See Palma’s historic center and coastline from a double-decker bus.
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Quick Guide
Palma de Mallorca Hop-On Hop-Off Tours
Choose between bus-only or premium tickets with a boat tour and attraction entries.
Iconic 24-Hour Ticket (Bus Only)
Unlimited bus rides to all 18 stops for one day. You’ll ride past all of Palma’s major sights with audio commentary explaining what you’re seeing. It’s a straightforward sightseeing tour without any attraction entries included.
Supreme 24-Hour Ticket (Bus + Boat + 5 Attractions)
Everything in the Iconic ticket plus a 50-minute boat tour, choice of either Bellver Castle or Poble Espanyol, and two art museums (Museu Es Baluard and CaixaForum). You also get a self-guided audio tour and discounts at local restaurants. Good option for one full day that combines the bus with entry to key attractions and the boat experience.
Ultimate 48-Hour Ticket (Bus + Boat + 8 Attractions)
The most comprehensive option. Everything from the Supreme ticket is included, plus you get an extra day on the bus, skip-the-line entry to Palma Cathedral (La Seu), and access to the historic Arab Baths. The extra day spreads everything across two days without rushing. You can visit Bellver Castle on one day and explore the Cathedral the next.
Save Time & Money
Best of Palma de Mallorca Bundle
The Best of Palma Bundle combines your hop-on hop-off bus with Palma’s top two must-sees: the Mallorca Cathedral and Palma Aquarium. You’ll skip the lines at both attractions, plus you get a 10% discount code for five more bookings in Palma.
Highlights
Tickets & Prices
City Sightseeing Palma de Mallorca offers three ticket options. Each with different perks and attractions included.
Ticket Comparison
| Feature | Iconic 24 Hours | Supreme 24 Hours | Ultimate 48 Hours Top Pick | Best of Palma Bundle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (Adult) | €27.00 | €42.00 | €51.00 | From €95.00 |
| Bus Access | 24 hours | 24 hours | 48 hours | 24 or 48 hours |
| Boat Tour (50 minutes) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Bellver Castle or Poble Espanyol | ✓ (choose one) | ✓ (choose one) | ✓ (both) | |
| Museu Es Baluard | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| CaixaForum | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| La Seu Cathedral | ✓ | ✓ (skip-the-line) | ||
| Museum of Sacred Art | ✓ | |||
| Arab Baths | ✓ | ✓ (if Ultimate option selected) | ||
| Palma Aquarium | ✓ | |||
| 3D Cinema Aquadome | ✓ (optional add-on) | |||
| Free Drink Vouchers | ✓ (€15 min spend) | ✓ (€15 min spend) | ||
| Restaurant Discounts | ✓ (10% at select venues) | ✓ (10% at select venues) | ||
| Future Booking Discount | ✓ (10% off next 5 Palma bookings) | |||
| Self-Guided Audio Tour | ✓ (English only) | ✓ (English only) |
Note:
- All tickets include a city map, headphones, a City Sightseeing cap, and audioguides in 8 languages (English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Russian, and Catalan).
- The Bundle boat tour and attraction entries depend on whether you select the 24-hour or 48-hour bus option within the bundle. Choose 48-hour Ultimate within the bundle to get Arab Baths included.
Pricing Table
| Iconic 24 Hours | Supreme 24 Hours | Ultimate 48 Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | €27.00 | €42.00 | €51.00 |
| Youth (8-16) | €13.50 | €27.00 | €38.00 |
| Senior (65+) | €13.50 | €33.00 | €43.00 |
All children under 8 ride free but you must select a free child ticket when booking.
Tips for Choosing Your Ticket
- Choose the Iconic 24-hour ticket if you’re on a tight budget, visiting from a cruise ship with limited time, or interested in seeing the city from the bus without visiting many attractions.
- Pick the Supreme 24-hour ticket if you want to visit either Bellver Castle or Poble Espanyol, enjoy boat tours, and want to see art museums.
- Go for the Ultimate 48-hour ticket if you’re spending multiple days in Palma and want to see everything without rushing. The 48 hours lets you take the boat tour one day, visit museums another day, and still have time for the Castle, Poble Espanyol, and Cathedral. The main difference from Supreme is the extra day, more museums, Cathedral access, and Arab Baths.
One thing to note: the boat tour runs from April 1 to November 30 and only on Monday through Saturday. Visiting on Sunday or in winter after November means the Supreme and Ultimate tickets lose some value since the boat won’t run.
