What is the best bus tour in Mallorca?

For most visitors the best bus tour is the Palma City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off 24-hour ticket, at €27 and rated 4.1 from over 4,800 reviews. It is an open-top loop of 17 stops around the capital with an 8-language audio guide. A bus-and-boat combo (€46) adds a Palma Bay cruise, and the Alcúdia open-top tour (€24) is a separate guided loop in the north.

How much is the Palma hop-on hop-off bus?

The standard 24-hour Palma City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off ticket is €27 per person. The bus-and-boat combo, which adds a 50-minute Palma Bay cruise and a free sangria, is €46. The separate Alcúdia open-top guided tour in the north is €24. A 48-hour Palma ticket is also available.

What is the difference between the bus-only and the bus-and-boat tickets?

The two share almost the same name. The €27 ticket is the bus only: 24 hours of hop-on hop-off on the 17-stop loop. The €46 ticket adds a 50-minute Palma Bay boat cruise and a free sangria, so you see the city from the water as well as the streets. Choose the combo only if the short cruise appeals.

Is there a bus tour in the north of Mallorca, not just Palma?

Yes. The Alcúdia City Tour open-top bus (€24) is a roughly 90-minute guided loop around Alcúdia in the north, with a live guide and hotel pickup, passing the medieval walls, the Roman ruins of Pollentia, and views over Pollença Bay. It is a separate tour from the Palma hop-on hop-off and suits travelers based in the north.

Is the Palma hop-on hop-off bus tour worth it and good for families?

Yes. It is the easiest way to get an overview of Palma without a car and to reach the hilltop sights, and the open top is a hit with children. It is best used as orientation: ride one full loop, then hop off at a few key stops. The upper deck is exposed, so bring sun protection in summer.

Bus Tour Mallorca 2026: Palma Hop-On Hop-Off Compared

Q: How many stops are on the Palma City Sightseeing bus and how long is the loop?

The Palma hop-on hop-off runs a single open-top loop with 17 stops, and a full circuit without hopping off takes about 90 minutes. Buses come roughly every 25 minutes, so you can ride the whole loop for an overview and then hop off at the sights you want, such as Bellver Castle and the old town.

Bus Tour	From	Online Rating	Ticket / Duration	Type	Area	Best For
Our Pick Palma: City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus (24h Ticket) Book Now	€27	⭐ 4.1 (4,819 reviews) Read Reviews	24h (48h option)	Open-top hop-on hop-off	Palma (17 stops)	The classic Palma city bus tour
Palma: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus & Boat Tour Book Now	€46	⭐ 4.0 (330 reviews) Read Reviews	24–48h + 50-min boat	Hop-on hop-off + bay cruise	Palma (17 stops + boat)	Seeing Palma by bus and water
Alcudia: City Tour Open-Top Bus Book Now	€24	⭐ 4.0 (134 reviews) Read Reviews	~90 min	Guided open-top loop	Alcúdia (north coast)	An open-top town tour in the north

Best Mallorca Bus Tour Options

1

Palma: City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus (24-Hour Ticket)

Our top pick and by far the most-booked bus tour on the island, with over 4,800 reviews at 4.1, from €27. This is the classic open-top City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off: a 17-stop loop of about 90 minutes past Palma Cathedral, the Passeig Marítim seafront, Bellver Castle, and the Poble Espanyol, with buses roughly every 25 minutes and an audio guide in 8 languages. The 24-hour ticket (a 48-hour version is available) lets you hop off at any stop to explore and reboard the next bus. It is the simplest way to get your bearings in Palma and reach the hilltop sights without a car, which is why we would start here.

2

Palma: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus & Boat Tour

The same City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus plus a 50-minute Palma Bay boat cruise, at €46, rated 4.0. You get the full 17-stop open-top bus route with the 8-language audio guide, and a separate boat trip that takes in the city, cathedral, and seafront from the water, with a free glass of sangria included. It is the pick if you want to combine the land overview with a short cruise and see Palma from both the streets and the bay in one ticket, though it costs noticeably more than the bus alone.

3

Alcudia: City Tour Open-Top Bus

A different experience in the north, at €24 and rated 4.0: a roughly 90-minute guided open-top bus loop around Alcúdia rather than a hop-on hop-off. With a live local guide and hotel pickup, it runs along the medieval city walls, past the Roman ruins of Pollentia and the church of Sant Jaume, with views over Pollença Bay and the Formentor peninsula and a short photo stop. It suits travelers based in the north (Alcúdia, Port d'Alcúdia, Can Picafort) who want a relaxed sightseeing loop of the old town without driving, rather than the Palma city circuit.

The Palma Hop-On Hop-Off Route and Stops

The Palma City Sightseeing bus runs a single open-top loop, the Red Route, with 17 stops around the capital and a full circuit of about 90 minutes. Buses come roughly every 25 minutes, so you can ride the whole loop in one go for the overview, or hop off and on at the sights that interest you. Here is what the route takes in.

