July 13, 2026 — 3:06pmThis fine old town rewards idle wandering, but you’d do even better to get out and explore the island’s highly scenic interior.Who goes thereCruising to Palma.A great many cruise ships big and small sail the Mediterranean, and most will call in at Mallorca on some itineraries, sometimes on wider Mediterranean cruises, but mostly on those that stick to its western half and visit ports in Spain, France, Malta and Italy. Azamara, Carnival, Celebrity, Cunard, Disney, Oceania, Princess and Silversea are but a sample of the variety.Sail on inThe Bay of Palma is wide and open, so you don’t get an intimate approach. Still, the view is lovely – certainly far better than that of your stateroom ceiling, so get yourself out of bed and onto deck. White apartment blocks sit against serrated blue mountains. Harbour fortifications and a hilltop castle catch the sun as the ship manoeuvres, and Palma’s huge seafront cathedral swings into view.Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletterGet exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now.Berth ritesThe Estacion Maritima has various minor facilities such as snack bars and, if you get beyond onto the main waterfront, plenty more restaurants and bars, shops and a supermarket. A fine seaside promenade goes all the way into the old town, but is six kilometres long, sweltering hot and noisy with traffic – not as agreeable as it might appear on a map. Take a cruise shuttle, public bus, or hop-on hop-off tourist service.Going ashorePalma Cathedral.The Gothic cathedral, summer castle of the kings of Mallorca, and 10th-century Arab bathhouse are the main historical sights of the old town, though all relatively modest if you’ve already overdosed on such buildings in Europe. The best thing to see is the Miro Foundation. Spanish surrealist artist Joan Miro lived in Mallorca from 1956 until his death in 1983 and left behind a wonderful collection of paintings and drawings.Don’t missThe waterfront fronting the cathedral and palace is stunning, especially if you get there early when a low sun highlights the orange stonework of the architectural ensemble. The whole old town is charming so, although it has no outstanding sights, you could quite happily spend your day wandering its alleys and shopping streets.Get activePalma Old Town wall.The long and attractive seafront promenade does provide no better place for jogging, and you can indulge in various water sports on any of the island’s many beaches. There are abundant golf courses – four just at Arabella Golf Mallorca just a 20-minute taxi ride from the cruise port. However, the best way to get physical is to go hiking, because the mountains are spectacular.Best bitesYou’d think an island would be renowned for seafood, but in Mallorca pork is king. Its best-known dish is pork loin wrapped in cabbage leaves and topped with tomatoes, pine nuts and grapes. Sausages with a slight bite from paprika are a more rustic pork dish. Expect variations on a combination of potatoes, eggplant and red capsicums as supporting dishes – curiously heavy stuff for a hot Mediterranean island, but delicious. You won’t be short of places to eat, with restaurants and cafés at every corner.Further afieldThe well-touristed island has abundant excursion choices, with some cruise lines offering 10 or more. Among them are visits to Drach Caves that house the world’s largest known underground lake, kayaking on the west coast, wine tasting, and a visit to inland town Valldemossa in the World Heritage-listed Serra de Tramuntana mountains, whose every hairpin bend reveals medieval villages and drystone terraces of olive trees. You can also be transferred to various beaches but, on an island this beautiful, why would you?From our partners