Christmas Shopping in Mallorca

While I’m not a shopaholic, I do enjoy indulging in a little Christmas retail therapy. But when I moved to Mallorca at the start of 2023, I didn’t know where to start. That’s why I’ve made this Christmas shopping in Mallorca guide sharing where to hit the shops in Palma Old Town, where the main malls are, and which Christmas markets are worth checking out. Plus find out my top Spanish gift ideas.

Christmas Shopping in Palma Old Town

With the decorations up, the lights turned on and street performers in full force, Mallorca’s capital creates the perfect atmosphere for a spot of Christmas shopping. You can enjoy hours just window shopping and exploring the old town’s winding streets, but here are some of the city’s most iconic shopping streets to get you started:

Avinguda de Jaume III

With its wide road and arch-covered pavements, Avinguda de Jaume III is one of Palma’s most famous shopping streets offering big clothing and cosmetics shops like Intimissimi, Women’s Secret, Calzedonia, Guess, Havaianas, Rituals, L’Occitane, Kiko, and Kiehls. Avinguda de Jaume III is also home to El Corte Inglés department store – similar to John Lewis in the UK. While a bit pricey for your regular shop, don’t miss the scrummy free samples they regularly dish out this time of year!

Passeig del Born

Just around the corner from Avinguda de Jaume III, Passeig del Born is also home to a mix of big brands and high-end stores like H&M, Zara, Massimo Dutti, Oysho and Louis Vuitton.

Carrer Sant Miquel

Carrer Sant Miquel is a long shopping street leading off from the ring road around Palma Old Town and ending at Plaça Major. Here you’ll find a wide variety of shops, including FNAC department store (a great stop for books and electronics), Pull & Bear, Claire’s Accessories, and Spanish shoe stores like Camper and Toni Pons. Plus there are plenty of cafés and restaurants to refuel along the way.

Carrer Colom

Continuing down from Carrer Sant Miquel through Plaça Major, you’ll reach Carrer Colom, lined with beautiful traditional shop fronts, some of which are over a century old, as well as shops where you can buy clothes, jewellery, cosmetics, and souvenirs. It’s also home to one of my favourite coffee and cake shops, Anita Cakes – the perfect place to recharge with a coffee and a sweet treat!

Carrer de Jaume II

This narrow shopping street forks off to the right of Carrer Colom and is where you can find lots of small stores selling lingerie, sunglasses, jewellery, clothes, and cosmetics. One of my best finds is the family-run Paraguas, selling a wide range of umbrellas and hand-painted fans to keep you comfortable and stylish come run or shine! 

Carrer del Sindicat

A long shopping street stretching from Avinguda d’Alexandre Rosselló to the Plaça Major, here you’ll find a mix of high-street retailers, several independent shoe stores, and plenty of cafés for a quick pick-me-up. Try Ca’n Joan d s’Aigo at the top of the street for traditional Mallorcan pastries and Claudio Gelato Con Passione for Mallorca’s most inventive ice cream flavours and friendly service! 

Shopping Centres Near Palma

If you want to do some heavy-duty shopping, check out one of the island’s malls:

• FAN:  A big shopping mall a 10-minute drive east of Palma city centre and a 2-minute drive from the airport, Fan offers extensive free parking, stores by international brands, a cinema, and a large food court. 
• Porto Pi Centro Commerical: A conveniently located shopping mall a 10-minute drive west of Palma city centre offering a mix of fashion, lifestyle, and electronics stores, along with restaurants, cafes, and a cinema. 
• Mallorca Fashion Outlet: A collection of outlets offering big branded clothes at a discounted rate. You can get here in 15 minutes driving north-east of Palma or get there in 20 minutes by train.

Christmas Markets in Mallorca

Have you ever been to a wonderful traditional German Christmas market blanketed with snow and filled with the warm, inviting aroma of Glühwein? If so, drop all expectations of the Mallorcan ones being like that. Some of them are definitely worth a visit, whereas others can be skipped. Here’s my review of the ones I’ve visited so far ranked worst to best:

5. Son Amar Christmas Wonderland, Every weekend from November 30th until 22nd December

Son Amar’s Christmas Wonderland has just over 25 stalls offering gifts, toys, food, and drink. Children can line up to meet Santa and have their photos taken with him and there’s also a Christmas Show, which based on the quality of their other shows (Exhibit and Ohalá), is probably very good.  

But despite its positives, I’m afraid I can’t recommend it. I went last year in a group of adults and we left very quickly when we realised it’s more geared towards children. There also isn’t a lot of variety when it comes to the Christmas stalls and the small, synthetic ice rink feels a bit pathetic and sad. What’s more, unlike other Christmas markets on the island, kids from four years old have to pay an entry fee and the overall atmosphere is weirdly corporate.

Verdict: I wouldn’t go again and suggest you give it a miss!

4. Plaça Major’s Christmas Market, Palma Old Town, 22nd November – 6th January

Open daily from the end of November to the beginning of January, Plaça Major holds a small market dedicated to traditional Christmas decorations, decorative candles, and pieces to set up your own at-home nativity scene – a very Spanish Christmas tradition which I cover in more detail in this blog post.  

While this is definitely a great opportunity to pick up some traditional decorations, I can’t help but think the whole experience would be elevated with a mulled wine or hot chocolate. Sadly, there are no food or drink stands to be seen.

Verdict: It’s free and located in the centre of Palma Old Town so you may as well go, as long as you bear in mind that it’s tiny and mainly sells nativity figures, including caganers. Check it out if you’re in the area.

