# Palma for Digital Nomads

> Island city, real winter

Palma (Mallorca), Spain, Europe

Canonical page: https://nomadbase.com/destinations/palma
Last reviewed: 2026-08-05

Every figure below carries its source and measurement date. Where no reliable source exists the field is left out rather than estimated.

## Palma at a glance

Palma is the island base that keeps city rules: Mallorca's capital runs twelve months a year — offices, theatres, a food scene beyond the beach economy — on full European overlap (Copernicus ERA5: overlap of a 09:00-17:00 day against Central Europe), with Spain's telework visa covering non-EU stays (Government sources: visado de teletrabajo, checked 2026-07-29). Behind it, the Tramuntana range carries 35 mapped hiking routes (OpenStreetMap: July 2026, within 30 km) and the winter peloton that made the island cycling's European capital.

The honest calendar: only 2 of 12 months land in the mild band (Nomadbase comfort index: from 2025 data) — the summer runs hot and the winter is real, bright but cool, with the sea off-limits to all but the committed. The measured internet holds a 59 Mbps median download (M-Lab: median download speed), the tap water is drinkable (Nomadbase country research: country tap-water tier), and the island premium on housing is the price of the postcode.

It suits you if you want Mediterranean island life without seasonal ghost-town risk, and sport — riding, hiking, sailing — as a weekly structure. It suits you less if budget tops the list or you expect year-round swimming: this is Spain's polished tier, with a proper off-season.

| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| A real year-round city on full European overlap (Copernicus ERA5: 09:00-17:00 against Central Europe) | Only 2 of 12 months in the mild band (Nomadbase comfort index: from 2025 data) — summer hot, winter real |
| 35 hiking routes mapped within 30 km (OpenStreetMap: July 2026) and cycling's winter capital | Island housing premium; the national price level reads 68.7 (US = 100) (World Bank: household consumption price level) |
| Spain's telework visa for non-EU passports (Government sources: checked 2026-07-29) | August delivers crowds and heat in the same envelope |
| Median download of 59 Mbps (M-Lab: median download speed) and drinkable tap water (Nomadbase country research: country tap-water tier) | The beach-city compromise: Palma's own sand is functional, not fabulous |

