Train Travel in Mallorca: Routes, Tickets & Free Rides
Guide
Mallorca is not all buses and hire cars. The island has a proper train network too, run from the heart of Palma, plus a metro and one of the most famous vintage railways in Europe. Best of all, in 2026 most of it costs nothing to ride. Here is how train travel in Mallorca works, which lines go where, and how to use them.
🚆 Train travel in Mallorca at a glance
There are really three rail systems on the island. The SFM commuter trains run from Palma out into the centre and north of the island. The Palma Metro covers a couple of short city lines. And the historic Sóller train is a separate, privately run vintage railway that is a sightseeing trip in its own right. The first two are modern, cheap and now free with a travel card, while the Sóller train is a paid tourist attraction. Everything except Sóller starts from the same hub beneath Plaça d’Espanya.
📌 Quick answer: trains in Mallorca
- SFM commuter trains run from Palma to Inca, sa Pobla and Manacor.
- The Palma Metro adds two short city lines, including one to the university.
- Both start from the Estació Intermodal under Plaça d’Espanya in Palma.
- In 2026 the SFM trains and metro are free with an Intermodal travel card.
- The vintage Sóller train is separate and paid, a scenic trip rather than transport.
🚉 The SFM commuter trains
The backbone of the island’s rail network is run by SFM, the regional rail operator. Clean, modern trains leave from the underground Estació Intermodal beneath Plaça d’Espanya and head inland, linking Palma with the market town of Inca and continuing to sa Pobla in the north and Manacor in the east. It is a genuinely useful way to reach the interior without a car, whether you are going to the Thursday market in Inca, exploring the wine country, or connecting to onward buses at the bigger stations. Trains run frequently through the day, with services thinning out in the evening.
| Line | Route | Good for |
| T1 | Palma to Inca | Inca market, quickest inland hop |
| T2 | Palma to sa Pobla (via Inca) | The north and Albufera wetlands |
| T3 | Palma to Manacor (via Inca) | The east, pearls and Caves of Drach buses |
🚇 The Palma Metro
Palma also has a small metro, again starting from the Intermodal hub. The most useful line for visitors runs out to the UIB university campus, while a second line serves the suburb of Marratxí. It is more of a commuter service than a tourist one, but it is handy if your hotel or a specific errand sits along the route. Like the SFM trains, the metro is part of the same integrated network and the same free travel scheme in 2026.
🚂 The historic Sóller train
The one train every visitor should know about is the Ferrocarril de Sóller, a beautifully preserved wooden train that has trundled from Palma up and over the Tramuntana mountains to the town of Sóller since 1912. This is not commuter transport: it is a slow, scenic journey through orange groves and mountain tunnels, and it is run privately, so it is a paid ticket rather than part of the free scheme. It is one of the island’s signature experiences, and we cover it in full, including timetables and tickets, in our guide to the Palma to Sóller train.
💶 Tickets and the 2026 free travel scheme
This is the part worth knowing before you travel. For 2026 the Balearic government has kept the SFM trains and the Palma Metro free to ride, the same scheme that covers the interurban buses. You pick up an Intermodal travel card, load it, tap on and tap off, and the fare is waived. It turns car-free exploring of the island into one of the cheapest holidays going. The only rail exception is the Sóller train, which is privately operated and keeps its own (not cheap) tourist fare. For how the wider network and the free scheme work, see our guide to buses in Mallorca.
🧭 How to use the trains
Using the system is straightforward once you know the basics. Everything except the Sóller train runs from the Estació Intermodal, the large underground station directly beneath Plaça d’Espanya, which also handles the island buses, so it is the one place to learn. Check the live times on the tib.org journey planner or the station boards, since evening and Sunday services are reduced. Grab an Intermodal card early to travel free, keep it handy to tap in and out, and remember that the inland stations often connect to local buses for the last stretch to villages and beaches.
- Start at the Estació Intermodal under Plaça d’Espanya for trains, metro and buses.
- Get an Intermodal card to ride the SFM trains and metro free in 2026.
- Check timetables ahead, as evening and Sunday services run less often.
- For the scenic mountain ride, take the separate, paid Sóller train.
🛏️ Where to stay for car-free travel
If you plan to lean on the trains, a base in central Palma near Plaça d’Espanya is ideal, putting the whole network and the buses within a short walk. Our guide to the best areas to stay in Palma helps you choose, and for the rest of your transport see taxis in Mallorca and the car-free day trips guide.
🔄 Combining the train with other transport
The train really comes into its own when you treat it as one piece of a car-free trip. Because the SFM lines, the metro and the island buses all meet at the Estació Intermodal, you can ride a train inland and switch straight to a connecting bus for the final stretch to a village, a beach or a viewpoint. Inca and Manacor in particular act as transport hubs, with buses fanning out to the surrounding towns. Pair the free trains with the free interurban buses and an Intermodal card, and you can cross most of the island for nothing, which is hard to beat anywhere in Europe.
❓ FAQ
Are trains free in Mallorca?
In 2026 the SFM commuter trains and the Palma Metro are free to ride with an Intermodal travel card, the same scheme that covers the interurban buses. The privately run Sóller tourist train is the exception and still charges its own fare.
Where do trains go in Mallorca?
The SFM network runs from Palma to Inca, then on to sa Pobla in the north and Manacor in the east. The Palma Metro adds short city lines, including one to the UIB university. The separate Sóller train climbs over the mountains to Sóller.
Where is the main train station in Palma?
The Estació Intermodal, the large underground station directly beneath Plaça d’Espanya. It is the hub for the SFM trains, the metro and the island buses, so it is the one place to start. The Sóller train leaves from its own nearby station.
Is the Sóller train the same as the regular trains?
No. The Sóller train is a privately run vintage railway and a scenic sightseeing trip, with its own paid ticket. The SFM trains and metro are modern commuter services that are free with a travel card in 2026.
How do I pay for trains in Mallorca?
Pick up an Intermodal card, load it, and tap on and off to ride the SFM trains and metro free in 2026. For the Sóller train you buy a separate ticket at the station or online.
