Palma Tour Mallorca

Palma airport is the main gateway to Mallorca, and most hotels on the island can be reached from it without a car.

Once you have your bags, the choice between bus, shared shuttle, taxi and private transfer is not always obvious. In this article, we compare these four options by price, travel time and convenience, and show you how to book each one.

Yes, you can reach most hotels without a car

You can leave Palma airport (PMI) without a car. Four options work:

• Scheduled bus: EMT lines A1 and A2 go to central Palma and S’Arenal, and TIB Aerotib lines go to the Calvià coast, the north and the east.
• Shared shuttle: it runs to resort areas such as Can Picafort and stops at larger hotels, not at private addresses.
• Metered taxi: you take it at the signed rank on floor 0, outside arrivals.
• Private transfer: it takes you door to door to a hotel, villa or other accommodation across Mallorca.

Most hotels can be reached without a car, but the best option depends on three things: where your hotel is, how much luggage you carry and how many people travel with you.

Two people with a few bags can take a bus or a shared shuttle. Four people with large cases are better off with a pre-booked car from Raicars, Salty Driver or Roig Bus.

If you are still choosing your area, see the guide to where to stay in Mallorca before you book.

Scheduled buses: the cheapest way to go

Buses are the cheapest option, but they run only at set times. The EMT A1 serves Palma centre, and the A2 serves S’Arenal from the same stops. Check the A1 route and fares to the centre before you travel.

For the coast, the TIB routes A11, A32, A42 and A51 reach Camp de Mar, Can Picafort, Cala Bona and Campos. Look up the departure time before you leave the terminal, because a missed bus means a long wait.

Here is what to check before you board a scheduled bus:

• EMT A1 and A2 cost €5 for a single journey, paid in cash.
• Take the A1 from the stop outside arrivals on floor 0 to reach Palma centre. The A1, A2 and route 34 also stop on the departures level.
• Aerotib routes A11, A32, A42 and A51 stop outside arrivals, so wait for them there.
• On TIB buses, hand luggage must be no larger than 55 × 35 × 25 cm and must fit under the seat or in the overhead rack.
• Bulky items travel only if the driver agrees and there is room.
• Check EMT’s timetable for the first and last A2 departures on your travel date.

Taxis: the metered fare and the airport minimum

Take a taxi from the signed rank on floor 0, in arrivals. The meter sets the final price, so the amount shown when you arrive is what you pay.

A ride to central Palma usually costs €18–25 on the meter. Ask the driver for a receipt if you need to make a complaint later.

To check your fare, start from these meter rates. For the full taxi rules, see the taxi section of the Mallorca Ultimate Guide 2026:

• Weekdays, 07:00 to 21:00: €2.50 to start, then €1.20 per kilometre.
• Nights, weekends and public holidays: €2.85 to start, then €1.35 per kilometre.
• Airport supplement: €4.65 per journey. The €16.95 airport minimum covers the starting fare, this supplement and the first 7 km.
• Group supplement: €3 for five or six passengers, €6 for seven or eight.

Shared shuttles and private transfers: price against time

A shared shuttle is the cheapest option per person. To Can Picafort it costs about €13, or about €15 in summer. To Magaluf it costs about €17.

It is also the slowest. The Can Picafort shuttle can wait about an hour at the airport, then makes stops, and Can Picafort is the last resort. Magaluf takes 20 to 30 minutes without hotel stops.

Private transfer or shared shuttle

How long each part of the island takes

How long the trip takes depends on your hotel’s area and on the option you choose. If your hotel is in central Palma, the A1 bus reaches Plaça d’Espanya in about 20 minutes.

The A2 bus serves the airport and S’Arenal. Check its timetable for the journey time and the departure that suit your trip, then plan your arrival around that departure.

Door-to-door times for three destinations are below. Traffic, your exact address, waiting for other passengers and hotel stops all add time, so leave a margin before a flight connection or hotel check-in.

Transfer	Magaluf	Alcúdia	Can Picafort
Private transfer	20–30 min	48 min	55–60 min, direct
Shared shuttle	Ask the operator for the route	Ask the operator for the route	About 1 hour waiting at the terminal, then hotel stops

Booking ahead and what to check before you pay

Book the Can Picafort shared shuttle at least 48 hours before you travel. Have your flight numbers, arrival and departure times and the full address of your accommodation ready, because the booking form asks for all of them.

For a private transfer, the booking asks for the route, travel date and number of passengers. Add your flight number too. Before you pay, check the luggage details, so the vehicle you book has room for your bags.

Check these points before you pay for a private transfer:

• Price: confirm the fare is fixed per vehicle, so you know the total upfront.
• Luggage: tell the operator about oversized items before you book. Some fixed prices include luggage.
• Flight delays: some drivers track your flight and adjust the pickup time at no extra cost.
• Cancellation: some services allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup. Check the refund terms.
• Bus and taxi: no booking is needed, so go straight to the bus stop or the taxi rank.

Choose your transfer by three things: your hotel’s area, your luggage and the number of travelers. Buses and taxis need no booking, but a private transfer should be booked ahead at a fixed price.

Before you travel, check the timetable or booking terms for your choice. Keep your flight number and hotel address ready, and leave a margin before check-in.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take large suitcases on the airport bus?

Large cases fit only if the driver agrees and there is room. The rule depends on the bus.

On TIB buses, hand luggage must be no larger than 55 × 35 × 25 cm. Bigger items need the driver’s approval and free space.

Do I need to pay the taxi driver in cash?

Not necessarily. The fare is metered, so the meter sets the amount. Ask the driver which payment methods they accept before the journey, so you know whether to bring cash.

Is the shared shuttle the best choice for a group of four?

Usually not. A private transfer takes all four of you for one fixed vehicle price, while a shared shuttle charges each person and may wait or make hotel stops.

Multiply the shuttle fare by four and compare it with the private price for your route.