Download the PDF for more information on all the measures that we will carry out during the guided walking tours in Palma to avoid infections and guarantee your health and hygiene and that of our guides.
Download the PDF of our guided tours:
Emblematic Palma - 11 a.m Legends and Modernism - 5 p.m
From Monday till Saturday at 11 A.M and 5 p.m
only with prior reservation
Come to our meeting point in Parc de la Mar, in front of the Tourist Office at 11 a.m and 5 p.m
Duration: 2 hours
IT’S FREE AND FOR EVERYBODY
But we will accept your tips!
It is mandatory to book in advance
*For groups of more than 5 people, contact privately
OUR free tour
Visit the Old Town of Palma at 11 a.m & 5 p.m. Just book your tour, even if it’s raining or snowing, we will always be in Parc de la Mar!
locAL PRODUCT
Expert local guides are entirely devoted with passion and commitment the whole year and full time.
Since 2014
Since 2014 we have been awarded with the TriAdvisor Certificate of Excellence thanks to your reviews. Many thanks to all of you!
Mallorca Free Tour is for the general public and with small groups. Just discover the history and emblematic buildings of the old city of Palma! Furthermore, you will learn about secret places, corners and Majorcan lifestyle. Ask your guide the best places to enjoy the island!
Come at 11 a.m or at 5 p.m in front of the tourist office in Parc de la Mar.
**Just pay attention in front of THE BIG LAKE just below the Cathedral.
Carrer del Moll, 3. 07012 Palma de Mallorca
You can take the bus company TIB number: 102, 104 y 107 from the stop located on Gabriel Roca Avenue in front of the commercial centre of Porto Pí (it is necessary to leave the port area) and get off at the “Catedral” stop.
Also, you can take the urban bus EMT 1 from the port to the Argentina – sa Feixina stop and walk about 5 minutes to the meeting point.
You can take the urban bus EMT A1 and get off at the last stop museum of Es Baluard and walk approximately 8 minutes.
Eulàlia, historian; Carlos, graduated in International Hotel Management and Laureen, Tourism degree, they work full time doing the Free Tour and walking tours since 2014. One of the things we like most is to receive reviews like those.
Since 2014 | rate 9,3 of 364 reviews
Meet our official tour guides!
Our walking tour was with Eulalia , a local Mallorca who is also a very enthusiastic historian and who brought the history of Palma to life for our group of about 10 people. At a leisurely pace, we got to know many quirky things about the place. A very enjoyable 2 hours to get oriented and feel you know about the city. We also asked for a lunch recommendation which we took up and was not disappointed. Thank you Eulalia – Val
We had an extremely informative yet relaxed tour today with Carlos. Our tour was in English and his colleague did a similar tour in Spanish. We have been to Palma before and visited some of the places we were taken to but learned MANY more things about the history of the old town. Well worth doing and took only 2 hours.
Laureen was born to be a guide!. Fantastic tour with Lauren- she said it was her 4th time but I would have never guessed if she hadn’t mentioned- she is extremely knowledgeable and funny at the same time. 2 hours went like 2 minutes! Highly recommended!
In our company we believe that all visitors have the right to enjoy a walking tour and learn about the most important historical places in the old town and your budget won’t be a problem.
The Free Tour works exclusively on tips, our guides are always motivated and ready to satisfy all your expectations, this will also guarantee the quality of the walking tour. In that way, you can choose freely what you want to tip the guide depending on your budget and your level of satisfaction.
Our tour is offered in two languages: Spanish and English. It takes two hours and it starts at 11 a.m in front of the Tourist office, it is located in Parc de la Mar, just down the Cathedral (more information on the map).
We organise a walking tour through the old town of Palma to discover the main streets, historical buildings and hidden places of the city. We only visit the outside of buildings except for the free ones. Now you can see the map with the different stops:
Other places (we don’t visit) or interesting monuments ver en Palma de Mallorca are:
The Mallorca free walking tour will answer the questions what do to and what to see in Mallorca during your holidays on the island.
We suggest you start your journey with us, Mallorca Free Tour and learn about culture and history of Mallorca and start feeling the city and the island as a well-known traveller, who can discover the best places to eat, anecdotes to explain years later and feel the city like a local!
Mallorca Free Tour organises walking tours through the old town of Palma and you will discover what to see and what to do in Palma city and you will learn about our history.
