Is Palma a good place to raise a family?

Yes, if you want island life with a real city attached. Palma is the capital of Mallorca, a warm Mediterranean city where nearly one in four residents is already international, so a new family lands among many others, and where children grow up between the beach and the Serra de Tramuntana mountains behind the city. The airport sits minutes away with flights across Europe all year, which for a family far from home matters more than it sounds. Winters are mild and bright, summers warm, and schools teach in Catalan and Spanish. The one thing to weigh is housing, which we come to below. Sort the school and the flat early, and Palma gives a child a bright, outdoor, well-connected island childhood.

Start it early, and start with the language. State schools in the Balearic Islands teach in Catalan and Spanish, with Catalan as the main classroom language and Spanish and English taught alongside. Children pick it up quickly, but it is the first thing to understand about state schooling here.

There are three kinds of school. Public schools are free. Concertado schools are state-funded and free in principle, though most ask for a small monthly contribution. Private and international schools charge full fees. Palma has an unusually deep international sector for its size, with British and German schools among others, reflecting the large foreign communities on the island. Plan fees with a range rather than a single figure, and confirm with each school before you commit.

Palma is compact and flat by the sea, so many families walk or cycle. The city buses (EMT) and a metro cover the rest, a monthly pass is €37 and a single ride is €2. Best of all, Palma airport is minutes from the city, so trips home are easy. A car is useful mainly for the villages and coast beyond the city.