Best months
May, Sep, Oct
Month-by-month weather, crowds and prices, plus a full calendar of festivals and events worth planning a trip around.
Last reviewed 2026-06
Come in May or late September: 23-25°C, the sea warm enough to swim, the old-town lanes walkable instead of punishing, and hotel rates 30-40% below the July peak. Avoid mid-July to mid-August, when up to five cruise ships dock at once, the heat tops 32°C and 3-star hotels run 240-420€ a night. November and January are the cheapest months, down to 55-90€, with almond blossom and the Sant Sebastià bonfires as their off-season reward.
Best overall: May, Sep. May and late September are the consensus best. May gives 23-25°C, the cycling season in full swing, Mallorca PhotoFest open across 30+ venues and prices well below peak. Late September brings the warmest sea of the year (24-25°C), crowds 50% down on August, golden evening light over the cathedral, and Nit de l'Art (19 September) opening every gallery in town for free.
Best value: Oct, Nov. October and November are the smartest value. October still gives 20-24°C and a swimmable 22-23°C sea while package tourism ends and 3-star hotels drop to 90-150€. November falls further to 60-95€ with pleasant autumn light, the catch being that many beach-resort hotels and restaurants close for winter, so base yourself in the centre, not at Playa de Palma.
Avoid: Jul, Aug. Mid-July to mid-August is the year's worst value. On peak days five cruise ships dock at once and dump up to 15,000 extra visitors into the old town, the heat sits at 30-35°C from late morning, hotels run 240-420€, and Copa del Rey sailing week (26 July to 2 August) doubles marina-area rates. Worth it only if beach and water are your sole priority.
| Month | High | Walking score | Crowds | Prices | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 15° | 8 | ●○○○○ | ●○○○○ | Sant Sebastià Festival |
| Feb | 16° | 9 | ●○○○○ | ●○○○○ | Festa de la Llum (Candlemas) |
| Mar | 17° | 8 | ●●○○○ | ●●○○○ | Day of the Balearic Islands |
| Apr | 20° | 7 | ●●●○○ | ●●●○○ | Holy Week |
| May | 24° | 7 | ●●●○○ | ●●●○○ | Mallorca PhotoFest |
| Jun | 28° | 6 | ●●●●○ | ●●●●○ | Mallorca PhotoFest |
| Jul | 32° | 4 | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | Mallorca PhotoFest |
| Aug | 31° | 4 | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | Mallorca PhotoFest |
| Sep | 28° | 5 | ●●●●○ | ●●●●○ | Night of Art |
| Oct | 24° | 8 | ●●○○○ | ●●○○○ | |
| Nov | 19° | 8 | ●○○○○ | ●○○○○ | Festa de la Llum (Sant Martí) |
| Dec | 16° | 8 | ●●○○○ | ●●○○○ | Christmas Markets |
May, June and September give you Palma's best balance: 24-28°C, long dry days, and a sea between 21 and 25°C that you can actually swim in, without July and August's brutal 32°C heat that makes the old town unwalkable after 11am.
November and January are the quietest months by far. The package-holiday machine has shut down, most Playa de Palma resort hotels are closed, and you walk into Bellver Castle or the Miró Foundation with no queue at all.
November and January are the cheapest months: midweek 3-star hotels in the centre fall to 55-80€ a night, against 240-420€ in August. Avoid the Sant Sebastià Revetla weekend (19-20 January), which adds 15-20% to central rates.
Twice a year, on 2 February and 11 November, the rising sun lines up through La Seu cathedral's rose window and casts a double figure-of-eight of coloured light onto the opposite wall around 08:30. It is free, lasts minutes, and is one of the most striking architectural-light moments anywhere. February also brings the island's almond blossom on the inland plain.
July is peak: German, British and Scandinavian school holidays converge, up to five cruise ships dock at once, and the heat sits at 30-35°C with spikes near 38°C. It is also the driest month, so the sun is relentless. Copa del Rey sailing week (26 July to 2 August) is the biggest hotel-price driver after pure beach demand. Walking the old town's lanes after 11:00 becomes punishing.
January is Palma at its quietest and cheapest. Daytime highs sit near 15°C with plenty of sun (over 8 hours a day) but the sea is a cold 14-15°C, and most beach-resort hotels are shut. The island feels emptied out, except for the Sant Sebastià festival (10-25 January), Palma's biggest winter party, which fills every square with free concerts, bonfires and the fire-running Correfoc finale.