Since the foundation of the Roman city of Palma, its transformation in Madina Mayurqa, one of the greatest cities of Al-Andalus and the Christian reconquest by Jaume I and it became Ciutat de Mallorca, the capital of the Mallorcan Kingdom.
Thanks to this free walking tour, you will visit the main monuments and places of Palma, streets, buildings and hidden places.
A great tour, full of history, anecdotes, curiosities, legends and more thanks to Mallorca Free Tour. Let’s start the tour!
We meet in front of the Tourism Information Office in Parc de la Mar, close to the Cathedral, at 11 a.m. Are you ready to start and discover Palma de Mallorca?.
After the construction of the avenue and the Paseo Marítimo (seaside promenade), there was a huge empty area between the new avenue and the renaissance Wall. For preserving the beautiful memory of the Mediterranean sea lapping the walls and the reflection of the Cathedral above the sea, the Parc de la Mar was built.
The iconic Parc de la Mar is, nowadays, the place where almost all the events take place. It was opened in 1984 after many demonstrations and the people’s pressure shouting: Parc si, Parking no! For its construction, some personalities, such as Joan Miró, took part.
The Parc de la Mar follows the wall and it has a surface of almost 9 hectares, the same than 9 football stadium.
To enjoy the Parc and see Palma, we are waiting for you at 11 a.m in Mallorca Free Tour.
After the Parc de la Mar, in the palatial gardens of S’Hort des Rei, in front of the sculpture Es Foner (slinger), we will do a historical introduction about the evolutions of the city of Palma and then we will stop in front of the Almudaina Palace.
Almudaina is the royal palace or the Muslim citadel of Palma and nowadays it is National Heritage. In Arabic Almudaina means “citadel” or “fortress”.
That area was used by Romans and Muslims and even since the prehistory times! The current palace dates from 1281 and it is a modification of the Muslim citadel.
After the Christian conquest of Mallorca by Jaume I, it became the Headquarter of the Government, almost all the Moorish part was destroyed and it became a gothic palace.
The tower of the Angel is the highest and an angel is working as a weather-vane. It is still working and for that reason in Palma came up a saying: Te pareixes a s’angel del Palau, that means “you seem like the angel of the Palace” and refers to bipolar people.
Another anecdote is, such as the Orient Palace and the Zarzuela Palace both in Madrid, Almudaina Palace is the official summer residence of the royal family, however, they always stay in Marivent Palace and Almudaina Palace is used for receptions and ceremonies.
If you want to know more anecdotes and details about the Almudaina Palace and see Palma, we wait for you at 11 a.m!
Our next stop is located in front of the Palace: the Cathedral of Mallorca.
The Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma de Mallorca, also called the Cathedral of Mallorca, the Cathedral of the Sea, Cathedral of the Light and the Seo in Mallorcan, is full of anecdotes and curiosities.
One of the most stunning details is its reflection above the seawater, being the only one in the world.
Its construction starts with Jaume I, King of Aragon and earl of Barcelona, after the Christian conquest in 1229.
Jaume I promised to Virgin Mary that if he could conquer the island he would build the most stunning temple to her, for that reason he destroyed the former mosque and built our Cathedral, one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world.
The construction of the Cathedral took over 300 years, it was finished in 1601.
It has been restored several times, but the Gaudi’s intervention in 1904 and Miquel Barceló’s in 2007 are the most important restorations.
The rose window stands out for its size, it is known as “ the Eye of the Gothic” and it is about 13 meters diameter, the biggest one of all the cathedrals of the Mediterranean area.
It is formed by 1.236 colour glasses and offers some magical effects, for instance, the “Vuit” (the eight): the 2nd February and the 11th November, during the sunrise, the biggest rose window is projected below the other rose window, located on the west façade forming a magical eight.
We could write a thousand lines about the Cathedral, but we prefer to explain more things about this amazing building during our free tour.
Located very close to the Cathedral, the Jewish quarter is known for its serenity, peace and quietness.
History, mysteries and anecdotes surround the Jewish community of Mallorca, its origin dates back to ancient times
During the Middle and part of the Modern Age, in Palma there were two calls jueus, that refers to the Jewish quarter of the Aragon Kingdom.
The Jewish community of Mallorca came to have about three thousand people (approximately 15% of the total population of the city) during some years of the 14th Century.
In 1391 the peasant riot ended with the assault on the Jewish neighbourhood of the city of Mallorca. Finally, during the “Semana Santa” in 1435, the Jewish community disappeared.
