In this Palmanova Guide, I’ll explain why this resort in Mallorca (Majorca) is one of the most popular, and why you should consider booking your next summer holiday to this fantastic destination.

Palmanova is popular with British tourists. However in the past two years, and as a result of travel restrictions and the global pandemic, Palmanova has attracted many different nationalities to its bars, restaurants and beaches, giving this resort a more international feel.

Will this stay the same for Summer 2022?  Only time will tell if the British visitors will return in their masses and out-number visitors of other nationalities.

Regardless of who will be returning this summer, these are my 10 reasons to book a Palmanova holiday.

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1. Palmanova Beaches

There are three fantastic beaches in Palmanova – Es Carregador (or Porto Novo), Palmanova and Son Matias.  All three are life-guarded and the sands are cleaned daily during the summer season (from May to October).  The hotels in Palmanova are just a short walk from at least one of these three beaches.

The sand is fine and golden, and the clear blue waters lap the shore. The water is shallow and family friendly for families arriving with little children. 

I don’t have a favourite beach because all three beaches are both long and wide and equally beautiful.  If you’re visiting for a couple of weeks, spend a day on each and make up your own mind.

But all have great views and there are plenty of bars, restaurants, shops and mini-supermarkets nearby.

Each of three beaches are linked together by a coastal path walkway which is a popular walking route for both residents and visitors whatever the season.

2. Palmanova is accessible to all

Palmanova is a flat resort so therefore incredibly child friendly for families with pushchairs and prams. It is also an ideal resort for the elderly and those with access requirements. 

The long, flat promenade stretches right through the resort. Plus, there are accessibility board walks on the beaches allowing you to easily get onto the sand.

3. Things to do in Palmanova

The beaches are the main “activity” here in Palmanova. Whether you want to sunbathe, swim from the shores, or walk along them.  It’s one of the loveliest stretches of sand in the Southwest of Mallorca so expect to spend much of your time here.

Each beach area has its own children’s play park either on it or nearby.

Palmanova is water-sports central, with equipment rental right through the resort.  You can try fliteboarding (hydro-foiling), jet-skiing, paddle boarding, wakeboarding or just rent a pedalo for an hour which costs in the region of 10€ for an hour’s rental.  

This is one of our favourite things to do in Palmanova. The pedalos have slides attached too so you have your own boat and mini-water park too.

In the evening during the summer season, kids will enjoy the mini-fairground rides which you will find near the Palamanova beach park and behind Son Matias Beach.

But don’t forget that Magaluf is just a short walk away from Palmanova and you will find plenty of things to do here. Just check out this article.

If you are travelling with a family, then Palmanova is GREAT for families. I have an entire article and video all about Palmanova for Kids which you can see here.

4. How far is Palmanova to Palma city?

Palma de Mallorca is just 20 minutes from Palmanova.

The ultimate Mallorca sightseeing trip can be made by picking up the TIB bus at various bus stops in the resort, and it will take you into the heart of Palma Old Town in around 20 minutes to half an hour depending on traffic. The fare is just a few euros.

Plan to spend half a day or a full day sightseeing around the city taking in the incredible sights including the Cathedral, art galleries, markets and shops.

And then get some great tapas or a great value “menu del día” meal in one of the many restaurants.

Here are three of my favourite and the top-selling tours to get the most out of your day trip to Palma.

5. Plamanova hotels

There are so many hotels to choose from in Palmanova and many are of high quality.  If you’re looking for a recommendation, then check out reviews on websites such as Tripadvisor and then find a deal too.

There is a good mix of adult-only and family hotels in Palmanova.  But please remember your hotel is likely to be a short walk from the many restaurants, cafes and bars in Palmanova, so really consider if you need to book board on an all-inclusive basis.

Not only will you get better quality food by eating out in the resort centre, but you’ll be supporting the local businesses too.

6. Eating out in Palmanova

The resort has changed radically over the years and the quality of food to be found in Palmanova is international and of high quality.

Palmanova’s cafés and restaurants cater for visitors of all budgets and tastes. 

You can just as easily find a full English breakfast here, as you can find restaurants serving traditional tapas, paella or a fresh local “ensaïmada” pastry that Majorca is so famous for.

The seafront is lined with some fantastic restaurants from Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Indian and Thai, to American and grill.  So you don’t need to worry about choice

Don’t forget to explore the restaurants away from the front line where you are likely to find some great value dishes which are often cheaper too.

7. Nightlife in Palmanova

To get an idea of what the nightlife is like in Palmanova, check out the video I made at the beginning of September 2021.

You will see that many bars are quite busy.  So if Summer 2022 goes ahead as expected, the nightlife should be even busier and other entertainment venues will open.

8. Shopping in Palmanova

There are some lovely beachwear shops just next door to Mcdonald’s in the heart of Palmanova and in various other areas of the resort.  So if you arrive without swimwear, flip-flops or you just want to pick up some cheap inflatables for the beach, there are plenty of shops where you can buy them.

There is also a night market on the promenade behind Palmanova beach during the Summer, which is a great place to pick up souvenirs and locally made handicrafts.

If you’re visiting Palmanova on a self-catering break, then there are supermarkets and mini-supermarkets throughout the resort.  If you need to make a larger supermarket shop, then walk to Aldi, Lidel or the very large Mercadona supermarket in Son Caliu.

9. Getting to Magaluf from Palmanova

A holiday in Palmanova means enjoying two resorts in one.  Magaluf is easy to walk to from Palmanova.  Just check out this Youtube live stream filmed in Summer 2021 to see how closely the resorts are connected. 

If you are staying in Palmanova but feel like a lively night out, or a different choice of restaurants, then you’re just a short walk away from all the Magaluf nightlife.

And of course, you will have good access to all the attractions in Magaluf too (depending on what we see opening up in Summer 2022). Watch this space!

10. Getting Around Palmanova

Palmanova is easy to walk around but you can also rent mobility scooters, bikes and four-wheeled peddle cars too.

If you’re looking to venture further afield then the TIB busses run right through the resort too. So it’s not just Palma city you can visit easily. 

Take a short trip and celebrity spot at the exclusive marina in Puerto Portals or head down to Santa Ponsa for the day for a different resort experience, followed by dinner in one of the waterside restaurants.

You can check out the timetables for buses travelling through Palmanova here.

There is also a bus that runs directly from Palma Airport to Palmanova during the summer season only – just check out this timetable.

Or you can book a transfer from Palma Airport to Palmnova here.

If you want to find out about other resorts in Mallorca, then check out my guide here of the top 10 resorts on the island.

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Palmanova Guide on Youtube

For more information, and to see Palmanova for yourself, check out my Palmanova Guide on Youtube now!

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