The vibe This is the one month you have the old town, Bellver Castle and the cathedral almost to yourself. Days are mild and bright, evenings are cold, and the Sant Sebastià bonfires give the otherwise sleepy city a genuine local heartbeat. Cheap, calm and entirely un-touristy, the real Mallorcan winter.
Don't miss Sant Sebastià is the reason to come: free simultaneous concerts across the main squares, bonfires you grill over, and a dramatic Correfoc of fire-runners on 25 January. With the resorts empty you walk straight into Bellver Castle and the Miró Foundation, queue-free.
Crowd drivers Deep off-season with package tourism shut down. The only spike is the Sant Sebastià Revetla on 19-20 January, a short domestic burst that lifts central hotels for the weekend.
In season Winter market season: citrus, winter greens and date mussels at Mercat de l'Olivar, and hearty sopes mallorquines and frit on the few open neighbourhood tables, all without a reservation.
Heads up New Year's Day (1 January) and Epiphany (6 January) close almost everything; the Cavalcada de Reis parade is the evening of 5 January. Sant Sebastià (20 January) is a Palma city holiday with many local shops shut.
Cheapest month of the year alongside November: 3-star central hotels 55-90€ a night, with the Sant Sebastià Revetla weekend (19-20 January) adding 15-20%.
Palma's biggest winter festival for its patron saint, tied by legend to relief from the 1524 plague. Free outdoor concerts fill every major square at once, with bonfires, a gegants giants parade and a fire-running Correfoc finale on 25 January.
The best insider reason to visit Palma in January, when hotels are at their cheapest. Book the Revetla night (19 January) early, catch the dramatic Correfoc on the 25th, and keep out of the old town's streets by car on 19-20 January.
Several outdoor markets selling crafts, nativity figures and Mallorcan food across Plaça Major, Plaça d'Espanya, La Rambla and Via Roma, open daily 10:00-21:00, plus the weekend-only Pueblo Español market from 5 December.
They transform Palma's plazas with a festive feel and low tourist crowds, though the craft stalls are not cheap. Hotel rates tick up only over Christmas Eve and New Year.
February is still firmly off-season, with highs near 16°C and the island's almond trees blooming white and pink across the inland plain. Professional cycling teams begin arriving for early-season training, and the Festa de la Llum (2 February) lights up La Seu's rose window at dawn. Package tourists are almost nowhere to be seen, and prices stay at the floor.
The vibe February is the quiet secret of the Mallorcan calendar: empty, cheap and unexpectedly beautiful thanks to the almond blossom. The sea is too cold for most at 14-15°C, but the light is clear and the inland roads, lined with blossoming trees, are at their most photogenic before the season begins.
Don't miss Catch the Festa de la Llum figure-of-eight light at La Seu around 08:30 (free, arrive by 07:45). Drive the Pla de Mallorca around Petra and Sineu for the almond blossom, a free natural spectacle unique to the island, and have the cathedral and museums to yourself.
Crowd drivers Still deep off-season. Cyclists trickle in for early training, and the Festa de la Llum brings a single morning of crowds to the cathedral, but no broader pressure.
In season Citrus and fresh artichokes peak; Santa Catalina's restaurants run without August's reservation waits, and winter fish like squid and date mussels are still on the market slabs.
Second-cheapest month: 3-star central hotels around 60-100€. The Festa de la Llum on 2 February draws early risers but causes no hotel spike.
On Candlemas the rising sun passes through La Seu cathedral's great rose window and projects a double figure-of-eight rosette of coloured light onto the opposite wall around 08:30 to 09:00. The cathedral opens free from 07:30 via the Porta de l'Almoina.
A once-a-year architectural-light spectacle that costs nothing. Arrive by 07:45 for a spot, as queues have formed from 07:00 in recent years. This February edition is far busier than the November one.
March opens the serious cycling season and the first real warmth, with highs near 17°C and the sunniest stretch of spring beginning. The Day of the Balearic Islands (2 March) is a regional holiday, and late March brings Holy Week, whose 13 processions wind solemnly through the old town. It is still changeable, with occasional showers between sunny spells, so pack a light layer.
The vibe March is the last genuinely calm and well-priced month before spring fills the city. The cyclists are out on the Tramuntana passes, the terraces are reopening, and you can still get a table in Santa Catalina without a fight, a window that closes fast once April's events begin.
Don't miss Watch Holy Week's processions through the old town for free, including the Sant Crist de la Sang on Maundy Thursday and the Sant Enterrament from Sant Francesc on Good Friday. With mild weather and a swimmable-soon sea, it is prime cycling and old-town walking territory.
