• Balearic Islands,  Mallorca,  Spain

    Palma de Mallorca: 7 reasons to fall in love with the most charming city in the Mediterranean

    Palma de Mallorca


    *Arcticle contains affiliate links


    Palma de Mallorca, the capital of Mallorca, is the perfect combination of historical charm, natural beauty and modern convenience. This city completely captured our hearts – and no wonder! Palma’s versatility makes it an ideal holiday destination for beach holidaymakers, culture seekers and foodies alike. I first visited Palma ten years ago on a day trip and fell in love with the city so much that I swore I would come back again. Now I did and my love for it continued. I swore again, that I would come back again.


    Here are 7 reasons why you too should fall in love with this Mediterranean treasure:

    1. La Seu Cathedral: The heart and soul of Palma

    The first reason can be found right by the sea: Palma’s iconic La Seu Cathedral. This Gothic masterpiece is an impressive sight both from the outside and inside. The interior of the church features soaring vaults and colorful stained glass windows that shine beautifully in the sunlight. Gaudí’s stunning modernist additions add to the cathedral’s unique charm. The setting of the cathedral, with the sea sparkling in the background, is especially unforgettable. For us, this experience was one of the highlights of our trip. There is a queue here always, so I recommend getting skip-the-line entry to the cathedral in advance here.

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    La Seu Cathedral Palma de Mallorca
    La Seu Cathedral
    La Seu Cathedral Palma de Mallorca


    2. TURQUOISE SEA VIEWS AND MAGICAL BEACH DAYS

    Palma would not be complete without its beautiful beaches. One of our most unforgettable days was a day at the beach on Palma’s white sandy beach, Palma Beach. The turquoise sea, clear sky and perfect softness of the sand created the perfect beach atmosphere and allowed us to forget our everyday worries and anxieties. A day at the beach was exactly the relaxation you need on holiday – and the sea was so invitingly clear that it felt almost impossible to get out of the water. The long beach boulevard was a great place to walk and admire the scenery – the city on one side and the sea on the other. Pretty nice, right?

    Palma beach
    Palma beach
    Palma beach


    3. NARROW STREETS OF THE OLD TOWN AND ITS CHARMING BOUTIQUES

    Palma’s old town is like stepping back in time. Its winding alleys, beautiful stone houses and small boutiques are calling you to explore. We spent several hours walking these historic streets, admiring hidden courtyards and stopping in at small boutiques and cafes. The atmosphere of the area is charming and authentic, and somehow full of surprises – around every corner there is a new beautiful building or view. I love wandering around old parts of the city and getting lost in their depths and vibe! A fun walking tour with a local guide is a great way to get to know Palma’s old town, so book a tour here for your next trip.

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    Palma old town
    Palma old town
    Palma old town


    4. A LOT OF HISTORY AND CULTURE

    Palma is full of history. In the city you can explore the Banys Àrabs, walk along the historic walls or visit the Bellver Castle, which offers stunning views over the city and the sea. Past and present merge harmoniously in Palma, making the city a fascinating destination for culture lovers. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to see everything, so here’s another reason to come back. Again. Discover the sights of Palma de Mallorca easily and conveniently, on foot like we did or on the Hop on Hop off bus!

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    Palma de Mallorca view


    5. DELICIOUS FOOD AND AMAZING RESTAURANTS

    Palma is a foodie’s dream destination. The city’s restaurant offerings range from authentic tapas to modern fine dining experiences. Dinners on the charming terraces of the old town are an experience you won’t forget. We feasted at several different restaurants and cafes during our trip, but my personal favorite was definitely the Gaudi Terraza Cafe in the old town. I recommend booking a table in advance via the Fork App, as you can get up to 50% off here and at many other restaurants (discounts and dates vary). Use my code “8245F67D” and you’ll get 100 Yums discount points to redeem on the app!

    Gaudi Terraza Cafe Palma de Mallorca


    6. SHOPPING FOR EVERYONE

    Palma combines modern shops with local artisan boutiques. In the old town, small designer stores and unique boutiques invite you to explore, while the Passeig des Born boulevard offers luxury brands and stylish cafes. We didn’t spend a lot of time shopping and browsing clothing stores this time, and we only took one pair of long pants with us on the whole trip. Maybe too practical and budget-friendly – ​​Well, that’s how it turned out. This time we invested more in good food and experiences, but Palma is full of great shopping opportunities for those who want it.