## Key figures

| Figure | Value | Source | Measured |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nearest major airport | 8 km | OurAirports — nearest major airport is Palma de Mallorca Airport | 2026-07-29 |
| Airports within 100 km | 1 within 100km | OurAirports, major and regional airports with scheduled service | 2026-07-29 |
| Cafés mapped | 775 count | OpenStreetMap, within 15km | 2026-08-05 |
| Average temperature (year) | 19.7 C | Copernicus ERA5, 2025 annual average | 2025-12-31 |
| Average cloud cover | 42 % | Copernicus ERA5, 2025 annual average | 2025-12-31 |
| Nomadbase climate comfort index | 6.9 index 0-10 | Nomadbase comfort index from Copernicus ERA5 2025 monthly means | 2025-12-31 |
| Mild months (felt 18–27 °C) | 2 months/year | Nomadbase comfort index from Copernicus ERA5 2025 monthly means | 2025-12-31 |
| Coworking spaces mapped | 3 count | OpenStreetMap, within 15km | 2026-08-05 |
| Average temperature (summer) | 26.7 C | Copernicus ERA5, 2025 summer average (Jun-Aug) | 2025-12-31 |
| Average temperature (winter) | 13.8 C | Copernicus ERA5, 2025 winter average (Dec-Feb) | 2025-12-31 |
| Rain days per year | 83 days/year | Copernicus ERA5, 2025 full-year count | 2025-12-31 |
| Dry days per year | 282 days/year | Copernicus ERA5, 2025 full-year count | 2025-12-31 |
| eSIM data, 30 days | 13 EUR | Published price: Airalo Spain eSIM — 10 GB / 30 days (Guay Mobile, Orange network), 10GB/30d 13.00 EUR from the Standard packages (slug guay-mobile-in-30days-10gb, verified in page payload; plain fetch shows only Unlimited — Unlimited 30d is 57.00 EUR)., checked 2026-07-29 | 2026-07-29 |
| Yoga studios mapped | 4 count | OpenStreetMap, within 15km | 2026-08-05 |
| Surf spots mapped nearby | 2 count | OpenStreetMap, within 30km | 2026-08-05 |
| Kitesurf spots mapped nearby | 0 count | OpenStreetMap, within 30km | 2026-08-05 |
| UTC offset | 1 hours from UTC | Open-Meteo time zone (Europe/Madrid), standard time | 2026-08-10 |
| Working-hours overlap with Central Europe | 8 hours/day | Nomadbase overlap of a 09:00-17:00 day against Open-Meteo time zone (Europe/Madrid), standard time; Europe reference UTC+1 | 2026-08-10 |
| Working-hours overlap with US East | 2 hours/day | Nomadbase overlap of a 09:00-17:00 day against Open-Meteo time zone (Europe/Madrid), standard time; US East reference UTC-5 | 2026-08-10 |
| LGBTQ+ legal index (country) | 10 score 0-10 | Nomadbase legal-position rubric (country level), checked 2026-07-29 | 2026-07-29 |
| LGBTQ+ in practice (country) | Among the most protective countries globally: marriage since 2005 and self-determination gender recognition since the 2023 trans law (Ley 4/2023). Large, open LGBTQ scenes in Madrid, Barcelona and the islands. | Nomadbase legal-position rubric (country level), checked 2026-07-29 | 2026-07-29 |
| Tap water index (country) | 10 score 0-10 | Nomadbase tap-water tier (country level), checked 2026-07-29 | 2026-07-29 |
| Tap water in practice (country) | Potable nationwide under EU standards; taste varies on the coasts (hard or desalinated water), so many drink bottled by preference rather than necessity. | Nomadbase tap-water tier (country level), checked 2026-07-29 | 2026-07-29 |
| Gyms mapped | 57 count | OpenStreetMap, within 15km | 2026-08-05 |
| Vegan-friendly places mapped | 24 count | OpenStreetMap, within 15km | 2026-08-05 |
| Vegetarian-friendly places mapped | 38 count | OpenStreetMap, within 15km | 2026-08-05 |
| Internet download (median) | 59 Mbps | M-Lab median of 8,445 tests within 50 km, last 7 days | 2026-08-11 |
| Kiteable wind days per year | 18 days/year | Days in 2025 with peak sustained wind ≥ 25 km/h (ERA5 via Open-Meteo, 10 m) | 2025-12-31 |
| Visa-free days (EU passport) | 365 days | Editorial visa research, checked 2026-07-27 | 2026-07-27 |
| Visa-free days (US passport) | 90 days | Editorial visa research, checked 2026-07-27 | 2026-07-27 |
| Visa-free days (UK passport) | 90 days | Editorial visa research, checked 2026-07-27 | 2026-07-27 |
| Visa-free days (Canadian passport) | 90 days | Editorial visa research, checked 2026-07-27 | 2026-07-27 |
| Visa-free days (Australian passport) | 90 days | Editorial visa research, checked 2026-07-27 | 2026-07-27 |
| Remote-work visa route (0–10) | 10 score 0-10 | Dedicated remote-work visa: Visado de teletrabajo (international telework visa) (checked 2026-07-27) | 2026-07-27 |
| Beaches mapped within 30 km | 133 count | OpenStreetMap, within 30km | 2026-07-31 |
