Baths in Majorca

If you enjoy swimming and fancy a break from beach life and salty water, there are a number of public baths in Majorca situated in the various resorts and towns around the island, and there are five municipal swimming baths in Palma alone. The baths in Palma are accompanied by sports centres that offer comprehensive facilities, and the Son Hugo sports centre and swimming pool in particular, built for the 1999 Student Olympics, are very popular.

There are also a number of fun parks where you can find a range of leisure swimming pools and water slides, with an emphasis on family entertainment and keeping the kids happy, scattered around Majorca. Magaluf in the southwest, Alcudia in the north and Cala Millor in the east all boast aquaparks that cost in the region of €15 for a day’s entry for adults and €10 for children.

Roman and Arab baths

Other types of baths in Majorca include the 10th century Moorish baths (hammams) located in Palma’s medieval quarter (Barri Gòtic) amid narrow, winding streets not far from the cathedral. Ornate in design and construction with dome and columns, the baths reside in one of the few unique, original Arab buildings left in Palma.

The columns are believed to have originated from ancient Roman buildings and are all slightly different in design, while the dome lets in shafts of light and is similar in construction to those in other Islamic cities. Originally used for bathing and socialising by the elite, the hammams also boast a pleasant courtyard where you can cool off after a hot dip.

There is another set of Roman baths in Majorca located in the basement of the upmarket, five star, 16th century Palacio Ca Sa Galesa Hotel in the centre of Palma. This old manor house only has a dozen or so rooms, but has unrivalled facilities that include both heated and cooled swimming pools and the Roman baths in the half cellar. Unfortunately, you have to be a guest to use the facilities.