24 hours in Puerto de Sóller
Trams, Treats & Turquoise Waters
Lucy Hawkins gives you her essential 24-hour guide to Puerto Sóller—ride the vintage tram, dine with a view, unwind in a historic hotel, and explore the coast by private boat.
By Lucy Hawkins
2/5/25
Puerto Sóller is a picturesque coastal village on the northwest coast with a rich history that makes it one of Mallorca’s most iconic destinations.
Under Moorish rule, the lush Sóller valley blossomed thanks to their advanced irrigation techniques, turning it into a hub for citrus groves and olive trees. After the Christian reconquest of Mallorca by King James I of Aragon in 1229, Puerto Sóller became part of the Crown of Aragon.
The port was frequently attacked by pirates. On the 11thMay 1561 the locals successfully repelled a Turkish pirate invasion and the event is still commemorated today in the annual Es Firó festival. In 2025 festivities will begin on the 8th May with the main event taking place on Monday the 12th May.
Due to its isolation from the rest of the island by the Tramuntana Mountains, Sóller and its port relied heavily on maritime trade, particularly with France, which led to some French cultural influence in the area. Sóller exported oranges, lemons, olive oil and almonds to France and imported manufactured goods and textiles from them.
In 1912 the famous vintage tram line (Tranvía de Sóller) was built to connect Sóller town and Puerto Sóller, following the earlier construction of the Palma–Sóller railway.
In the late 20th century the port transitioned from a fishing and commercial harbor to a tourism-focused destination now known for its natural beauty, historic tram, and role as a gateway to the Tramuntana mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
My husband, kids and I wanted to sample what this beautiful part of the island has to offer with a quick, 24 hours in Puerto Sóller.
We drove to Sóller, but you can also get the train from Palma or Bunyola. As we arrived, we thought it only fitting to start our Sóller experience by getting the iconic tram from Sóller down to the port. Located in the heart of the town, the tram station is directly connected to the Sóller railway station. Magnificently, two unique art exhibitions dedicated to Pablo Picasso and Joan Miróare open to the pubic right inside the historic station building and are part of the ‘Tren de l’Art’ initiative. Trams operate regularly throughout the day, with departures approximately every 30 minutes. The service typically runs from early morning until late evening and tickets can be bought at the station or on board the tram.
The journey down to the port is approximately 4.9 km, passing through beautiful countryside; citrus groves and a mountain backdrop. The vintage-style wooden tram carriages are an absolute delight, transporting us not only to the port but to a time when travel was as much about the journey as the destination. My daughters hang out of the windows as we trundle past babbling brooks and wave to people in cars who don’t look as though they’re having nearly as much fun as we are.
We arrive at Puerto Sóller’s picturesque crescent bay with its sandy beaches, glamorous marina and waterfront restaurants. We get off the tram and walk along the kid-friendly promenade to check into our hotel for the night.
Hotel Es Port is a charming 4-star boutique hotel located in the heart of Puerto Sóller. Housed in a 17th-century fortified mansion, the hotel is a tranquil retreat surrounded by 40,000 square meters of lush gardens featuring native vegetation, citrus trees, and an organic vegetable garden.
We were shown to our double room with a rooftop terrace and allowed a split second before the children bolted to the stunning swimming pool. My husband accompanied them while I did some investigative journalism at the spa and discovered a wonderful anti-stress massage.
That evening we took a short taxi ride to restaurant, NENI Mallorca. NENI’s view over the harbour is nothing short of spectacular. Located at the Bikini Island & Mountain Hotel, their menu blends Middle Eastern flavours with Mediterranean influences. We ordered the Balagan tasting menu, allowing the kitchen to select a number of delicious mezze.
A variety of small dishes arrived including creamy hummus, spicy Maghreb lamb, tacos and ceviche followed by stone oven-baked fish. For dessert we had toasted white sesame, homemade muscovado ice cream with caramelized pecans and cheesecake. Each mouthful was a delight and the view was one of the best on the island. NENI is a must.
We arrive at Puerto Sóller’s picturesque crescent bay with its sandy beaches, glamorous marina and waterfront restaurants. We get off the tram and walk along the kid-friendly promenade to check into our hotel for the night.
Hotel Es Port is a charming 4-star boutique hotel located in the heart of Puerto Sóller. Housed in a 17th-century fortified mansion, the hotel is a tranquil retreat surrounded by 40,000 square meters of lush gardens featuring native vegetation, citrus trees, and an organic vegetable garden.
