The days grow shorter. Temperatures drop. Winter arrives, and Palma transforms. The city lights up under the sparkle of Christmas decorations, streets fill with wooden stalls, and the scents of roasted chestnuts, nougat and warm mulled wine mingle with the sea breeze. If you’re looking for a winter escape full of charm, culture and flavour, here are three plans to enjoy Palma at its best.
A stroll through the Puerto Portals Christmas Market: festive shopping and family fun
Puerto Portals is one of the most exclusive marinas on the island. And from December 12th to January 6th, it becomes a must-visit spot for Christmas lovers. Its Christmas Market fills the waterfront with wooden stalls offering décor, crafts, special gifts and local gastronomy, all in a warm, family-friendly atmosphere.
Wander through the stalls, enjoy a slow cup of hot chocolate or mulled wine, grab something delicious to eat, and take part in activities for all ages.
Tradition and emotion: the Cort Nativity Scene and Palma’s Nativity Route
For those who love tradition, Palma reveals its most spiritual and artisanal side at this time of year. The Cort Nativity Scene opens at City Hall and is just the starting point for a route that takes you through churches, cultural centres, public spaces and small shops, each displaying its own unique nativity scene, all visitable until January.
It’s a perfect plan for a morning or afternoon stroll: wandering through the old town, discovering each scene, admiring the craftsmanship, the details, the history. A truly authentic way to experience Christmas in Mallorca.
(All official information on the Nativity Route can be found here.)
A night of stillness at Palma Cathedral: the traditional Midnight Mass
For those seeking a more intimate and spiritual experience on Christmas Eve, attending the traditional Midnight Mass at Palma Cathedral is a special moment and a beautiful way to live Mallorca’s Christmas spirit. Although times may vary, this midnight mass remains one of the island’s most emblematic festive ceremonies: solemn, traditional, and deeply moving.
Wrap up warm, wander through Palma’s illuminated streets, step inside the cathedral, and feel that unique blend of history, faith and community inside one of Europe’s most stunning Gothic temples, an experience that connects you with the island’s heritage in its most authentic form.
Why Palma in winter? A way to feel the island with calm
Visiting outside high season has its perks. Palma in winter means quieter streets, a stronger local feel, and a more intimate way of experiencing the city. Christmas markets, concerts, scarves and warm drinks, the aroma of roasted chestnuts… a true taste of Mediterranean winter living.
See you soon at Hotel Es Port
This year, we’re taking our usual winter break to recharge before reopening our doors. But on January 23rd, we’ll be back.
When you return, we’ll be here, with the Serra de Tramuntana rising behind us, the hotel gardens, the Mediterranean always close by… and the possibility of a day trip to Palma to explore its history at your own pace.
We look forward to sharing the best of Mallorca with you again.
