Parc de la Mar: Palma's Seaside Park Below La Seu
Parc de la Mar is a public seafront park in Palma, laid out at the foot of the medieval walls directly below La Seu Cathedral and built around a saltwater lake. The reason to come is the setting: the cathedral facade rising above you and open views back over the Bay of Palma. It is a park rather than an attraction with a turnstile, so there is no queue and no ticket.
Treat it as a deliberate pause inside a walk through the old town rather than a half-day destination. The cathedral, the Royal Palace of La Almudaina, S'Hort del Rei and the Arab Baths all sit within a few minutes on foot, so the park slots naturally into a morning or afternoon circuit. Allow around 20 minutes for the lake and walls, plus however long you want for the sights around it.
Where Parc de la Mar sits in Palma
The park occupies the southern edge of Palma's old town, between the cathedral walls and the waterfront, with Palma marina roughly 300 metres away. That position at the bottom of the historic centre means you approach it from above, through the old town, and arrive at the lake with the city walls behind you.
The lake is salt water and stretches across the open ground in front of the walls, giving the park its distinctive look: still water in the foreground, Gothic stonework and the cathedral behind. The surrounding space is landscaped with green areas, and the whole park is flat and easy to cross on foot.
How to get to Parc de la Mar
On foot, walk down through the old town from Plaça de Cort or the Passeig des Born until the streets open onto the water below the cathedral; the descent through the lanes is part of the visit. From the marina end, the park is a short walk along the seafront.
By car, the underground car park beneath the park has two entrances, and which one you use depends on your direction of approach. Drivers arriving from the east use the entrance on Avenida de Gabriel Roca, on the seaside, while those coming from the north or west should use the entrance on Avenida d'Antoni Maura.
What to see at Parc de la Mar
The lake and the medieval walls are the heart of the park: a wide sheet of salt water reflecting the stonework, with the cathedral facade looming directly above. Walk the length of the water for the full view back up at La Seu, then turn round for the open outlook across the bay.
The park's open ground also hosts regular small markets, street food events, concerts and other activities, so the atmosphere changes with whatever is on. Days and times are not fixed in any published schedule, so check what is running for your dates before you build an evening around it.
Nearby sights within a few minutes' walk
La Seu Cathedral stands immediately above the park, and its interior, rose window and high vaulted ceilings are the obvious next stop. The Royal Palace of La Almudaina, originally an Arab fortress and converted into a Gothic palace in the 14th century, sits beside the cathedral and still serves as a royal residence for official ceremonies. Opening hours and ticket prices for both vary by season, so it is worth looking them up on the day.
Between the cathedral and the Royal Palace lies S'Hort del Rei, a green garden with fountains, waterways and orange trees in a Moorish-inspired design, ideal for a quiet ten minutes. A few steps from the harbour, the 15th-century Llotja de Palma shows off spiral columns and a bright interior and regularly hosts art exhibitions and cultural events, often free of charge.
Hidden in a peaceful garden near the cathedral, the Arab Baths (Banys Àrabs) are a rare remnant of Mallorca's Moorish era, with a domed central hall of columns and light shafts; the visit is brief but rewarding for anyone interested in the island's history. Head inland and you reach the Passeig des Born, Palma's tree-lined promenade of boutiques and cafés, which connects the historic landmarks with the modern city.
If you want to extend the day beyond the old town, the Castell de Bellver crowns the wooded hills west of the centre, with views over Palma Bay and out towards the Serra de Tramuntana. It pairs well with the park as a morning-and-afternoon combination rather than a single stop.
Parking under the park
The Parc de la Mar underground car park has 748 spaces and is open 24 hours a day, well lit, video monitored and equipped with lifts, toilets, accessible parking spaces and EV charging stations. The maximum entry height is 1.9 metres, so taller vehicles need one of the nearby alternatives such as Parking Carrer del Moll or Parking Marina; LPG-powered vehicles are not admitted.
Rates run seasonally: in high season from April to October, one hour costs €3.00 and the maximum daily price is €28.48, while in low season from November to March, one hour costs €2.00 with a maximum daily price of €24.04. Payment is by coins, banknotes, debit or credit card, or SMAP's app; the Parc de la Mar garage is run by SMAP. In summer the car park often fills quickly, and when it does, the full sign shows outside and the queue builds at the entrance.
How long you need, and when to come
For the lake, walls and the view up to the cathedral, allow about 20 minutes; most visitors simply walk the length of the water and cross the open ground. Fold it into a half-day old-town circuit and it becomes the natural low point of the walk, with the climb back up through the lanes to the cathedral and palace. If you are weighing how much of the city to cover, our guide to how many days in palma helps you decide where this stop fits, and our Palma Neighborhoods guide shows which quarter to base the rest of your day around.
Mornings give quieter ground and softer light on the cathedral stone, while summer afternoons are hotter and busier, with the car park filling fastest in the middle of the day. If you come by car in high season, arrive earlier or use a nearby alternative and walk in.
Practical notes
The park itself is flat and open, so it suits anyone who can manage a gentle promenade; the old town around it is steep in places, which is worth factoring in on the climb back. In the car park you will find accessible spaces, lifts, toilets, EV charging and the 1.9 metre height limit noted above.
There are no named restaurants or cafés inside the park, so plan to eat in the old town before or after your walk. For a market-style lunch, Mercat de l'Olivar near Plaça d'Espanya is a short walk inland and a good anchor for a midday stop.
Plan Your Visit
Parc de la Mar rewards a short, deliberate stop rather than a dedicated trip: see the lake and the cathedral walls, take in the bay view, then head up into the old town for La Seu, La Almudaina, S'Hort del Rei and the Arab Baths. It works best first thing in the morning or as the start of an afternoon walk.
Check the cathedral's and palace's current opening hours and ticket prices before you go, and confirm parking rates and any events at the park for your dates.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Parc de la Mar worth visiting?
Yes, as a short stop rather than a destination in its own right. The draw is the setting: a saltwater lake at the foot of Palma's medieval walls directly below La Seu Cathedral, with open views back over the bay. Give it around 20 minutes and combine it with the cathedral, Royal Palace and old-town lanes.
Where is Parc de la Mar in Palma?
It sits on the southern edge of Palma's old town, between the cathedral walls and the waterfront, with the marina about 300 metres away. You reach it on foot by walking down through the old town from Plaça de Cort or the Passeig des Born.
How long do you need at Parc de la Mar?
About 20 minutes covers the lake and the view up to the cathedral. Most visitors fold it into a half-day old-town walk that also takes in La Seu, the Royal Palace of La Almudaina, S'Hort del Rei and the Arab Baths.
Can you park at Parc de la Mar?
Yes. The underground car park beneath the park has 748 spaces, is open 24 hours a day and has a 1.9 metre height limit, so taller vehicles need an alternative nearby. There are two entrances, one on Avenida de Gabriel Roca for drivers arriving from the east and one on Avenida d'Antoni Maura for those coming from the north or west.
What is there to see near Parc de la Mar?
La Seu Cathedral rises directly above the park, and the Royal Palace of La Almudaina sits beside it. S'Hort del Rei, the Llotja de Palma, the Arab Baths and the Passeig des Born are all within a few minutes' walk.
Are there markets or events at Parc de la Mar?
The park's open ground hosts regular small markets, street food events, concerts and other activities. Days and times change with the programme, so check what is on for your dates before you plan an evening around it.