The journey by wooden train from Palma to Soller is easily one of the best things to do in Mallorca.

This unique experience will transport you to a bygone era as you clatter and chug past rustic farmland, swoon over the sweeping Serra de Tramuntana mountains, rumble through twisty tunnels, and savor the fragrant citrus groves.

Here’s everything you need to plan a seamless and scenic journey aboard the Palma to Soller train.

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The train to Soller is absolutely worth it! While you can obviously drive (or take a bus) from Palma to Soller as alternatives, you’d be missing out on the unique experience that only this vintage ride can offer – not to mention the picturesque mountain views along the way.

You’ll board the train in Palma by the Plaza de España. Keep reading for the exact address and directions!

The train journey takes about one hour from Palma to Soller. While the distance covered is just under 30 km, the train ride is slow and scenic.

The cost will depend on what type of tickets you purchase. If you book your tickets online, you’ll get a combo ticket that includes round-trip train and tram tickets for 35EUR. This is the most cost-effective option.

Alternatively, if you opt to purchase your tickets in person, you can either get a one-way ticket from Palma to Soller for 20EUR or a round-trip ticket for 40EUR. (Neither of these options include the tram from Soller to the Port de Soller.)

The (over) century-old Palma to Soller train dates back to 1912, when it first opened its beloved wooden doors. It was originally built as a solution for farmers to transport their highly-coveted citrus fruit through the tricky Tramuntana mountains to sell in bustling Palma.

Pre-train, farmers had to rely on their four-legged mule friends to literally do the heavy-lifting, a challenging task to say the least!

Despite purely functional beginnings, the train from Palma to Soller is now exclusively used for tourism, serving as one of the most popular tourist trains in the country.

There are two ways to get train tickets from Palma to Soller – online or in person.

I strongly advise that you do the former, and here’s why: If you opt to purchase tickets in person, you’ll have to queue and you can only get tickets for a train that departs same day. Given how popular this experience has become, you’ll run the risk of getting shut out.

On the other hand, purchasing your tickets online guarantees your spot and you can book up to one week in advance.

That said, you’ll need to select your departure and return times when you book your non-refundable tickets online, so make sure you’re solid on your itinerary before booking. While refunds aren’t accepted, you are able to make changes to your departure date/time up until 9AM on the day of departure.

You can check the current Palma to Soller train timetable here and book your tickets.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you can only purchase a combo ticket (train & tram) online for 35EUR. This combo ticket includes both the round trip from Palma to Soller as well as the round trip from Soller to the Port de Soller (more on that later).

There’s no online option for a train ticket only. That said, you won’t want to miss the tram experience (or the visit to the Port), so the combo ticket is well worth it!

While you’ll need to select your departure and return time for your train tickets, you can board any of the available trams from Soller to the Port de Soller, no time selection needed. The tram runs every hour on the hour.

Once you’ve made your online booking, you’ll receive a boarding pass via email.

Alternatively, if you decide to take the risk and book your tickets in person, you’ll go to the Palma Main Station. (I’ve included directions below.)

Please Note: While the train runs throughout the year, there’s typically down time in January when service becomes unavailable, as this is when the train undergoes its annual maintenance.

You’ll board the train in Palma at this address: Carrer d’Eusebi Estada, 1, Nord, 07004 Palma, Illes Balears, Spain. Keep an eye out for the wrought-iron archway: “Ferrocarril de Soller.” You’ll find it next to the Plaza de España.

If you’re arriving to the station by car (like we were) you’ll find an underground parking lot in the middle of the road in front of Plaza de España (located at the southwest side of Parc de Ses Estacions). You’ll pay for the lot once you leave.

Once you arrive in Soller, you’ll only need to walk a short distance before you arrive in the main square by beautiful and neo-Gothic Eglésia de Sant Bartomeu.

From here, be sure to pause (and get your camera settings ready!) for the next tram to pass by. It’s quite an experience to see people stop what they’re doing and flock over to witness to the tram in all its glory.

For the art, science, and/or history buffs, Soller has no shortage of museums to discover.

Popular Soller museums include:

• Can Prunera Museum of Modernism
• Balearic Musueum of Natural Sciences
• Museum of the Sea
• Museo del Casal de Cultura

Outside city limits, Soller offers some wonderful hiking opportunities. Sadly, we didn’t have time for one during our brief visit, but some popular options include the hike to Fornaluxt (a lovely mountain village) and the hike to Cala Tuent (a remote, cove-like beach).

If you’re in Soller, you really can’t miss the journey by tram to the Port de Soller, a.k.a the Tranvía de Soller. (Remember, if you’ve purchased your tickets online, you’ll already have a tram ticket anyway.)