| Nature reserves and parks within 30 km | 11 count | OpenStreetMap, within 30km | 2026-07-31 |
| Hiking routes within 30 km | 35 count | OpenStreetMap, within 30km | 2026-07-31 |
| Mapped coastline within 30 km | 181 count | OpenStreetMap, within 30km | 2026-07-31 |
| Hospitals and clinics mapped | 71 count | OpenStreetMap, within 15km | 2026-07-31 |
| Pharmacies mapped | 139 count | OpenStreetMap, within 15km | 2026-07-31 |
| Bars, pubs and clubs mapped | 347 count | OpenStreetMap, within 15km | 2026-08-05 |
| Nightlife share of cafés | 19.6 per 100 restaurants & cafés | OpenStreetMap, within 15km | 2026-08-05 |
| Queer venues mapped | 3 count | OpenStreetMap, within 15km | 2026-08-05 |
| cost food monthly modelled | 194 EUR/month | Modelled groceries for Spain (country level, not city): Eurostat DE reference 2022 scaled by World Bank price level 68.7 vs 81.2 (2025) and ICP 2021 category structure | 2025-12-31 |
| cost eating out monthly modelled | 72 EUR/month | Modelled eating out for Spain (country level, not city): Eurostat DE reference 2022 scaled by World Bank price level 68.7 vs 81.2 (2025) and ICP 2021 category structure | 2025-12-31 |
| cost transport monthly modelled | 27 EUR/month | Modelled local transport for Spain (country level, not city): Eurostat DE reference 2022 scaled by World Bank price level 68.7 vs 81.2 (2025) and ICP 2021 category structure | 2025-12-31 |
| cost leisure monthly modelled | 160 EUR/month | Modelled leisure for Spain (country level, not city): Eurostat DE reference 2022 scaled by World Bank price level 68.7 vs 81.2 (2025) and ICP 2021 category structure | 2025-12-31 |
| Coworking desk per month | 119 EUR/month | Published price: Comodo&Co and Buena Onda, monthly flex desk (both 119 EUR ex 21% IVA), checked 2026-08-05 | 2026-08-05 |
| climate monthly profile | [{"m":1,"t":11.6,"r":0.16,"c":0.42},{"m":2,"t":11.8,"r":0.25,"c":0.61},{"m":3,"t":12.8,"r":0.58,"c":0.53},{"m":4,"t":16.7,"r":0.17,"c":0.42},{"m":5,"t":20.9,"r":0.29,"c":0.38},{"m":6,"t":28.9,"r":0,"c":0.23},{"m":7,"t":30.6,"r":0.19,"c":0.22},{"m":8,"t":31.1,"r":0.1,"c":0.2},{"m":9,"t":27.4,"r":0.17,"c":0.43},{"m":10,"t":21.9,"r":0.19,"c":0.51},{"m":11,"t":15.4,"r":0.27,"c":0.51},{"m":12,"t":12.9,"r":0.35,"c":0.59}] | Copernicus ERA5, 2025 monthly means (felt temperature, rain-day share, cloud share) | 2025-12-31 |
| cost bigmac | 6.14 EUR | Published price: The Economist Big Mac Index, Euro-area average (6.19 EUR = 7.08 USD), July 2026 release — data CC BY 4.0 | 2026-07-01 |
| Vegan share of cafés | 1.4 per 100 restaurants & cafés | OpenStreetMap, within 15km | 2026-08-05 |
| Vegetarian share of cafés | 2.1 per 100 restaurants & cafés | OpenStreetMap, within 15km | 2026-08-05 |
| Restaurants mapped | 993 count | OpenStreetMap, within 15km | 2026-08-05 |
| Country price level (US = 100) | 68.7 US=100 | World Bank price level index for Spain, 2025 (US = 100) | 2025-12-31 |
| Air quality PM2.5 (measured) | 17 µg/m³ | OpenAQ, median of 4 stations, 2026-08-03 | 2026-08-03 |
| Homicide rate (country) | 0.73 per 100k | UNODC intentional homicide rate for Spain, 2024 | 2024-12-31 |
| Population | 434786 people | Wikidata population figure, 2025 | 2025-12-31 |
| English proficiency (EF EPI) | 540 EF EPI score | EF EPI 2025 (country level, transcribed via Wikipedia) | 2025-11-01 |
| Getting by in English (0–10) | 5.6 score 0-10 | EF EPI 2025 (country level, transcribed via Wikipedia) | 2025-11-01 |
| Women, Peace and Security index (country) | 8.59 score 0-10 | Georgetown WPS Index 2023 (country level, transcribed via Wikipedia) | 2023-10-01 |
| Company setup index (country) | 6 score 0-10 | Nomadbase business rubric (country level), checked 2026-07-31 | 2026-07-31 |
| Banking access index (country) | 8 score 0-10 | Nomadbase business rubric (country level), checked 2026-07-31 | 2026-07-31 |
| Company setup in practice (country) | The SL minimum capital dropped to 1 EUR, but the process still runs through a notary and the Registro Mercantil, and a foreigner needs a NIE first. Autonomo is the faster route for one person. | Nomadbase business rubric (country level), checked 2026-07-31 | 2026-07-31 |
| Banking in practice (country) | Non-resident accounts exist and are commonly opened, but require an NIE and usually a branch visit; several banks charge a non-resident maintenance fee. | Nomadbase business rubric (country level), checked 2026-07-31 | 2026-07-31 |

