Sant Roc near Establiments Nou: Church and Monastery

Sant Roc is located near Establiments Nou on the outskirts of Palma, in a part of Mallorca that feels more rural than urban despite its proximity to the island capital. Listed as a church or monastery, the attraction is not a destination for a hurried sightseeing tour. Its appeal comes primarily from its surroundings and the clear contrast with central Palma.
The precise location is important: this refers exclusively to Sant Roc near Establiments Nou in Mallorca. Hotels, coves, streets and buildings with the same name in other regions have nothing to do with this destination. When planning a route digitally, Establiments Nou should therefore always be used as an additional search term.
A visit is particularly suitable for travelers who want to discover a less touristy part of the city away from the well-known monuments. Although Establiments belongs to Palma, its homes, fincas and loosely spaced development give it a character of its own. Sant Roc can therefore be seen as a peaceful counterpoint to a stay in the Old Town.
Since neither fixed visiting hours nor regular admission details are recorded, careful preparation is recommended. Anyone wishing to see the interior or visiting Sant Roc as the sole item on their itinerary should check current access before setting out. The site is best suited to a spontaneous discovery when a drive through Palma’s western outskirts or to Establiments is already planned.
Visiting Sant Roc
Check access in advance
Sant Roc should not be planned like a museum with a permanently staffed entrance. No reliable, generally applicable opening hours are recorded, and there is no confirmed admission price either. This does not mean that a visit is impossible, only that access to the interior should not be assumed without checking beforehand. Depending on their use, events or local organization, religious buildings may be open only at certain times.
Anyone particularly interested in the interior should therefore obtain up-to-date information before traveling. This applies especially to visitors making a dedicated journey from another part of Mallorca. Plans remain more flexible when Sant Roc is combined with Establiments or Palma: if Sant Roc is inaccessible, the excursion does not lose its entire purpose because the rural surroundings and the nearby capital can still be combined effectively.
Allow time without a rigid schedule
It is not possible to recommend a reliable fixed length of stay while it remains unclear whether and to what extent the interior is accessible. During an exterior visit, the focus is on understanding the building in the context of Establiments Nou. If a visit is possible, the time required depends on which areas are actually open and whether religious activities are taking place on site.
For trip planning, a flexible time window is therefore better than a tightly scheduled appointment. Sant Roc is not suitable as a stop immediately followed by an activity booked to the minute. It makes more sense to place the site at the beginning or end of an excursion to Establiments and allow enough time to find the correct access and cover the final section from the main route.
Respect the character of the site
Its classification as a church or monastery calls for a different attitude than a visit to a purely recreational attraction. If access is possible, worship, prayer and local events take priority over sightseeing. Conversations, photography and movement inside should remain appropriately discreet. A locked area should not be interpreted as an invitation to look for a side entrance.
Respect for the immediate surroundings is also advisable outside. Establiments Nou is not an enclosed heritage site but part of a quiet residential area. Driveways, private paths and house entrances should be kept clear. This integration into everyday life is precisely what distinguishes Sant Roc from the major, clearly signposted sights in central Palma.
Getting There and Parking
From central Palma
The road distance from central Palma to Establiments Nou is 6 kilometers, and the drive takes around 28 minutes. These details refer to Establiments Nou, not to a guaranteed parking space immediately outside Sant Roc. The relatively long travel time despite the short distance is explained by city traffic and the approach through Palma’s western outskirts.
Do not enter only “Sant Roc” into the navigation system, as the name is also used for other places and facilities. Combining it with “Establiments Nou, Mallorca” reduces the risk of being directed to a namesake or a street with the same name in Palma. After reaching Establiments Nou, the final section to the attraction follows the local road network. Up-to-date detailed navigation is more helpful here than a route based solely on the place name.
From Palma Airport
From Palma Airport, the route to Establiments Nou runs via the Ma-20. The road distance is 17 kilometers, and the drive takes around 28 minutes. Here too, the measured route ends in Establiments Nou, so additional time should be allowed to navigate the final section to Sant Roc.