Palma Cathedral (La Seu), La Almudaina and Parc de la Mar: The route runs along the Paseo Marítimo past the great Gothic cathedral, the Almudaina royal palace, and the Parc de la Mar lake, with the old city walls rising above the bay, the signature view of Palma.
Bellver Castle: The bus climbs toward the unique circular hilltop castle, one of the few round castles in Europe, with panoramic views over the city and the bay of Mallorca. It is the most popular hop-off.
Poble Espanyol (Spanish Village): An open-air museum of replica Spanish architecture, another common stop on the loop.
Es Baluard, Plaza de España and the old town: The route skirts the modern art museum set in the Renaissance walls, passes near Plaza de España, and edges the historic center, the starting point for exploring the old town's lanes on foot.
Port of Palma and Porto Pi: The loop also passes the Port of Palma, the western seafront, and the marina district before circling back toward the center.

Because the ticket is valid for 24 hours (or 48 with the longer option), what typically happens is that people ride the full loop once for orientation, then spend the rest of the day hopping off at Bellver Castle, the cathedral, and the old town. The audio commentary plays in 8 languages through provided headphones.

Bus Tour Tickets and What's Included

The Palma bus tours are sold as time-based tickets rather than a fixed departure, so what you are buying is a window of unlimited hop-on hop-off rather than a single ride. Here is how the options differ.

24-hour vs 48-hour bus ticket

The standard ticket gives 24 hours of unlimited hop-on hop-off on the open-top loop from first use, which is plenty for most city stays. A 48-hour option is available if you want to spread the sights over two days. Both include the 8-language audio guide and headphones.

The bus-and-boat combo

The combo ticket adds a 50-minute Palma Bay boat cruise to the same bus route, plus a free glass of sangria, so you see the city from the streets and the water. It costs more (€46 versus €27), so it makes sense if the short cruise appeals; otherwise the bus-only ticket is better value.

The Alcúdia open-top tour

The Alcúdia tour is structured differently: it is a guided, roughly 90-minute open-top loop with a live guide and hotel pickup, not an all-day hop-on hop-off. It covers the northern town rather than Palma, so it is an alternative for travelers based in the north, not a substitute for the Palma city bus.

How Much Is a Bus Tour in Palma de Mallorca?

A bus tour in Palma de Mallorca costs about €24 to €46 per person, and the price reflects the format: a standard 24-hour hop-on hop-off ticket is the cheapest way to cover the city, the bus-and-boat combo costs more for the added cruise, and the Alcúdia open-top tour is a separate guided loop in the north. All are open-top sightseeing rather than a full-day coach excursion. Most people don't realize you are paying for a 24-hour window of unlimited hop-on hop-off rather than a single ride, so the bus only really pays off if you get off at a few sights instead of just looping once.

24-hour bus€27

The standard Palma City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off, 24 hours of unlimited rides on the 17-stop loop with the 8-language audio guide. The most-booked and best value for seeing the city.

Bus + boat€46

The same bus route plus a 50-minute Palma Bay cruise and a free sangria, for seeing the city from the streets and the water in one ticket.

Alcúdia open-top€24

A roughly 90-minute guided open-top loop of Alcúdia in the north, with a live guide and hotel pickup. A different tour, not the Palma city circuit.

For most visitors the €27 24-hour Palma ticket is the best value and the one we would book; the €46 combo is worth it only if the short bay cruise appeals, and the €24 Alcúdia tour is for travelers based in the north rather than an alternative to the Palma bus.

Is the Palma Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Worth It?

For a first visit to Mallorca's capital, we think the hop-on hop-off is worth it, with one condition: use it to actually reach sights, not just to loop once. Here is how it stacks up against the other ways to get around Palma.

Bus vs walking

Palma's old town is compact and genuinely walkable, so for the cathedral, Plaza de España, and the historic lanes you do not need a bus. Where the bus earns its keep is the spread-out sights: Bellver Castle on its hill and the Poble Espanyol are a steep or long walk, and the open-top ride past the Paseo Marítimo and the Port of Palma is an attraction in itself. We would walk the center and let the bus handle the hills and the seafront.

Bus vs taxi

A taxi is faster point-to-point and makes sense for a single trip up to Bellver Castle, but the costs add up across a day of sights, and you lose the open-top views and commentary. The 24-hour bus ticket, at €27, is usually better value than several taxi hops if you are visiting three or more places.

Bus vs rental car

Driving in central Palma is the worst of the options: parking is scarce and expensive, and the one-way old-town streets are stressful. A rental car earns its place for exploring the wider island of Mallorca (the Tramuntana villages, the beaches), not for sightseeing the capital. For the city itself, the sightseeing bus is the easier choice.

Our take: the Palma hop-on hop-off is worth it as an orientation tool and a way to reach the hilltop and seafront sights without driving or paying for taxis, especially on a short stay or a cruise day. If you are only seeing the walkable old town, you can skip it; if you want Bellver Castle, the Poble Espanyol, and the bay, it pays off.

Bus Tours in Mallorca: Summer vs Winter

The Palma sightseeing bus runs year-round, but the experience changes with the season, so it is worth knowing what to expect across the Mallorca calendar.

