal or tapas. The square also features on combo tours that include sightseeing plus a Bay of Palma cruise.

• Plaza Mayor is ideal for travelers wanting to shop, dine, and relax in Palma’s Old Town.

• The square is stroller and wheelchair friendly, with an elevator leading from an underground car park below.

• Restaurants on the side streets surrounding the plaza are generally lower priced and less touristy.

Midway between the Palma Cathedral and Parc de ses Estacions, the plaza is easy to reach on foot and public transport. The surrounding traffic-free lanes make walking there easy, and city buses and Palma hop-on hop-off bus hop tours pull up nearby. Drivers can also park in the paid underground parking lot directly beneath the square.

The plaza really comes to life in summer, when cafe tables spill outdoors and local artists and street entertainers ply their crafts. A market fills the square each morning except on Sundays and Wednesdays, while free concerts beneath illuminated colonnades are offered on select evenings.

There’s plenty of history to absorb around Plaza Mayor. Head to its western end to imagine the “Black House”— the long-gone building that was the base of the Spanish Inquisition’s dreaded persecutions between the 15th and 18th centuries. Walk southward from the square to see Saint Eulalia Church, one of the oldest in Palma and known for its stunning rose window and roof terrace with stellar city views.