Semih
Travel editor at Reisedrop · 2026-06-04
Palma is one of the most relaxed arrival airports in Europe, as long as your hotel is in the city. The decision only gets interesting when you are heading to Alcúdia, Cala d or or a finca in the island’s interior. Then a short ride turns into a proper leg of the journey.
Getting into the city by bus
The airport bus runs from the terminal to the city centre in around fifteen to twenty minutes, then continues towards the port. It is convenient if you are travelling light and staying centrally. With two suitcases, a buggy and an apartment in the suburbs, the same journey quickly turns into a haul with a change along the way.
Private transfer: a fixed price and a driver who waits
A pre-booked private transfer means: the driver knows your flight number, waits if you are delayed, the price is fixed before you book, and luggage is included. It is the best option for late arrivals, for families needing child seats, and for anything farther out than the city centre. If you are travelling light and want to stay spontaneous, you do not need it.
Uber in Mallorca: available, but limited
Uber has been operating in Palma and the surrounding area since 2023, though with a small fleet of licensed hire cars with drivers. Pick-up at the airport is possible, but in the summer peak there can be a long wait, and there is no guaranteed fixed fare. Other apps are also widely used locally. For a ride into the city centre it is a good spontaneous option, but if you are arriving with family and lots of luggage, it is better to plan ahead.
When a private transfer is the smarter choice
Mallorca is bigger than it looks on the map. To the coves in the north-east and south-east, you can easily spend well over an hour in the car depending on traffic. If you land late, you do not want to start searching for a vehicle with room for four suitcases and a child seat. A pre-booked driver knows your flight number and waits if the plane arrives late.
Hire car: on the island, almost always worth it
If you want to see beaches, the Tramuntana and the mountain villages, there is really no getting around a car. Book early, check for full-to-full fuel policy and insurance with no excess, and look at the latest reviews of the pick-up station, not just the daily rate. If you are only staying in Palma, you do not need a car; parking in the old town is the real enemy.
How Reisedrop handles the question after booking
After your hotel booking we do not ask whether you want to buy a transfer, we ask how you are getting to your accommodation in Palma de Mallorca. You see two options side by side: a private transfer you lock in beforehand, and a direct link into the Uber app with your destination pre-filled if you would rather stay flexible. No flood of suppliers, no invented guide prices. Private transfers and rental cars are booked with external providers, and with Uber you are forwarded straight to Uber. Price, availability and booking sit with the respective provider. We are not a partner of Uber and deliberately show no Uber prices.
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