Palacio Real de La Almudaina
A 10th-century Arab citadel converted into a Gothic palace by Jaume II in 1281, today the official residence of the Spanish royal family in Mallorca. Visitors can see the royal halls, the parade ground and the Chapel of Santa Ana, facing the Cathedral next to the Parc de la Mar. Free access on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons (check schedule at tickets.patrimonionacional.es).
The essentials
- Tickets
- 7 € (gratis miércoles y domingos tarde, verificar horario)
An Arab citadel turned royal palace
La Almudaina is no ordinary palace: it's a building that has been reinventing itself for a thousand years. What you see today began as a 10th-century Arab citadel, during the Taifa of Mallorca, itself built over an earlier Roman settlement. After the Christian conquest of 1229, Jaume II of Mallorca ordered the Islamic fortress converted into a Gothic royal palace between 1281 and 1309, and rather than tearing it down he reused walls and structures that still stand today: the Banys Àrabs and much of the courtyard layout betray the Muslim origin. That mix is what makes the visit worthwhile: in the same walk-through you pass from Islamic-heritage arches to Gothic halls and rooms furnished as an official residence. Because that's still what it is today: one of the four official residences of the Spanish Crown, managed by Patrimonio Nacional and used by the King and Queen during their summer stays in Mallorca. The practical downside is that it can close to the public on short notice for official business, so it's worth checking the closure calendar before building it into your itinerary. The palace reopened on 29 April 2026 after a renovation that added new rooms and accessible terraces; if you're visiting now, check that no areas remain fenced off from finishing works.
Tickets, opening hours and how to dodge the queue
General adult admission costs €9, with a reduced rate of €5 for children aged 5 to 16 and over-65s. The audio guide is paid separately, €3.50, and it's worth it if you're into the history, since the signage along the route is sparse. There are free access slots on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons, but the exact detail (the time window and whether EU or Ibero-American nationality needs proving) varies by source and season: check tickets.patrimonionacional.es before you go, as that's where the current conditions are listed. Seasonal opening hours run Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00-19:00 from April to September and 10:00-18:00 from October to March, with the ticket office and last admission an hour before closing. Closed Mondays, no exceptions. General tickets are booked online via the Patrimonio Nacional website; the free afternoon slots, according to several sources, are only available at the on-site box office and on a limited basis, so that's where you'll queue. Our tip: if you want a calm visit, go at 10:00 on a weekday and pay the €9. The free slot draws crowds precisely because it's free, and the route isn't huge, so it fills up fast once a few groups go in together.
Getting there and what to expect from the visit
The palace sits right in Palma's historic centre, next to the Cathedral (La Seu) and with Parc de la Mar just below. The area is pedestrianised, so there's no useful metro or tram: Mallorca's tram is the Sóller-Port de Sóller tourist line and has nothing to do with getting here. It's a 10-15 minute walk from Plaça d'Espanya or from the Born, a pleasant stroll through the old town. If you'd rather take the city bus, Palma's EMT runs several lines that stop near the Born and the old town; check the exact number and stop at emtpalma.cat, since routes change fairly often. Allow 45-60 minutes to see the royal halls, the parade ground and the Chapel of Santa Ana at a relaxed pace; that's a rough estimate, not an official figure, and depends a lot on whether you use the audio guide. The most practical plan is to pair it with the Cathedral, less than two minutes' walk away: you can knock out both in one morning and still have time to head down to Parc de la Mar, from where you get the best views of the whole complex over the pond. Wear comfortable shoes: the courtyard and stairs are uneven stone.
Frequently asked questions
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