How to Get Around Mallorca Using Just Buses in 2023

So, you’re thinking of visiting Mallorca but don’t fancy hiring a car? You’re wondering how to get around Mallorca and whether the buses in Mallorca are reliable? Well, you’ve come to the right place!

I, Reanna, visited Mallorca in the Spring of 2023 and had a wonderful time exploring using only public transport. The buses in Mallorca were easy and budget-friendly and I was able to see quite a lot of the Balearic island on the bus in Mallorca.

It’s certainly possible to reach most places by bus in Mallorca, although, depending on the destination, there may not always be a direct bus connection so this is just something to note when planning your trip. Some buses in Mallorca also don’t run that frequently but, I found Google Maps to be quite reliable to find out bus times in Mallorca.

Read on for your full guide on TIB Mallorca, EMT bus Mallorca and how to get from Mallorca airport to Palma using public buses.

Read all about my 5 days spent in Mallorca using only buses here.

Getting a Bus in Mallorca from the airport

How to get from Mallorca airport to Palma

The best way to get from the airport to the centre of Palma is to get a bus. You can do this using the blue A1 EMT bus. For this, you will have to buy a ticket separately on the bus at the airport as tickets cannot be purchased online beforehand. The bus from the airport to Palma costs €5 one way.

To find the airport bus. The bus stops are directly opposite the public arrivals hall and are easy to find. Exit the arrivals hall through one of the doors numbered from 1 to 7. Once outside, aim for the covered walkway, and the EMT buses for Palma City and S’Arenal can be found to the right.

All buses in Mallorca returning to the airport will drop passengers off right outside the departures hall on the upper level.

Note that the buses to and from the airport can only be paid for in cash and not on your debit/ credit card. So be sure to withdraw a little before leaving the airport or bring some with you. I recommend the latter. The ATMs in the airport didn’t offer the best exchange rates and they also charge quite high fees. The buses also only accept smaller notes so if you have any 5 or 10 Euro notes lying around at home these will be perfect!
There is also a second airport bus that runs to the holiday resort of S’Arenal. This is the L21 which also costs €5.

You can find both of the EMT bus routes on their website here.

Where to stay in Majorca (Mallorca) without a car

If you plan on using the busses in Mallorca to explore then I recommend basing yourself in the city of Palma. This is where the central buses in Mallorca go from all over the island. Plus, if you fancy exploring a little bit further afield then you can also get the original train to Soller, a beautiful journey through the mountains on an old school train which used to transport citrus fruit.

If a city break wasn’t what you had in mind then any of the nearby beaches to Palma would also be good options to stay. Think Cala Major, Palma Nova or Magaluf. Each of these beach locations is well connected via the buses in both directions.

Read about our Top 10 Things to Do in Palma here.

Using the TIB Mallorca

The TIB buses are red and yellow and run all around the island. These are the busses that you will want to get around the Mallorca. Do not confuse the TIB buses with the blue EMT buses that run only in Palma.

Tickets on the TIB Mallorca cost as little as €1.80 per trip making it a really inexpensive way to see the city.

You can pay for the TIB bus either before you board online for 40% less than you would on board (!!), on the bus in cash or on the bus with your bank card. If you purchase your ticket online then you can have the advantage that you can make 2 transfers by travelling on 3 different lines (bus, train or metro) with the purchase of your 1 ticket.

If you choose to pay on board try and use a bank card as you can then tap on and off the bus which will make the cost of the overall journey cheaper.

You can also use the same bank card for yourself and up to four other members of your family or friends on a TIB bus Mallorca.

Using the EMT bus Mallorca

The city of Palma has its own bus service run by EMT. These are the blue buses instead of the red and yellow bus Mallorca.

To use these buses you buy your ticket on board but note you can not pay with your bank card, only cash. So, if you want to use these buses make sure you’re carrying some change or small notes with you. Drivers won’t usually accept anything larger than a €10 note. The good news is tickets are very reasonably priced. Single tickets cost €1.50 for most places in Palma to get on line 1 to the port it costs €3.

So… The big question do you need a car in Mallorca or can you just rely on buses in Mallorca?

Mallorca is an incredibly diverse island. Packed full of mountains and farmland, white sand beaches and rocky coves filled with crystal clear water. Each place on the island has its own individual spirit and character, influenced by the local culture and customs of the town.

No two parts of the island are the same, and that is truly the island’s charm and what makes it such a special place to visit. This means that even if you don’t have a car there are still tons of different places that you can visit using only the buses in Mallorca.

Can you go to every spot on the island without a car? No. However, are there many, many trips worth of beautiful places on the island that are perfectly accessible without a car? Absolutely.

If you don’t fancy using public transport but, also don’t want to hire a car then you can get public taxis and Ubers around. Read all about the Ubers on Mallorca here.