Christmas in Mallorca is a wonderful experience, and here at Zafiro Hotels we celebrate it in a very special way that we’d love to share with you.
Family. Traditions. Fairy lights. Christmas markets. Wonderful experiences and so many memories just waiting to be created. Christmas in Mallorca gives you the chance to slow down, press pause, and remember what really matters in life.
Here at Zafiro Hotels we see the Christmas holidays as a great opportunity to forge an even deeper connection to our land and our history. A slower, more Mediterranean Christmas, full of warmth and details that remind us that the simple things in life are often the most precious: a walk beneath the Christmas lights, memories of childhood with every gift, a steaming hot chocolate, and raising a glass in a toast with the people you love most by your side.
This is a very special time for all the Zafiro Hotels team, and we can’t wait to share a little of the Mallorca Christmas magic with you. A time that brings us together with all our loved ones and also celebrates our roots and our traditions. Christmas has a very special aroma here in Mallorca, a unique flavour, and an extraordinary light that makes it truly unforgettable. We would like to invite you to discover it all.
Content
- Under the Christmas lights in Palma
- The best Christmas markets
- The medieval Song of the Sibyl
- Christmas cuisine
- Christmas activities for all
Under the Christmas lights in Palma
Palma, the island's capital, is the main place where all of us who live in Mallorca meet up at Christmas. The city is really beautiful at this time of year, after all the lights around the most popular streets and squares are turned on at the end of November, filling the city with the spirit of Christmas.
The elegant and picturesque lighting that lights up Palma every night makes a stroll around its narrow streets an experience that takes us on a nostalgic journey back in time. The lights on the tree-lined Paseo del Borne and the tall palm trees on the Paseo Sagrera make them an avenue of golden light, similar to the Plaza Mayor, the city’s main square and home to the oldest Christmas figurine market on the island.
All of this is accompanied by beautiful window dressing at some of the most exclusive stores, helping to make Christmas in Palma a joyful, yet also intimate and sophisticated experience. Along the avenue of El Borne, the elegance of Louis Vuitton and Max Mara shines brightly, while in the narrow streets that run alongside this central avenue there is one particular shop window that brings big surprises every year: the La Industrial Toy Store, that uses dolls and Lego to replicate traditional scenes that take us right back to our childhood.
This time of year is when the city reveals its authentic charm, coming to life like a scene from a postcard as night falls. Café terraces fill with people savouring wine and tapas, helping create the most welcoming and festive atmosphere. Among our personal favourites are the cafés in the Plaça del Mercat, La Lonja and Paseo Mallorca.
- One of our favourite places: the terrace at the Es Baluard Museum is a great place to see the lights from above, as you look out over the sea and the boats and yachts that dot the harbour in Palma.
The best Christmas markets
Even though we have sunshine instead of snow, Mallorca is perfect for anyone who loves Christmas markets, and every corner of the island has something special to offer.
The first to open is normally the Pueblo Español Christmas Market, a venue just 1 km from the centre of Palma that is home to miniature replicas of iconic destinations and famous monuments from all over Spain. Along with the switching on of the Christmas lights, it’s a market that is the traditional kick off for our Christmas in Mallorca.
One of the most famous markets is the one in Puerto Portals, the most exclusive marina on the island. Surrounded by luxurious boats and yachts, you'll see stalls decorated with lovely fairy lights selling everything from baby clothes to artisan perfumes. This is the perfect market for anyone looking for something really chic and original to give as a Christmas gift.
Another market that attracts more and more people from the island every year is the Rata Christmas Market. It’s become really popular among islanders looking to buy a gift from local artists, hipster chic and really original gifts. This family event is usually held at the Palma Conference Centre around 22 December, after the kids have started their school holidays.
There are Christmas markets in many locations in the centre of Palma. The Plaza Mayor offers hand-made figurines that form part of the traditional nativity scene, the Ramblas has stalls selling handicrafts and sweets, and the Ses Estacions Park has almost everything, ranging from toys for kids to nougat or artisan jewellery. There are also a lot of food stalls and trucks, filling the air with the aroma of roast chestnuts, chocolate with churros, and toffee apples.
Every town in Mallorca, to a greater or lesser degree, also has its own Christmas market. Smaller but also more authentic. Some of the most popular are the ones in Binissalem, Alaró, Sa Pobla and Santa Ponsa. All of them feature organic and artisan products together with traditional Mallorcan products and local cuisine, allowing us all to feel part of the genuine spirit of the island.
- Something we love: buy some roast chestnuts or toasted almonds to eat while browsing all the different stalls.