Since the 17th Century, the converted Jews, called Xuetes (used as an insult), were marked until the first half of the 20th century, preventing marriages and relationships.
A lot of history, mysteries and anecdotes surround the Jewish community in Palma de Mallorca. Discover them with Mallorca Free Tour.
The old town of Palma is characterized by a collection of large and small courtyards or patios.
Palma is considered as the city of the courtyards. The old town would not be the same without the patios of the stately homes, a symbol of power and social status. Writers and chroniclers agree in remarking that the architecture of Palma has in these urban houses one of the most important references.
Mallorca, as an island that enjoys a strategic location in the Mediterranean Sea, adopted the construction of residences with courtyards as the most natural way to build, whose origins are based on the houses of Roman, Muslim and Catalan cultures.
A patio is a space located halfway between the street and the house, they all maintained a similar structure and had a social function of “open doors”.
The history of Palma’s courtyards dates back to the 13th Century. The oldest patio dates back to the 14th-15th Centuries. A document from the beginning of the 19th Century extracted from the Public Archive of Palma collects more than 500.
Today they have become institutional buildings, museums and, in many cases, independent houses where the Majorcans live.
They certainly caused and continue to cause admiration in those who have the pleasure to stop to appreciate it like the visitors to the Free Tour.
After visiting the Mallorcan courtyards, we stop in front of the Parish Church of Santa Eulàlia the ancientest parish church of the Balearic Islands and one of the parishes or districts in which “Ciutat de Mallorques” was divided.
It receives the name of the patron saint of Barcelona, quite appreciated by the Catalans. For us, it is an important church of our history and for the Kingdom of Mallorca, because was where Jaume II and Jaume III were crowned.
It was built in the 13th century, but its façade and bell tower was remodelled during the 19th Century, due to the slight earthquake in Mallorca in 1851.
The terraces surrounding the church show us a large number of gargoyles, representing figures of the Middle Age: demons, dragons or fantastic beasts used to protect the temple and frighten sinners.
If you want to see the fear they give, you can check out in Mallorca Free Tour.
We move to our next stop: the centre of Palma. The City hall of Palma is located in the emblematic Plaza de Cort, where firstly the Hospital of San Andrés was placed, later it became the House of the Court of the Kingdom of Majorca and nowadays the City hall.
The Plaza de Cort is considered the kilometre 0 of Majorca, the origin of the roads.
In the centre we find the mythical and immense olive tree of Cort catalogued and protected by law and also transplanted here in 1989 from Pollensa as a symbol of peace.
The current building of the City hall was built between the years 1649 and 1680 as a traditional Mallorcan manor house in the countryside: three decreasing floors topped with a stunning corvel.
On the facade, you can contemplate the balcony, the Rellotge d’en Figuera (clock of Figuera) or the “Bench of lazybones”.
Discover more of the city political life in Majorca Free Tour.
Most of the Mallorcan modernist buildings follow the Catalan modernism trend.
Perhaps the most amazing modernist building of Palma. Located in Plaza Weyler, it was built in 1903 by the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner.
The Grand Hotel was the most luxurious in Spain, until the inauguration of the Ritz (Madrid) in 1910. Innovations and luxuries include elevator, steam heating, running water and electricity.
It remembers us to Casa Batlló in Barcelona (Gaudi’s building). His promoter was José Forteza-Rey who worked as a goldsmith of the cathedral at the same time that Gaudí made the reform (1904-1914).
The history of the building is quite curious: José Forteza Rey built the building for his sons: a pharmacy on the ground floor; a dental clinic on the first floor and the rest as a private residence, the mezzanine was reserved for his own house.
It emphasizes the decorative treatment, the polychrome ceramics of the Mallorcan factory “La Roqueta” and the monstrous or rather painful and suffering face, flanked by two winged dragons located on the second floor and above, the dentist sign “Dental clinic I. F. Rey “, effective and artistic publicity, associating evil with the remedy.
Nearby the house Forteza Rey, we found the building: l’Àguila. It was built in 1908 by the architect Gaspar Bennazar, popularly known as “S’Arquitecte”, among his works also stand out S’Escorxador and the Paseo Sagrera.
The Aguila building has been used as a shopping centre. Nowadays, it has been planned to become a boutique hotel.
Discover more about the old city architecture and what to see in Mallorca with our free walking tour.
