Some excursions are beautiful.
Some are memorable.
And then there is the journey from Palma to Sóller on the historic wooden train, followed by the vintage tram to Port de Sóller.
For us, this is one of Mallorca’s signature experiences.
It is not simply a way to travel from one place to another. It is a journey through the geography, history and soul of the island.
Palma.
The Mallorcan countryside.
Bunyola.
The Serra de Tramuntana.
The orange groves of the Sóller Valley.
The historic town of Sóller.
And finally, the Mediterranean Sea at Port de Sóller.
Train, mountains, village, tram and harbour.
All in one unforgettable day.
A HOTEL AMIC HORIZONTE RECOMMENDATION SINCE 2007
Hotel Amic Horizonte has been recommending the Sóller train experience for many years.
In October 2007, when travel blogs were still a relatively new way of discovering destinations, we published an article suggesting the journey as one of the best things to do during a winter holiday in Mallorca.
Almost twenty years later, we still recommend it.
Palma has changed.
The Paseo Marítimo has changed.
Our hotel has evolved.
But the sound of the historic railway, the wooden carriages, the mountain tunnels and the first view of the Sóller Valley remain timeless.
Some travel recommendations become outdated.
Others become classics.
Read our original 2007 recommendation
WHY IS THE SÓLLER TRAIN SO SPECIAL?
Because on this excursion, the journey is as important as the destination.
The historic railway has connected Palma and Sóller since 1912. Its beautiful wooden carriages cross the Mallorcan countryside before climbing into the Serra de Tramuntana, one of the island’s most extraordinary landscapes.
The train passes through Bunyola, crosses bridges and viaducts and travels through 13 tunnels carved into the mountains.
Then the landscape suddenly opens.
The rocky peaks give way to the fertile Sóller Valley, filled with olive trees, orange groves, stone terraces and traditional Mallorcan houses.
There is no need to drive.
No need to find parking.
No mountain roads to navigate.
Just sit beside the window and watch Mallorca unfold.
THE PERFECT DAY IN SÓLLER FROM HOTEL AMIC HORIZONTE
1. BREAKFAST OVERLOOKING PALMA BAY
The experience begins at Hotel Amic Horizonte.
Start the morning with breakfast overlooking the Port of Palma, Club de Mar, the Paseo Marítimo and the Bay of Palma.
From the hotel, you can reach the Sóller railway station by taxi or public transport. The station is located beside Plaça d’Espanya and Parc de les Estacions, in central Palma.
We recommend leaving the hotel with plenty of time, wearing comfortable shoes and taking sun protection, water and a light jacket outside the summer months.
And make sure your phone is charged.
You will want to take photographs.
2. BOARD THE HISTORIC TRAIN FROM PALMA TO SÓLLER
The atmosphere begins before the train even departs.
This is not a conventional modern railway.
The polished wood, historic carriages and traditional details create the feeling of stepping into another era.
As the train leaves Palma, the urban landscape gradually disappears.
The route becomes a geographical introduction to Mallorca:
Palma – Son Sardina – Bunyola – Serra de Tramuntana – Vall de Sóller.
Fields, almond trees, olive groves and rural estates appear outside the window.
After Bunyola, the journey enters the mountains.
The railway passes through tunnels, curves around steep slopes and crosses dramatic sections of the Serra de Tramuntana, recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage cultural landscape.
Then comes the great reveal: the Sóller Valley.
Put your phone down for a moment.
Some views deserve to be experienced without a screen.
3. EXPLORE THE HISTORIC CENTRE OF SÓLLER
One of the great advantages of the railway is that it takes you directly into the centre of Sóller.
You do not arrive at an anonymous terminal outside the town.
You step off the train within walking distance of Plaça de la Constitució, the lively heart of Sóller.
The square is framed by cafés, historic buildings and the impressive church of Sant Bartomeu.
The vintage tram passes directly through the square, moving slowly between terraces, residents and visitors.
It is one of Mallorca’s most iconic scenes.
Nearby, the former Banco de Sóller and the façade of Sant Bartomeu reflect the town’s distinctive Modernist heritage and its historic links with France.
Many residents of Sóller emigrated abroad, particularly to France. Some later returned with new ideas, wealth and architectural influences that transformed the town.
Take time to explore:
Plaça de la Constitució
Carrer de sa Lluna
The historic streets around the centre
Sóller’s traditional shops
The municipal market
Can Prunera Modernist Museum
Local bakeries and ice-cream shops
Buildings shaped by the town’s international past
Sóller should not be rushed.
Look upwards at its façades.
Step into its small shops.
Sit in the square.
Watch the tram pass.
Let the town reveal itself slowly.
TASTE THE ORANGES OF SÓLLER
The Sóller Valley has been famous for its citrus fruit for centuries.
Protected by the mountains and influenced by the nearby Mediterranean, the valley has a microclimate that has made it one of Mallorca’s great orange-growing areas.
The oranges of Sóller are more than a local product.
They are part of the landscape, economy, history and identity of the valley.
During your visit, try at least one of the following:
Freshly squeezed Sóller orange juice.
Orange or lemon ice cream.
A citrus dessert.
Local orange marmalade.
A traditional pastry or ensaimada accompanied by coffee.
This is not simply something to eat or drink.
It is another way of tasting the landscape you have just crossed.
TAKE THE HISTORIC TRAM TO PORT DE SÓLLER
The second great journey of the day begins in the centre of Sóller.