    Palma shopping


    7. PALMA OFFERS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

    Palma is not just one thing – it is everything. The city is historic, trendy, relaxing and vibrant at the same time. In addition to beach days and sightseeing, you can spend your time walking in beautiful parks or cycling along the coastal path. The appeal of Palma lies in its ability to offer something for everyone, at least in my opinion a perfect ten!

    Palma buildings


    PALMA – THE CITY WHERE A WEEK IS NOT ENOUGH

    Our experience in Palma was full of beauty, diversity and a relaxed atmosphere. The city seems to offer something new with every visit, and after our week-long holiday we felt like we hadn’t seen it all. Not yet! Palma is definitely a city you want to return to – again and again.

    If you are looking for a destination that combines everything you could want from a perfect holiday, Palma de Mallorca is the place for you. It combines sun and beaches with interesting cities. Go and experience it for yourself and fall in love with this most charming city in the Mediterranean!

    Palma old town


    CHECK OUT THE BEST ACTIVITIES AND GUIDED TOURS IN PALMA DE MALLORCA:


    HAVE YOU BEEN TO MALLORCA? SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES AND THOUGHTS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW! 🙂

    <3: Tiina Johanna

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    *Photos: Tiina Johanna, blogger

  • Balearic Islands,  Mallorca,  Spain

    Mallorca in September is a perfect destination

    soller mallorca


    *In collab with: airBaltic, contains affiliate links


    Mallorca in September is the perfect holiday destination for anyone who loves the sun, beautiful seascapes and the lively Mediterranean atmosphere. Mallorca in September has something special – warmth, colours, history and a touch of adventure. From the very first step onto the warm soil of the island, it felt like the holiday was going to be unforgettable again. It felt strangely the same as exactly 10 years ago when we travelled to Mallorca for the first time to celebrate my birthday.

    MALLORCA IN SEPTEMBER – PERFECT TIME OF THE YEAR

    September is the perfect time in Mallorca. The weather is still warm, but a little cooler than the hottest months of summer. The sun is no longer as scorching as in midsummer, but it is still wonderfully gentle and the sea water was like warm milk (at least in Palma). September is still part of the high season and there are tourists, but a little less than in July-August. This suited us just fine. Our trip included wonderful coffee moments in cute cafes, culture, beaches, a little history and a suitable dose of party atmosphere – exactly what a holiday should be. On almost every street corner I exclaimed with joy to my husband that I also have a picture of this place from 10 years ago – and this! It was wonderful to see Mallorca with new eyes, and not much had changed in all these years.


    TRAVEL DIRECTLY FROM YOUR HOME TOWN AIRPORT

    We set off for the first time directly from our home airport in Tampere. The Latvian airline airBaltic is now flying more and more flights to different destinations from Tampere, and this was the perfect opportunity for us to get to know the airline and their travel offerings. We wanted to try traveling so-called easily and effortlessly for once, because for us it always involves traveling to another city’s airport first. Today, airBaltic offers direct flights from Tampere to, for example, Mallorca, Paris, Rhodes and the Canary Islands. Hopefully, in the future, to other places too!

    The flight was comfortable and the plane felt cozy and spacious. Coffee and tea were included in the service, and you can order meals for your flight in advance, the selection of which is the largest I have ever come across. There are breakfast options, lunch, snacks and dinner, not to mention desserts. The taste was good for airplane food, heh.

    airBaltic Tampere
    Flying with airBaltic from Tampere Airport
    airBaltic food
    Meals included delicious desserts
    airBaltic Mallorca


    The vibe of Palma and the warmth of the sun

    Our first impressions under the sun were exactly what we had hoped for. During our first few days in Palma, we were able to admire the beautiful sights, enjoy the smell of the sea and the stunning views of the harbour. As we walked through the narrow alleys of the old town, every little boutique and café invited us to sit down and enjoy the little pleasures of life. The architecture of the city, especially Palma Cathedral, La Seu, was breathtaking – that ancient masterpiece sparkled in the sun and reminded us of our trip to the island 10 years ago. It was still as beautiful as it was then.

    Last time we only visited Palma on a day trip, so this time I wanted to spend most of the trip here this time. I fell in love with the atmosphere of the capital even then and for good reason. Palma is stunning! This time I also got my first taste of the beaches on the southern side of the island and although Palma’s beach is no match for the island’s picturesque coves, the sea water was beautifully turquoise and wonderfully warm. A great change from the cold waves of Portugal.

