Best Time to Visit Palma

Summer: hot, dry and busy

From June to August, Palma is sunny and settled. July is nearly rain-free, and August is the hottest month. Nights stay warm, so you'll sleep with the window open and eat dinner late. Beach days at Cala Major or Playa de Palma are easy. Walking the old town at midday is not, so do your sightseeing in the evening, when the Cathedral glows over the bay.

This is high season. Spanish and northern European school holidays push up crowds, and the streets of La Lonja and Santa Catalina fill up at night. If you hate crowds, look at the edges of the season instead. If you're coming with kids, July and August are the easiest months for swimming.

Late June brings Sant Joan, with bonfires and music around the city. It's a good reason to come early in summer.

Spring and autumn: the sweet spots

May and June are our pick for most people. It's warm enough for the beach, but the afternoons won't flatten you. Rain is light, and you'll often have a good chunk of sand to yourself. April is cooler, but it suits cycling and walking the Tramuntana mountains, which the island is known for. The Port de Sóller trail days are lovely when it's fresh.

September is still swimmable, since the sea holds the summer's heat. But it's also the first wet month, with rain on about ten days. Storms often come in short, heavy bursts, so you rarely lose a whole day. October is similar, a bit cooler and calmer. Hiking and city breaks work well, and the crowds thin out.

Winter: quiet and mild

From November to March, Palma is cooler, greyer and cheaper. November is the wettest month, with rain on eleven days. Don't expect beach weather. Do expect empty cafés, quiet cathedral visits and almond blossom on the island later in winter.

Winter is low season, and some beach businesses close. The city itself stays open, so it's a good time for tapas, the Bellver Castle views and a slow coffee with an ensaïmada, the local spiral pastry.

In January, Sant Antoni and Sant Sebastià bring street fires and parties, and Palma celebrates Sant Sebastià on 19–20 January. If you want a calm city break, winter is a fair choice, as long as you bring a rain jacket.