The historic tram, inaugurated in 1913, connects Sóller with its port, located approximately three kilometres away.
It leaves the town, passes through residential streets and travels beside gardens and citrus trees before reaching the Mediterranean.
The transition is extraordinary:
From Modernist architecture to orange groves.
From the orange groves to the coast.
From the mountains to the sea.
Then Port de Sóller appears.
A natural horseshoe-shaped harbour surrounded by the Serra de Tramuntana, with fishing boats, yachts, beaches, cafés and a long waterfront promenade.
This is not an attraction created for visitors.
It is the real geography of Mallorca.
LUNCH BESIDE THE MEDITERRANEAN
Once in Port de Sóller, slow down again.
Walk around the harbour.
Watch the boats.
Continue towards Platja d’en Repic.
Choose a terrace.
Order an aperitif.
Enjoy lunch overlooking the sea.
Port de Sóller offers restaurants for different tastes and budgets. Look for Mallorcan and Mediterranean flavours: fresh fish, seafood, rice dishes, pa amb oli, tumbet and seasonal local ingredients.
Do not try to fit everything into an hour.
The biggest mistake visitors make in Sóller is turning the day into a race.
Leave time to walk, sit and look at the bay.
A good day in Mallorca should include moments in which nothing needs to happen.
RETURN TO PALMA AS THE LIGHT CHANGES
After lunch and a walk beside the sea, take the tram back to Sóller and connect with the historic train to Palma.
The route may be the same, but the experience feels different.
The afternoon light changes the mountains.
The valley looks different.
And now every place outside the window has a memory attached to it.
When you return to Palma, head back to Hotel Amic Horizonte and complete the circle.
You began the day overlooking Palma Bay.
You crossed Mallorca by wooden train.
You explored Sóller.
You reached the Mediterranean by tram.
And now you return to another Mediterranean horizon.
End the day with a drink at our Panoramic Sports & Music Bar, on the terrace or from a room overlooking the Port of Palma.
Morning in Palma.
Lunch in Port de Sóller.
Sunset at the Horizon.
SÓLLER TRAIN AND TRAM TICKETS
The official combined return ticket currently covers:
Palma – Sóller – Port de Sóller – Palma: €40.
Separate train and tram tickets are also available.
Schedules, prices and operating periods may change depending on the season. Advance planning is highly recommended, especially during spring, summer and early autumn.
Always check the official website before travelling:
Official Sóller train and tram schedules
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT SÓLLER?
Spring
The valley is green, the citrus trees are alive and the temperatures are ideal for walking.
Summer
The harbour is at its liveliest, but trains and trams can be busy. Book ahead and consider an early departure.
September and October
These are excellent months for combining Palma, Sóller, the Serra de Tramuntana and the Mediterranean with pleasant temperatures and softer light.
Autumn and winter
Sóller becomes quieter and more local. It is a wonderful day trip during a winter city break in Palma, although seasonal closures and maintenance periods must always be checked in advance.
Our original 2007 article already made this point:
Mallorca is also worth discovering in winter.
SHOULD YOU ADD FORNALUTX OR BINIARAIX?
The Sóller Valley includes two other beautiful places: Fornalutx and Biniaraix.
Fornalutx is known for its stone houses, stepped streets, mountain views and traditional architecture.
Biniaraix lies near the beginning of the historic Barranc de Biniaraix trail, one of the Serra de Tramuntana’s most emblematic walking routes.
Both deserve a visit.
However, for a first day trip from Palma, we recommend making a choice.
If you want to enjoy the train, explore Sóller, take the tram, have lunch in Port de Sóller and return without rushing, you do not need to add another destination.
Fornalutx and Biniaraix are perfect reasons to come back.
Mallorca should not be consumed.
It should be experienced.
THE NATURAL CONNECTION WITH HOTEL AMIC HORIZONTE
Hotel Amic Horizonte and the Sóller excursion are connected by more than convenience.
Our hotel overlooks the Port of Palma and the Mediterranean.
The train departs from the heart of the capital.
Sóller lies hidden between the mountains.
The tram finishes beside another harbour and another beautiful Mediterranean bay.
Two ports.
Two horizons.
One historic railway journey across Mallorca.
For our guests, it is the perfect combination of:
A city break in Palma
Views over Palma Bay
A historic railway experience
The Serra de Tramuntana
Modernist architecture
Mallorcan gastronomy
The citrus groves of Sóller
A seaside lunch
A car-free Mallorca excursion
Our reception team can help guests understand how to reach the station, check the best route and organise the day according to the season.
Because recommending Mallorca is not simply handing someone a map.
It is helping them experience the island properly.
THE TRUE MALLORCA MUST-DO
If you have one full day to explore beyond Palma, this is one of our strongest recommendations.
Not because it is a secret.
Not because nobody else knows about it.
But because certain experiences become famous for a reason.
The Sóller train and tram bring together so much of what makes Mallorca unique:
History.
Engineering.
Mountains.
Villages.
Architecture.
Food.
Orange groves.
Tradition.
A historic harbour.
And the Mediterranean Sea.
We recommended it in 2007.
We recommend it today.
And we will probably still be recommending it twenty years from now.
Have breakfast overlooking Palma Bay. Board the wooden train. Cross the Tramuntana mountains. Explore Sóller. Take the tram to the sea. And return to Hotel Amic Horizonte with a little more of Mallorca inside you.
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