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Mallorca Airport & Port Transfers: Your Guide to Getting to Your Base
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Short answerFrom Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI), the EMT A1 bus runs every 15 minutes to the city centre for €5, while a taxi to the centre costs €28 daytime or €34 midnight to 05:00 and takes 15 minutes. TIB buses connect the airport to many resorts, but for flexibility, renting a car is recommended and should be booked early. Ferries arrive at Palma port, 2 km from the centre, or Port d'Alcúdia.
Arriving by plane: your options from Palma airport
Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) is the island's only commercial airport, located 8 km east of Palma. The EMT A1 bus runs to the city centre every 15 minutes from 06:15 to midnight, then at 01:00, 02:00 and 03:00, costing €5 in 2024. A taxi to the city centre costs €28 daytime, €34 from midnight to 05:00, and takes 15 minutes in normal traffic. For other towns, taxis are usually the best option for families or groups, but rates vary.
TIB buses (red and yellow) run April-October to many resorts: A11 to the west (Magaluf, Peguera), A32 to the northeast (Alcúdia, Can Picafort), A42 to the east (Cala Millor), and A51 to the southeast (Campos). These are useful if your base is on those routes. TIB buses do not allow journeys within Palma city limits.
If you're heading to Sóller, the historic wooden train from Palma's Plaça d'Espanya takes one hour and costs €20 single, €28 return in 2024. TIB Bus 204 also runs from Palma to Sóller every 30 minutes, taking 30 minutes, and continues to Port de Sóller.
Arriving by boat: ferries and cruise ships
Ferries sail to Mallorca from Barcelona (7 hr), Dénia (5 hr) and Valencia (7 hr). Most arrive at Palma de Mallorca ferry port, which is 2 km southwest of the town centre. Some ferries call at Port d'Alcúdia on their way to Menorca; Balearia car ferries from Barcelona take 3 hr 30 min to 7 hours. Inter-island ferries connect Palma with Ibiza, Formentera and Menorca.
Cruise liners often call at Palma. From the port, you can take a taxi or the EMT bus (€3 to the sea port in 2024). If you're staying in Palma, the port is walkable to the old town, but with luggage a taxi is easier.
For those arriving at Port d'Alcúdia, local buses 322, 323, 324 and 325 connect to Alcúdia town, the beach strip, Can Picafort and Cala Rajada. Taxis in Alcúdia are mostly for airport transfers, not short rides.
Local tipDownload offline Google Maps of your area so you can GPS while on Airplane mode, as travellers recommend. This is especially useful in the Tramuntana mountains where signal can be spotty.
Renting a car: book early and choose wisely
Travellers report that renting a car is recommended for exploring the island, as it gives you flexibility to reach beaches, towns and hiking trails. Car hire is available at the airport and main resorts. Book early: travellers report that many options were already booked for desired dates.
Several rental companies are mentioned by travellers: Sixt is recommended as reliable; Wiber offers smart/virtual pick-up and drop-off outside normal hours and full insurance for a few euros extra per day; Hiper Rent a Car has good service based on Google reviews; OK Mobility is used regularly by one commenter; Vanrell has a comfort insurance package. ClickRent was reported to have charged 3x the quoted amount and only refunded part of the deposit, with the user advising contacting 'consumo' (consumer protection office in Palma).
Taking the rental company's extra insurance is often easier for peace of mind, avoids a 1000 euro card block, and the price difference is often minimal compared to buying separate insurance. A large SUV is highly impractical in Mallorca; everyone tries to avoid those. Drive on the right and be aware of speed limits because more cameras are being installed.
Buses and trains: affordable but plan ahead
TIB buses run to all the main cities from Palma city and airport, roughly hourly, daily. For a few small places such as Lluc or Colònia de Sant Jordi, you change buses at an inland town. TIB trains run every 20 minutes from Palma to Inca, where they branch to Sa Pobla or Manacor. The heritage train from Palma to Sóller is crowded with tourists, so it's no longer practical for locals, who prefer the bus.
Buses accept regular credit or debit card, no cash needed, according to travellers. The bus from the airport to Estació Intermodal costs 5 euros and includes one transfer, which may include the transfer to the bus to Puerto Pollença. However, TIB buses do not allow journeys within Palma city limits.
For specific routes: Bus 302 runs from Palma to Alcúdia every 20-30 min, taking an hour via Inca and Sa Pobla. Bus 301 runs from Palma to Pollença roughly hourly, taking an hour. Bus 204 runs from Palma to Sóller every 30 min. Bus 203 runs hourly from Palma to Valldemossa, taking 30 minutes, and continues to Deià, Sóller and Port de Sóller.
What travellers report
Flying to Mallorca is cheap, fast, and easygoing compared to taking a ferry.
Buses accept regular credit or debit card, no cash needed.
Taxis and private transfers
Taxis are available at the airport and in main towns. A taxi from the airport to Palma city centre costs €28 daytime, €34 midnight to 05:00, and takes 15 minutes in normal traffic. For other towns, rates vary; see Welcome Pick-ups for rates, which are usually the best option for families or groups. In Alcúdia, taxi firms are mostly in the business of airport transfers, not short rides. In Pollença, taxi firms are Taxi 43 (+34 627 226330) and Pollensa Taxi (+34 669 073808).
If you're arriving by ferry, taxis wait at the port. In Sóller, taxis wait by the railway station. It's wise to have some cash for taxis, though many accept cards.
For those not renting a car, consider whether there are plenty of taxis in Mallorca and whether it is worth renting a car. Travellers report that having a rental car is recommended for exploring the island.
Questions people ask
How do I get from Palma airport to the city centre?
Take the EMT A1 bus, which runs every 15 minutes from 06:15 to midnight, then at 01:00, 02:00 and 03:00, costing €5 in 2024. A taxi costs €28 daytime or €34 midnight to 05:00 and takes 15 minutes.
Is it better to rent a car or use public transport in Mallorca?
Travellers report that renting a car is recommended for exploring the island, as it gives you flexibility. Public transport (TIB buses and trains) is affordable and reaches many towns, but some smaller places require changes.
How do I get to Sóller from Palma?
You can take the historic wooden train from Palma's Plaça d'Espanya, which takes one hour and costs €20 single, €28 return in 2024. Alternatively, TIB Bus 204 runs every 30 minutes, taking 30 minutes.
What's the best way to get from the airport to Alcúdia?
TIB Bus A32 runs from the airport to Alcúdia, Platja de Muro and Can Picafort. Alternatively, Bus 302 runs from Palma to Alcúdia every 20-30 minutes, taking an hour via Inca and Sa Pobla.
Do I need to book a taxi in advance?
At the airport, taxis are readily available. For other towns, it's best to check locally or book through your accommodation. In Pollença, you can call Taxi 43 (+34 627 226330) or Pollensa Taxi (+34 669 073808).
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