## Scores (0–10, blend of public data and community reports)

| Category | Score | Public data | Community | Reports |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| cost | 1.72 | 1.72 | — | 0 |
| fun | 6.63 | 6.63 | — | 0 |
| internet | 8.26 | 8.26 | — | 0 |
| safety | 7.44 | 7.44 | — | 0 |
| climate | 6.45 | 6.45 | — | 0 |
| amenity | 7.26 | 7.26 | — | 0 |
| vegan | 3.19 | 3.19 | — | 0 |
| lgbtq | 10 | 10 | — | 0 |
| water | 10 | 10 | — | 0 |
| flights | 7.89 | 7.89 | — | 0 |
| visa | 8.67 | 8.67 | — | 0 |
| lifestyle | 5.11 | 5.11 | — | 0 |
| vegetarian | 2.89 | 2.89 | — | 0 |
| nightlife | 6.37 | 6.37 | — | 0 |
| nature | 7.84 | 7.84 | — | 0 |
| health | 5.98 | 5.98 | — | 0 |
| locals | 5.6 | 5.6 | — | 0 |
| business | 7 | 7 | — | 0 |
| women | 8.59 | 8.59 | — | 0 |

## Visa & entry (Spain)

EU citizens can stay indefinitely; visa-exempt non-EU travellers get 90 days in any 180 across the Schengen area. Spain has an international telework visa for non-EU remote workers, and the route from inside Spain grants three years rather than one.

### How long you can stay

- **EU, EEA and Swiss citizens:** no limit. You may need to register locally after a few months.
- **Visa-exempt non-EU travellers** (US, UK, Canada, Australia and others): 90 days within any 180-day period. That allowance is shared across the *whole* Schengen area, not per country — days spent in Berlin count against days in Lisbon.
- Everyone else needs a Schengen visa before travelling.

Since 10 April 2026 the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) records every crossing biometrically at all air, land and sea borders, so the 90/180 count is now tracked automatically rather than by passport stamp.

### Staying longer as a remote worker

Spain's *visado de teletrabajo de carácter internacional* (the digital nomad visa, created by the 2022 startups law) is for non-EU nationals working remotely for companies outside Spain. EU citizens do not need it and cannot apply.

Two routes, and they are not equivalent:

- **From a consulate abroad** — a visa valid up to one year.
- **From inside Spain**, legally present, through the Large Business Unit (UGE) — a residence authorisation of up to three years, decided within 20 working days.

You need to show income of 200% of the Spanish minimum wage. The SMI is paid in 14 annual instalments and the immigration unit annualises them, so with the 2026 SMI at €1,221 the bar works out to about €2,850 per month (≈€34,190 a year) — noticeably more than the €2,442 a naive twelve-month reading suggests. Add 75% of the SMI for a first family member and 25% for each additional one. You also need either a degree from a recognised institution or three years of professional experience.

