Land transport

Palma’s ring road was built in 1990. It connects the three main motorways of the island: the Llevant motorway from the West, the Ponent motorway from the East and the central motorway linking Palma with Inca and the Northeast.

These roads provide a fast connection with the main towns of the island.
The island’s main roads converge in Palma. Therefore the road layout in Mallorca is radial, that is, Palma is connected with the other towns and cities of the island. Excellent roads link the capital with the North, East and West.

If you have the time, the best way of driving around Mallorca is along the secondary or local roads and discover the beauty of the interior countryside and towns. Drive carefully since many cyclists choose these roads due to the beautiful surrounding landscapes.

On the other hand, the regular coach connections to the towns of Mallorca are operated by private companies. The coaches are distinguishable through their red and yellow colours. All the routes operate from the bus station located near plaza España in Palma. A new intermodal station (bus, train and underground) was opened in 2007.

The city buses connect all the areas of Palma. The 26 city bus lines are operated by the public company Empresa Municipal de Transportes (EMT). The current fleet is formed by vehicles powered by diesel-electric engines that require less petrol and reduce the level of noise in the city centre. In addition, the buses are equipped with ramps for people with reduced mobility, as well as a recorded voice announcing the stops and destination. The buses are blue and grey and connect the city centre with other areas and also operate circular routes.

Palma has two train stations operated by two different companies. Both stations, the intermodal station and the Sóller train station, are located in plaza España.

The Inca train station (Intermodal) is managed by the public company Serveis Ferroviaris de Mallorca (SFM). The trains from the Palma-Inca-Sa Pobla and Palma-Inca-Manacor lines operate from this station. Apart from these two train lines, the intermodal station in plaza de España houses the bus station and the underground.

If you choose the train to travel around the island, you should know that you can use a combined train + bus ticket to reach the towns near Inca and Manacor which do not have a train station. With this ticket there is no need to pay for the bus fare because it is already included in the train ticket.

The Sóller train station is managed by the private company Ferrocarril de Sóller S.A. The trains operating the Palma-Bunyola-Sóller line depart from this station. It is a very popular train among tourists. Since 1912, the train has connected the two cities preserving its original character. In Sóller, you can take the tram, which was inaugurated in October 1913, leading to puerto de Sóller. You can enjoy the beauty of the orange tree valley while travelling on its period-style carriages that preserve the charm of the past.

The first underground line of Palma (L1) opened on 25 April 2007. It connects plaza de España with the Universidad de las Islas Baleares campus, stopping at Son Oliva, Son Castelló industrial estate and the town of Son Sardina.

A tram connecting Palma city centre with El Arenal and a connection to the Son Sant Joan International Airport, stopping at Playa de Palma, is in the planning stage.

The taxi fleet is comprised of 1,246 cars, half of which are equipped with radio. Palma taxis are white with a red stripe. The taxis of other municipalities have different colour stripes. They display the coat of arms of their municipality. In tourist areas you will find a taxi at any time.