Beaches in Palma

Let's be honest: Palma is a city trip destination, not a beach destination. The beaches directly in the city are decent, but not the reason to fly to Mallorca. Still, there are options for a quick cool-off between sightseeing — and within a 15–20 minute drive, you can reach truly beautiful coves.

Platja de Palma (★★)

The 6 km long sandy beach east of the center is Mallorca's most famous — and notorious — beach. The section around Balneario 6 (Ballermann) is what you imagine: mass tourism, sangria buckets, German Schlager music. BUT: The sections further east (towards Can Pastilla) and west (towards S'Arenal) are much quieter and more family-friendly. The beach itself is actually beautiful: fine sand, shallow water, good infrastructure.

Accessible: Bus 25 from Plaça d'Espanya (20 min.).

Can Pere Antoni (★)

The closest beach to the city, directly below the cathedral on Paseo Marítimo. Narrow, rocky-sandy, moderate water quality. But: swimming with a view of La Seu is quite spectacular. More for sunbathing than swimming — acceptable for a quick dip after sightseeing.

Cala Major (★★)

About 4 km west of the center, a medium-sized city beach with fine sand and clearer water than Can Pere Antoni. Near the Miró Foundation, so it's combinable. Crowded in summer, but more pleasant than Platja de Palma.

Bus 3 or 46 from Plaça d'Espanya (15 min.).

Illetes / Platja de Illetes (★★★)

Only 8 km southwest of Palma, but feels like a different world: turquoise water, rocky coves, pine forests reaching the shore. Illetes is the most beautiful easily accessible beach from Palma — Caribbean feeling, just a 20-minute drive. There are several small coves, some with beach clubs (Purobeach, Balneario Illetas), others untouched.

Bus 3 from Plaça d'Espanya (25 min.) or 15 min. by car/taxi (approx. 12–15 €).