No more than 20% of your income may come from Spanish clients.

> Visa rules change frequently. This information was last checked on 2026-07-27. It is not legal advice — confirm with the official source before booking: https://www.inclusion.gob.es/en/web/unidadgrandesempresas/teletrabajadores

## Living in Palma

### Where to stay

**Santa Catalina** is the answer most are looking for: the old fishermen's quarter turned café-and-market district, walkable to everything with the marina at its feet. The **Casco Antiguo** delivers golden-stone old-town living with acoustics to match; **Portixol** and **El Molinar** put the seafront promenade at the door for the morning-swim demographic. **La Lonja** is beautiful and nightlife-adjacent, meaning both things fully. Inland villages — Esporles, Santa Maria — trade city convenience for Tramuntana proximity.

### Finding a place

The market is tight and seasonal: winter long-lets are findable through Idealista and local agents, while spring flips supply toward the holiday economy — the long-stay hunt rewards autumn timing and direct-owner conversations. Non-negotiables to verify: heating (island buildings under-invest), actual fibre, and summer cross-ventilation. The telework-visa crowd has professionalised the mid-term market; competition is real.

### Working from here

Palma's coworking scene is established and international, concentrated between Santa Catalina and the centre, with café-working culture to match. Fibre is standard in renovated stock. The rhythm advantage is the island's: European hours, Mediterranean lunches, and the Tramuntana close enough that a Wednesday-morning col before calls is a lifestyle, not a fantasy.

### Getting around

The city walks and cycles flat; buses and the two train lines reach the island's spine (the Sóller wooden train being commute-as-heritage), and a car unlocks the coves and villages on your own schedule. Summer parking is a blood sport near any water. The airport's proximity is the island's quiet superpower — Europe's cities are ninety-minute neighbours.

### Money

Spanish norms: cards everywhere, menú del día as the honest lunch institution, and a clear split between resident prices one street inland and marina prices on the front. Island logistics add a visible margin to groceries; the markets — Santa Catalina, Olivar — return it in quality.

### Staying safe

Palma's register is polished-city calm: pickpockets work the old town's tourist crush and the airport bus in season, beach bags walk when unattended, and that is substantially the list. The real risk lives outdoors: Tramuntana weather turns fast on the ridges, the winter sea is for the trained, and August heat on exposed rides is a medical variable. The nightlife strips run boisterous in season — ordinary care suffices.

### Seasons

The island year has four honest acts: an almond-blossom late winter that is the connoisseur's secret; a long, perfect spring; a hot, full summer that peaks in August's crowds; and an autumn that keeps the sea warm and the trails golden into November. Winter is bright, cool and alive in the city — the season the day-trip economy never sees, and the reason Palma works as a base rather than a resort.

### Meeting people

The international community is layered — sailing crews, cycling migrants, German and Scandinavian part-year residents, a growing remote-work stratum — and organised through sport above all: the ride groups, the swim clubs, the hiking calendars. Spanish and Catalan both live here; either earns warmth. Winter is when the real community surfaces and the joining is easiest.

### Staying active

Cycling is the island religion — the Tramuntana cols host half of Europe's pelotons from January to May, and the flat interior serves every other level — while the range's trails, from Deià's coastal paths to the Puig main events, carry the hiking calendar. The promenade runs from the cathedral to Portixol for the daily kilometres, ocean swimmers work the coves in three seasons, and sailing remains the harbour's founding sport. Gyms and studios fill the gaps at city standard.

### Time off

The island is the itinerary: Deià and Sóller's terraced valleys, the Formentor lighthouse road, Cap de Ses Salines' empty south, and the cove-hopping east coast out of season. Ferries make Menorca and Ibiza weekend neighbours, and the airport makes everywhere else one. The deepest luxury is subtractive — a winter Tuesday in a village square the summer never meets.