The medieval Song of the Sibyl
Few Christmas traditions in Mallorca are as fascinating and ancient as the Song of the Sibyl, a hymn that has survived since medieval times and is now only performed in Mallorca. The hymn describes the coming of Jesus Christ and the prophecies of the Sibyl of Eritrea, and is sung in many churches in Mallorca on Christmas Eve. The event takes place late at night, during the so-called Office of Readings, enthralling everyone who comes to listen and adding even more mysticism to the ancient proceedings.
The Sibyl was a prophet in classical mythology that warned about the final judgement through solemn verses which are now sung by local boys and girls, echoing through the stone walls of the churches accompanied by organ music. A young boy or girl represents the Sibyl during the event, moving around the church aisles and pews carrying a sword. When the child reaches the place where the rest of the choir awaits, they make the sign of the cross. This scene is acted out in practically all of the 157 churches on the island.
The Song of the Sibyl is a truly unique tradition and has been declared Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. A part of the collective imagination of all of us who have been born and raised on the island.
Did you know?
- This ritual was introduced to the island in 1229 after the Christian reconquest, and is one of the few traditions from that time that still survive today.
- Palma Cathedral, with its stunning Gothic nave and stained glass window, hosts the event at the Midnight Mass held every Christmas Eve.
Christmas cuisine
Mallorcan cuisine at Christmas is a delight for all the senses. The island's kitchens produce delicious dishes full of warmth and intense flavours. One of the biggest favourites is a delicious Christmas stew that consists of pasta stuffed with meat in an aromatic broth and which is an obligatory course at every traditional Christmas dinner.
Traditional sweets are also popular, such as almond nougat and ensaimadas filled with cream, chocolate or the classic “angel’s hair”, allowing us to savour Christmas with nostalgic memories of our childhood.
Although our hotels are closed at Christmas, typical Mallorcan cuisine can be found in the restaurants in all the towns on the island. Many people enjoy the tradition, for example, of visiting Randa for a traditional arròs brut rice dish. Many others head to the villages in the Tramuntana mountains for roast suckling pig.
Lunches and dinners with friends are often organised in the neighbourhoods of Santa Catalina, on the Paseo de Mallorca or in the historic centre of Palma, where restaurants and bars offer special menus for Christmas and New Year. Many are the perfect mix of traditions and sophistication, such as the DINS restaurant run by the famous chef Santi Taura in the La Calatrava area of Palma, winner of two Repsol Suns and a Michelin Star in 2020. It’s really important to make a booking as us islanders like to eat out at restaurants during the Christmas holidays.
- Did you know?On the morning of December 24 and December 31, many people meet up with friends for tapas and wine, a perfect prelude to the Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve celebrations.
Christmas activities for all
Christmas in Mallorca is for sharing. This time of year is all about getting together, spending time around a table with the family. The key is to do it all without any haste. In Mediterranean style. But also having lots of fun. We like to enjoy the outdoors, and if the weather is good, there are so many things you can do.
Essential Christmas activities:
- Ice skating. Palma and Port Adriano have free ice rinks that are loads of fun for both kids and adults.
- See a live nativity scene. Some towns, such as Consell, Ses Salines or Andratx, organise live performances that take visitors to the heart of Christmas traditions.
- Family hikes. The Tramuntana mountain range has great trails for families with kids. Making the most of the fact that the kids have school holidays, we Mallorcans like to go up to the mountains with the whole family. One of our favourite trails is the Ses Fonts Ufanes just outside Campanet. This is a short 6 km loop through the forest. The best time to do it is after it has rained for a few days, as that is when the water begins to spring from the ground like natural fountains all along the stream.
- Send a letter to the Three Wise Men. The postbox is usually kept in the town halls of each town, as is the case in the Plaça de Cort building in Palma.
- An afternoon at Can Joan de S'Aigo. This legendary café in the centre of Palma is one of our favourites for a hot chocolate accompanied by typical cuartos (very light sponge cakes) or ensaimada. For those with a sweet tooth, home-made ice cream is a perfect choice.
- See the nativity scenes in Palma. This is one of the classic activities for people of all ages. Come to the centre of Palma and take a tour of all the different exhibitions before or after doing some shopping. The most popular are the ones in Sant Antoniet, at the Military Museum and the Palau March Museum, all three locations on Carrer Sant Miquel in Palma.
If we had to somehow summarise the feeling of Christmas in Mallorca… Creating Memories would definitely be our choice. Because Christmas is not just a time of year, it’s a state of mind. An opportunity to remember happy times with our loved ones and to create new and special memories. The perfect time of year to connect with what is most important, to enjoy our island and to celebrate our most authentic traditions.