Very close to the City hall is the Plaza Mayor, the main square of Palma. There is a local saying that “All roads lead to Plaza Mayor” as “all roads lead to Rome”, and it is the current centre of the city of Palma.
From the Plaza Mayor start the main and busy city streets: San Miguel, Jaime II, via Sindicato, where there are many shops of traditional products, local and jewellery. On Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays there is a handicraft market.
Surrounded by buildings of the 14th Century, it was where the Headquarter of the Inquisition was located until its definitive abolition in 1823, it was a place so dark and lugubrious that local people used to call the “Black House”. Later, the square became a market and after the Civil War, it became a square with fountains and gardens. The square is linked to the Rambla promenade by a staircase.
In 1969, the City Council approves the “Great Reform”, creating the underground shopping centre and parking.
Discover more about the history of Palma and what to see in Mallorca with our Free Tour.
This street is one of the main shopping areas in the centre of Palma. It is a narrow and long street and one of the busiest pedestrian streets.
Sant Miquel street belongs to the most traditional and cosy shopping area, next to Oms Street and Las Ramblas. It could be considered an open-air shopping centre, with plenty of shops, clothing and footwear, accessories, perfumeries, souvenirs, fabrics and Mallorcan embroideries.
In San Miguel, there are local and traditional shops of yesterday such as the historic Valldemossa Embroidery and the well-known Camper shoe shop, and important brands such as Desigual, Mango and Sfera.
In the middle of calle Sant Miquel you will find this parish church, one of the five parish churches of Palma (Santa Eulàlia, Sant Miquel, Sant Jaume, Santa Creu and Sant Nicolau).
Some historians say that the main mosque of the Muslim city of Madina Mayurqa was located right here. According to the tradition, during the Christian conquest of the island, the Archangel Warrior San Miguel appeared helping the Christians and after the conquest, they built a church in honour of Sant Miquel.
The carved portal, the bell tower and the church plant are the only architectural elements that have been preserved from the ancient Gothic church. In 1632 the church suffered a refurbishing and it became a Baroque-style church.
Discover more about the churches of Palma and what to see in Mallorca with our free walking tour.
After walking through the old town we come to the Olivar Market. The markets have become one of the most attractive parts of many cities and the “Mercat de L’Olivar” is the largest and most complete municipal market in Palma.
The building was built in 1951 and it is an illuminated building following the Mediterranean architecture trends. Before to become the market, where it was located the Verge de Olivar nunnery.
Variat means “mix” and it is a combination of dishes from Mallorcan cuisine in the same dish, you can taste it in this market, being one of the main reasons to visit it.
Discover more about the Mallorcan food and what to see in Mallorca with our Free Tour.
As in other cities, the Plaza de España is characterized as a neuralgic point of Palma communications.
Many avenues, streets and squares converge here, it is a perfect point to finish the tour of Mallorca Free Tour and to go to eat to any of the restaurants that we found in the surroundings. Depending on your tastes, do not hesitate to ask our guides on where to go to eat well.
In Plaza España is the equestrian statue in honour of Jaime I, the Conqueror, it was inaugurated January 20, 1927.
It is said that depending on how the legs of the horse are placed, you can know how the horseman died: the four on the ground floor would mean natural death, one leg raised died due an illness, disease or wounded in a battle and two legs raised mean that the horseman died in combat. But it seems that this is but a myth.
Discover more stories, history and legends with our free walking tour.
Differents plans to enjoy your stay on the island. Discover beaches, places to eat, hidden places, etc.
Our company was born with the idea that in Mallorca is not just sun and beach. We invite everybody to discover the city of Palma de Mallorca and try our walking tours with the best official and local guides.
We believe that the best option to discover a city is walking around. Our guides will explain to you the history, customs and traditions of this wonderful island. Moreover, our walking tours mix different anecdotes, legends and curiosities about our local culture.
If you are enjoying your holidays in Mallorca or spending a cruise day, do not hesitate to try our walking tour. Doing our entertaining and cultural Free Tour for all the public is the best option to learn in a short time the most important things of Palma de Mallorca.
Our guides are properly certified and qualified according to the local regulation of the Balearic Islands.
They will show you Palma de Mallorca in a fun and different way including anecdotes, curiosities and history of every corner of the town. Furthermore, they will be pleased to help you and giving you advice about your stay in Mallorca.
INFO
Español
