Tren de Sóller: the complete guide (+videos)

Mallorca is a wonderful island, and there are numerous things to do there. Among them, and actually, one of the most scenic ones is to take the train from Palma to Sóller. The so-called Tren de Sóller connects the city of Palma with the small town of Sóller. Even though one might think that this is a tourist activity, I can assure you that it totally deserves it. This is actually an old wooden train executing a historical route.

I was also skeptical before taking the ride, but after seeing a couple of photos of the landscape, I changed my mind. I didn’t regret it all. If you are visiting Mallorca, make sure to take the ride. Below, I’ll explain everything about that train journey from Palma to Sóller.

What is exactly the Tren de Sóller (Train to Sóller)?

This is a railway that owes its existence to citrus fruits. Sometimes the Tren de Sóller is also called the Orange Express.

Back in 1911, the orange and citrus trade was booming. But the town of Sóller remained somehow isolated. Sóller is located in the mountains of Mallorca, more specifically in the Alfàbia mountain range. Hence, the way to transport goods wasn’t easy at all. Some initial ideas of creating a route were rejected, but the decision was finally made at the beginning of the 20th century.

The direct train to Sóller became a reality on August 19, 1911. The people of Sóller wouldn’t have to deal anymore with rough roads, and the train offered a complete change to their daily life.

Practical information about the train to Sóller

You can take the train to Sóller from downtown Palma. Actually, the Tren de Sóller has its own platform. From April to October, there are more frequent itineraries from Palma to Sóller; from October to March, you can still reach Sóller but be prepared for longer intervals between the trains. In January, the line remains closed for maintenance.

As of 2019, the single ticket from Palma to Sóller costs 25 euros. However, it’s better to buy a return ticket in advance (unless if you plan to stay overnight in Sóller, of course), which costs 32 euros. The price includes the following tickets: a) from Palma to Sóller b) from Sóller back to Palma and c) a return ticket with the old tram from Sóller to Port de Sóller (more on that later). It’s a far better deal, so make sure to buy the return ticket when you arrive at the Palma train station.

You probably think that the price is high. Indeed it is. But after taking the train myself, I fully justified the price: the cost of maintenance is probably high as well. You see, this is a historical train operating on an old line.

You have to pay cash for the tickets; credit and debit cards are not currently accepted.

A personal tip

I took the Tren de Sóller in early April. Try to go offseason, because during the summertime the locals told me it’s full of people. In April, there were quite a few people, but there was space for everybody. I don’t know how it might look during the summer, but keep in mind that Mallorca is a mass tourism destination.

What to expect from the train journey to Sóller

The journey from Palma to Sóller takes one hour. Talking from my own experience, I can say that there are two kinds of landscapes during the journey. From Palma to Bunyola’s picturesque town, the landscape is flat, with fields full of oranges and lemons. From Bunyola to Sóller, the landscape becomes more dramatic, though. The train goes through 13 tunnels, some short ones, others almost 3 km long, and the train will climb slowly towards the mountains. The landscape is rougher, and the air becomes fresh.

Although you are in the Mediterranean and the landscape you have in mind is probably the one on the first part of the journey, the truth is that the second part of the trip is the most impressive. People with a car (rent one here) in Mallorca usually drive to Bunyola and take the train to Sóller. However, I did find the switch of the scenery from mild to rough really deserving of the journey. In my opinion, and if you want to have the real experience, book your ticket from Palma to Sóller, not from Bunyola. You won’t regret it.

Is there anything else to do?

Yes. After reaching the town of Sóller, you actually have two options. The first one is to spend the day in Sóller; the second is to take the tram to the Port de Sóller. Don’t be confused; these are two different places.

As I wrote above, if you buy a return ticket to Sóller, then there is a return ticket to Port de Sóller included. If you don’t have a return ticket, then you’ll have to pay an extra 7 euros for the tram.

