Palma Airport is close to the city but many visitors are heading much further across the island. Transport costs vary enormously depending on your destination.
By transport type to Palma city
Bus (line 1): EUR 5 per person to Placa d'Espanya. Cheapest option. Runs every 12-15 minutes during the day, less often late at night.
Taxi: EUR 20-30 metered, including airport supplement. Quick and direct.
Pre-booked transfer: EUR 25-40 for a sedan. Fixed price, driver waiting.
By island destination
| Destination | Distance | Taxi (approx.) | Transfer (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palma centre | 8 km | EUR 20-30 | EUR 25-40 |
| Magaluf/Palmanova | 25 km | EUR 40-50 | EUR 45-65 |
| Santa Ponsa | 28 km | EUR 45-55 | EUR 50-70 |
| Soller/Port de Soller | 35 km | EUR 50-65 | EUR 60-85 |
| Cala Millor | 65 km | EUR 65-85 | EUR 75-110 |
| Alcudia/Port de Pollenca | 60 km | EUR 60-80 | EUR 70-110 |
| Cala d'Or | 65 km | EUR 70-90 | EUR 80-120 |
| Cala Ratjada | 80 km | EUR 80-100 | EUR 90-130 |
Taxi supplements
Mallorca taxi fares include regulated supplements that are added to the meter reading:
- Airport pickup: approximately EUR 3-4
- Each piece of luggage in the boot: EUR 1-2
- Late night (after 9 PM) and weekends/holidays: variable supplement
- Pets: small additional charge
These supplements are legitimate and standardized. Ask for a receipt if the total seems unreasonable.
Group and family costs
For groups of 4-6, a single minivan transfer is almost always cheaper per person than multiple taxis. A minivan to Alcudia might cost EUR 90-130 total, compared with two taxis at EUR 60-80 each.
Shared transfers (shuttle services) to popular resorts are the cheapest private option, typically EUR 15-25 per person. The trade-off is time: shared shuttles make multiple hotel stops and a 40-minute direct trip can become 90 minutes.
Rental car vs transfer
For a week-long stay at one resort, a return transfer may be cheaper than a week's car rental plus fuel and parking. Compare the return transfer cost (double the one-way price above) with rental rates for your dates. During peak summer, rental cars can be expensive and hard to find.
For a two-week stay with plans to explore the island, a rental car often wins on value despite the higher daily cost, because it replaces multiple taxi trips and gives freedom.
Saving money
- The bus at EUR 5 per person is unbeatable for budget travellers going to Palma.
- Shared shuttle transfers are the cheapest option for resort destinations.
- Booking a transfer in advance typically costs the same or less than a metered taxi for longer distances, with the added benefit of fixed pricing.
- If you are a group, always compare the total cost of one large vehicle vs multiple taxis.