Palma is noticeably less expensive than Barcelona or Nice for an equivalent level of comfort, but remains above the Spanish average. A working budget of €85 per person per day covers a comfortable stay: a double room in a 3-star hotel in the old town, lunch at the Olivar market, dinner in a Santa Catalina restaurant and one or two museum entries.
Accommodation covers every level. A double room in a charm hotel in the Casc Antic runs €80-150 in low season, €180-280 in July-August. The boutique hotels in converted palaces of the old town (Can Cera, Sant Francesc, Posada Terra Santa) charge €200-450 per night in high season. The large resort hotels on Platja de Palma are cheaper but remote from the historic city.
Food offers excellent value away from the immediate tourist routes. A set lunch in a bar-restaurant in Santa Catalina or Es Jonquet runs €12-18. A plate of pa amb oli with Balearic charcuterie and a glass of Binissalem wine costs €8-14. A dinner in one of Palma's gastronomic restaurants (Marc Fosh, Adrián Quetglas) exceeds €60-90 per person.
Entry fees are modest: La Seu approximately €9, Almudaina Palace €7, Es Baluard €6, Museu de Mallorca €4. The Palma-Sóller train is €35 return. Car hire from €30-40 per day in low season, €60-80 in July-August.
Read also
- The Balearic Islands — Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera — complete guide to the Spanish archipelago.
- Spain — Complete country guide: entry requirements, budget, when to visit, regions.
- Barcelona — Sagrada Família, Gaudí and nightlife — the Catalan capital, 3 hours by ferry.
- Andalusia — Seville, Granada, Córdoba and the beaches of the Costa del Sol.