## Frequently asked questions

### How fast is the internet in Palma?

Median download speed is about 59 Mbps. Source: M-Lab median of 8,445 tests within 50 km, last 7 days.

### What visa do I need for Palma?

EU citizens can stay indefinitely; visa-exempt non-EU travellers get 90 days in any 180 across the Schengen area. Spain has an international telework visa for non-EU remote workers, and the route from inside Spain grants three years rather than one. Last checked 2026-07-27. Always confirm with the official source before booking.

### What is the weather like in Palma?

Winters average 13.8 °C and summers 26.7 °C. 2 of 12 months average a comfortable 18–27 °C (felt temperature). Source: Copernicus ERA5, 2025 annual average.

### Can I work European or US hours from Palma?

A 09:00–17:00 working day in Palma overlaps 8 hours with Central European time and 2 hours with US Eastern time, at standard time.

### Are there coworking spaces in Palma?

3 coworking spaces are mapped in Palma, plus 775 cafés to work from. Source: OpenStreetMap, within 15km. Counts are a floor, not a census — coverage depends on local mappers.

### How do you get to Palma?

The nearest major airport is about 8 km away. 1 airport with scheduled service within 100 km. Source: OurAirports — nearest major airport is Palma de Mallorca Airport.

## Sources

- **OurAirports** (Public domain) — Airport locations and types. Distances are to the nearest major airport with scheduled service. https://ourairports.com/
- **OpenStreetMap** (ODbL) — Community-mapped places: coworking, cafés, gyms and diet options within 15km. Counts are a floor rather than a census — coverage depends on local mappers. https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright
- **Copernicus ERA5** (Generated using Copernicus Climate Change Service information) — ECMWF’s ERA5 reanalysis, retrieved through Open-Meteo. Temperatures, rainfall, cloud cover and wind are daily values for the last complete calendar year. https://open-meteo.com/
- **Nomadbase comfort index** — Our own reading of ERA5 data, not a measurement: a month-by-month score for how comfortable the felt temperature is, damped for rain and cloud. The formula is published. https://nomadbase.com/destinations#how-we-score
- **Published prices** — Prices read by hand from the operator’s or authority’s own published price list — a transit tariff, a coworking rate card, an eSIM store — on the date shown. Checked quarterly; the linked page is the source. https://nomadbase.com/destinations#how-we-score
- **Nomadbase country research** — Hand-maintained country tables for the LGBTQ+ legal position and tap-water safety, compiled from advocacy databases (ILGA World, Human Dignity Trust), national authorities and government travel advice, and scored with a published rubric. Country-level by nature — city reality can differ, which is what the practical note is for. https://nomadbase.com/destinations#how-we-score
- **M-Lab** (CC BY-SA 4.0) — Internet speed from real speed tests run by people in the city, aggregated over a seven-day window. https://www.measurementlab.net/
- **Government sources** — Visa and entry rules come from the responsible authority for each country, linked in the visa section and re-checked by hand on the date shown.
- **World Bank** (CC BY 4.0) — Price level of household consumption at market exchange rates (US = 100) — a national figure that anchors the cost score where no city-level source exists yet. It measures what arriving with foreign income feels like, which is why a weak currency lowers it. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/PA.NUS.PRVT.PLI
- **OpenAQ** (CC BY 4.0) — Air quality measured at ground stations. Only reaches part of the catalogue — a city needs a station nearby that is still reporting. https://openaq.org/
- **UNODC** (Free with attribution) — Intentional homicide rate from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime — a national figure, because no free source measures crime per city. The year next to the number is the year the country last reported. https://dataunodc.un.org/
- **Wikidata** (CC0) — Structural facts taken from the place’s Wikidata entity — resident population, which mirrors a national census figure, and elevation above sea level. The year is the one Wikidata records for that figure; where the entity was the wrong scale for the place we describe, the number has been replaced by a hand-sourced one from the statistics office instead. https://www.wikidata.org/

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