Puerto de Soller
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Puerto de Soller

Puerto de Soller

Mallorcan port village on a circular bay, reached by vintage rail and tram through Sóller.

Puerto de Sóller sits at the base of a near-perfect circular bay on Mallorca's northwest coast, surrounded on three sides by the Serra de Tramuntana mountains. The port has a small beach, a promenade lined with restaurants and cafes, and a pleasingly unhurried atmosphere that somehow survives the summer crowds.

The best way to arrive is by the vintage narrow-gauge railway from Palma to Sóller town, followed by the old tram that trundles down the valley to the port — slow, scenic, and much more enjoyable than the bus. The mountain road via Valldemossa and Deià, winding above the sea through orange groves and olive terraces, is one of the most beautiful drives in Spain.

From the port you can explore the surrounding valley — the villages of Biniaraix and Fornalutx are both an easy walk or short bus ride away, and the hiking trails into the Tramuntana from here are excellent. In summer, boats run along the coast in both directions.

Guide

Eating Out

The port's restaurants cluster along the promenade and the side streets behind it. Seafood is the default — the day-boat fish are very good here — but the menu del día at the simpler places is excellent value. As with much of Mallorca, the best eating is often in less obvious spots just off the main strip.

Guide

Getting Around

There are three ways of getting from the island capital of Palma to Puerto de Sóller. The first two are by bus, one route called direct or express which goes through the mountains in a tunnel, one via Valldemossa, Deia and Sóller town which gives some glorious views of the north-west coast. The third is by the old steam driven narrow gauge railway to Sóller town and then from immediately outside the station to Puerto de Sóller in an old tram [half hourly in Summer, hourly in Winter.]

There are buses twice a day all year to the mountain villages of Biniaraix and Fornalutx, the latter being one of a few contenders for 'prettiest village in Spain.' In the summer only there is a bus along the coast to the far north-east town of Pollença and numerous boats in both directions along the coast.

Guide

Things to Do

Puerto de Sóller's main pleasures are water-based — swimming in the sheltered bay, taking the boat along the coast — but the mountains directly behind reward hikers with some of the finest trails in the Tramuntana. The port is small enough to walk in minutes but has a character distinct from Sóller town 3km up the valley.