The Passeig des Born is Palma's grandest boulevard and the natural place to orient yourself on arrival. A wide central promenade shaded by mature plane trees runs from the old city walls near the Almudaina Palace down to the modern part of the city, flanked by elegant nineteenth-century buildings that now house expensive shops, jewellers, and a handful of good cafes. The Born feels simultaneously like a Spanish rambla and a Mallorcan peculiarity.
The street is at its most pleasant in the early evening, when the light softens and the city promenades in the old Mediterranean fashion. At the top end, near the palace, you can see the sea over the old walls. At the lower end, the bars and restaurants of La Lonja begin. The Born itself has a few good terrace cafes and makes a useful landmark; virtually every walking route through the old town starts or ends here.