FAQs about Ticketing
How much is the hop-on hop-off bus tour in Palma?
There are three tickets, priced by how long you ride and how much you add on. The Iconic is bus-only for 24 hours, the Supreme adds a boat tour and five attractions over 24 hours, and the Ultimate stretches the bus to 48 hours with eight attractions. Children 8 to 16 get about half off, kids under 8 ride free, and seniors 65 and over get a discount. The Tickets & Prices section above lists every tier.
Is it cheaper to buy the bus tour online?
Online often costs less and lands as a mobile ticket, so you board at any stop without queuing. You can also buy from the driver, but you risk a longer wait in peak season from April through October. Tickets come with free cancellation up to 24 hours before your travel date.
Route Maps & Stops
Explore Palma with one Red Route covering 18 stops at the city’s major attractions, plus a Boat Route that takes you around Palma Bay. The Red Line connects you to the Gothic Cathedral, medieval Bellver Castle, Poble Espanyol, the Joan Miró Foundation, the cruise port, shopping districts, and the waterfront promenade.
A full bus loop takes about 90 minutes without hopping off. The Boat Route is a 50-minute cruise with views of the city from the water.
You get a printed city map when you board, showing all stops and nearby attractions.
Red Route
The Red Route runs daily from 10:00 to 18:00, with buses arriving approximately every 30 minutes at each stop.
Stops:
- Stop 1: Antoni Maura – Next to Palma Cathedral and Royal Palace
- Stop 2: Plaça del Mercat – Market square in the historic center
- Stop 3: La Rambla / Carrer dels Horts – Tree-lined boulevard with flower stalls
- Stop 4: Plaça d’Espanya – Main square and transport hub
- Stop 5: Av. Alexandre Rosselló – Northern residential area
- Stop 6: Av. Gabriel Alomar i Villalonga / Porta des Camps – Former city gate location
- Stop 7: Carrer d’Andrea Doria – Marina area (currently at EMT bus stop 58, Marquès de la Sènia)
- Stop 8: Poble Espanyol – Open-air architectural museum
- Stop 9: Castell de Bellver – Circular medieval castle on hilltop
- Stop 10: Plaça Gomila – Western neighborhood square
- Stop 11: Hotel Valparaíso – Upscale western neighborhood
- Stop 12: Fundació Pilar i Joan Miró – Joan Miró’s Palma studio and foundation
- Stop 12B: Palacio Marivent – Royal summer residence in Cala Major
- Stop 13: Av. Joan Miró / Porto Pi – Avenue leading to Porto Pi shopping center
- Stop 14B: Passeig Marítim – Seafront avenue
- Stop 15: Av. Gabriel Roca / Auditorium – Coastal road near Auditorium
- Stop 16: Es Baluard – Contemporary art museum in a 16th-century seafront bastion
- Stop 17: Av. Jaume III – Palma’s main shopping street
- Stop 18: Moll Comercial – Commercial port area
Route Highlights:
Palma Cathedral (La Seu) dominates the skyline at Stop 1. This massive Gothic cathedral took almost 400 years to build and has 61 stained-glass windows that flood the interior with colored light. People call it the “Cathedral of Light” because of this effect. Twice a year, the two rose windows line up to create a figure-eight pattern. The Royal Palace of La Almudaina sits right next to the Cathedral between the building and the sea. The Spanish Royal Family still uses this medieval palace as their summer home.
Bellver Castle at Stop 9 is Spain’s only circular castle, built in the early 14th century. The castle sits on a wooded hill with pine forest around it. Views extend across Palma, the bay, and the yachts in the harbor. The name “Bellver” means “good view” in Catalan, which makes sense once at the top. A history museum inside covers how Palma developed over the centuries. Note that the castle closes on Mondays, so plan your visit for Tuesday through Sunday if you want to go inside. Entry is free on Sundays.
Poble Espanyol (Stop 8) recreates famous Spanish buildings and monuments in smaller size. Versions of Granada’s Alhambra, Toledo’s El Greco house, and architectural styles from regions across Spain fill the grounds. The open-air museum shows Spain’s diversity without leaving Mallorca. Artisan workshops show traditional crafts being made.
The Joan Miró Foundation at Stop 12 is where the artist lived and worked for the last decades of his life. The whitewashed studio he designed with Josep Lluís Sert still holds his easels, brushes, and unfinished canvases. It’s one of the more personal artist-house museums in Spain.