An exciting 15-minute tram ride will transport you from city buildings to spectacular stretches of citrus groves before dropping you off at the glitzy (albeit commercial) Port de Soller.

Bear in mind that the tram makes more than one stop, and the final stop is directly by the promenade of the port.

When in the Mediterranean region, I always take the opportunity to dine with a sea view when I can get it, and Port de Soller was no exception!

There are plenty of waterfront restaurants to choose from and while touristy (and a bit overpriced), you pay for the experience.

There are actually two beaches located in the Port de Soller.

You’ll find one at each end of the bay. The beaches are family-friendly and lively with shallow water and a combination of sand and large stones.

Platja de Traves is the one nearest the port (and usually the busiest), whereas family-friendly Platja d’en Repic Beach is located in the horseshoe-shaped bay and features a boardwalk.

If you’ve booked your tickets online, you’re required to arrive at the Palma train station 30 minutes prior to departure.

The train will start in Palma and transition into countryside, where you’ll pass farms (some with horses!) and fields of citrus trees. As you rattle on, the majestic Tramuntanas will start to come into view.

After the first 30-minute stretch of the journey, the train will make its first stop in the small village of Bunyola.

Then, about two-thirds of the way through the journey, the train will intentionally stop for about five minutes at a beautiful vista (a.k.a. mirador). (Not to worry, the stop doesn’t mean the old train is malfunctioning!)

After this point, prepare for a dark journey as you rumble through over a dozen tunnels (13, to be exact)!

Once the train pulls into the station at Soller, you’ll be surrounded by beautiful trees and gorgeous views of the Tramuntanas.

This is actually the most beautiful train station I’ve ever seen on my travels!

• Plan out your day/times in advance – When you book your train tickets, you’ll have to select your departure time from Palma as well as your return time from Soller. If you want to make a full day of it (which I suggest you do), it’s best to book one of the earlier trains of the day and return on one of the last ones. (The schedule will vary based on the time of year, with summer offering the most departures.)
• Sit on the left-hand side of the train – If at all possible, try to sit on the left side of the train car, provided space is available. From here, you’ll enjoy the absolute best views of the bay and mountains. We sat on the left completely by accident and weren’t disappointed!
• Consider back support – Part of the charm of riding this vintage train is its wooden appearance, but wooden seats aren’t exactly the most comfortable. There are also leather seats, but they’re also quite rigid. I propped my bag behind my back for a more comfortable ride.
• Prepare for zero air conditioning – While it probably goes without saying that a train from 1912 isn’t equipped with a.c., I felt I should mention this just in case. As a plus, you can open the windows if you so choose (which you’ll likely want to do on a hot summer day), but be aware that you’ll be subject to a noisy ride as you rattle through the tunnels!

If you’d prefer a guided experience as you journey from Palma to Soller, there are a number of tours you can choose from, from half-day excursions to full-day tours.

Some tours even include a meal for the traditional tapas experience.

I’m happy to report that the Palma to Soller train is definitely a family-friendly experience. Hubby and I visited Mallorca with a baby (who was six months old at the time) and she was fascinated by the experience.

Children under three ride for free, so that’s also a nice plus.

I will reiterate, however, that the train is quite loud given its age (especially when the windows are open), so it’s unlikely your baby will nap much while on the train (if at all).

Our girl was definitely way too stimulated for shut eye and loved looking out the window as we chugged past the mountain scenery.

I’ll also add that although bicycles and electric scooters are specifically not permitted on board, strollers (and car seats) are! Since the train cars are quite narrow, we actually folded up our stroller and parked it in the vestibule outside the car.

If you’ll also be traveling with little ones in tow and are planning to spend at least a day in Palma de Mallorca with an overnight, have a look at my post on the best places to stay in Mallorca as a family. You’ll find some great recommendations for Mallorca’s capital in there.

Otherwise, you can use this handy interactive map to find your perfect Palma accommodation.

I hope this guide has gotten you excited for one of the best excursions Mallorca has to offer.

Do you have any questions about taking the train from Palma to Soller? Let me know in the comments below!

Planning a trip to Mallorca? Check out my other guides:

• Best Places to Stay in Mallorca for Families: Neighborhood Guide & Top Hotels
• 10 Awesome Family Hotels in Cala d’Or, Mallorca’s Popular Seaside Resort
• Valldemossa or Deia: Which Mallorcan Moutain Village Is Right for You?
• Mallorca with a Baby: Key Travel Tips & Family-Friendly Attractions
• Tenerife vs Mallorca: Which Stunning Spanish Island Should You Visit?