Day Trip to Sóller from Palma by Wooden Train
Palma is such a wonderful destination to travel to, because it provides the great opportunity to explore the biggest island of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca. From Palma, you can plan great day trips because you can get from one side of the island to the other in about an hour to explore luscious vineyards, beautiful beaches, and charming little towns. One of my favourite places I planned a day trip to was Sóller. In this guide I will try my best to prepare you for a wonderful trip of your own.
Ways to get to Sóller
There are several ways to travel from Palma to Sóller. The most popular way is by taking the famous wooden train. The trip takes just under an hour. If you are renting a car, you can get there in about 30 minutes. I would highly recommend taking the train, though – just for the experience. The route is incredibly scenic and goes through wine country and citrus farms, where the scent of oranges waft in the air. There is something incredibly dreamy about stepping into this historic 100-something-year-old train to get to the tiny little town of Sóller.
Where does the train depart from?
The station that the wooden train leaves from is right across the street from the main train station of Palma, in the city centre. It is small and old-fashioned, a stark contrast to its highly modernised surroundings. It feels like you’re stepping into a historical station from an old movie – matching the style of the train. You enter the vintage-looking ticket office, where you can either buy or collect your pre-ordered tickets. From there, you’ll continue onto the single platform to enter the historic train. There are no reserved seats, so you can sit wherever you’d like – make sure to grab a window seat!
How much do train tickets cost?
As with most attractions, there are different types of tickets. These can be purchased at the station or online here (which I would definitely recommend, because it is such a popular experience). Tickets are only available online from 7 days to the night before your planned trip. The combi ticket is well worth it, because you’ll definitely want to visit the port – it was my favourite part of my day trip to Sóller. Ticket prices are:
- From Palma to Sóller or back (one-way): 18€
- Return ticket: 25€
- Combi ticket (Return ticket + tram to Port de Sóller): 32€
The train schedule
The first train leaves at 10:10, and the last train leaves Sóller at 18:30. A more detailed schedule can be found on the official website. If you take these trains, you should have more than enough time to explore the town, port, and the surrounding area.
What to do in Sóller
The town itself is rather small, so there isn’t all that much to see. I enjoyed just getting some gelato while taking a walk to explore the narrow pedestrian streets. The busiest place in Sóller is the main square, the Plaza de la Constitución. Here, you can admire the stunning Sant Bartomeu Church. There are some charming little cafés and bars around the square. There is also a gelateria where I had the best gelato of my life – dulce de leche. If you’re able to visit the town on a Saturday, you can visit the local market in the square. I visited Sóller at the end of March, so I was there for the local orange festival – it is a celebration of the orange harvest that drives much of the economy of the region. The oranges were used to cover the entire fountain in the middle of the square.
Port de Sóller
From Sóller, you can (and absolutely should!) take the tram to the port. It leaves from a station right next to the train station – you’ll see it on your way off the train. I would recommend you have lunch at the port, overlooking the boats in the marina. This is a great place to have paella and enjoy some local wine.
After lunch, take a short walk/hike up to the viewpoint at Plaça de Santa Catarina. This was one of the highlights of my trip to Mallorca. It sounds a bit cheesy, but as you overlook the vastness of the open ocean, you just feel like the entire world is put in perspective. Continue your walk back down to the harbour and grab a gelato (yes, another one!) – this time in a chocolate-covered sugar cone.
Sóller offers a really lovely, relaxed day trip from Palma. It was one of my favourite spots on the island. I hope this short guide can help you plan your own trip, and make it as memorable as possible.
