One Day in Palma de Mallorca Cruise Port Stop with Kids!

Last Updated on August 19, 2026 by Tori

One day in Palma de Mallorca was our very first port stop on our MSC Mediterranean cruise and what a way to kick things off. I was not sure exactly what to expect from Palma, but this city completely won me over within the first hour and it ended up being one of our favorite stops of the entire cruise. The cathedral, the beach, the tapas, the sangria. I cannot wait to tell you all about it.

Here is exactly how we spent our one day in Palma de Mallorca as a cruise port stop with a three year old and an eleven month old, plus tips for getting into the city, additional things to do, places to eat, and a full packing list for the day.

Getting from the Palma Cruise Port to the City Center

Before we get into the itinerary, let’s talk about getting from the ship into the city because this is something you absolutely need to plan in advance. And I find information on this topic to be kind of hard to find.

The Palma cruise port has four main passenger terminals: Estación Marítima 1, 2, 3, and 4, and the distance from the main cruise terminals to Palma’s historic center is approximately 5 kilometers or about 3 miles. So you are definitely not walking, especially in the summer heat with kids and a stroller. Here are your main options:

Hop On Hop Off Bus

This is what we did and it was absolutely the right call, especially with little ones. The hop-on hop-off tourist bus has a stop right at the cruise port and takes you to all the major attractions in Palma. The full route takes about 90 minutes if you don’t get off, buses run every 20 to 30 minutes, and the bus operates daily from 10:00 to 19:00. Tickets cost around 20 euros and are valid for 24 hours, and the ticket includes individual headphones and an audio guide in multiple languages. Kids 7 and under ride completely free, so for us as a family it was $32 for the two adults and the girls rode at no charge. It’s genuinely such a great deal and such an easy, enjoyable way to see the city without any effort. Transportation, sightseeing and fun activity all in one!

Public Bus (Line 1)

Bus line L1 runs every 15 minutes from just outside the cruise port gates directly to the city center and costs €2 in 2026. You’ll need cash on hand for the ticket. It’s the budget-friendly option if you just want to get into town and explore on your own two feet.

Taxi

A taxi is a short 10-minute ride that takes you directly to central attractions like the Cathedral. Super easy with a stroller and bags, and very reasonable for a family splitting the cost.

Ship Shuttle

Most cruise lines offer a shuttle service directly from the ship into the city center, dropping you near the Cathedral. It’s only a 10 to 15 minute bus ride along the harbour road, though cruise companies are now charging for this service and the prices can be quite high, so check your ship’s pricing before you commit. The public bus or a taxi are usually a much better value.

New for late 2026 or early 2027: The Bus Nàutic

This brand new electric water shuttle connects the Dique del Oeste and Estació Marítima directly to the Muelle de las Golondrinas right opposite the Cathedral, costs around €2 to €3, and runs every 20 to 30 minutes from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM. It bypasses harbour road traffic and drops you right at the edge of the historic Old Town in under 15 minutes. Such a fun option, especially with kids who will love the little boat ride!

One important tip: you can see the Cathedral’s spires from the ship, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s a short walk. It is a long, hot walk with very little shade, especially in the summer. Skip the walk and take one of the transport options above.

Our One Day Palma de Mallorca Itinerary with Kids

Morning: Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour

We jumped on the hop on hop off bus right from the cruise port and it was honestly such a perfect start to the day. The route takes you past all the main highlights including the stunning Gothic Cathedral, the waterfront, the old city walls, Bellver Castle up on the hill, and so much more. Riding on the top of the double decker bus was a huge hit with our three year old, and the audio guide kept the adults really engaged and informed throughout.

The whole loop takes about 90 minutes if you stay on, which we did for most of it, just drinking in the views and enjoying the breeze. We hopped off on stop 6, right by the public beach! 

Late Morning: Beach Time

From the bus stop, we walked across the street and were on the sand. We walked down a bit until we found a quieter spot with changing rooms and bathrooms along with chair rentals. We paid 30 euros for two lounge chairs and an umbrella for the day which was completely worth it for the comfort and convenience with little ones. The Mediterranean water was warm and beautiful and the kids had the most amazing time splashing around in the gentle waves.

The view from the beach with the Cathedral rising up over the bay is just spectacular and one of those scenes that doesn’t even look real. It’s like sitting inside a postcard.

One thing I want to give you a heads up about, and this is important especially if you’re going with kids: on almost all of the beaches in Europe women are allowed to go topless. So just be prepared for that going in and decide in advance how you want to handle that conversation with older kids if needed. It was not a big deal for us with a toddler and a baby, but it’s worth knowing before you get there!

We spent a good few hours at the beach before getting hungry for lunch.

Lunch: Amazing Tapas Right Off the Beach

We made our way to a restaurant right off the beach for lunch called Restaurant Alma Portixol and it was one of the most memorable meals of the entire trip. We ordered tapas, paella, and the most incredible sangria piled high with fresh fruit that I am genuinely still thinking about weeks later. The food was fresh and absolutely delicious and the setting right there with the Cathedral in the background was just unreal. Restaurants right along the Paseo Marítimo and near the beaches serve fantastic traditional Spanish food and I highly recommend just picking one that looks good and diving in. You really cannot go wrong here.

Afternoon: See the Cathedral

After lunch we enjoyed one last dip in the water before packing up and heading to see the cathedral. It was nap time, so we decided to load the kids up and walk along the water to the cathedral. They fell asleep instantly and we had a peaceful and beautiful one mile walk to enjoy. It was actually perfect.

