Bellver Castle in Palma: tickets, free Sundays and how to get up there

Bellver Castle is the round castle crowning the woods west of Palma, about 3 km from the centre and 112 metres above the sea. King Jaume II of Mallorca had it built between 1300 and 1311, and its perfectly circular plan, around an equally round courtyard, makes it very unusual among Gothic castles. Inside there's a small museum of the city's history, but most people go up for the views: from the upper terrace you look out over the bay and much of the island.

It's one of the cheapest visits in Palma: €4 for a standard ticket, free on Sundays and always free for under-14s. The challenge isn't the price but the climb. Here's how to get to the top without suffering, when to go and which tours take in the castle.

Bellver Castle tickets and prices

Tickets are sold at the visitor reception centre by the car park, not at the castle gate. Sales stop 45 minutes before closing and last entry is half an hour before.

Accredited teachers, ICOM members and school groups also get in free. There's no need to book: you pay at the ticket desk and there are no queues to justify booking. The platforms don't sell a standalone ticket, only the sightseeing bus that stops at the gate and the odd guided tour, which I compare further down.

Bellver for free: Sundays and under-14s

Every Sunday entry is free for every visitor, with no nationality conditions. The catch is that on Sundays the castle closes at 15:00 and it's the busiest day. Arrive at opening time, 10:00, and you'll find the courtyard and terrace much quieter.

With children, the castle is free on any day up to and including age 13, and teenagers from 14 to 18 pay €2. In the woods near the castle there's also a children's play area. The Palma with kids guide has more free or cheap plans for families.

Bellver Castle opening hours

• October to March: Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00–18:00; Sundays and public holidays, 10:00–15:00.
• April to September: Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00–19:00; Sundays and public holidays, 10:00–15:00.
• Closed: every Monday, plus 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May and 25 December.

Hours can change when the council holds events at the castle, and there's another reason for closures that catches many people out: Bellver stands inside a forest park, and when the Ajuntament closes the parks because of a rain or wind warning, the castle closes too, sometimes at a few hours' notice. If a weather warning has been issued, check the castle's or the council's social media before heading up. For the same reason it's not a rainy-day plan: for that, see the guide to Palma on a rainy day.

How to get to Bellver Castle

The castle sits on top of a wooded hill, on Carrer Camilo José Cela, above the El Terreno district. There are four ways to get there, and the choice mainly depends on the heat and your legs.

Another walking route: get off at the C/ Joan Miró 16 stop and walk up Carrer Camilo José Cela and the castle road, about 30 minutes, longer but with no steps.

By sightseeing bus: City Sightseeing stops at the gate (stop 10, "Castell de Bellver"). It's the easiest way if you don't want to walk, but watch the time: the last bus from stop 1 towards Bellver leaves at 17:15, and if the castle barrier is already shut the last one that can stop there is the 16:30. Visit in the morning. More in the guide to Palma's sightseeing bus.

By taxi or car: there's a taxi rank at the bottom of Carrer Camilo José Cela, and by car you drive up the same street to the castle car park, where the ticket desk and visitor centre are. The official website doesn't publish a parking rate. Note that the castle's website still mentions a sightseeing bus "line 50" that no longer exists.

If you arrive by cruise ship, the sightseeing bus stops at the terminal (stop 14) and at the castle, which is a long uphill walk from the port. The cruise port guide explains it step by step.

Sightseeing bus or bike: tours that take in Bellver

As the ticket costs €4 and there are no official guided tours, what the platforms sell for Bellver is mainly the transport up. The main product is the City Sightseeing bus, Palma's only hop-on hop-off, resold by GetYourGuide, Tiqets and Headout at the same starting price:

As it's the same bus, the choice comes down to the platform you already use and its terms: Headout adds a service fee at checkout, and GetYourGuide's "reserve now, pay later" charges your card before the date. Castle entry isn't included in the basic ticket: the operator sells a bus plus Bellver or Pueblo Español combo, but with entry at €4 (and free on Sundays) it usually works out the same or better to buy it at the top.

