Although born in Barcelona, Joan Miró spent much of his life in Mallorca. Following his death, his Palma studio was turned into a tiny museum and houses a permanent collection of his work.

Dominating the Palma skyline is La Seu, the city’s majestic sandstone cathedral. Begun by James I of Aragon in 1229, it wasn’t finished until 1601 and was remodelled by Gaudi 400 years later in 1901, although that took until 1914 to complete.

A pretty promenade flanked by a curious mix of yachts and fishing boats on one side, and upmarket boutiques and restaurants on the other.

Originally a Moorish fortress, the Almudaina Palace was rebuilt as a royal residence by James I following the Reconquista in the 14th century. Highlights include the beautiful surrounding garden.

Opened in 2004, Es Baluard is Palma’s contemporary art museum and is packed with treasures by the likes of Picasso and honorary local boy Joan Miró.

One of the last reminders of the Moorish rule, the columned baths were built using recycled Roman stone and sit within a pretty Palma garden.

Mallorca has a long and fascinating history and this small museum covers most of the important moments. Set within a 17th-century palace, highlights include the Moorish ceramics.

A cultural theme park, the Poble Espanyol contains replicas of Spain’s most famous buildings, among them the magnificent Alhambra Palace in Granada.

Palma’s biggest covered market is the place to go for fresh, local produce such as huge juicy strawberries and strings of plaited garlic.

Palma’s city beach has a blue flag award for cleanliness and views of La Seu. It’s not the biggest beach however: Playa del Palma 10km (6 miles) away is a better bet for serious swimmers and sun worshippers.

Santa Catalina is the perfect place for a journey of culinary discovery – so it’s a good idea to go easy on breakfast. The smoothies, colorful fruit bowls and freshly prepared toasts at the Santina Palma on Carrer d’Anníbal make a light start to the day. This hip café with its attractive turquoise counter already opens its doors at eight in the morning. Many of the items on the menu are vegan and gluten-free.

The Mercat de Santa Catalina, Palma’s oldest market hall, is right across from the Santina Palma. It looks unremarkable from the outside, but as soon as you step inside, you realize why this covered plaza is considered to be the gastronomic heart of the neighborhood: It has over 50 stalls, selling freshly caught fish and seafood, meat and sausage specialties, cheese, olives, and regionally grown fruit and vegetables from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. There are also tapas and paella to be sampled inside the market hall, and if you’re thinking of picking up some Mallorcan specialties, then sobrassa, the local raw, cured pork sausage, ensaimada, a type of sweet yeast bun, or some light-as-a-feather sponge cake make good choices.

Cafés and restaurants are dotted around the market hall, and in between, there are some particularly interesting furniture and fashion stores. The elegant Bconnected concept store (bconnected.com) on Carrer de Dameto beckons to passersby to come inside and take a look at its brightly colored home accessories and modern lamp designs. There are two stores well worth a visit one side street further down, too, on Carrer d’Anníbal. The Frida Watson vintage furniture store (fridawatson.com) specializes in Scandinavian furnishings from the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s; and with a little luck, you may find a favorite new garment at the De Tu A Mi fashion boutique. As well as first-rate designer fashions, this vintage store also stocks unusual accessories from all corners of the globe.

Time for lunch! The Duke is done out in hip surfer style in honor of Duke Kahanamoku, the Hawaiian to whom the invention of surfing is attributed. Despite the laid-back ambience here, this fusion restaurant has been one of the top addresses in the district ever since it opened in 2009. The menu includes Peruvian anticuchos, Thai curry and Mexican fish tacos – multicultural, fresh and healthy. Like many other restaurants in Palma, the Duke serves a daily lunchtime menu, which is very handy, as it is very hard to secure a table at this incredibly popular eatery in the evening.

The narrow streets of Santa Catalina are best explored on foot. Head down to the sea and as you pass through the streets, you’ll get a close-up of the brightly painted walls of the old, two-story fisherman’s cottages – which also make rewarding photo subjects. It’s also worth paying a visit to Es Jonquet district, to the south between Santa Catalina and the marina. A particularly picturesque spot here is Plaça Vapor: Orange trees line the path and the tiny houses evoke even more of a village feeling than the rest of the area. Here, it’s easy to forget that Palma is a city. Walk down to the end of the street to enjoy a wonderful view of the promenade and the sea. Es Jonquet’s landmark windmills, now no longer in operation, are also worth a visit.

Pretty Plaça de la Verge del Miracle with its trees and shrubs is the perfect spot to take a break – a lovely place to enjoy a glass of wine in the warm afternoon sunshine. Tardeo is the name Mallorcans give to the afternoon aperitif, which is generally served at around 3 to 4 p.m. The main attraction on Plaça de la Verge del Miracle is the beautiful Iglesia de Sant Magí church at its center. Also, a big arts and crafts market is held outside the church every first Sunday of the month, which is popular with locals and tourists alike.

The Patrón Lunares is just like the Mercat de Santa Catalina in that it is easily overlooked from outside, but inside, guests immediately appreciate the restaurant’s special atmosphere. The long wall hung with an impressive series of oil paintings, lamps made of fishing net, comfortable sofas and rustic wooden tables – all give the room its special feel. The restaurant derives its name from a local fishing legend, “Captain Mole” (as in the skin type of “mole”), who is reputed to have been one of the best fishermen of his day and a kind man, who was loved and respected by his neighbors. The menu includes fish dishes from all over the world as well as Mallorcan specialties with a modern flavor.

The Sky Bar of the Hostal Cuba doesn’t just welcome the hotel’s guests, but also visitors from outside. A boutique hotel, the Cuba is located right beside Sa Feixina park in the south of Santa Catalina, overlooking the marina. From the roof terrace of the colonial-style building, which dates from 1904, you have a magnificent panoramic view of Palma Bay, and even the ancient city walls and the cathedral can be seen from up here. If you feel the pull of Santa Catalina nightlife after a cocktail or two, head for Carrer de Sant Magí or neighboring Avenida Argentina, which are home to the best clubs in the town.

In 2010, star chef Fernando P. Arellano relocated with his restaurant, the Zaranda, from Madrid to Mallorca. The restaurant was awarded two Michelin stars in 2018 and resides at the luxurious Castell Son Claret hotel, which is beautifully situated on the stunning Serra de Tramuntana. The restaurant has various themed menus; reservations recommended. The Zaranda opens only in the evening and is closed during the winter months.

Palma’s poshest dining spot is run by British chef Marc Fosh.

Mallorcan tapas at the front, formal dining at the back.

Excellent seafood served up from its perch atop Palma’s biggest fish market.

A quaint backstreet café that has been serving up delicious ensaïmadas (pastries) since the 1700s.

One of Palma’s buzziest bars, Bar Bosch boasts a huge drinks menu and outdoor seating.

A tiny Palma nightspot popular with the cool crowd.

Piped jazz, white leather seats and a laid-back atmosphere make this a good place to kick back.

The waterfront promenade is lined with clubs, but this one is particularly popular – probably for its three floors, high-end sound system, big-name DJs and sensational lighting concept.

If you enjoy a relaxed atmosphere and discreet music, then the bar of the Portixol hotel should be right up your street. Head here after a stroll along C’an Pere Antoni, Palma’s local beach, to take in the view across the bay.