Crowd drivers Cycling season builds and UK and German Easter-break travellers start arriving. The big pressure comes only in the final week with Holy Week, which spikes hotels 30-50%.
In season Citrus season at its best, with fresh artichokes and broad beans filling Mercat de l'Olivar and Mercat de Santa Catalina, and fishermen still landing winter species.
Heads up The Day of the Balearic Islands (2 March) closes most shops and offices. Maundy Thursday (2 April) and Good Friday (3 April) at month's end bring reduced hours and processions; Easter Sunday itself is not a holiday in Spain.
Prices recover gently to 80-130€, but Holy Week (27 March to 5 April) pushes the last week up to 150-200€, so book early.
The Balearics' regional day, marking the 1983 grant of autonomy, celebrated across all the islands with official acts and concerts.
Most shops and offices close, so it is a day for outdoor exploring rather than shopping. Museums generally stay open.
Thirteen processions wind through Palma's old town, including the solemn Sant Crist de la Sang on Maundy Thursday and the Processó del Sant Enterrament from the Basílica de Sant Francesc at 19:00 on Good Friday.
Atmospheric and free to watch from the routes, but hotels spike 30-50% and the last week climbs to 150-200€. Book three or more months ahead if you want to be in town for it.
April is Palma in full spring, with highs near 20°C, wildflowers across the island and the cycling season at its peak. It is a busy, eventful month: Holy Week spills into the first days, the Mallorca 312 sportive (25 April) closes island roads for 8,000 cyclists, Mallorca PhotoFest opens across 30+ venues, and the PalmaVela regatta runs from 23 April. Occasional showers still pass between sunny spells.
The vibe April is when the island wakes up and shows off: green hills, sailing in the bay, cyclists everywhere and culture opening up across town. It is noticeably busier and pricier than March, but the spring energy and the swimmable-soon sea earn it, as long as you plan around the road closures.
Don't miss Watch PalmaVela's 100+ boats race from the Passeig Marítim, take in free Mallorca PhotoFest exhibitions across the city, and ride the quiet pre-season roads of the Tramuntana. Just keep 25 April clear of any island drive, when Mallorca 312 closes major routes from 06:00.
Crowd drivers Easter overflow, peak cycling, the Mallorca 312 sportive (25 April) and the start of PalmaVela (23 April to 3 May) all stack up, lifting hotels island-wide and especially near the marina.
In season Spring vegetables and the first asparagus arrive at the markets; Santa Catalina and the Llotja district hum without the summer reservation pressure.
Heads up Easter Monday (6 April) is a regional holiday with shops and offices closed. From 25 April, Mallorca 312 shuts major island roads all day, so do not plan a drive to Sóller or Pollença.
Rates climb to 110-180€ with Easter overflow and the cycling peak; the PalmaVela sailing days (23 April to 3 May) push marina-area hotels to 180-260€.
Thirteen processions wind through Palma's old town, including the solemn Sant Crist de la Sang on Maundy Thursday and the Processó del Sant Enterrament from the Basílica de Sant Francesc at 19:00 on Good Friday.
Atmospheric and free to watch from the routes, but hotels spike 30-50% and the last week climbs to 150-200€. Book three or more months ahead if you want to be in town for it.
The island's first international photography festival, with 30+ venues and 50+ events across Palma and other municipalities, including work by Joan Fontcuberta and Donna Ferrato. Many exhibitions are free.
It adds real cultural depth to any spring or summer visit and opens the same weekend as the PalmaVela regatta, a rich culture-and-sport combination.
One of the Mediterranean's premier offshore-to-inshore sailing regattas, based at the Real Club Náutico de Palma, with 100+ boats and international crews. Easy to watch from the Passeig Marítim.
Free to watch from the waterfront, but it lifts marina-area hotels up to 30% from 23 April to 3 May. Book early if you want to be near the action.
More than 8,000 amateur cyclists ride one of three distances (167, 225 or 312km) through the Serra de Tramuntana on closed roads, starting at 06:30 from Playa de Muro in the north.
Roads close across the island for most of the day, so do not plan a drive to Sóller or Pollença. Cyclists book northern-resort hotels months ahead, with many full by January.
May is one of Palma's two sweet spots: highs near 24°C, long dry days, and the old town walkable rather than punishing. The cycling season runs its post-Easter tail, early sun-seekers arrive, and the sea warms toward 19-20°C for the first dips. PalmaVela wraps on 3 May, Mallorca PhotoFest continues, and the Ironman 70.3 (11 May) takes over Alcúdia in the north.
