The joy of attending an RCD Mallorca match when visiting Mallorca
Sports Travel Tom- May 2
- 6 min read
While island life is often perceived as quiet and peaceful, attending an RCD Mallorca match in Palma de Mallorca is a lively and exhilarating experience!
Saturday 19th April, 2025
I have been spending quite a bit of time in Spain recently. Mostly in Mallorca as my wife-to-be and I are getting married on the island in October so there is much planning to do. But away from tasting menus and flower arrangements, I can't help but see what sporting events may be taking place close by.
I'm in luck. RCD Mallorca are playing at home, and a few days afterwards, Barcelona are at home too, which is just a quick hop across the water from Palma de Mallorca. A check of the schedules with 'the boss' and attending both matches is doable, complete with a not so quick 7.5 hour ferry journey between the two. There were no flights available. More on that in my Barcelona diary entry here.
Mallorca is a wonderful destination in its own right. The mountains, coasts, the city of Palma de Mallorca and its little hillside villages and towns make it a stunning location. You won't be short of things to put on your to-do list whilst taking a holiday there. From a sports travel perspective, cycling and golf are the obvious ones, but, don't count out football.
After my experience attending a RCD Mallorca match I'm now wondering if I can take the grooms party to a game before the wedding! It was a brilliant, wonderfully fun, carnival like day out.
Attending a RCD Mallorca Match and How To Do It
What to do pre-match before seeing RCD Mallorca play live
No matter where you are staying in Mallorca, the first step to take is to get yourself to Palma de Mallorca, the island's Capital city. It's here RCD Mallorca play their football at the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix, or for sponsorship reasons the Visit Mallorca Stadium. There's plenty to enjoy pre-match though in the city centre.
Sights such as the Cathedral de Santa Maria de Mallorca and coast are wonderful places to explore, before diving into the city's small streets bustling with life. From street performers, musicians, cafes and dining options there's never a dull moment. The city is vibrant and full of colour.
Bar Bosch is a favourite of mine, right in the heart of the city and its outdoor terrace is always a perfect spot to watch the world go by with a refreshing drink and some food.
From Bar Bosch, head to the Intermodel train station, it's about a 10-minute walk from Bar Bosch and it's from here you can catch the No. 8 bus which will take you to the stadium. There's a nice bar outside the train station too if you have some time to kill.
Before getting on the bus, make sure you either have cash, or you get a travel card. There are no 'tap on' options on Palma de Mallorca's transport network. The bus journey takes around 20 minutes as it weaves through the city centre and on to Son Moix, the stop you need to get off at. It won't be hard to determine which stop is yours as they'll be plenty of RCD Mallorca fans getting off the bus ready for match day.
What to do outside the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix before a RCD Mallorca match
The stadium, unlike many others I have visited recently is not in the heart of the city centre, but fear not, the atmosphere generated outside as you arrive is one of the best I have come across. It's a party!
As you walk down to the stadium from the bus stop, you'll be greeted by a wall of noice. First up, a band complete with saxophone, trumpets and more that welcomes you to the football match with great gusto. There's pop-up bars thanks to Estrella, the Club store and a sea of people, but not crowded in an uncomfortable way.
There's also the RCD Mallorca mascots floating around too, only too happy to have a picture taken with you. One thing that is obvious from the off is, this is a great day out with the kids. Young football fans would find all of this completely brilliant.
Walk around the stadium a little, towards Gate 4 and you'll find the Mallorca Sports Bar. It's built into the stadium and inside there are huge screens showing whatever football is being played at the time. Inside there's access to the toilets, a bar that is quick to get served at and, in the hotter months of the season, it's a nice respite from the heat outdoors. The bar also has an outdoor serving area which again is quick to get served at, even if there are some queues.
Nearby another musical performance springs into life. This time a drumming band. There must be about 20 of them, all decked out in RCD Mallorca shirts. It is joyous. A carnival-like atmosphere, a brilliant day out. I knew Mallorca liked a party, that's island life for you and there is now no doubting its football club are only to happy to party on match days.
The big ticks for this experience don't stop there. As I walk up into the stadium itself using Gate 4, I'm greeted by the smell of barbecued meet. On a fine sunny day, it's magnificent. Tempted in by the smell, I line up to order at one of the many concession stands around the outer concourse. Once I receive my burger, I'm taken aback at just how good it is. It's delicious and better than a lot of restaurant burgers I have had!
You can't get beer inside the stadium, which is quite common for La Liga matches.
What is watching a RCD Mallorca match like?
As you walk out to the bowl of the stadium, you'll be greeted by this 26,000-capacity arena which from the outside, isn't anything particularly show-stopping, but from the inside, has a lovely feel to it.
The blue skies, the red strips, the green grass. Vibrant is the word I would use. the intense but friendly atmosphere outside, has put everyone's spirits firmly to the 'high' setting and the burger has only intensified that feeling of contentment.
The two main stands are double-tiered with the two end stands single-tiered. I can tell straight away that there's a real family-feel to the day. Families on holiday who have come to see a game, together with traditional fans make for a good atmosphere and provide the air with a sense of excitement.
I'm sat in the East Stand and with kick-off at 5.30pm, there really isn't mush you can do about the sun beating down on you from the west. Bring a hat, apply sunscreen. Standard operating procedure when visiting Spanish football grounds, much like my experience at the Mestalla.
If you have ever landed at Palma de Mallorca's airport you will know the island is susceptible to strong winds. With Mallorca being an island, the land tends to heat up quicker than the sea creating a breeze which in the afternoon is at its strongest. The nearby Tramuntana mountains also channel winds towards Palma.
Both must be in affect today as together with the heat from the sun, the wind is blowing through the stadium's lower North Stand before reaching us fans in the East Stand. It's by no means a problem, but as the sun begins to cool, it may make you feel chilly, so best to take a light jacket or jumper for these late afternoon kick-offs.
Although the match itself was a 0-0 draw, the pre-match atmosphere, filled with vibrant colours, fun, smiling faces and entertainment made the experience unforgettable.
After the game, it's fairly straightforward to get back to the city centre. The No. 8 bus will return you into the hustle and bustle of Palma, only this time, expect large crowds. I didn't find it to overbearing through and was on the first bus that arrived and back into town within 30 minutes.
If you are in Mallorca and have kids that would love to soak up a local football match, you should definitely head to a RCD Mallorca match. You can get tickets here for a game and prices vary depending on the opponent. I paid 85 Euros but there are cheaper tickets available, especially when booking early.
Right, must get back to choosing flower arrangements. I'm now quite tempted to see if RCD Mallorca's pre-match bands are available for the wedding too.
Thanks for reading this blog post, please feel free to leave a comment below with any questions or your own experiences if you have been to a RCD Mallorca game before.
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