What to book for Bellver

1

If you'd rather not walk up

The 24-hour sightseeing bus drops you at the gate; the stop before is the Pueblo Español and afterwards it carries on to Plaça Gomila, Sant Carles and the port. Over 5,000 reviews, rated 4.1.

GetYourGuide1 day

Sights· Palma city

Palma de Mallorca: City Sightseeing Hop-on/Hop-off Bus Tour

4.1 (5,165)

from €27Check availability

2

If you fancy being active

A 2.5-hour e-bike tour through the woods and the old town with a hike up to the castle. It's new and has just one review: check what's included on the listing before booking.

GetYourGuide2.5 hours

Sights· Palma city

Palma Forest & Old Town: E-Bike Tour & Bellver Castle Hike

5.0 (1)

from €75Check availability

GetYourGuide1 day

Sights· Palma city

Palma de Mallorca: City Sightseeing Hop-on/Hop-off Bus Tour

4.1 (5,165)

from €27Check availability

GetYourGuide2.5 hours

Sights· Palma city

Palma Forest & Old Town: E-Bike Tour & Bellver Castle Hike

5.0 (1)

from €75Check availability

See everything on GetYourGuide →Prices checked on 6 October 2026

If you're after more bike routes around the city, the guide to bikes and scooters in Palma covers rentals, rules and the Paseo Marítimo cycle lane.

What to see inside Bellver Castle

The visit is self-guided, with the audio guide on your phone. The most interesting thing is the building itself:

• The circular courtyard: below, 21 round arches; above, a gallery with 42 pointed arches. In the middle, the great cistern that collected rainwater.
• The keep: to the north, free-standing, about 7 metres from the main body of the castle and joined to it by a bridge. It's 33 metres tall.
• The Museu d'Història de la Ciutat: an exhibition on Palma's urban development, useful for making sense of the city you see from above.
• The Col·lecció Despuig: classical sculpture gathered by Cardinal Despuig.
• The Sala Jovellanos: devoted to Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, who was imprisoned in the castle.
• The upper terrace: the viewpoint. From here you look out over the Bay of Palma and much of the island.

Don't expect furnished period rooms: the furniture on display was bought in the 1960s and nothing original survives. In the visitor centre by the car park there's a café with a terrace looking over the Bellver woods, Gènova and La Bonanova, a good place to rest after the climb.

History of Bellver Castle

Jaume II, King of Mallorca, had Bellver built between 1300 and 1311. Its shape is what sets it apart: a circular plan around a circular courtyard, four large towers facing the cardinal points and the main tower standing apart from the rest.

From 1717 it served mainly as a military prison. Its cells held Jovellanos (from 1802 to 1808), French prisoners after the Battle of Bailén, General Lacy, executed there by firing squad in 1817, and more than 800 Republican prisoners between 1936 and 1938. In 1821 it even served as a mint. The state handed it over to the city in 1931 and today it's run by the Ajuntament de Palma.

If you like history, pair the visit with the Almudaina Palace, Palma's other great royal building, beside the cathedral.

Views, photos and practical tips

• Best time: first thing, especially in summer and on Sundays. The climb in the heat is what wears you out.
• Sunset: the castle closes at 18:00 or 19:00 depending on the season, and at 15:00 on Sundays, so don't count on it as a sunset viewpoint. For that, look at sunset cruises.
• From the sea: the panoramic bay boat from the Escala Real passes the cathedral and the Almudaina and gives you a view of Bellver from the water. It's in the guide to boat trips.
• Accessibility: the 463-step staircase is not an option for wheelchairs or pushchairs; by car or taxi you can get as far as the car park. There's no detailed official information about the two-storey interior: call 971 735 065 before you go. The accessible Palma guide has the rest.
• Mondays: closed, like the Almudaina, Es Baluard and the Fundació Miró. Plan your week with the list of things to do in Palma.