The vibe May is the quietly ideal month nobody markets hardest. No brutal heat, no cruise-ship gridlock, no peak markup, just a warm, green city you can actually walk all day. Bring a swimsuit for the first proper sea days and you have Palma close to its best for noticeably less than summer.
Don't miss Walk the old town and the Passeig des Born in comfort, catch the last Mallorca PhotoFest shows, and take your first swims as the sea passes 19°C. This is the last month before summer heat and cruise crowds make midday old-town walking a chore.
Crowd drivers A calm window after the April events and before the school holidays. Cruise-ship numbers begin to rise and early beach-seekers arrive, but the crush is still weeks away.
In season Late spring produce and the first stone fruit reach the markets; the Llotja and Santa Catalina terraces fill in the long evening light without the summer wait.
Genuine value at 120-190€: well below the July and August peak, with PalmaVela tailing off in the first three days.
The island's first international photography festival, with 30+ venues and 50+ events across Palma and other municipalities, including work by Joan Fontcuberta and Donna Ferrato. Many exhibitions are free.
It adds real cultural depth to any spring or summer visit and opens the same weekend as the PalmaVela regatta, a rich culture-and-sport combination.
One of the Mediterranean's premier offshore-to-inshore sailing regattas, based at the Real Club Náutico de Palma, with 100+ boats and international crews. Easy to watch from the Passeig Marítim.
Free to watch from the waterfront, but it lifts marina-area hotels up to 30% from 23 April to 3 May. Book early if you want to be near the action.
June opens the beach season properly: highs near 28°C, the longest days of the year (light until 21:30), and a sea warming to 21-22°C. Cruise ships start arriving daily, the Mallorca Live Festival (12-14 June) packs western Mallorca, and Palma Pride (20-27 June) fills the old town. European school holidays begin in the last fortnight, so the first half is far calmer than the second.
The vibe June is the tipping point into full summer, and the long light evenings are the payoff: late dinners on the Passeig Marítim, swims at golden hour, the city alive after dark. Come before the 20th and you get the warmth and the open beaches before the school-holiday crush truly lands.
Don't miss Swim at Playa de Palma or the cove beaches as the sea hits 21-22°C, join the colourful Pride week and parade through the old town, or catch big-name acts at the Mallorca Live Festival. Early June, before the 20th, still has space on the 4km beach.
Crowd drivers Daily cruise ships, the Mallorca Live Festival (12-14 June) across the bay, Palma Pride (parade 27 June) in the centre, and European school holidays starting in the last two weeks all build the pressure fast.
In season The first apricots and figs appear, and the long evenings bring the harbourside grill and aperitivo season to life in the Llotja and Santa Catalina.
Heads up Sant Joan (24 June) is a Palma city holiday with many local businesses closed; beach bonfires light the night of 23 June.
Beach pricing kicks in at 160-260€, with festival weekends (Mallorca Live 12-14 June, Pride 27 June) spiking central hotels 20-30%.
A three-day outdoor festival at the former Aquapark site in Calvià near Magaluf, with 80+ artists on five stages. The 2026 line-up includes The Prodigy, Cypress Hill, The Libertines and a David Guetta closing party, with shuttle buses from Palma.
It drives hotel demand across western Mallorca for the full weekend, so book Palma hotels early for 12-14 June. The music carries across the bay to the Palma coast.
A week of parties, pool events and drag shows building to the parade, which leaves Passeig del Born at 18:00 on 27 June and ends at the Parc de les Estacions. It draws visitors from across Spain and Europe.
Central hotels book up fast for the parade weekend, so reserve four to five months ahead. The atmosphere is festive and inclusive across the whole old town.
July is peak: German, British and Scandinavian school holidays converge, up to five cruise ships dock at once, and the heat sits at 30-35°C with spikes near 38°C. It is also the driest month, so the sun is relentless. Copa del Rey sailing week (26 July to 2 August) is the biggest hotel-price driver after pure beach demand. Walking the old town's lanes after 11:00 becomes punishing.
The vibe July is hot, crowded and entirely beach-focused. The old town has little shade, so midday is for the pool or the air-conditioned Miró Foundation, not the streets; the city really lives at the beach and on the water from late afternoon. If you came for sun, sea and sailing it delivers, but at the year's highest price.