The 4-kilometer Passeig Marítim waterfront (Stops 7, 7B, 14B, 15) runs along Palma Bay. Hop off here to walk the promenade, eat at waterfront restaurants, or watch boats entering and leaving the harbor. The view back toward the Cathedral and Old Town from the water shows why Palma has been an important Mediterranean port for over 2,000 years.
Special Timing Notes:
- The last bus to Stop 8 (Poble Espanyol) leaves Stop 1 at 17:00 and gets to Poble Espanyol around 17:20-17:25. If you want to visit, catch an earlier bus to allow time inside before it closes.
- The last bus to Stop 9 (Castell de Bellver) leaves Stop 1 at 17:30 and gets to the castle around 18:10. This is your final chance to visit the castle that day.
- Stops 11, 12, 12b, and 16 are currently out of service. If you have the Supreme or Ultimate ticket, you can still visit Museu Es Baluard independently, it’s a short walk from Stop 15 (Av. Gabriel Roca / Auditorium).
Boat Route
The Boat Route runs Monday to Saturday from 11:00 to 18:00 and takes 50 minutes for the full cruise. The boat tour is included in the Supreme 24-hour and Ultimate 48-hour tickets.
Departure Points:
- Sa Calma Boats: Palma Meeting Point (Escalera Real) – Departures on the hour: 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00 (times change by season)
- Plaza de las Golondrinas, slot 8 (Auditorium) – Departures at 10 minutes past the hour: 11:10, 12:10, 13:10, 14:10, 15:10, 16:10, 17:10 (times change by season)
Route Highlights:
This 50-minute cruise takes you around Palma Bay for views of the city from the water. The Cathedral and Royal Palace rise directly from the waterfront, with honey-colored Gothic architecture visible from the boat. The boat passes Bellver Castle on its hillside, giving you a clear view of its round structure with pine forest around it.
The cruise goes past the yacht marina where superyachts dock next to traditional fishing boats. The contrast shows Palma’s role as both a working port and Mediterranean destination. The boat also passes the modern developments along the waterfront and the historic Old Town rising up from the harbor.
Seasonal Schedule:
The boat runs from April 1 to November 30 each year. Departure times change by season:
- Until 12 October: Escalera Real at 11:00–18:00 (hourly). Auditorium at 11:10–18:10.
- 13–19 October: Escalera Real at 11:00–17:00 (hourly). Auditorium at 11:10–17:10.
- 20 October–30 November: Escalera Real at 11:00–16:00 (hourly). Auditorium at 11:10–16:10.
Tours depend on weather and can be cancelled in bad conditions. The boat doesn’t run on Sundays.
Timetable
| Route | Operating Hours | Full Loop | Frequency | First Bus | Last Bus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Route | 10:00 to 18:00 | 90 minutes | Every 30 minutes | 10:00 from Stop 1 | 18:00 from Stop 1 |
| Boat Route | 11:00 to 18:00 | 50 minutes | Every 60 minutes | 11:00 from Escalera Real | 18:00 from Escalera Real |
Start Points:
- Stop 1: Antoni Maura, Av. d’Antoni Maura (near the Cathedral)
- Stop 4: Plaça d’Espanya (main square, connects to train/bus station)
You can board at any of the 18 stops, but most visitors start at Stop 1 or Stop 4 since these are central and easy to find. Cruise passengers start at Stop 14 (Estació Marítima) at the port.
Special Service Notes:
- Last bus to Poble Espanyol (Stop 8): Leaves Stop 1 at 17:00, arrives around 17:20-17:25
- Last bus to Castell de Bellver (Stop 9): Leaves Stop 1 at 17:30, arrives around 18:10
- Boat tour runs Monday to Saturday only (no Sunday service)
- Boat tour ends on November 30
- Stops 11, 12, 12b, and 16 (Es Baluard) are currently out of service
Buses are wheelchair accessible. Dogs in carriers are allowed on board.
What to See & Do
Listen to Commentary in 8 Languages
Plug in the headphones you get when you board and pick your language from English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Russian, or Catalan. The audio guide explains Palma’s history as you pass landmarks, covering everything from the Roman founding 2,000 years ago through the Arab period to modern times. The commentary plays on its own based on where the bus is, so no need to press buttons or follow a map.
See Palma Cathedral from Every Angle
AnaIacobPhotography/DepositphotosThe Cathedral dominates the city from its position on the waterfront. From the bus, it appears from different angles as the route loops around. The sandstone walls and flying buttresses look different depending on the light and time of day. If you have the Ultimate ticket, hop off at Antoni Maura and skip the line to explore inside. The interior has those 61 stained-glass windows that earned the Cathedral its “Cathedral of Light” name.