    Palma old town
    Palma old town
    Palma beach
    Palma beach boardwalk
    La Seu Cathedral Palma
    La Seu Cathedral
    Palma views


    A day trip to the village of Soller – like from a Postcard

    One of the highlights of the trip was definitely a day trip to the village of Soller and its lovely harbor, Puerto de Soller. Soller is easily accessible from Palma by public transportation, such as by bus or by the iconic old wooden train. We took the bus from Palma to Soller, because the old wooden train, which is popular with tourists, was basically too expensive for our budget and would not have been a worthwhile experience. At least that’s what I read online beforehand and I concluded the same myself. You could pay for the cheap bus ride with a contactless payment, and in Mallorca, paying with a card is cheaper than paying with cash.

    The scenery during the bus ride was incredibly beautiful: olive groves, citrus orchards and mountain views. Once we arrived in the village of Soller, time seemed to have stopped. The narrow streets, beautiful houses and the village’s small market were like something straight out of a postcard. Soller is a truly cute village in the middle of the mountains and makes a great day trip destination.

    A small humorous addition to this idyll, however, was the amount of tourism – Even in September Soller is not wonderfully quiet, and unfortunately we shared the views of this dreamy village with many other tourists. This inevitably crushed our vibe a little bit, as every place in this small village was full of tourists and the traffic jams between Soller and Puerto de Soller were already too much for us. The roads were completely clogged with rental cars and this normally short distance took at least an hour, if not more.

    Soller
    Soller
    Soller
    Charming Soller streets
    Puerto de Soller
    Puerto de Soller


    Birthday in Alcudia – Just as memorable as 10 years ago

    The highlight of the trip was my 35th birthday in Alcudia. I arrived in Alcudia full of nostalgia, because exactly 10 years ago I also celebrated my 25th birthday there. The travel partner had changed, the last time it was my mother and now my husband. Both were still good company. 🙂

    How legendary it was to return to the same place, 10 years later, to celebrate again. The old town of Alcudia was just as beautiful as I remembered and I renewed few favorite photos in the same places, because nothing had changed (except me). The kilometers long beach of Alcudia was still just as amazing and even though this time we weren’t in a five-star all-inclusive beach hotel, we went to the beach to spend unforgettable moments and enjoy the sun in a different style. I also spotted our hotel from 10 years ago, which I had to send a picture of to my mother. Somehow I remembered that it would have been bigger.

    Alcudia old town
    Alcudia old town
    Alcudia old town
    Alcudia old town streets
    Alcudia port
    Port of Alcudia
    Alcudia beach
    Alcudia beach

    Alcudia seemed a bit more touristy than I remembered, except for the old town. Fortunately, when going from the hotel area towards the old town, you could enjoy a bit of the local way of life and a different atmosphere. Well, that’s what you get when you book your hotel in the middle of a large hotel area without thinking too much, i.e. your own fault (+bad memory). I usually prefer something more personal, but for the sake of my birthday we wanted to try something a little bigger.

    Our hotel Garden Holiday Village was a cozy and peaceful four-star bungalow hotel a short walk from the beach and a little further away from the old town. We were upgraded to a suite for my birthday and this was a great surprise. The hotel setting was cozy and the pool area was absolutely amazing. There were three pools and different types of sun loungers, and there was also a jacuzzi next to them. The breakfast was also extensive and good, which I think is always important when staying at a hotel. Special points for the great staff, as they were really nice and helpful with everything.

    Garden Holiday Village Hotel Alcudia
    Birthday cheers
    Birthday cake
    My sweet birthday cake <3


    AN UNFORGETTABLE JOURNEY DEMANDS US TO RETURN

    Overall the trip was a very successful experience and there was still a lot left to see. Mallorca has a lot of wonderful places to experience, and our time just wasn’t enough for everything. I don’t mind, because I would love to return to this beautiful island again. The capital of Palma still remains a favorite and next time I hope to explore the island’s wonderful nature and various beach coves, which this time were left waiting for even more favorable times. Palma, Soller and Alcudia will have their own articles later, so stay tuned if you want to experience these Mallorcan vibes even more deeply!

    CHECK OUT THE BEST ACTIVITIES AND GUIDED TOURS AROUND MALLORCA ISLAND:


    Alcudia Mallorca

    Have you been to Mallorca? What were your favourite locations? What would you recommend for our next trip to the island? Share everything in the comments! 🙂

    <3: Tiina Johanna

    Remember to follow me on Social media!
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    *Photos: Tiina Johanna, blogger