Don't miss Swim early or late as the sea reaches 25-27°C, watch Copa del Rey race in Palma Bay from the Passeig Marítim, and dodge the cruise crush by visiting the cathedral before 09:30 or after 17:00. When the heat or a pricey private guide puts you off, our in-browser AI tour guide walks the old town with you at a flat 5€ an hour, telling the story at each stop and answering as you go, the cheap, flexible alternative to a fixed group tour in the cooler early hours.
Crowd drivers Northern European school holidays, multiple cruise ships daily, and Copa del Rey from 26 July all peak together. On the busiest days up to 15,000 cruise visitors flood the old town between 10:00 and 16:00.
In season Peak summer eating is about the harbour and the cove chiringuitos; note many family-run neighbourhood restaurants take their own two-week holiday in mid-summer, so check ahead for a specific table.
The year's busiest and most expensive month at 220-380€; Copa del Rey week (from 26 July) lifts marina-area hotels to 350-500€.
A prestigious international sailing regatta in its 44th edition, with top-level offshore and inshore racing in Palma Bay out of the Real Club Náutico, and a heavy crew, sponsor and media presence.
The single biggest summer hotel-price driver after pure beach demand: marina-area and central hotels spike 40-60% during race week. Free to watch from the Passeig Marítim or the castle hill, but book six months ahead to sleep nearby.
The island's first international photography festival, with 30+ venues and 50+ events across Palma and other municipalities, including work by Joan Fontcuberta and Donna Ferrato. Many exhibitions are free.
It adds real cultural depth to any spring or summer visit and opens the same weekend as the PalmaVela regatta, a rich culture-and-sport combination.
August holds the peak: highs near 31°C, the Spanish domestic holiday in full swing, and beaches at maximum capacity. The Assumption (15 August) is a national holiday with a special cathedral mass, and Copa del Rey runs into the first days. The Royal Palace of La Almudaina may close without warning when the royal family is in residence. The last week begins a slight softening.
The vibe August is full-throttle, sun-and-sand Palma. The old town empties by midday as everyone heads to the water, the beaches are shoulder-to-shoulder, and prices hit their ceiling. It is glorious if beach time is the whole point, and best avoided if you want walkable streets or a calm, affordable city.
Don't miss Make the most of the warmest sea of the year (25-27°C) early and late, retreat to the air-conditioned Es Baluard and Miró Foundation at midday, and check the Almudaina before going, as it can shut when the royals are in town. The last week eases as some visitors leave.
Crowd drivers The Spanish domestic summer peak plus continued northern European holidays and cruise traffic. The Assumption (15 August) adds a domestic surge, and beaches reach maximum capacity.
In season Touristy restaurants run flat out while many local Beizen and neighbourhood spots close for two weeks; Mercat de l'Olivar runs reduced hours mid-August as stallholders take their break.
Heads up The Assumption (15 August) closes many private shops and makes markets a poor bet, though beaches are unaffected. The Royal Palace of La Almudaina may close at short notice during the royal residence.
Absolute peak at 240-420€, the year's most expensive nights, easing only slightly in the very last week.
A prestigious international sailing regatta in its 44th edition, with top-level offshore and inshore racing in Palma Bay out of the Real Club Náutico, and a heavy crew, sponsor and media presence.
The single biggest summer hotel-price driver after pure beach demand: marina-area and central hotels spike 40-60% during race week. Free to watch from the Passeig Marítim or the castle hill, but book six months ahead to sleep nearby.
A national holiday marked with a special mass at La Seu cathedral, falling at the height of the Spanish domestic summer peak.
Many private shops close and markets are a poor bet, though beach facilities are unaffected. State museums are technically open but worth checking first.
The island's first international photography festival, with 30+ venues and 50+ events across Palma and other municipalities, including work by Joan Fontcuberta and Donna Ferrato. Many exhibitions are free.
It adds real cultural depth to any spring or summer visit and opens the same weekend as the PalmaVela regatta, a rich culture-and-sport combination.
September is the other sweet spot, and for many the best month of all. Highs near 28°C, the sea at its annual warmest (24-25°C), and crowds thinning fast from mid-month as European schools reopen. The cycling season resumes and Nit de l'Art (19 September) opens every gallery in town for free. The catch is that this is the start of the wetter autumn, with occasional heavy showers.
The vibe September feels like Palma exhaling: still hot, the sea at its warmest, but the cruise and beach crush dropping away after the 15th. This is the month to come if you want summer swimming with autumn calm and prices, and the locals back in their normal rhythm rather than on holiday.
