Transportation in Palma de Mallorca

Palma's transport is built around three tiers: the bright-blue EMT city buses that spider-web the capital, the vintage wooden Soller train that's half journey-half attraction, and taxis that sit in the "splurge" bracket. First-timers should download the EMT Palma app before they land: it shows live bus positions and lets you buy single or multi-trip QR tickets so you skip the on-board scramble. The buses run on a flat-fare system, cheap enough that locals treat them like pocket change, and the main hubs are Plaça d'Espanya (for Soller train connections) and Avinguda de Gabriel Roca (for beach routes). From the airport, the bright-yellow Route 1 bus is the honest budget play: it runs straight to the city centre in about 20 minutes and costs a fraction of a taxi. Skip the unofficial drivers who hover outside arrivals. The official taxi rank is just beyond baggage claim, and the ride to the old town is short but priced at premium rates. If you're staying west of the centre, note that buses thin out after midnight, plan for a late-night taxi or ride-share if your flight lands in the red-eye hours.