Excursion to Sóller and Puerto de Sóller with train and tram

Sóller’s wooden railway turns a trip across Mallorca into part of the day’s sightseeing. The train crosses the Tramuntana mountains through tunnels and past steep slopes, olive trees and the Sóller Valley, a far more memorable way to reach the town than a plain transfer.

I like two things here: you get both the historic train and the old tram to Port de Sóller, and the stops pair mountain scenery with a working town and a maritime port. The trade-off is time. This is a five-hour group outing, and tight schedules, delayed departures or poor guide audio can leave little room to explore.

The quick take

• The wooden train is the main event. Its roughly 90-minute ride links Palma and Sóller through the Tramuntana region, with tunnels, mountain views and the orange and olive groves of the valley.
• The tram adds a second kind of ride. It connects Sóller with Port de Sóller, a natural harbor backed by mountains.
• You get two distinct stops. The town’s main square offers a look at its modernist buildings, while the port gives you a different setting and a maritime past.
• The five-hour schedule is brisk. The listed stops allow about an hour in Sóller and an hour at the port, but some accounts of the outing describe much less free time in practice.
• The cost covers the rides, not lunch. At $67.99 per person, the included train and tram are the core value; food and any extras are on you.

Why take the train through the Tramuntana

The Sóller railway is not just transport between Palma and a town inland. It is a century-old wooden train whose original look is part of its appeal. The route takes you through the Sierra de Alfabia in the Tramuntana mountains and into the Sóller Valley, where the scenery shifts among rugged slopes, forests, olive trees and citrus groves.

That contrast is the point. The route is not all open panoramas: tunnels cut through the mountains, so the view changes as the train moves between enclosed stretches and open country. The scent of orange trees is part of the valley’s character, though the experience of it will depend on the season and conditions.

The ride is listed at about one hour and 30 minutes. That is a substantial share of a five-hour tour, but it is also the part you cannot replicate by simply arriving in town and walking around. If the train itself is high on your wish list, the time spent aboard is likely to feel worthwhile.

The tour includes the train connection between Palma and Sóller, but one leg of the journey is by road. The exact direction of the road transfer can vary: either the outbound or return trip to Palma is by road. So do not expect the train to carry you both ways.

Port de Sóller by vintage tram

From Sóller, the old tram runs down to Port de Sóller. The ride links the town’s inland streets with a sheltered harbor on the coast, framed by the Tramuntana mountains. It is a short but useful change of pace from the longer train journey, and it gives you a feel for how closely the valley and the port are connected.

The port’s location helped make it a commercial center. Its harbor was also coveted by pirates and smugglers, a reminder that this scenic inlet was once valuable for practical reasons as well as its views. Today, the mountains and water make the port a natural place to pause, though the tour does not include a meal or a specific activity there.

The scheduled visit is about one hour, but this is one place where you should keep your expectations flexible. Some reports of the excursion describe only a few minutes at the port, enough for a quick stop but not a proper visit. That is a serious difference: an hour lets you take a walk or sit for a drink, while seven minutes is little more than a chance to get off and look around.

If the port is your priority, ask before departure how much time the day’s schedule allows there. The tour’s fixed group format can be convenient, but it also means you follow the group’s pace rather than setting your own.

Sóller’s main square and modernist details

Sóller is the commercial and cultural center of its part of the Tramuntana. The main square is the natural place to start: take a seat on a terrace if time allows, and look toward the Church of Sant Bartomeu and the former Banco de Sóller building.

Both are associated with architect Joan Rubió, a pupil of Gaudí. Rubió designed the bank building and worked on the church façade, including its stone-carved rose window. These details give the square more to offer than a quick coffee stop, especially if you enjoy architecture and want to notice how modernist design found its way into a small Mallorcan town.

Sóller’s prosperity grew in part from merchants who traded oranges with France during the 19th and 20th centuries. The town’s colonial-style manor houses and palaces point to that period of commercial success. King Alfonso XIII later declared Sóller a city and a commercial and cultural center for the area.

The tour allows about one hour in Sóller. That is enough to see the square and take a short stroll, but not enough for an unhurried visit to every street, building or shop. If you like to linger over architecture, treat this as an introduction rather than a full exploration.

The pace is the big question

On paper, the outing has a clear rhythm: around 90 minutes on the train, about an hour at Port de Sóller and about an hour in Sóller, plus the tram and road transfers. The full experience lasts roughly five hours. In real use, the free time can feel tighter, particularly if boarding, pickup or transfers run late.

The practical issue is not simply that the tour is short. It is that every stop competes with the transport that makes the day special. A delay at the start can eat into time at the port or in Sóller, and a group of up to 55 people needs to move together. One account of the trip describes a departure delayed by at least 30 minutes, followed by very brief stops. That is not a guarantee of a bad day, but it is a reason to book this for the rail journey, not for a leisurely day in town.

The guide’s role also matters. If commentary is hard to hear, you may miss context along the way, and there have been reports of faulty audio equipment. I would treat the train and tram as the reliable center of the experience and the guiding as a possible bonus rather than the main reason to go.

Is $67.99 a fair price?

At $67.99 per person, the value rests on the included transport. The vintage train and tram are the signature parts of this route, and arranging both connections yourself may take more planning. The group tour bundles them into one outing from Palma, with pickup offered and the day ending back at the meeting point.

But you are not paying for a full day in Sóller or a long port visit. Lunch is excluded, and the schedule may leave little time for sitting down or browsing. If you want to make the most of the town, the port and the railway at your own pace, a rental car may be a better fit, provided you are comfortable organizing the day yourself.

The tour makes the most sense if the historic rides are your priority and you value having the main transport arranged. It is less compelling if your main goal is relaxed time at the waterfront or a detailed guided walk through Sóller.

Who should book this excursion?

I would consider it a good fit for someone who wants a straightforward, half-day introduction to the train, tram, town and port. It works particularly well if you are staying in Palma and do not want to plan the connections independently. The included rides deliver a strong sense of the region’s terrain and history without requiring you to spend a full day away.

It is less suitable if you dislike group schedules, want plenty of time for lunch, or hope to explore each stop at length. If you have a rental car, driving yourself may give you more freedom to decide how long to stay in Sóller and at the port.

Mobility is another important consideration. The walk between parts of the outing can involve about 700 meters at a medium pace, and the century-old train has steps that are not adapted for people with reduced mobility. The tour is not recommended for those who have difficulty walking or boarding.

Final call

Book this if riding the wooden Sóller train is the reason you came, and you are happy to fit the port and town into a compact group schedule. The train and tram make an appealing pair, and the mountain-to-coast route gives you a memorable cross-section of Mallorca.

Skip it if you want a slow day, need dependable time at each stop, or would rather set your own pace. At this price, the transport is the attraction; the free time is the uncertain part.

FAQ

How long does the excursion last?

The excursion lasts approximately five hours.

What is the price?

The listed price is $67.99 per person.

What transport is included?

The tour includes the century-old train connecting Palma and Sóller, and the tram connecting Sóller and Port de Sóller. Either the outbound or return journey to Palma is by road.

Is pickup offered?

Yes. Pickup is offered. The stated meeting point is Camí de l’Escullera in Palma, and the tour ends back at the meeting point.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included.

How much time is scheduled in Sóller?

The planned stop in Sóller is about one hour.

How much time is scheduled at Port de Sóller?

The planned stop at Port de Sóller is about one hour.

How large can the group be?

The maximum group size is 55 people.

Is the excursion suitable for someone with reduced mobility?

It is not recommended for people with reduced mobility. The train has steps that are not adapted, and participants should be able to walk about 700 meters at a medium pace.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts. Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded.