Sóller: a day trip from Palma, Palma de Mallorca

About Sóller

Sóller is a town of about 14,000 people in a large, bowl-shaped valley near Mallorca's north-west coast. The Serra de Tramuntana encircles the valley, whose floor is covered in orange and lemon groves, and the village of Fornalutx and small hamlets share it.

3 kilometres away by the sea lies Port de Sóller, an almost circular bay with a beach, promenade and fishing harbour. A vintage tram links town and port, and a historic train links Sóller with Palma, the reason many people come.

The Orange Express from Palma

Work on the Palma–Sóller railway began in 1911, funded by the booming orange and lemon trade, hence its nickname, the Orange Express. The narrow-gauge electric train with wooden carriages and brass fittings crosses the plain from Palma, then climbs into the mountains through 13 tunnels.

Along the way there are views of the Tramuntana and olive-filled valleys, and before Sóller the train pauses at a viewpoint over the valley. Today it's not just transport but one of the island's major attractions, carrying over a million passengers in 2019.

What to see in Sóller

• The train from Palma — wooden carriages and tunnels.
• Plaça de la Constitució — the heart of town with cafés.
• Sant Bartomeu church — a Modernista façade.
• The tram to the port — vintage cars through the groves.
• Port de Sóller — a round bay with a beach.
• Fornalutx — a stone mountain village nearby.

The town, the tram and the port

The train arrives right in the centre. Nearby is Plaça de la Constitució, with plane trees, cafés and the church of Sant Bartomeu, whose façade was rebuilt in the early 20th century in Modernista style. The tram tracks cross the square, and carriages glide slowly past the café tables.

The open-sided vintage tram runs about 3 kilometres to the sea through orange groves. Port de Sóller has a round bay with a sandy beach, a promenade of restaurants, fishing boats and a lighthouse on the headland. Boat trips leave from here along the rocky coast.

Tips for your trip

Sóller is a full-day trip: the train from Palma and a stroll round town in the morning, the tram to the sea and lunch in the port, then the beach, and back by bus. Trains and trams are packed in summer, so spring and autumn are calmest.

Be sure to try fresh orange juice and ice cream made from local oranges, sold right on the square. Market stalls and shops sell orange marmalade, olive oil and almond sweets.

For children, the vintage train and tram are a real adventure. The carriages have no air conditioning, so bring plenty of water in hot weather.

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How to do it right

• A combined ticket is better value.
• Get to the morning train early.
• Return by bus.
• Orange juice on the square.

Questions