Don't miss Swim in the warmest sea of the year off Playa de Palma or the coves, then spend the evening of 19 September gallery-hopping for free at Nit de l'Art through the lantern-lit old town. Sunset around 19:30 throws golden light over La Seu and the bay.
Crowd drivers Crowds thin sharply from mid-month as schools reopen across Europe. Nit de l'Art (19 September) packs the old town for one night, and cruise numbers ease through the month.
In season The shoulder-season turnaround: restaurants take same-day reservations again, the markets refill after the August break, and the first autumn produce starts to arrive.
Rates fall about 30% from mid-month to 150-240€ as schools reopen across Europe, the best beach-plus-culture value of the year.
One night when all of Palma's commercial galleries, museums and cultural spaces open free into the early hours, centred on Santa Catalina, the Llotja district and the old town, with vernissages, performances and street art.
The single best night to dive into Palma's art scene at zero cost. It is hugely popular locally, so the old-town streets fill from 21:00. A perfect pairing with a warm late-September visit.
October is mellow-autumn Palma. Highs near 24°C, a sea still swimmable at 22-23°C early in the month, and the package-tourism season ending. It is statistically the wettest month, but the rain comes as short, violent Mediterranean showers rather than all-day grey. The autumn cycling season runs, cruise ships thin out, and resort restaurants begin to close for winter.
The vibe October is the couples' and value month: warm enough to swim early on, calm enough to wander the old town in peace, and cheap enough to linger. The light is soft and golden, the restaurants take same-day bookings, and the only catch is the odd dramatic downpour, usually short.
Don't miss Swim early in the month while the sea holds 22-23°C, cycle the quiet autumn Tramuntana roads, and enjoy the old town and Bellver Castle nearly empty. Base yourself in the centre rather than Playa de Palma, where resort hotels and restaurants start shutting for winter.
Crowd drivers Package tourism ends and crowds drop right down. The autumn cycling season and Spain's National Day long weekend (12 October) add modest demand, but October is mostly a quiet, low-pressure month.
In season Mushroom season opens, with ceps and chanterelles from the mountains, new-vintage Binissalem DO wines, and pa amb oli at its peak; restaurants take same-day reservations again.
Heads up Spain's National Day (12 October) closes shops and many services, though tourist sights stay open. Resort-area restaurants begin closing for the winter from mid-month.
Good value at 90-150€, with midweek cheaper than weekends as package tourism winds down.
November is quiet, mild and the cheapest month with January, with highs near 19°C and the autumn rains tailing off. Most beach-resort hotels and restaurants are closed for winter, so the action is in the centre. The Festa de la Llum returns on 11 November to light La Seu's rose window, and from late in the month the Christmas markets bring the first festive glow to the plazas.
The vibe November is Palma at its most local and unhurried: empty old-town lanes, mild bright days, and prices at rock bottom. The sea is too cool for most, but the city is yours, and the late-month Christmas markets and the Festa de la Llum give the calm a couple of lovely highlights.
Don't miss Catch the calmer November Festa de la Llum at La Seu around 08:30 (free, arrive by 07:45), wander the empty old town and Santa Catalina, and watch the Christmas markets set up in Plaça Major and Plaça d'Espanya at month's end. Es Baluard is free on the first Sunday.
Crowd drivers Deep off-season with resorts shut and tourists few. The Festa de la Llum brings one busy cathedral morning, and the Christmas markets opening late in the month bring the first uptick toward December.
In season Autumn produce and game fill the open kitchens, mushroom season continues, and Mercat de l'Olivar runs at its calm, local best, perfect for a slow Tuesday or Friday morning.
Cheapest month alongside January: 3-star central hotels 60-95€, and midweek as low as 55-80€.
The second annual showing of the same figure-of-eight light phenomenon at La Seu, this time at the autumn sun angle. The cathedral opens free from 07:30.
Quieter than the February edition because there are far fewer tourists in November, yet just as spectacular. Arrive around 07:45 for a good position.
Several outdoor markets selling crafts, nativity figures and Mallorcan food across Plaça Major, Plaça d'Espanya, La Rambla and Via Roma, open daily 10:00-21:00, plus the weekend-only Pueblo Español market from 5 December.
They transform Palma's plazas with a festive feel and low tourist crowds, though the craft stalls are not cheap. Hotel rates tick up only over Christmas Eve and New Year.
