Guide · Editorial
Mallorca without a hire car
Last checked: October 2026
A car is handy in Mallorca, but not a must. What matters is your choice of resort – after that, buses, trains, boats and your own feet take over.
The tram to Port de Sóller is one example of how Mallorca works without a car, too.
Quick answer
Does Mallorca work without a car?
Yes, if the resort itself is the destination. Places with a beach, promenade, supermarkets and bus connections – Palma, Playa de Palma, Alcúdia, Port de Pollença, Sóller, Port de Sóller – will easily fill a whole week. If, on the other hand, you want to head for new coves every day, you will hit limits without a car and should add individual rental days or taxis.
Choosing a resort
Places that work best without a car
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Palma de Mallorca
5/5 City break with culture, food and drink and things to do all year round. View place profile →
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Playa de Palma
5/5 Long row of hotels along the Balnearios – from quiet to party zone. View place profile →
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Alcúdia
4/5 Long, shallow sandy beach plus an old town behind the town walls. View place profile →
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Port de Pollença
4/5 Quiet bay with a pine-lined promenade, a base for cyclists and Formentor. View place profile →
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Sóller
4/5 Mountain valley with a historic railway, orange groves and a tram to the port. View place profile →
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Port de Sóller
4/5 Sheltered round harbour bay – with a sandy beach in the middle of the resort. View place profile →
From the airport to your hotel
From Palma airport, the A1 bus runs to the centre of Palma for 5 euros. In addition, Aerotib lines go directly to the holiday regions (lines as of 2025/26):
- A11 via Portals Nous, Palmanova, Magaluf and Santa Ponça to Peguera, continuing to Camp de Mar in summer
- A33 via Inca, Sa Pobla and Alcúdia to Port d'Alcúdia, continuing to Can Picafort in summer
- A43 via Algaida, Montuïri and Vilafranca to Manacor, while the A42 runs to Cala Bona (via Porto Cristo, Sa Coma and Cala Millor)
- A51 via S'Arenal and Llucmajor to Campos
For other resorts, such as Cala d'Or, Port de Pollença or Sóller, you travel via Palma or by transfer or taxi – if you arrive late, the latter is usually quicker. Check timetables in advance on tib.org.
Bus, train and tram
The island's bus network is centred on Palma: connections between two coastal resorts often run via the capital. Trains run from Palma to Inca, Sa Pobla and Manacor, the historic narrow-gauge railway runs to Sóller, and from there the tram runs to the port. In the summer months, seasonal lines improve connections to individual beaches. Timetables change considerably between the summer and winter schedules.
Boats as a means of transport
On several stretches of coast, scheduled boats run between neighbouring resorts, for example between the coves in the south-east and in the Bay of Pollença in the north. They are an alternative to the bus and open up beaches that would only be reachable by a detour on the road.
Beaches without a car
Town beaches can always be reached. For natural beaches, the season decides: in 2026, a seasonal TIB line ran from Cala d'Or to Cala Mondragó from 24 April. Es Trenc can only be reached to a limited extent without a car – by taxi or a longer walk from Colònia de Sant Jordi. Remote coves such as Cala Varques or Caló des Moro remain hard work without a car; here, an excursion boat is often the more convenient solution.
Walks straight from the resort
In Port de Sóller, Port de Pollença and Cala Ratjada, coastal and lighthouse paths start right in the resort. This lets you plan an active day without any vehicle at all.
When individual rental days are worth it
Two rental days usually cover everything that is difficult without a car: a round trip through the Tramuntana and a day in the south-east with several coves. For the rest of the week, you save on the hire car and hotel parking.
| Day | Programme |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive, explore the resort on foot, beach right in the resort |
| Day 2 | Beach day at the local beach, promenade and old town in the evening |
| Day 3 | Bus to Palma: cathedral, old town, Mercat de l'Olivar |
| Day 4 | Boat trip or catamaran tour from the local harbour |
| Day 5 | Train to Sóller, tram to Port de Sóller |
| Day 6 | Bus to the neighbouring town or a coastal walk from the hotel |
| Day 7 | Market day in the neighbouring town, last afternoon on the beach |
Next steps
Frequently asked questions
Can you travel around Mallorca without a hire car?
Yes. Palma, Playa de Palma, Alcúdia, Port de Pollença, Sóller and Port de Sóller are easy to enjoy without a car, because the beach, shops and restaurants are within walking distance and buses and trains run regularly.
Which places are suitable without a car?
Palma for the city and connections, Port de Pollença and Alcúdia for a beach holiday with bus connections, Sóller for mountains with train and tram.
How do you get from the airport to your hotel without a hire car?
By the A1 bus to Palma for 5 euros, or with the Aerotib lines A11 (Calvià to Peguera), A33 (Inca, Alcúdia), A42 (Cala Millor, Cala Bona), A43 (Manacor) and A51 (Llucmajor, Campos). For other resorts, via Palma, by transfer or by taxi.
Can you reach natural beaches without a car?
Partly. In 2026, a seasonal line ran from Cala d'Or to Cala Mondragó from the end of April. Without a car, Es Trenc can only be reached by taxi or a longer walk from Colònia de Sant Jordi. Many small coves are easiest to reach by boat if you don't have a car.