Getting around · Palma de Mallorca · Spain
Getting around Palma de Mallorca
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Palma's old town, La Lonja and Santa Catalina are walkable, and EMT city buses reach the beaches, Bellver area and the airport. TIB intercity buses from the Estació Intermodal under Plaça d'Espanya cover the rest of the island, and trains run to Sóller, Inca and Manacor. Not for Palma itself.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- PMI
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
Ways to get around
Walking
The cathedral, old town, La Lonja and Santa Catalina are all within about 15 minutes of each other on foot.
Bus
EMT Palma buses cover the city, including routes to Cala Major, the Platja de Palma and the airport line A1. TIB buses go to Valldemossa, Deià, Sóller, Alcúdia and most island towns.
TIB buses to popular villages fill up in summer; board at the Estació Intermodal for the best chance of a seat.
Train
The vintage Sóller train runs from its own station near Plaça d'Espanya through the mountains to Sóller, and SFM trains link the Estació Intermodal with Inca, Sa Pobla and Manacor.
Cycling
A seafront cycle path runs from Cala Major past the cathedral to the Platja de Palma, and the Bicipalma bike-share and rental shops make cycling easy.
Taxi
Taxis are easy to find at ranks in the centre and at the airport, but queues can be long in peak summer.
Car
Hiring a car is the easiest way to reach remote beaches and mountain villages, though parking in central Palma is scarce and expensive.
From the airport
Palma de Mallorca Airport is about 8 km east of the centre. EMT bus A1 runs to Plaça d'Espanya and the city centre in about 15–25 minutes, and a taxi takes about 15–20 minutes.
Do you need a car?
Not for Palma itself. For the island, buses and trains reach the main towns, but a car makes it far easier to explore the Serra de Tramuntana, remote calas and beaches such as Es Trenc.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Sóller and Port de Sóller | About 1 hour by vintage train | Sóller train from Palma, then tram to the port |
| Valldemossa | About 30 minutes by bus | TIB bus from the Estació Intermodal |
| Deià | About 45 minutes by bus | TIB bus via Valldemossa |
| Caves of Drach | About 1 hour by car | Car, organised tour or TIB bus to Porto Cristo |
| Es Trenc | About 45 minutes by car | Car or summer bus to Ses Covetes or Sa Ràpita |
| Alcúdia | About 1 hour by bus | TIB bus from the Estació Intermodal |
| Cap de Formentor | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car | Car, or bus to Port de Pollença then seasonal shuttle |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Palma de Mallorca?
Not for Palma itself. For the island, buses and trains reach the main towns, but a car makes it far easier to explore the Serra de Tramuntana, remote calas and beaches such as Es Trenc.
+How do you get from the airport to Palma de Mallorca?
Palma de Mallorca Airport is about 8 km east of the centre. EMT bus A1 runs to Plaça d'Espanya and the city centre in about 15–25 minutes, and a taxi takes about 15–20 minutes.
+What is the best way to get around Palma de Mallorca?
Walking: The cathedral, old town, La Lonja and Santa Catalina are all within about 15 minutes of each other on foot.