Castell de Bellver sits 112 m above sea level on a wooded hill about 3 km west of Palma's centre. „Bellver“ simply means „beautiful view“ in Catalan and the castle delivers: 360 degrees over the Palma bay, the city, the yacht-filled harbour, and on clear days the Tramuntana peaks to the north. Built around 1300 under King Jaume II as a royal residence, it is Spain's only circular castle, and as far as we know one of very few in Europe.
For families the castle works on several levels. Kids can run along the upper battlement around the whole castle, explore the towers and the covered inner courtyard with its two colonnades; the rooms are accessible via ramps and lift. Inside there is a small city history museum with classical sculptures, quick walk-through with kids.
The highlight for families is not the castle alone but the woods around it. The hill is covered by a large pine forest (Bosc de Bellver) with several playgrounds, picnic tables and a big lawn. The Parc Infantil Castell de Bellver right by the castle entrance has slides, climbing frames, zip lines and table tennis. Free, just picnic and let the kids run.
Entry: adults 4 EUR, youth 14-18 and seniors 2 EUR, kids under 14 free. Palma residents pay reduced 2,50 EUR. Sundays the grounds are free (but interior rooms and museum closed, common trip-up). Opening times April-September Tue-Sat 10-19, October-March until 18. Sunday and holidays shortened until 15. Closed Monday.
Getting there: by car via Avinguda Joan Miró, follow signs, parking lot right at the entrance (free, but full in summer). By bus: line 50 (the red tourist bus, hop-on-hop-off included), or lines 3/4/20/46 from Plaza España. From Plaça Gomila you can walk up, but it is a steep climb with steps and sweaty in summer. With young kids better drive.
Combine: castle in the morning, then down into El Terreno or Santa Catalina for lunch. For a full day in Palma with kids combine Bellver with Es Baluard (modern art museum with view) and Parc de la Mar (playground below the cathedral), all within 15 minutes by bus.
