Driving distances and times

Mallorca is smaller than it looks: about 100 km from end to end, and almost everything is less than an hour and a half from Palma. Approximate driving times from Palma, without traffic:

• Airport: 15 min
• Valldemossa: 25 min · Sóller (via the tunnel): 30 min · Deià: 40 min
• Port d'Andratx: 35 min · Es Trenc: 45 min · Santanyí: 50 min
• Alcúdia and Pollença: 50 min · Cap de Formentor: 1 h 15 min
• Manacor: 45 min · Porto Cristo: 55 min · Cala Rajada: 1 h 10 min
• Lluc Monastery: 50 min · Sa Calobra: 1 h 20 min

In July and August allow extra time: the Vía de Cintura ring road, the Ma-13 and the Tramuntana roads get congested, and in the mountain villages parking takes the longest.

The times in the list hold on the main roads: the Ma-13 towards Inca and Alcúdia, the Ma-1 towards Andratx and the Ma-15 towards Manacor. In the Serra de Tramuntana it is another story: on the Ma-10, Andratx to Valldemossa is about 45 km and close to an hour and a half without stops. The road down to Sa Calobra has 26 hairpin bends and, from 10 am to 3 pm, you share it with coaches; if the roadside panel says the car park is full, do not go down.

Some rules change the plan. From 15 May to 18 October, 10 am to 10 pm, you can only reach Formentor lighthouse on the 334 bus, by bike or by taxi. Central Palma is a low emission zone and a car with foreign plates needs prior authorisation; the public car parks in the centre can be reached without it. And since February 2026 Sóller town centre has been closed to visitors' cars: park on the outskirts.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to drive across Mallorca?

It is about 100 km from end to end and, on main roads without traffic, just over an hour. Mountain roads in the Serra de Tramuntana are much slower: allow roughly double the time, plus stops at the viewpoints.

Is it hard to drive in the Serra de Tramuntana?

Not hard, but slow: narrow roads, lots of bends, cyclists and coaches. Take your time, use low gears on the descents and overtake cyclists only where you can see ahead. For Sa Calobra and Formentor, set off early and check for restrictions first.

Can I drive into central Palma with a rental car?

With Spanish plates and a DGT B, C, ECO or 0 label, yes, until the end of 2026; from 2027 B labels are excluded. Foreign plates need a Mobipalma authorisation. The ACIRE streets of the old town are for residents and authorised vehicles only: use a public car park.

Updated in October 2026