Car hire in Palma de Mallorca

Turquoise coves and the Serra de Tramuntana

Palma has a way of winning you over from the very first stroll: a Gothic cathedral that seems to float above the sea, an old town full of stately courtyards and a seafront promenade where life unfolds at its own unhurried pace. But staying in the capital alone means seeing barely a corner of Mallorca. The whole island lies within an hour's drive, and that is where the fun really begins.

With a hire car, Mallorca changes scale entirely. The turquoise coves that fill every photo feed — Formentor, Sa Calobra, Cala Mesquida — have no convenient public transport links, and many are best enjoyed by arriving early, before the tour coaches roll in. The Serra de Tramuntana, a World Heritage Site, is quite simply one of the most beautiful driving roads in Europe.

What's more, the distances work in your favour: from Palma you can reach Valldemossa in around 25 minutes, Sóller in ~35 and Cape Formentor in just over an hour. You can have breakfast opposite the cathedral, lunch in a fishing port and watch the sunset from a mountain viewpoint — all in the same day, with no timetables to answer to.

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Day trips from Palma de Mallorca

Cape Formentor — Mallorca's most famous stretch of hairpin bends: dizzying viewpoints, the pine-fringed beach of Formentor and a lighthouse at the end of the world. From Palma, ~1 h 10 min.
Valldemossa and Deià — Two stone villages clinging to the Tramuntana, home to the charterhouse where Chopin stayed, with hidden coves below. Around 25–35 min from Palma along a mountain road.
Sóller and its port — A valley of orange groves ringed by mountains, a main square with a century-old tram and a horseshoe-shaped harbour for lunch by the sea. ~35 min via the tunnel.
Sa Calobra and the Torrent de Pareis — A legendary descent of tight hairpins down to a cove wedged between 200-metre cliffs. Realistically only reachable by car. ~1 h 15 min from Palma.
Eastern coves: Cala Mesquida and Cala Agulla — White sand, dunes and crystal-clear water around Capdepera, far from the bustle of the Bay of Palma. A drive of ~1 h 10 min.
Santuari de Cura (Randa) — A short, panoramic climb up the sacred mountain of Ramon Llull, with the island's entire plain spread out below. ~35 min from Palma, perfect for a late afternoon.

A perfect day behind the wheel

Coffee and an ensaimada in Palma, pick up the car and head for the Tramuntana along the Valldemossa road.

10h

A wander around Valldemossa: the charterhouse, cobbled lanes and a first viewpoint over the valley before the tour groups arrive.

12h

Take the corniche road to Deià and drop down to Sóller; a turn around the square, then the short hop to the port.

14h

Lunch by the sea in Port de Sóller: catch of the day or a rice dish with views across the harbour mouth.

17:30

A leisurely drive back to Palma and a final golden hour strolling beneath the cathedral, with the car safely parked.

🚦 Driving in Palma de Mallorca — what you need to know

Formentor in summer : access is restricted in July–August during daytime hours: head up early or take the shuttle bus.
Mountain roads : narrow and busy with cyclists: patience and a gentle toot of the horn on blind bends.

Getting around

Within Palma's historic centre, a car is surplus to requirements: the streets are narrow and largely pedestrianised. Leave the vehicle in a public car park near the Parc de la Mar or the seafront promenade and explore on foot.
Save the car for getting out of the city: coves, villages of the Tramuntana and the northern and eastern halves of the island. For the airport-to-centre run or the urban beach at Can Pastilla, public transport works well.
In summer, at popular coves such as Formentor or Sa Calobra, the car parks fill up early: arriving before 10 am is the difference between parking by the sand and having to turn back.

When to go

May to June and September to October hit the sweet spot: mild temperatures for driving the Tramuntana with the windows down, an inviting sea and far fewer crowds than in the height of August. July and August guarantee beach weather, but also busy coastal roads and full car parks. The Mallorcan winter is calm and bright, ideal for village-hopping and almond blossom in February.

Your pick-up

Palma Airport (Son Sant Joan) and offices around the bay.

Final prices in euros · book without paying · free cancellation up to 72 h before.

Frequently asked questions

Is it worth hiring a car if I'm staying in central Palma?

Yes, though perhaps not for every day. Many travellers hire only for their excursion days — the Tramuntana, Formentor, the eastern coves — and explore Palma on foot. That way you use the car when it genuinely transforms the trip.

What sort of car suits the Tramuntana roads?

Something compact and nimble. The roads to Sa Calobra and Formentor are narrow with relentless bends, and a small car is far easier to park in villages and coves. A large SUV there is more hindrance than help.

Is it easy to collect a car on arrival at Palma airport?

Son Sant Joan airport hosts most of the hire desks and sits about 15 minutes from the centre. Booking ahead is essential in summer, when demand across the island soars.

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