We were shown to our double room with a rooftop terrace and allowed a split second before the children bolted to the stunning swimming pool. My husband accompanied them while I did some investigative journalism at the spa and discovered a wonderful anti-stress massage.
That evening we took a short taxi ride to restaurant, NENI Mallorca. NENI’s view over the harbour is nothing short of spectacular. Located at the Bikini Island & Mountain Hotel, their menu blends Middle Eastern flavours with Mediterranean influences. We ordered the Balagan tasting menu, allowing the kitchen to select a number of delicious mezze.
A variety of small dishes arrived including creamy hummus, spicy Maghreb lamb, tacos and ceviche followed by stone oven-baked fish. For dessert we had toasted white sesame, homemade muscovado ice cream with caramelized pecans and cheesecake. Each mouthful was a delight and the view was one of the best on the island. NENI is a must.
After a fabulous night’s sleep we walked down to the harbour to board our private boat charter. We booked through Perfect Charter who operate out of Palma, Sóller and Pollensa. Our 34ft motor boat, ‘Seanna’, could accommodate up to 10 people and came with a captain called, Santi, which thrilled our Santiago of the Seas cartoon series loving, pirate-wannabe-children.
We sped off out of the marina and then hugged the coast, pulling into caves, spotting jellyfish and waving at sailboats. Mallorca’s rugged coastline, cliffs, hidden coves, secluded beaches and crystal-clear waters are why we were in Mallorca and it filled our buckets to the brim.
We headed out into the open sea and were able to see parts of Mallorca’s Serra de Tramuntana mountain range that are otherwise inaccessible by land.
We arrived at Sa Calobra, famous for its dramatic scenery, especially the breathtaking Torrent de Pareis gorge, which carves its way through the Tramuntana mountains and opens out onto a secluded pebble beach framed by towering cliffs.
Visitors come for the thrilling mountain drive with hairpin bends, but arriving by boat allowed us to drop anchor and jump into the most beautiful turquoise water teeming with fish. We returned to Puerto Sóller’s marina feeling like we had just experienced this part of the island as its absolute best, I highly recommend.
The train and tram combined ticket from Palma to Puerto Sóller costs €40. The tram from Sóller to Puerto Sóller costs €10 each way.
Hotel Es Port - The price for a standard double for 2 adults and 2 children on bed and breakfast basis in low season is €345. Their 60 minute anti-stress massage costs €80.
NENI Mallorca in Port de Sóller - The Balagan tasting menu is €45 per person for the vegetarian version and €49 per person for the meat or fish version.
Perfect Charter - A 3 hour sail on Perfect Charter’s Seanna boat with captain costs €1245 in low season and €1725 in high.
By Lucy Hawkins
2/5/25
After a fabulous night’s sleep we walked down to the harbour to board our private boat charter. We booked through Perfect Charter who operate out of Palma, Sóller and Pollensa. Our 34ft motor boat, ‘Seanna’, could accommodate up to 10 people and came with a captain called, Santi, which thrilled our Santiago of the Seas cartoon series loving, pirate-wannabe-children.
We sped off out of the marina and then hugged the coast, pulling into caves, spotting jellyfish and waving at sailboats. Mallorca’s rugged coastline, cliffs, hidden coves, secluded beaches and crystal-clear waters are why we were in Mallorca and it filled our buckets to the brim.
We headed out into the open sea and were able to see parts of Mallorca’s Serra de Tramuntana mountain range that are otherwise inaccessible by land.
We arrived at Sa Calobra, famous for its dramatic scenery, especially the breathtaking Torrent de Pareis gorge, which carves its way through the Tramuntana mountains and opens out onto a secluded pebble beach framed by towering cliffs.
Visitors come for the thrilling mountain drive with hairpin bends, but arriving by boat allowed us to drop anchor and jump into the most beautiful turquoise water teeming with fish. We returned to Puerto Sóller’s marina feeling like we had just experienced this part of the island as its absolute best, I highly recommend.
The train and tram combined ticket from Palma to Puerto Sóller costs €40. The tram from Sóller to Puerto Sóller costs €10 each way.
Hotel Es Port - The price for a standard double for 2 adults and 2 children on bed and breakfast basis in low season is €345. Their 60 minute anti-stress massage costs €80.
NENI Mallorca in Port de Sóller - The Balagan tasting menu is €45 per person for the vegetarian version and €49 per person for the meat or fish version.
Perfect Charter - A 3 hour sail on Perfect Charter’s Seanna boat with captain costs €1245 in low season and €1725 in high.