The tram is an attraction by itself, too. The owner is Ferrocarril de Sóller, which is the same company operating the Tren de Sóller. The so-called Tranvia de Sóller is the first electric tram in Spain. There are 17 stops in the line but don’t expect anything more than a simple platform. The numbers 1-3 are the original ones, dating back from 1913. One of the tram line highlights is definitely the crossing of a small bridge: the tram seems to fit really hard there!

A few info for each one of the two destinations:

Sóller

Sóller is a rustic little town that keeps intact the heritage and the general feeling of Mallorca. It is also the spot where the train from Palma arrives. After wandering through the narrow streets, I decided to take the tram to Port de Sóller. The tram is also wooden and starts from the train station, straight after you disembark from the Tren de Sóller.

The tram itself also offers a beautiful ride through Sóller. You will be impressed because the tram goes very close to houses and cafés. It is a twenty minutes ride to the port.

Last but definitely not least, don’t forget to visit the small exhibition hall inside the train station of Sóller: there you will see original paintings by Joan Miró and Pablo Picasso. Admission is free.

Port de Sóller

Even though it wasn’t high season, I preferred to spend most of my time at Port de Sóller. The water was too cold to swim, but the fact that I was in the Mediterranean made it impossible for me to stay away from the sea. Most people spent the day at the beach, soaking some sun, but only two or three went for a couple of minutes into the water.

The Port de Sóller is a horseshoe bay at the end of the Serra de Tramuntana. It was tough to reach it before the ’90s, but then a tunnel was created, and development came to the area, too. Port de Sóller is a beautiful seaside village, which nowadays attracts more sophisticated travelers. There is a large promenade, and there are several cafes and restaurants (I spent an hour at the Randemar Cafe sipping Americano cocktails and eating rigatoni) and, of course, a few places to stay.

In general, I found the combination of mountains and sea genuinely unique. The beach is wide, and there is enough space for everyone. I wrote earlier about the sophisticated tourism of Port de Sóller, and the truth is that this comes at a price. That being said, the place is not cheap; therefore, you should budget accordingly.

Accommodation options in Sóller, Port de Sóller, and Palma

If you would like to spend some days in Sóller, please check your options here.

On the other hand, if you prefer the sea for your vacation, your Port de Sóller options are here.

Last but not least, I can’t recommend enough my accommodation in Palma de Mallorca. Despite being a bit pricey, I enjoyed very much staying at Borne Suites. Book your room here.

Two travel videos from the Tren de Sóller

I also had the opportunity to shoot two videos. The first one is from the train from Palma de Mallorca to Sóller. The second one is a video from the tram ride towards Port de Sóller.

From Palma de Mallorca to Sóller by train

From Sóller to Port de Sóller by tram

An Epilogue

Although it might seem like a very touristic itinerary for some people, the truth is that the Tren de Sóller is a wonderful experience. Traveling aboard an old-fashioned train that runs through fields, valleys, and mountains is something unique. Plus, the fact that the ride takes place on an island it’s something that adds some extra value to the whole experience.

If you are visiting Mallorca -and more specifically, Palma- it’s definitely one of the things to do. I would say that the best deal is to buy the return ticket, which includes the ride for the tram in the price. Check the schedule here and make sure not to miss the last train to Palma. It usually runs before 7 pm. Otherwise, you might have to spend the night in Sóller.

If you are more into organized tours, then there are some options as well. There’s a long 8-hours tour that does some sightseeing in Palma and also visits Soller by train. I didn’t use it but feel free to check it out if this sounds more something interesting to you. It’s a certified tour and has loads of positive reviews. Check the tour to Soller here.

Mallorca’s landscape is outstanding. For the ones that have just a few days to spend in Mallorca, the Tren de Sóller is a must, in my opinion. It will also allow you to see a bit more of the island. But even if you have a car, the Orange Express will not let you down: it seems like a journey to a different era.

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More about Mallorca: Things to do in Palma & Under the yellow lights of Palma

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Last Updated on November 8, 2020 by George Pavlopoulos