Getting To Palma

Flying to Majorca is undoubtedly the easiest option for getting to Palma and there are hundreds of daily flights in-season as well as a constant influx of flights throughout the year. Regular scheduled and charter flights arrive at Palma Airport, with many major airlines providing direct flights from major cities. The only other option for getting to Palma is to take a ferry. From the mainland, regular ferry services depart from Barcelona and Valencia, and there is also a service from Marseille in France. Buses and trains serve these cities or you can drive to one of the ports and take your car over to the island.

By car

Most people fly to Majorca and use public transport for the journey to Palma, although there are ferry services from Barcelona and Valencia. Ferries run from Barcelona and Valencia daily in the summer season and take about six hours to reach Palma from either port. The A7 motorway runs the length of the Mediterranean coast of Spain, linking the French border with Barcelona and Valencia. Driving in Palma itself is a hassle owing to the one-way systems and congestion, although a car is useful for travelling around the island.

By rail

You can travel as far as Valencia and Barcelona by train and then take one of the daily ferries over to Palma. High-speed Talgo 200 and AVE trains run to both Barcelona and Valencia from Madrid. You can then take a bus or taxi to the ports in both cities.

By bus

Visitors can take a bus as far as Barcelona or Valencia and then take the passenger ferry to Palma. This is the slowest way to get to Palma if you are coming from Madrid or the south of France, yet travelling by bus is also cheap. The bus station in Palma de Mallorca is on Carrer Eusebio Estada in the city centre and there are regular services from here to destinations throughout Majorca.

By air

Palma de Mallorca International Airport (Son Sant Joan Airport) is one of Spain’s busiest with numerous daily flights from all over Europe. The PM19 motorway runs from near the airport into Palma and then onto Palma Nova and Magaluf, while two bus services regularly run to the city centre, as do shuttle services. The fastest way to get to Palma de Mallorca from the airport is to take a taxi.

By ferry

Ferries arrive daily in Palma from Barcelona, Valencia, Marseille in France and the other Balearic Islands. Ferry services from Barcelona and Valencia are the most commonly used services and take about six hours to reach Palma. Ferries are run by Transmediterránea and the ferry port in Palma is located just southwest of the city centre and Paseo Maritimo, the main thoroughfare.

Palma Airport

Palma de Mallorca International Airport is Spain’s third busiest airport after Madrid and Barcelona, handling in excess of 20 million passengers a year. Many major scheduled and charter airlines serve the single-terminal airport including popular low-cost carriers. Facilities at the airport include a bank, bureau de change and cash machines as well as a pharmacy, first-aid room and a post office.

Other facilities at Palma Airport include a range of eateries and shops, with a snack bar and a self-service restaurant in Arrivals and several bars and restaurants in Departures. The duty-free store offers tax-free goods for those flying out of Europe and there are several other standard shops including jewellery, toy and flower shops and a tobacconist.

Transportation from Palm Airport

Bus numbers 1, 17 and 25 run to Palma from the airport and leave from outside Arrivals. Bus number 25 is a non-stop service running every 30 minutes; it takes approximately 25 minutes to reach the bus station on Carrer Eusebio Estada. Many hotels offer free transfers for their guests and if you are booked on a package tour, you will more than likely also have the transfer thrown in.

Those who hire a car from the airport should take the PM19 and Paseo Maritimo west into the centre of Palma or take the PM20 Palma bypass if you are staying outside of Palma, to the west of the city. Taxis run on a per-kilometre basis and take 15 minutes to reach Palma, leaving from door D Arrivals.