Things to Do in Palma de Mallorca in August
August weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
August Weather in Palma de Mallorca
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
87°F (31°C)
High Temp
75°F (24°C)
Low Temp
0.8 inches (20 mm)
Rainfall
65%
Humidity
Is August Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + In August the water sits at 26°C (79°F), warm enough to dive straight in without the sharp intake of breath you suffer in May or October.
- + The Festa de la Mare de Déu d'Agost (August 15) turns Palma's old town into a three-day street party. Live orchestras fill Plaça Major and strangers challenge each other to dance-offs in pocket-sized squares you won't find on any map.
- + Hotel rates tumble 25-30% after August 20th once Spanish families pack up. Yet the weather remains flawless right through the end of the month.
- + The sea lies flat enough for the glass-bottom boats to make the run to Cabrera island, a trip that gets scrubbed half the time in spring when swell rolls in.
Considerations
- − August 1-15 is peak Spanish holiday season, expect 45-minute waits for tables at Ca'n Joan de s'Aigo ice cream parlour and shoulder-to-shoulder crowds along the Paseo Maritimo.
- − Temperatures climb to 31°C (88°F) by 11 AM and refuse to budge until sunset, heat that keeps the cathedral's sandstone walls glowing long past midnight.
- − Most traditional restaurants bolt their doors for two weeks around August 15 when Mallorcan families bolt for their village homes, call ahead or you'll be stuck eating tourist paella.
Best Activities in August
Top things to do during your visit
Cabrera Island Boat Tours
August's flat seas make the 45-minute crossing to this uninhabited national park island bearable, the water's so clear you can see 15 meters (49 feet) down to posidonia meadows. Morning departures around 9 AM ride the coolest air and throw the best light for photos of the Blue Cave. The park caps daily visitors at 200 people, so August's bigger boats sail full without the choppy cancellations that plague spring.
Booking Tip: Reserve 3-4 days ahead through the national park's website or licensed operators (see current options in booking section below), permits drop in weekly blocks and disappear fast in August.
Old Town Evening Tapas Walks
Begin at 7:30 PM when temperatures slide to 26°C (79°F) and locals crawl out from siesta. The route from Santa Catalina market through La Lonja to the Arab Baths stops at five places that unlock their doors only after 8 PM in August, tiny bars serving ensaïmada stuffed with sobrasada that's been smoking in a village shed since January. You'll cover about 2 km (1.2 miles) total, but it's a crawl, more grazing than marching.
Booking Tip: The self-guided route works. Yet local food guides know which bars still cook in August versus those reheating frozen tapas for tourists, check the booking section for small-group evening tours.
Tramuntana Mountain Sunrise Cycling
Roll out at 5:30 AM to beat the heat on the 15 km (9.3 mile) climb to Valldemossa, the temperature drops 8°C (14°F) between sea level and 500 m (1,640 ft) elevation, a difference you feel on every hairpin turn. August mornings see less afternoon cloud buildup, so the Serra de Tramuntana's limestone ridges stand sharp instead of hiding in mist. The descent back to Palma before 9 AM lets you watch the city wake up.
Booking Tip: Pick up bikes the night before, shops open at 6 AM but won't have your size waiting. Most operators throw in helmet and repair kit, yet double-check (see current bike rental options in booking section).
Cathedral Rooftop Tours
August's brutal 3 PM heat turns the cathedral's interior into a sauna. Yet rooftop tours starting at 6 PM catch golden hour over Palma's terracotta roofs. You're 45 meters (148 feet) up with 360-degree views, watch cruise ships queue for tomorrow's arrivals while the day's heat still pulses from the sandstone below. Tours cap groups at 15 people, so August's bigger crowds still leave spots open.
Booking Tip: The cathedral's official tours release tickets at 10 AM daily, queue then or book online 48 hours ahead. English tours sell out fastest in August.
Beach-to-Cave Kayaking
August's warm 26°C (79°F) water lets you kayak the 8 km (5 mile) route from Cala Estellencs to the Cova des Coloms sea caves without a wetsuit. The caves hold at 20°C (68°F) inside, natural air-con when the outside thermometer hits 31°C (88°F). Morning tours at 8 AM glide over glass-flat water with zero boat traffic, while afternoon tours catch the caves when sunlight slices the water for perfect photos.
Booking Tip: Confirm your operator packs waterproof bags, August's afternoon squalls can slam in fast and drench everything in open kayaks. Look for tours that hand out dry bags and snacks (see current kayaking options below).
Where to Stay in Palma de Mallorca in August
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for August travellers.
Public Holidays in August
Dates that affect opening hours, transport and crowds
Asunción
Known in English as Assumption. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Asunción
Known in English as Assumption. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Packing Checklist
Bookmark this page — your progress is saved between visits
Need the full list with shopping links?
Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Palma de Mallorca Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Skip the cruise-ship parade on the main boulevard and slip away from Jaime III shopping street for a 15-minute wander through the tight lanes that lead to the cathedral. Along the way you'll duck past three bakeries that pull trays of ensaïmada from the ovens at 3 PM, still warm, still fragrant.
In August, locals sit down to dinner at 10 PM. That leaves the restaurants that court tourists packed at 7 PM and empty at 9:30 PM, walk straight in to the best tables without a reservation.
The city bus to Bellver Castle departs every 20 minutes. Yet most visitors never notice it. Ride it and you spare yourself the 30-minute climb in 31°C (88°F) heat.
After 11 AM, hotel pools overflow with day-trippers who've bought pool passes. Locals swim at 8 AM, when the water is still cool and the loungers are still free.
Avoid These Mistakes
Reserve a table at 8 PM and you'll dine almost alone with fellow visitors while Palma residents are still stretched out on the sand.
Sightseeing between 2 PM and 5 PM is punishing. The 2 PM heat is why siesta exists.
Stay by the beach and the bus crawl into Palma for dinner eats 45 minutes in August traffic. Old-town hotels put every restaurant and bar within an easy walk.
Ready to plan your trip to Palma de Mallorca?
Now that you've got the research covered, here's where to go next.
Book Experiences in Palma de Mallorca
Top-rated things to do in Palma de Mallorca this August
Explore More Activities in Palma de Mallorca
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Palma de Mallorca.
See All Palma de Mallorca Tours on Viator