Even if you only have a few minutes in the Cathedral area, you have to stop and just take it in. La Seu is one of the most magnificent Gothic cathedrals in all of Europe and seeing it from the waterfront is an absolute jaw-dropping moment. It sits right along the bay with the Mediterranean stretching out behind it and it is just breathtaking.

We didn’t go inside with our little ones since that takes more time and focus than a toddler and a baby allow, but honestly just standing in front of it and walking along the waterfront promenade below is a wonderful experience. There are beautiful gardens right beneath the Cathedral at Parc de la Mar with a reflecting pool that mirrors the cathedral facade, and it is just so gorgeous. The kids loved exploring the open space there while we took about a hundred photos and shopped in the market thats there!

Late Afternoon: Ride around to see the city

We hopped back on the bus right at the cathedral and rode the entire loop around the city until we made it back to the port. We saw the Bellver Castle and the stunning view over the city from there which was a highlight.

At this point it was around 5pm and we had enjoyed a very full, one day in Palma de Mallorca with our kids and we were ready to get back on the boat and get ready for dinner.

Additional Things to Do in Palma with Kids

If you have more time or want to mix up the itinerary, here are some other great options for families:

Bellver Castle

This 14th-century royal fortress sits high in the hilltops above the city, surrounded by pine forests, and has a unique round shape that is unlike the majority of Spanish castles. Kids love running through the tunnels and secret staircases that lead between levels, and the lookout towers have incredible views of the Bay of Palma.  Such a fun one for older kids especially.

Palma Aquarium

The aquarium organizes special activities for children including games, face painting, water fights on the pirate ship, and kids can even become assistants to the Ocean Guides and help feed the turtles, rays, and Koi fish. A really fantastic option if you have aquarium-loving little ones and want a more structured activity.

Parc de Sa Feixina

A beautiful waterfront park right near the Cathedral that is perfect for letting little ones run and play. There are playgrounds, open grassy areas, and it’s right along the Paseo Marítimo so you get lovely water views too. Completely free and a really lovely spot for a morning break. We normally would have stopped here when we passed it on our walk, but the kids were asleep so we kept going.

Boat Trip on the Bay

Several operators run shorter boat tours around the Bay of Palma and they are so fun for kids. Even a one-hour trip out on the water with views of the Cathedral from the sea is a really special experience and very manageable within a cruise port day.

Wander the Old Town

Palma’s historic center is compact and easily navigated on foot, with honey-colored stone buildings, narrow medieval streets, and a lively waterfront lined with restaurants and bars. Just wandering without a plan is genuinely one of the nicest things you can do here.

Places to Eat in Palma with Kids

Beach restaurants along the Paseo Marítimo. This is where we ate and I would absolutely go back. Fresh tapas, incredible paella, and sangria right by the water with views of the Cathedral. It is hard to beat. Most restaurants in this area have casual, family-friendly atmospheres and high chairs are widely available. It even had a changing table which I’ve heard can be a bit hit or miss in Europe.

Restaurants near Parc de la Mar. There are some lovely options right near the Cathedral gardens where you can eat with views of the facade. Great for a relaxed lunch or early dinner with kids since the park is right there for them to run around in between courses.

Tapas bars in the Old Town. Palma is a tapas city and the Old Town is full of wonderful little bars serving the real thing. Patatas bravas, croquetas, jamón, fresh seafood, it is all outstanding and tapas are perfect for families since everyone can try a little of everything. Just wander into the old town, find somewhere that looks busy with locals, and sit down. You are unlikely to be disappointed.

Packing List for a Palma Cruise Port Day with Kids

I have afull packing list for kids and babies, but here’s what we were most grateful to have with us for our day in Palma:

• Stroller: Essential. You will be covering a lot of ground and you do not want to be carrying a tired toddler at the end of the day. Make sure it’s lightweight and narrow enough for tight spaces.
• Baby carrier: We wore our eleven month old in the Mabē carrier for a lot of the day and it was so much easier than having a double stroller in crowded spots and on the bus.
• Stroller fan: It is HOT in Palma in the summer.
• Reusable water bottles: Staying hydrated is so important in the summer heat, especially with little ones. Refill stations are widely available throughout the city. I love this collapsible one when traveling!
• Sunscreen stick and powder sunscreen: So much easier to apply and reapply on the go to kids than traditional lotion.
• Sun hats for everyone: The Mallorcan sun is no joke. Hats for the kids especially are non-negotiable.
• Change of clothes for the kids: Between the beach, ice cream, and general toddler chaos, you will want spares and a wet bag to go in.
• Swimsuits and a small beach bag
• Teema towels: Lightweight and so much easier than lugging big beach towels off the ship.
• Ziploc bags: We always had a stash of snacks from the ship buffet in a ziploc for hungry moments between stops.
• A fully charged phone and portable battery: You will use your phone constantly for maps, photos, and timing, and you do not want it dying mid-port.
• Back on the ship time written down somewhere: This sounds obvious but write down your ship’s all-aboard time before you leave and check it multiple times throughout the day.

Final Thoughts for One Day in Palma de Mallorca

Palma de Mallorca completely surprised me with how wonderful it was for a family cruise port stop. It is easy to navigate, beautiful around every corner, incredibly kid-friendly, and has a really wonderful combination of culture, beach, and food that just works perfectly for a few hours with little ones.

Do the hop on hop off bus, go to the beach, eat the paella, drink the sangria. And rub La Seu’s facade for good luck while you’re there because you are going to want to come back. We absolutely do!