The Ma-20 bypasses large parts of the city center and takes travelers to the western outskirts. Nevertheless, travel time should not be estimated solely from the distance, as interchanges, city traffic and the slower final section can determine the journey time. Anyone driving directly after landing should also bear in mind that baggage reclaim and rental car collection are not included in the stated driving time.
Bus and the final section
Several bus stops are listed in the wider area, including stops bearing the place name Son Roca. This should not be taken to mean that the bus stops directly at the entrance to Sant Roc. Before setting out, check which route is currently operating, which stop is the most practical for getting off and how the remaining walk proceeds.
The precise destination marker is especially important when using public transport: the attraction is near Establiments Nou, while two of the four recorded stop names explicitly refer to Son Roca. Current journey information should therefore always cover the entire route from the starting point to the actual destination rather than displaying only the supposedly nearest stop name.
Parking in the residential area
Local signs and road markings apply when looking for parking. Because Sant Roc lies in a residential area, entrances, private driveways and narrow passages must not be blocked. A parking space should be considered suitable only when the vehicle is completely outside the flow of traffic and does not obstruct access to any property.
If no suitable place to park can be found directly at the destination, do not shorten the search by stopping unsafely. It is more practical to choose a permitted space in the wider area and walk the final section. Checking the current route view before traveling is recommended, as neither the road route from Palma nor the route from the airport includes a reserved or specially designated visitor parking space.
Bus lines to Sant Roc at a glance
| Line | Route | Departures/day | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Son Roca - Sindicat | 6 | 09:01 | 15:34 |
| 7 | Son Gotleu - Son Serra - Sa Vileta / Son Vida | 2 | 10:36 | 19:38 |
From the official GTFS feeds (TIB/SFM), no real-time data. The figures cover all stops in the town; weekend and holiday services differ — check with the operator before travelling.
Getting there by bus
343-Parroquia de Son Roca · 0.0 km as the crow flies
- 7Son Gotleu - Son Serra - Sa Vileta / Son Vida · 08:00–08:00 · Täglich
- 8Son Roca - Sindicat · 08:00–08:00 · Täglich
- 36Circular Son Espases · 05:56–22:36 · Täglich
342-Son Ximelis · 0.2 km as the crow flies
- 7Son Gotleu - Son Serra - Sa Vileta / Son Vida · 08:00–08:00 · Täglich
- 8Son Roca - Sindicat · 08:00–08:00 · Täglich
- 36Circular Son Espases · 05:56–22:36 · Täglich
344-Pl. Virgen Milagrosa · 0.2 km as the crow flies
- 7Son Gotleu - Son Serra - Sa Vileta / Son Vida · 08:00–08:00 · Täglich
- 8Son Roca - Sindicat · 08:00–08:00 · Täglich
- 36Circular Son Espases · 05:56–22:36 · Täglich
341-Son Roca · 0.3 km as the crow flies
- 7Son Gotleu - Son Serra - Sa Vileta / Son Vida · 08:00–08:00 · Täglich
- 8Son Roca - Sindicat · 08:00–08:00 · Täglich
- 36Circular Son Espases · 05:56–22:36 · Täglich
1316-Son Roqueta · 0.4 km as the crow flies
- 7Son Gotleu - Son Serra - Sa Vileta / Son Vida · 08:00–08:00 · Täglich
- 8Son Roca - Sindicat · 08:00–08:00 · Täglich
- 36Circular Son Espases · 05:56–22:36 · Täglich
1317-Son Roqueta · 0.4 km as the crow flies
- 7Son Gotleu - Son Serra - Sa Vileta / Son Vida · 08:00–08:00 · Täglich
- 8Son Roca - Sindicat · 08:00–08:00 · Täglich
- 36Circular Son Espases · 05:56–22:36 · Täglich
1366-Son Puig · 0.5 km as the crow flies
- 7Son Gotleu - Son Serra - Sa Vileta / Son Vida · 08:00–08:00 · Täglich
1364-Son Puig · 0.5 km as the crow flies
- 7Son Gotleu - Son Serra - Sa Vileta / Son Vida · 08:00–08:00 · Täglich
339-Son Puig · 0.7 km as the crow flies
- 8Son Roca - Sindicat · 08:00–08:00 · Täglich
- 36Circular Son Espases · 05:56–22:36 · Täglich
346-Son Puig · 0.7 km as the crow flies
- 8Son Roca - Sindicat · 08:00–08:00 · Täglich
- 36Circular Son Espases · 05:56–22:36 · Täglich
1367-Carrer Son Puig 8 · 0.8 km as the crow flies
- 7Son Gotleu - Son Serra - Sa Vileta / Son Vida · 08:00–08:00 · Täglich
1365-Carrer de Son Puig - camí de sa Vileta · 0.8 km as the crow flies
- 7Son Gotleu - Son Serra - Sa Vileta / Son Vida · 08:00–08:00 · Täglich
Timetable data: official GTFS feeds (TIB/EMT), no real-time — check with the operator before travelling.
