You step off the bus at the top of the old town and the first thing you notice is the light: hard, white, bouncing off the sandstone. Palma rewards a slow walker. The city is compact enough that you can cross it on foot in an afternoon, and much of what is worth your time sits in the open air, on squares and along the waterfront, rather than behind a ticket desk.
This guide suits anyone planning a short break built around strolling, looking and pausing rather than rushing between ticketed interiors. It covers the named sights and public artworks in the city, and strings them into a single day you can actually walk.
What follows is deliberately short. Only places we can vouch for are listed, so you will find fewer entries than a typical city guide, and each one is worth the detour.
Top things to do in Palma
1. Antoni Maura (memorial)
A memorial in the city honouring Antoni Maura. It is a natural first stop, because it puts you in the middle of Palma's street life rather than inside a building, and it gives you a fixed point to navigate from for the rest of the day.
Come in the morning, when the surrounding streets are quieter and the light is at its best for reading the monument. Use it as your starting marker, then work outward on foot.
2. Ramon Llull (memorial)
A memorial to Ramon Llull, one of the city's most significant historical figures. Like the Maura memorial, it is a piece of the city's public landscape rather than an enclosed attraction, which makes it easy to fold into a walk.
Pair it with the Antoni Maura memorial in the same outing, since both are monuments in the city and can be seen on a single loop. Late afternoon is a good time, when the heat has eased.
3. es Foner (artwork)
A public artwork in the city. It is the kind of piece you come across rather than queue for, and it rewards a few minutes of looking rather than a guided tour.
Combine it with the memorials above so that your walk has a shape. Check the piece from more than one angle before moving on.
4. Nancy (artwork)
Another public artwork in Palma, and a good companion to es Foner. Seeing the two in the same afternoon gives you a sense of how the city treats art in its open spaces.
Visit it on the same walk as es Foner, and leave time to sit nearby rather than treating it as a quick photograph stop.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start at the Antoni Maura (memorial) while the streets are still calm, and use it to orient yourself. From there, walk to the Ramon Llull (memorial), which sits naturally on the same circuit.
Afternoon. After a break, turn to the city's public art. See es Foner (artwork) first, then continue to Nancy (artwork), taking your time at each rather than hurrying between them.
Evening. Return to the area around the Antoni Maura (memorial) as the light softens, and end the day there. It is a fitting place to finish, with the day's walk closing where it began.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need for these sights?
One day is enough to see the memorials and artworks listed here at an unhurried pace, since they are all in the city and can be linked on foot.
Are these places indoors or outdoors?
They are monuments and public artworks in the city, so plan for walking and for the weather rather than for timed entry slots.
Can I see them all in one walk?
Yes. The Antoni Maura (memorial), Ramon Llull (memorial), es Foner (artwork) and Nancy (artwork) can all be combined into a single day, as set out in the plan above.
Decide on your dates, book your travel, and let the walk above shape your first day in Palma.