Climb to Bellver Castle for 360-Degree Views
Hop off at Stop 9 and walk uphill through pine forest to reach the castle entrance. Bellver Castle is Spain’s only circular castle, and its round shape stands out right away. Walk around the ramparts for views over Palma, the bay, the mountains inland, and rows of yachts in the marina below. The castle’s history museum shows how Palma developed from Roman times forward.
Walk Through Miniature Spain at Poble Espanyol
Stop 8 drops you at this open-air museum that recreates famous Spanish buildings at smaller scale. Walk through squares, streets, and courtyards showing architectural styles from Andalusia, Catalonia, Castile, and other regions. It’s a quick way to see Spain’s architectural diversity in one spot. Artisan workshops demonstrate traditional crafts like glassblowing and leather work.
Stroll La Rambla and the Old Town Streets
The stops around the Cathedral connect you to Palma’s medieval center. La Rambla at Stop 3 is a peaceful, tree-lined boulevard with flower stalls running down the middle. Unlike Barcelona’s crazy Las Ramblas, Palma’s version stays calm even during high season. The streets around here have boutiques, tapas bars, and hidden plazas. Passeig del Born near Stop 1 is Palma’s fancy shopping street with designer stores and cafés. These car-free areas are good for wandering without worrying about traffic.
Walk the 4-Kilometer Waterfront Promenade
The Passeig Marítim stretches along Palma Bay for 4 kilometers. Hop off at several stops (7, 7B, 14B, 15) to walk sections of this palm-lined promenade. Restaurants and cafés face the water, offering options for lunch or drinks with a view. The promenade is popular with locals for evening walks, making it a good place to see everyday Palma life rather than just tourist spots.
Watch Cruise Ships at the Port
Stops 14 and 18 take you through Palma’s busy cruise terminal where big ships dock. The port is one of the Mediterranean’s busiest, and multiple cruise ships often berth at the same time. The contrast between traditional fishing boats and modern cruise ships shows Palma’s role as both a working port and tourist destination. If arriving by cruise ship, these stops connect you right to the city.
Shop on Avenida Jaume III
This is Palma’s version of Fifth Avenue. Designer boutiques, jewelry stores, and international brands fill both sides of the street. Even if you’re not shopping, it’s worth walking down to see the storefronts. The street connects Plaça d’Espanya with the old town.
Take the Bay of Palma Boat Tour
If you booked the Supreme or Ultimate ticket, don’t skip the boat tour. This 50-minute cruise lets you see Palma from the water. The cathedral and castle look different from this angle, and you’ll get why this natural harbor attracted Romans, Moors, and Spanish royalty. The boat has an open top deck for 360-degree views.
FAQs
Is the hop-on hop-off bus worth it in Palma?
Palma’s sights ring the bay. The Cathedral, Bellver Castle, Poble Espanyol, the Joan Miró Foundation, and the 4-kilometer waterfront promenade are spread well apart, and the bus links them with audio commentary in eight languages along the way. Cruise passengers and first-timers get the most from it. If you’re staying central in the old town and happy on foot, the bus is less essential.
Can you walk into Palma from the cruise port, or does the bus serve it?
The bus serves the port directly. Cruise passengers board at Stop 14 (Estació Marítima) and ride straight into the center, with the cruise terminal also covered at Stop 18. Walking from the port into town is possible along the waterfront, but it’s a long, exposed stretch with little shade, so the bus is the easier way in if you have limited time ashore. The Iconic 24-hour ticket suits a short cruise stop.
Where does the hop-on hop-off bus go in Palma?
One Red Route runs daily from 10:00 to 18:00 with buses about every 30 minutes, covering 18 stops. It links the Gothic Cathedral, Bellver Castle, Poble Espanyol, the Joan Miró Foundation, the cruise port, the shopping streets, and the waterfront promenade. A full loop without hopping off takes about 90 minutes. The Route Maps & Stops section above lists every stop in order.
Is there a boat tour, and how does it work?
Yes. The Supreme and Ultimate tickets include a 50-minute cruise around Palma Bay, with the Cathedral, Bellver Castle, and the yacht marina seen from the water. It departs from two points, Escalera Real and the Auditorium, roughly every hour. The boat runs Monday to Saturday from April 1 to November 30, so it won’t run on a Sunday or in winter.