Nearby Places
Establiments Nou
Establiments is divided into the larger, older district of Establiments Vell and the smaller district of Establiments Nou. Sant Roc is associated with the newer part. This distinction is more important for visitors than it might initially appear: anyone navigating only to Establiments may end up in the wrong district and then need to find their bearings again.
Establiments Nou belongs to the municipality of Palma but does not feel like an extension of the densely developed city center. The surroundings are residential and comparatively loosely built up, with fincas, country houses and detached homes shaping the area more than continuous rows of buildings. A visit to Sant Roc therefore also provides an impression of how quickly Palma gives way to a more rural Mallorca around its edges.
Establiments Vell
The older and significantly larger district forms the historic counterpart to Establiments Nou. The history of Establiments can be traced back to the 16th century, and it was formerly an independent municipality. The area has belonged to Palma since 1910. This development explains the dual character still apparent today: politically and in terms of transport, Establiments is part of the capital, while its appearance and pace of life are more reminiscent of a small settlement outside the city.
Visitors to Sant Roc can consciously distinguish between the two districts while driving through Establiments. Do not expect an extensive sightseeing itinerary featuring a succession of major monuments here. The value lies instead in experiencing the less touristy surroundings and discovering the transition between urban outskirts, residential landscapes and the foothills of western Mallorca.
Palma
Its proximity to Palma makes Sant Roc a worthwhile addition to a day that is not intended to focus exclusively on the capital’s well-known sights. After the quiet surroundings of Establiments, returning to the Old Town creates a particularly striking contrast. The cathedral La Seu, the historic lanes or the art collection at Fundació Miró can be included in a broader day plan without burdening Sant Roc itself with an overloaded itinerary.
A simple consideration can help determine the order: anyone spending the morning in Palma can choose Establiments later as a quieter conclusion. Anyone visiting Sant Roc first should confirm access before setting out and then continue flexibly toward the center. In either case, remember that the 6-kilometer road connection between central Palma and Establiments Nou takes around 28 minutes.
Edge of the Serra de Tramuntana
Establiments lies near the foothills of the Serra de Tramuntana, making it a useful transition between a stay in Palma and an onward journey to the western or northwestern part of the island. Sant Roc is not a substitute for a mountain hike and should not be confused with a landscape destination of the same name. The attraction remains the church or monastery near Establiments Nou.
Anyone continuing toward the Tramuntana afterward should regard Sant Roc as a brief cultural introduction, not as the starting point of a specific documented hiking route. Mountain roads, hiking trails and access routes are each subject to their own conditions. The strength of this combination lies in the changing impressions: first the quiet residential surroundings on the outskirts of Palma, followed by the landscape of the western island.
Local insider tips
Include the district in your search
When using navigation, always enter “Establiments Nou, Mallorca” together with Sant Roc. The name Sant Roc also refers to other places and facilities, while even a general search for Establiments may initially lead to Establiments Vell.
Check interior access beforehand
Anyone wishing to see more than the exterior of Sant Roc should confirm current access before setting out. No fixed visiting hours are recorded, making a dedicated visit without checking in advance unnecessarily risky.
Contrast it with Palma
Sant Roc works particularly well in combination with Palma: Establiments belongs to the capital but feels considerably more rural than the center, with its fincas, country houses and loosely spaced residential development.