Summer (roughly May to October)

Buses run most frequently in summer, often every 20 to 25 minutes, with the longest daily operating hours. The trade-off is heat and crowds: the open upper deck is fully exposed, midday is hot, and queues at the busy stops are longest in July and August. Ride earlier or later in the day, and bring a hat, water, and sunscreen.

Winter (roughly November to March)

The bus still operates through winter, but on a reduced timetable with fewer departures and shorter hours, so check the day's schedule. Mallorca's winters are mild, and a clear winter day on the top deck is comfortable and far quieter, with no queues, which many prefer. Pack a layer, as the open deck is breezy, and have a wet-weather backup since a rainy day undercuts the open-top appeal.

Whatever the month, the sightseeing bus is a reliable all-year way to see Palma. We would lean toward late spring or autumn for the best balance of frequent service, comfortable temperatures on the open deck, and thinner crowds than peak summer.

From Our Experience

We've found the hop-on hop-off works best as an orientation tool, not the whole day: ride one full 90-minute loop first to see what Palma has, then hop off only at the two or three sights you actually want, like Bellver Castle and the old town. Treating it as door-to-door transport between every stop means a lot of waiting at the kerb.

Tips for Your Mallorca Bus Tour

Ride the full loop before hopping off: One complete circuit (about 90 minutes) gives you the overview and shows you which stops are worth your time. Then use the second pass to hop off where it counts.
The 24-hour ticket is plenty for most: A single day covers Palma comfortably. Only consider the 48-hour option if you are splitting the city across two days or want a relaxed pace.
Sit up top, but plan for the sun: The open deck is the experience, but it is exposed. Bring a hat, water, and sunscreen, and favour an earlier or later loop in summer when the midday deck gets hot.
Decide if the boat is worth the jump: The bus-and-boat combo is €46 versus €27 for the bus alone. It is good value only if you actually want the 50-minute bay cruise; otherwise stick with the standard ticket.
Staying in the north? Look at Alcúdia: If you are based around Alcúdia or Port d'Alcúdia, the Alcúdia open-top tour with hotel pickup makes more sense than travelling to Palma for the city bus.
Want the full island, not just the city? The hop-on hop-off only covers Palma. For the Tramuntana, the Sóller train, and Sa Calobra, see our Mallorca island tour guide instead.
Sit on the right and skip Stop 1: The sights line up on the right-hand side of the bus, so sit there for the views. The first stop tends to have the longest queue, so board at another stop, and expect buses to arrive full in peak season, which means a wait for the next one.
Use the operator's app or route map for the stops: The stops can be hard to find on the street, so download the route map or app when you book so you know exactly where to catch and leave the bus.
Visiting in September? Our Mallorca in September guide covers the warm, easing autumn, when sightseeing on the open-top bus is far more comfortable than the summer peak.
Check the audio guide and headphones at boarding: Commentary runs in 8 languages through provided headphones; if a set is not working, swap it when you board rather than mid-loop.

Why You Can Trust This Guide

We compared the bookable bus tours in Palma de Mallorca and around the island across GetYourGuide, Viator, and operator websites to build this guide, weighing review volume, ratings, the route and stops, ticket length, what is included, and whether a tour is a true hop-on hop-off or a guided loop, rather than marketing claims. We focus on what actually shapes a sightseeing bus day: how many stops the route has, how often buses run, how long the ticket lasts, whether a boat or audio guide is included, and where the tour operates. We are careful to flag where a tour is an add-on combo or a separate guided loop rather than the standard Palma hop-on hop-off, which matters most when two tickets share almost the same name. Our recommendations are independent. We are not paid to feature any operator, and the comparison reflects the pricing, ratings, and traveler feedback as we found them, so you can book the bus tour that fits your base, your budget, and how much of the island you want to see with confidence.

How We Selected These Tours

The Spain Travel Insider team built this list around what matters most on a Mallorca bus tour: a genuine open-top sightseeing route, an honest picture of the stops and ticket length, clear inclusions on the audio guide, boat, and pickup, and a fit for different bases on the island. Every tour here is a verified, bookable experience with a real volume of recent reviews. We left out tours with thin feedback or unclear inclusions, and we were careful to separate the two near-identically named Palma tickets (the bus-only 24-hour ticket and the bus-and-boat combo) so the difference is clear. We also spread the picks across what travelers actually want: the most-booked Palma hop-on hop-off for the city overview, a bus-and-boat combo for seeing Palma from the water too, and an open-top tour up north in Alcúdia, so there is a fit whether you are based in the capital or on the north coast.

Bus Tour Mallorca: Palma Hop-On Hop-Off & Open-Top Tours Compared 2026

What You Should Know

Bus Tours in Palma de Mallorca

Palma de Mallorca: City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour (24-Hour Ticket)

Best Mallorca Bus Tours: Side-by-Side Comparison

Compare the Most Popular Bus Tours in Mallorca

Book the Most Popular Option Directly

What to Expect on a Palma Bus Tour

Hop on at any stop

The bay and Cathedral

Bellver Castle views

Hop off and reboard

Open-top audio guide

Around in ~90 minutes