Here’s How To Get The Train From Palma To Soller, Mallorca + 5 Tips

The wonderful city of Palma in Mallorca is a great place to spend a long weekend. There are plenty of restaurants, tapas bars, coffee shops, historic sites and gorgeous streets where you can easily wile the day away.

Read more: 8 Of The Best Things To Do In Mallorca

However, one of the best things you can do on a city break in Palma, is to catch the train from Palma to Soller. This old mode of transport, which started way back in 1912, will take you on an hour-long journey to Soller. You’ll steadily travel through the citrus groves and olive trees of Mallorca, and 13 tunnels, one of which is 3km long, before reaching Soller in the Tramuntana Mountains.

Now, I know what you might be thinking. Why would you go all the way to Palma to then leave it for a different destination?

Well, you get to visit Soller, an old town centred around a big square and spectacular church. Cobbled narrow lanes lead off to cafes, independent shops, and quieter residential streets. It’s a charming and lively place where you can enjoy an orange juice in the sun – Soller does claim to sell the best oranges in the world and you can find a REALLY good OJ here.

Not only can you visit Soller, you can hop on the vintage tram to Port de Soller when you disembark the train in Soller. For me, arguably, this is the main reason to get the train from Palma to Soller. 

Port de Soller just oozes a cool style that isn’t replicated in Palma or Soller. A huge bay full of boats and yachts can be enjoyed from a promenade lined with restaurants, shops and hotels.

Read More: 5 Great Places To Eat In Port De Soller

The tram from Soller to Port de Soller takes around 25 minutes. It’s easy enough to add this on to your train from Palma to Soller and you’ll have more than enough time to explore both if you’re able to be on the first train in the morning.

With that in mind, here’s how to get the train from Palma to Soller with the 5 of the best tips on how to make the most of your day trip from Palma.

Where To Get The Train From Palma To Soller

You can get the train from Palma to Soller at the Palma de Mallorca Train Station – you’ll see “Ferrocarril de Soller” above the arched entrance to the train station. Located on the corner of Plaza de Espana and next to Palma’s bus station, the train station is easy to walk to if you are located in the city on your holiday in Palma.

The station has an outdoor cafe where you can buy a refreshment before your journey and the platform is sheltered to provide some shade from the summer sun.

How To Get A Ticket For The Train From Palma To Soller

To get a ticket for the train on the day, you have to buy it at the train station. There’s a ticket office here so be prepared to queue. A return ticket from Palma to Soller is €25. If you just want a single ticket, the cost is €18. 

If you’re planning in advance, and want to secure your ticket, buy online – this is a great way to get the tickets you want and avoid disappointment on the day as the trains can get busy. We unfortunately missed a ticket for the first train as all the seats sold while we were in the queue. It wasn’t much of an issue as we could get on the next train, it just sadly meant we missed out on spending more time in Soller and Port de Soller.

For a combined train and tram ticket on the day, you have to buy these at the train station too. Alternatively, you can pre-book these online. Again, this is a great way to avoid the queues and to guarantee yourself a ticket. The cost of the combined ticket is €32.

When you book tickets online, ensure you get your boarding ticket at the train station. You won’t be able to board with electronic confirmation.

Tip 1: Get the early train and book ahead if you can. This allows you to maximise your time in Soller! If you’re getting the tram to Soller, get one of the first two trains departing from Palma. This means you have time to walk around Soller, get the tram to Port de Soller, then have enough time to get the return train back to Palma.

The Train From Palma to Soller

Stepping on board the train is like stepping back in time. The vintage carriage is decked in wood, has gorgeous sash style windows and the seats are a mix of wood and leather.

It’s a very romantic way to travel through Mallorca but it can get really busy at peak periods!

Train Times for Palma to Soller

Tip 2: Get on the train up to half an hour before departure. This will ensure you get a good seat!

Tip 3: On a hot day, the train stays hot. The only time there’s a cool breeze is while going through the tunnels. Take a fan with you to provide some cool air! When I visited, it was 36 degrees. VERY hot. The seats were like puddles when everyone got off the train. So as well as a fan it might be worth taking a towel to sit on.

What’s The Journey Like From Palma to Soller?

The journey is around an hour long, travels through 13 tunnels and along 27.3km of track between Palma and Soller. Taking a slow start out of Palma, you’ll travel out of the residential streets of Palma and through to the first station of Bunyola.

From here the train will take you through olive groves, fields of almond trees and past farmland into the mountains. It’s here the flat landscape slowly turns into the hills and the journey through the tunnels starts. 

The journey can get a little rattly here as you’re plunged into darkness through the tunnels. If the windows are open you’ll feel the cool breeze rush through the train – a welcome treat on a hot day. Just be careful not to stick your arm or anything out of the window when going through the tunnels – the rugged rocks get close to the train so can only be a few centimetres away.

On the way to Soller, you’ll stop at a viewpoint looking down onto the Valley of Soller. Check when you buy a ticket as not all trains stop here at the Pujol d’en Banya. This is a great time to stretch your legs, hop off the train and take a few photos of your friends or family on the train, and get some snaps of the valley below too. You’ll be able to see Soller’s church here as well as all the orange trees the town is famous for. The Tramuntana Mountains provide a stunning backdrop for the valley too.

The last bit of the journey winds down the valley into Soller, where you’ll take a slow roll into the town before arriving at Soller Station.

Tip 4: Both sides of the train offer incredible views at various points of the journey. However the view at Pujol d’en Banya is on the right side so make sure to sit on this side of the train to get the best seat!

Taking The Tram From Soller To Port de Soller

After a train journey, the last thing you might want to do is to hop on a tram but to me, Port de Soller is the best part of this day trip from Palma. 

The trains are timed well so that you shouldn’t be waiting too long for a tram. Alternatively, you can have a wander around Soller and get a later tram to Port de Soller. They run every hour so you’ll have a good choice of times.

Tram times for Soller to Port de Soller

The tram will go through the centre of Soller, wind through the streets to the Port de Soller. You’ll see the big bay come into view and it’s more than worth stopping here for lunch if you have the time. There are plenty of places to eat in Port de Soller and if it’s a hot day, bring your swimwear as the sea is ever so inviting in the summer.

Read More: Hotel Review | Bikini Island And Mountain Hotel in Port De Soller, Mallorca

Tip 5: Sit on the left hand side of the train coming into Port de Soller, you’ll get the best views through the tram windows!

Read more: Hotel Review | Bikini Island And Mountain Hotel in Port De Soller, Mallorca

The Return Journey Back To Palma

After a great day back in Soller and Port de Soller, it’s time to go back to Palma. Just catch the train back from the station and enjoy the journey back.

This is one of the most scenic train journeys in Europe and is a must do day trip from Palma for any train enthusiast or tourist.

Have you taken the train from Palma to Soller before? Are there any other train journeys around the world you would recommend?