Palma / The verdict
Palma airport to the city: which way?
For most arrivals, ride the A1 airport bus: 5 EUR, every 15 minutes from about 05:30 to 03:10, with stops at Porta des Camp, Plaça d'Espanya and Passeig Mallorca. Take a taxi from the official rank for groups, heavy luggage or landings in the overnight gap.
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The Palma story
Palma is Mallorca's real city, not just its airport: La Seu, the Gothic cathedral looming over the seafront with its rose-window light show, an old town of courtyards and lanes, a circular castle on the hill with a 360-degree sweep, the 1912 wooden train to Soller through the Tramuntana, and a Santa Catalina food scene that has grown up fast. Most visitors who give it a day wish they had given it two.
The verdict in 30 seconds
Our pick: EMT A1 airport bus (runner-up: Taxi)
For most arrivals, ride the A1 airport bus: 5 EUR, every 15 minutes from about 05:30 to 03:10, with stops at Porta des Camp, Plaça d'Espanya and Passeig Mallorca. Take a taxi from the official rank for groups, heavy luggage or landings in the overnight gap.
Go if
- You are traveling solo or as a couple on a budget
- Your hotel is near Plaça d'Espanya, the old town or Passeig Mallorca
- You land between about 05:30 and 03:10, when the A1 runs
Skip if
- You are three or four people splitting one taxi fare
- You carry several large suitcases or find a long walk to the bus stop hard
- Your flight lands between about 03:10 and 05:30, when no A1 leaves the airport
The options
EMT A1 airport bus Go
Solo travelers and couples who want the cheapest ride into central Palma.
Good
- 5 EUR single, paid in cash on board or by tapping a contactless bank card
- Every 15 minutes from the airport, roughly 05:30 to 03:10 on weekdays
- Stops at Porta des Camp, Plaça d'Espanya for the intermodal station, and Passeig Mallorca
- One traveling couple found it quick, easy and much cheaper than a taxi or transfer
Watch out
- Since August 2025 the stop is a central one in front of the parking garage, and local coverage says the walk can feel long for older people and wheelchair users
- Stops are not door-to-door, so some hotels need a walk or a second bus
- No airport departures between about 03:10 and 05:30
Taxi It depends
Groups of three or four, heavy luggage and arrivals after the buses stop.
Good
- Door-to-door from the signed official rank at arrivals
- Metered tariff with a published 16.95 EUR minimum airport fare that includes the first 7 km and the 4.65 EUR airport supplement
- A forum regular says the official rank charges a reasonable fare with no rip-offs
- No booking needed, so it works for late or changed plans
Watch out
- During a July 2025 bus strike about 300 people queued at the rank with waits averaging over 30 minutes
- At least 16.95 EUR, more than three times the A1 fare for a solo traveler
- Hawkers at the exit doors are a distraction from the official rank
Official taxi tariff, Ajuntament de PalmaAena airport taxi information
Pre-booked private transfer It depends
Families needing child seats, larger groups and anyone wanting a fixed price met at arrivals.
Good
- Fixed fare agreed before you land, with a driver meeting you in arrivals
- Child seats and larger vehicles can be requested when booking
- Door-to-door to any address, including areas the A1 does not serve
Watch out
- Price varies by operator and is usually above the bus fare
- Must be arranged before you land
- More than solo travelers or couples heading to the center need
Compare fixed transfer pricespartner site
Rental car just for Palma Skip
Nobody picking up the car purely for an airport-to-city run; hire one only when you leave the city.
Good
- Useful only if you are driving straight on to resorts or the mountains
Watch out
- Adds a rental desk step and city parking to a short airport run
- The A1 or a taxi covers the same trip with no parking to find
- Worth it only if you are driving on, not staying in Palma
| Criterion | EMT A1 airport bus | Taxi | Pre-booked private transfer | Rental car just for Palma |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official price to the center | 5 EUR single | 16.95 EUR airport minimum plus meter | Varies by operator, prepaid fixed quote | Varies by company and day |
| Journey time | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published, plus rental desk time |
| Frequency and hours | Every 15 minutes, about 05:30 to 03:10 | On demand at the rank | Pre-booked pickup | On demand, desk hours vary |
| Where it drops you | Porta des Camp, Plaça d'Espanya, Passeig Mallorca | Any address door-to-door | Any address door-to-door | You drive and park yourself |
| Booking needed | No | No, just the marked rank | Yes, before landing | Yes, recommended ahead |
| What reports flag | A long walk to the central stop | Queues over 30 minutes during a bus strike | Not reported | Not reported |
What it costs
- EMT A1 airport bus, single: €5 (cash on board up to 10 EUR notes, or pay by contactless bank card; children under 5 free). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Taxi, minimum fare from the airport: €16.95 (includes flag fall, the airport supplement and the first 7 km). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Taxi, airport or port supplement: €4.65 (applied once per ride to or from the airport and ports). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Taxi per kilometer, weekday daytime: €1.20 (1.35 EUR nights and holidays; flag fall 2.50 or 2.85 EUR). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
What travelers report
Based on 12 traveler reports (Mar 2025 to Jun 2026) and the official sources linked on this page. 2 were negative.