December is festive, not beachy, Palma. Highs near 16°C, the shortest days of the year (sunset by 17:30), and the Christmas markets in full swing across Plaça Major, Plaça d'Espanya and La Rambla from late November to early January. It is a pleasant, low-crowd month with a couple of price bumps around the holidays, but the resort coast is shut and the sea is cold.
The vibe December trades summer's heat and crowds for festive calm: market stalls in the plazas, mild bright afternoons, and the old town atmospheric and uncrowded. It is not a beach trip, but for Christmas markets and quiet sightseeing at gentle prices it is an easy, underrated time to come.
Don't miss Browse the daily Christmas markets (10:00-21:00) across the central plazas and the weekend-only Pueblo Español market, wander the old town in soft winter light, and enjoy queue-free sights like Bellver Castle and the cathedral. The markets run through to early January.
Crowd drivers Mostly quiet, with the Christmas markets the main draw and a domestic-tourism bump around the 8 December long weekend. Hotel rates rise only over Christmas Eve and New Year.
In season Festive Mallorcan baking and winter produce dominate the markets; turró, ensaïmades and seasonal seafood appear, and the open restaurants take bookings easily outside the holiday peaks.
Heads up The Immaculate Conception (8 December), Christmas Day (25 December) and Sant Esteve (26 December) close nearly everything; the markets pause on Christmas Day and reopen straight after.
Quiet and well-priced at 75-130€, rising to 130-200€ only over the Christmas Eve to New Year window (24 December to 1 January).
Several outdoor markets selling crafts, nativity figures and Mallorcan food across Plaça Major, Plaça d'Espanya, La Rambla and Via Roma, open daily 10:00-21:00, plus the weekend-only Pueblo Español market from 5 December.
They transform Palma's plazas with a festive feel and low tourist crowds, though the craft stalls are not cheap. Hotel rates tick up only over Christmas Eve and New Year.
Annual highlights worth timing a trip around, listed month by month.
The rules buried in forums, in one place.
On these dates many shops and offices close, transport thins out, and sights can be mobbed or shut. Plan around them.
| Date | Holiday | What closes |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | New Year's Day | Everything closed: shops, offices, most restaurants. A very quiet day across the deep-off-season city. Public transport runs a reduced timetable. |
| Jan 6 | Epiphany (Three Kings' Day) | Everything closed. The big draw is the Cavalcada de Reis children's parade on the evening of 5 January, when the Three Kings arrive at the port and process through the centre. |
| Jan 20 | Sant Sebastià (Palma's patron saint) | Palma city holiday: many offices and local shops closed. Free concerts fill the main squares and the festival peaks around this date, so book the Revetla night (19 January) early and skip driving in the old town. |
| Mar 2 | Day of the Balearic Islands | Regional public holiday: most shops and offices closed, with official acts and concerts. Museums generally stay open, so it is a good day for sightseeing rather than shopping. |
| Apr 2 | Maundy Thursday | Regional holiday: government offices closed, most shops on reduced hours, churches packed. The solemn Sant Crist de la Sang procession moves through the old town in the evening. |
| Apr 3 | Good Friday | National holiday: Holy Week processions through the old town, including the Sant Enterrament from Sant Francesc at 19:00. Shops closed or on short hours; the cathedral is free for liturgy. |
| Apr 6 | Easter Monday | Regional holiday in the Balearics: shops and offices closed, transport reduced. A calm public holiday at the end of the Holy Week stretch. |
| May 1 | Labour Day | National holiday: everything closed, shops and most restaurants shut. Beaches and outdoor sights are unaffected and make the best use of the day. |
| Jun 24 | Sant Joan | Palma city holiday: many local businesses closed. Bonfires and gatherings on the beaches the night before (23 June) mark the midsummer celebration. |
| Aug 15 | Assumption of the Virgin | National holiday: special mass at La Seu, many private shops closed, markets a poor bet that day. State museums are technically open but worth verifying. Beach facilities run as normal. |
| Oct 12 | Spain's National Day | National holiday: shops and many services closed. Tourist sights generally stay open, so it is a fine day for sightseeing in the quiet autumn city. |
| Dec 8 | Feast of the Immaculate Conception | National holiday: everything closed. It often anchors a long weekend, the only real domestic-tourism bump in an otherwise quiet December. |
| Dec 25 | Christmas Day | Everything closed; the few restaurants that open need a reservation. The Christmas markets pause for the day. A still day across the city. |
| Dec 26 | Sant Esteve (St Stephen's Day) | Regional holiday unique to the Balearics and Catalonia: most shops still closed. The Christmas markets reopen and run through to early January. |
Same city, different trip. Here's the month that fits how you're travelling.