3. La Rambla Christmas Market Palma Old Town, 22nd November – 6th January

Mainly dedicated to flowers and plants but interspersed with some high-quality gift stalls and food vans, you can spend a really pleasant time browsing the stalls on this tree-lined street. 

Verdict: Small, but entrance is free and there are some good quality gifts on offer! Don’t miss if you’re in the area.

2. Parc de Ses Estacions Christmas Market, Palma, 22nd November – 6th January

With around 125 stalls offering a wide range of gift stalls and food and drink, this market is much bigger than the markets at Son Amar or Plaça Major and even has a fairground. What’s more, entrance is completely free and being located just behind the bus interchange and bus station, it’s very easy to reach by public transport!

Verdict: While I think that many of the gift stalls in 2024 are a lot tackier than last year, I still think families will enjoy this market, which is a lot bigger and more varied than the ones so far in the list.

1. Poble Espanyol 28th of November – 22nd of December 2024

So far my personal fave! Held in Poble Espanyol, Mallorca’s open-air museum depicting Spain in miniature (worth a trip in itself!), this market offers over 80 stalls selling a wide range of hand-made gifts, decorations, and more. There’s also a huge choice of food and drink options, plus live music, artificial snow, and rides for kids, giving it a really cosy and fun atmosphere.

The only negative is the price. It’s 10 euros for adults and children aged 12 or over, but you do get a mulled wine or hot chocolate with your ticket and can spend a good couple of hours here without getting bored, so I’d say it’s worth it.

To avoid queuing, buy your tickets online here.

When? Thursday to Sundays from 12 noon to 11 pm.

Verdict: Don’t miss it!

Bonus Market: Puerto Portals Christmas Market, 13th December – 6th January

While I haven’t been to the Puerto Portals Christmas Market (yet!), time and time again I hear that it’s the best in Mallorca, with many people revisiting it several times over the festive period. 

Aside from the market stalls, one of the main attractions of this market is the variety of events held each day for children, including arts and crafts workshops, conservation workshops, carol singing, dance presentations, ice skating, face painting, yoga, and magic shows. Check out the full 2024 programme here. As for the adults, there’s the shopping of course, live music and the oyster and champagne bars to hit up. This is posh Portals after all! 

Online Shopping in Mallorca

If you prefer online shopping, know that most major retailers ship to the Balearic islands, including the likes of Amazon, but orders may take a day or two longer to arrive than on the mainland. Make your orders soon to avoid disappointment!

Souvenirs From Spain: The Best Spanish Gift Ideas

If you’re wondering what you can gift to your loved ones after a trip to Spain, get inspired with these suggestions: 

Hand-painted fan

Pretty, practical, small, and lightweight, this is the perfect gift that will fit in your hand luggage. Check out Paraguas for a beautiful selection.

Caganers

To get the full scoop on these pooping figurines, check out my article on Spain’s poop-related Christmas traditions. For now, just know that they’re super traditional, small and will definitely surprise someone. The Christmas market at Plaça Major has a decent selection.

Shoes from Spain

Known for using high-quality materials and traditional craftsmanship, shoes from Spain are always a good shout!

Spanish Wine

Whether it’s a rich Rioja, a refreshing Albariño, or a sparkling Cava, Spanish wines are renowned for their quality. Plus you can pick up a good bottle for as low as 5 euros, meaning you don’t have to break the bank. While I’m personally not the biggest fan of Mallorcan wines, there are a few bodegas like Macià Batle whose wines are consistently delicious and can be found in supermarkets and online.

Turrón

This traditional Christmas treat originates from Alicante in the 15th century and can be found all over in Spain. While traditionally made from just almonds, honey, sugar, and egg whites, today you can find it in an enormous variety of flavours: chocolate, Bailey’s, lemon, mojito mint…  Perfect for sharing, a bar of turrón never lasts long at family gatherings! Torre Vicens has a HUGE selection.

The Worst Spanish Souvenirs

Some souvenirs may seem like fun keepsakes, but they can often fall short of being meaningful, useful, or culturally relevant. Here are some Spanish souvenirs I would personally give a miss: 

Pre-mixed sangria

While sangria is a quintessential Spanish drink, Spaniards don’t drink it nearly as much as you would think, opting instead for a simple tinto de verano made from red wine and Fanta lemon. I do like a good sangria, but the pre-mixed versions are often overly sweet and artificial-tasting. Why not buy a cheap Spanish red wine and make your own sangria at home? Trust me, it will be much tastier!

Tacky t-shirts

From creative delights such as “Dicke Titten Kartoffelsalat” to the ubiquitous “I love cock”, tacky t-shirts aren’t hard to find in Spain. While you might get a momentary laugh from them, they will most likely end up forgotten at the back of someone’s wardrobe. Unless you have a tacky t-shirt party that is!

Anything with sand in them

Spain’s beaches are already losing tonnes of sand each year, don’t add to the problem by buying souvenirs made with sand! 

Anything with a bull on it

While often seen as a symbol of Spain, traditional bullfighting is a divisive topic among Spaniards, with Catalonia and the Canary Islands banning the practice altogether. Personally, I would steer clear of anything glorifying this cruel tradition.

Happy Christmas Shopping!

I hope you found this guide to Christmas shopping in Mallorca helpful. If you have any other suggestions you think I should add, please let me know in the comments below.  👇 Happy Shopping!