Hammam Al Ándalus is a modern bathhouse that revives the Moorish bathing tradition that once shaped daily life in Palma, when the city was a Muslim town. It occupies a vaulted, stone-walled space in the old town and takes the form of a traditional hammam, with a sequence of rooms and pools at different temperatures. You move from a warm room to a hot pool, a steam room and a cold plunge, then rest in a calm lounge with mint tea. The rooms are lit by candles and soft lamps, the walls are decorated in Andalusian style, and the water is scented gently with herbs and oils. A session usually lasts about ninety minutes, and you can add a massage, a scrub or a facial if you wish. After a morning on the cobbles of the old town, a long walk to Bellver Castle or a day of mountain driving, it is a restful and surprisingly historic way to recover. The old town also keeps a small surviving set of Moorish baths from the tenth or eleventh century, which gives the experience a genuine local context, but this is a working spa for bathing and relaxing.
How it works
The baths are in the old town, a short walk from the cathedral and the Arab-quarter lanes, and the entry is by timed session. Booking a session in advance is wise, especially at weekends and on rainy days, when the number of bathers is limited to keep the atmosphere calm.
A session includes access to the baths and the relaxation room, with towels and sandals provided in most cases, and extra treatments are booked separately. The baths are used by adults, and a minimum age usually applies, so ask about children before you book.
What to expect
Bring a swimsuit and arrive a few minutes before your slot. Mobile phones are discouraged and voices are kept low, so the baths are not a place for loud groups. The water is deliberately hot in the main pool, so take it slowly and drink the tea.
People with health conditions, especially heart conditions or pregnancy, should check with the staff or a doctor before taking a hot bath. Sessions are shared, so you will meet other guests in the water, but the rooms are designed to feel private and the lighting keeps the mood quiet.
Making the most of it
Choose a late afternoon session after a day of sightseeing, then have dinner in the old town. The baths are especially welcome on cool winter days, when the heat feels wonderful, and on hot summer afternoons, when the cold plunge restores you. A massage adds to the experience, but many people find that the bath alone is enough.
For a couples' evening, combine it with a stroll along the Passeig des Born and a tapas supper nearby. If you also want to see the historic baths, visit them in the morning as a quick, separate stop.
Good to know
Sessions are for relaxing, so keep your phone in a locker and your voice low. Shower before you enter the pools, wear the swimsuit you bring and leave jewellery behind, since the hot water can tarnish it. Avoid a heavy meal just before your slot, and drink water afterwards, because the heat is dehydrating.
Arrive early if you want to choose a quiet corner of the lounge, and remember that treatments are normally booked separately from the bath. Staff are happy to explain the sequence of the rooms if this is your first hammam.
What to expect
The experience
A timed session in a vaulted, candle-lit bathhouse with hot, warm and cold pools, steam and a tea lounge.
Best time
Late afternoon or evening after a day of sightseeing, especially on cool or wet days.
How long
About ninety minutes in the baths, plus time for any treatment you add.
Tips
Book a session ahead, bring a swimsuit, drink water and check the age and health guidance before you go.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Couples and tired sightseers who want to unwind in a historic Moorish-inspired setting.
- Families
- Usually an adult experience with a minimum age, so check before you book and plan another activity for children.
- Couples
- An evening session followed by dinner on the Passeig des Born makes a very relaxed date.
- Pair with
- Palma Cathedral and Palau March in the morning, then the baths late in the afternoon.
- Time needed
- Two hours including arrival and relaxing.
Good questions
Do you need to book the Arab Baths in Palma?+
Booking a timed session in advance is a good idea, since the number of bathers is limited and weekends and wet days fill up.
What should I bring?+
Bring a swimsuit and a hair tie if you need one. Towels and sandals are normally provided, but check your booking.
How long is a session?+
A standard session lasts around ninety minutes, and you can add a massage or other treatment for extra time.
Are the baths suitable for children?+
Most sessions are for adults, and a minimum age usually applies. Check the age policy when you book.
Is this the historic Moorish bath in Palma?+
No, this is a modern bathhouse in the Moorish style. The surviving medieval baths are a separate small monument in the old town.