May or October. Both give 22-25°C, a swimmable sea, old-town walking that is a pleasure not a slog, and every sight open. The cathedral, Bellver Castle, the Miró Foundation and the Passeig des Born are crowd-free next to July, and prices sit 30-40% below peak. May adds Mallorca PhotoFest exhibitions across the city.
Late September or early October. The sea is still 22-24°C, sunset around 19:30 throws golden light over La Seu and the bay, restaurants are fully open with August's reservation wars over, and prices have dropped. Nit de l'Art (19 September) gives you a free evening of gallery-hopping through the lantern-lit old town.
Early June (before the 20th) or mid-September (from the 15th). June before the school-holiday crush: beaches open and warm at 21-22°C, short queues at La Seu, the water parks running. Mid-September: European kids are back at school, crowds thin sharply, the sea hits its annual best at 24-25°C, and Playa de Palma's 4km beach is no longer shoulder-to-shoulder.
November or January, avoiding the Sant Sebastià Revetla weekend (19-20 January). Midweek 3-star central hotels fall to 55-80€ a night. The Arab Baths (3€), the Llotja (free), and the pine-forest park around Bellver Castle (free) are the best-value sights, Es Baluard is free on the first Sunday of the month, and February's almond blossom is a free natural spectacle.
March or October. March brings citrus season, fresh artichokes and broad beans at Mercat de l'Olivar and Mercat de Santa Catalina, and Santa Catalina's restaurants busy without August reservation waits. October is mushroom season (ceps and chanterelles from the Tramuntana), new-vintage Binissalem DO wines, and pa amb oli at its peak, with restaurants taking same-day bookings again.
May and late September are the consensus best. Both give warm 24-28°C days, a sea you can swim in, walkable old-town lanes and prices 30-40% below the July peak. May has the cycling season and Mallorca PhotoFest, while late September brings the warmest sea of the year (24-25°C), half of August's crowds, and Nit de l'Art (19 September) opening every gallery in town for free.
November and January are the cheapest, with midweek 3-star central hotels falling to 55-80€ a night, against 240-420€ in August. The trade is a sea too cold to swim and most beach-resort hotels closed, so stay in the centre. Avoid the Sant Sebastià Revetla weekend (19-20 January), which adds 15-20% to central rates, and the Christmas Eve to New Year window in December.
Mid-July to mid-August, unless beach and water are your only goal. On peak days up to five cruise ships dock at once and pour as many as 15,000 visitors into the old town, the heat hits 30-35°C from late morning, and 3-star hotels run 240-420€. Copa del Rey sailing week (26 July to 2 August) doubles marina-area rates on top of all that.
Comfortable swimming runs June to October. The sea reaches 21-22°C in June, peaks at 25-27°C in July and August, and stays excellent at 22-24°C through September and into early October. By late October it drops to 19-20°C, and from November to May it is too cold for most at 14-18°C, though cold-water swimmers find February bracing but usable.
July and August are genuinely hot, with daily highs of 30-35°C and occasional spikes near 38°C. Walking the old town's narrow lanes after 11:00 becomes punishing, and the Passeig des Born and Parc de la Mar have little shade. Plan walking for 07:00-10:30 and 18:30-21:00, and use the air-conditioned Miró Foundation and Es Baluard as midday refuges. May, June, September and October are far more comfortable.
Yes, if you come for the city rather than the beach. Highs sit near 15-19°C with plenty of sun, prices are at their lowest (55-95€), and the old town, Bellver Castle and the Miró Foundation are queue-free. January brings the Sant Sebastià festival's free concerts and bonfires, February the island's almond blossom, and the cathedral's Festa de la Llum lights up the rose window on 2 February and 11 November. Just note the sea is too cold to swim and most resort hotels are shut.
Two to three days cover the city: La Seu cathedral and the Almudaina, the old town and the Llotja, Bellver Castle, the Miró Foundation or Es Baluard, and a wander down the Passeig des Born. Add a day for the beach in summer, or a day trip on the Sóller train into the Tramuntana. Palma's centre is compact and walkable, so you see a lot on foot in a short stay.
Cruise traffic runs heaviest from June to September, peaking in July and August when up to five ships can dock at once and add as many as 15,000 visitors a day. They concentrate in the old town and along the Passeig Marítim between 10:00 and 16:00, so visit the cathedral and main sights before 09:30 or after 17:00, and check schedules at cruisetimetables.com. November to March sees very few ships.
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