Palma de Mallorca Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Tour

Palma Cathedral and the Royal Palace of La Almudaina

The tour starts at Stop 1, on the avenue just below the Royal Palace of La Almudaina and Palma Cathedral, the two great landmarks of the city. The cathedral, known as La Seu, is a vast Gothic church begun in the 13th century on the site of the old main mosque, with one of the largest rose windows in the world. Its golden sandstone walls rise straight above the old sea walls and the Parc de la Mar lake.

Next door, La Almudaina was first a Moorish fortress-palace and later a royal residence; it is still used today for official ceremonies and can be visited inside. Hop off here at the start or end of your loop to spend one or two hours exploring both buildings and the narrow streets behind them. This is the heart of any Palma city tour.

Old town markets, La Rambla and Plaza de España

From the cathedral, the bus climbs into the commercial heart of Palma. Plaça del Mercat is surrounded by elegant early 20th-century modernist buildings, while La Rambla, a tree-lined promenade, is famous for its colourful flower stalls. Nearby, the Olivar Market is the best place in the city to see Mallorcan produce, from fresh fish and seafood to cheeses, olives and almonds.

Plaza de España is the city's main transport hub, with the train station for the historic railway to Sóller and the airport bus. The route then passes Porta des Camp, one of the old city gates, before heading down to the sea. If you plan to explore the old town on foot, these stops are the most convenient places to hop off and back on.

Bellver Castle, Palma's round castle

Bellver Castle stands on a pine-covered hill about three kilometres west of the centre and is one of the most unusual castles in Europe: it is entirely circular, built in the early 14th century around a round courtyard, with a separate tower linked by a bridge. From its roof terrace you enjoy one of the finest views over Palma, the port and the whole bay. Inside, the city history museum displays finds from Roman and Moorish times.

Bellver Castle opening hours are usually Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00 in winter and until 19:00 from April to September, and Sundays and holidays from 10:00 to 15:00; it is closed on Mondays. With our default option, your castle entry can even be used on a different day from the bus ride. Allow about an hour for the visit.

The Spanish Village (Poble Espanyol)

The Spanish Village is an open-air complex built in the 1960s that recreates famous buildings, streets and squares from across Spain at a smaller scale. Walking through its lanes, you pass Andalusian patios, Castilian towers, Catalan facades and Mudéjar details, giving a quick, colourful picture of the country's architectural styles in one place.

It is a pleasant, quiet visit of about an hour, ideal for families and photographers. The Spanish Village opening hours are usually 10:00 to 18:00 from April to October and 9:00 to 17:00 from November to March. With our default ticket you choose entry either here or at Bellver Castle, so many travellers pick the castle for its views and the village if it is a Monday, when the castle is closed.

Paseo Marítimo, the port and the Maritime Museum

The bus follows the Paseo Marítimo, Palma's palm-lined seafront, with views of the marina, the old windmills of Es Jonquet and the yachts moored in the harbour. Further on, the route reaches the cruise and ferry terminals at the Maritime Station, making this tour very practical for cruise passengers with a day in port.

With our default option you can join a guided visit to the Maritime Museum on Tuesdays and Saturdays; ask at the bus stop for the times. A full loop of the route takes about 90 minutes without stopping, with buses leaving Stop 1 about every 30 minutes between 10:00 and early evening. Is the Palma hop-on hop-off bus worth it? For a first visit, it is the easiest way to see the city's main sights in a single day.