What people like
- Travelers find the A1 quick, easy and much cheaper than a taxi or transfer.
- Buying at the stop's machine or tapping a card is described as simple.
- The official taxi rank is described as fair, with no rip-offs.
What people complain about
- Taxi rank queues passed 30 minutes, with about 300 people waiting, during a July 2025 bus strike.
- The walk from arrivals to the central bus stop is described as long, with few seats.
- Hawkers at the exit doors try to steer arrivals away from the official rank.
How to do it right
- Leave arrivals and follow the signs to the central bus stop in front of the parking garage for the A1
- Pay 5 EUR in cash on board (notes up to 10 EUR) or tap a contactless bank card; a group paying with one card gets a discount
- Ride to Porta des Camp for the cathedral area, Plaça d'Espanya for the intermodal station, or Passeig Mallorca for the western center
- Use the signed official taxi rank at arrivals for groups, bulky luggage or landings in the overnight gap, and ignore anyone offering rides elsewhere
- Pre-book a private transfer when you want a child seat, a bigger vehicle or a driver meeting you inside the terminal
The trap to avoid
Following a hawker at the exit doors instead of walking to the signed official taxi rank. The rank uses the metered official tariff with a 16.95 EUR airport minimum; rides offered elsewhere do not.
Why this verdict
For most arrivals the A1 airport bus is the right answer. EMT runs it every 15 minutes, from about 05:30 to 03:10 on the official weekday timetable, and it stops at Porta des Camp for the cathedral area, Plaça d’Espanya for the intermodal station, and Passeig Mallorca. A single is 5 EUR in cash or by contactless bank card. A couple who skipped a rental car found it quick, easy and much cheaper than a taxi or transfer, which matches the price gap on the official tariffs.
The one recurring friction point is the walk. Since August 2025 all airport buses leave from a single central stop in front of the parking garage, and local coverage notes that the route from arrivals can feel long for older people and wheelchair users, with few places to sit. For most travelers that is a few extra minutes, not a reason to pay more.
The taxi earns a depends rather than a go. The signed rank at arrivals is official and metered, with a 16.95 EUR minimum fare that already includes the airport supplement and the first 7 km, and a forum regular says the official rank charges fairly. It is more than three times the bus fare for one person, though, and queues can build fast: during a July 2025 bus strike about 300 people lined up, with average waits over 30 minutes. For three or four people splitting the fare, heavy luggage, or a landing in the overnight gap, it is still the sensible pick.
A pre-booked private transfer is the second depends, mainly for families who need a child seat or groups who want a fixed price and a driver waiting in arrivals. Renting a car only for a Palma stay is the skip: it adds a rental desk and city parking to a run the bus covers.
Timing and tickets
The A1 covers nearly the whole flight schedule, but there is no airport departure between about 03:10 and 05:30. Carry small notes, since drivers take payments of up to 10 EUR, or tap a bank card; a group paying with one card gets a discount on the official tariff.
Book or check times
EMT A1 fares and timetableAena airport bus informationOfficial taxi tariff, Ajuntament de PalmaAena airport taxi information
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Questions
How much is the bus from Palma airport to the city?
The A1 single costs 5 EUR, paid in cash on board or by contactless bank card. Children under 5 ride free with a paying adult.
How often does the A1 airport bus run?
Every 15 minutes through most of the day, with weekday airport departures from about 05:30 to 03:10 on the official timetable. It stops at Porta des Camp, Plaça d'Espanya and Passeig Mallorca, among others.
How much is a taxi from Palma airport to the center?
Taxis are metered. The official tariff sets a 16.95 EUR minimum fare from the airport, which includes the first 7 km and the 4.65 EUR airport supplement, then 1.20 EUR per km on weekdays or 1.35 EUR at night and on holidays.
Is there a train or metro from Palma airport?
No. The A1 bus, taxis and pre-booked transfers are the direct options; island trains leave from the intermodal station at Plaça d'Espanya, which the A1 serves.
Where is the bus stop at Palma airport?
Since August 2025 all airport buses use one central stop in front of the parking garage, to the left after leaving arrivals. Local coverage notes the walk can feel long for older people and wheelchair users.
Pack for it
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