Airport arrival · PMI

PMI (Palma de Mallorca) Arrival Guide: The A1 Airport Bus & Taxi

Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) is a big, busy airport close to the city. Arrival is easy and scam-free — take the cheap A1 airport bus or a metered taxi, and you're in the centre in about 15–25 minutes.

2026-08-27

The calm version

Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) is a big, busy airport close to the city (~8 km). Arrival is easy and scam-free — take the cheap A1 airport bus into the centre or a metered taxi, and you’re there in ~15–25 minutes.

Getting to the city

A1 airport bus (Aerotib EMT). Frequent to the centre and port in ~15–25 min for a modest fare — the best value; the A2 serves Playa de Palma/Arenal.
Metered taxi. ~15 min to the centre, honest and on the meter — for luggage, groups, or odd hours.
Rental car. Desks at the terminal — worth it for the island; leave nothing visible when parked.

The small habits that matter

Take the A1 bus for value; use the official taxi rank, not an in-terminal ‘taxi?’ offer.
Pay by card/contactless (universal); choose euros on terminals, use bank ATMs.
If you rent: drive on the right, and leave nothing visible in the parked car at beaches/trailheads.

What it looks like

PMI is a busy but easy Mediterranean arrival — a cheap frequent A1 bus or an honest metered taxi, minutes into the centre, no scams. Take the bus or a taxi and go; the only thing to carry forward is normal crowd/beach pickpocket sense, and — if you rent — an empty parked car.

Do this instead

Take the A1 airport bus or a metered taxi from PMI into Palma — not an in-terminal ride offer. Pay by contactless, choose euros on terminals, and if you rent a car for the island, leave nothing visible when parked. That’s the whole PMI arrival, into a safe island capital.

If something needs sorting

Info / lost item: the terminal is large and well-signed — staff and desks are easy to find.
Card issue: choose euros on terminals; card/contactless is universal.
Onward safety: the Palma city brief covers the mild risks — crowd and beach theft, and party-strip nightlife.

Arrive prepared

The services this guide's advice points to — sorted before you land, not in the arrivals hall.

Airport transfer Welcome Pickups
A licensed, fixed-price driver waiting with your name — the pre-booked ride these guides recommend for late or first-time arrivals.
Pre-book a licensed transfer →
Arrival data Airalo eSIM
Working data the moment you land, so your map, ride app, and this guide all work before you leave the arrivals hall.
Get an arrival eSIM →
Travel insurance SafetyWing
The police report in these guides is for a claim — this is who you claim from. Covers theft, medical, and trip disruption.
Compare travel cover →
Anti-theft gear Anti-theft gear guide
The crossbody bags, RFID sleeves, door alarms, and hidden pockets behind the two-pocket system — what to look for, and where to get it.
See the gear guide →

Some links below are partner links: if you book or buy through them, Arrival Brief may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only list services that match the advice on this page, and money never changes what a brief recommends. More →

Quick answers

How do I get from Palma airport (PMI) to the city centre?

Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI, Son Sant Joan) is about 8 km east of the centre, so getting in is quick. The cheapest option is the A1 airport bus (the Aerotib EMT bus), which runs frequently from outside arrivals to the city centre and the port in about 15–25 minutes for a modest fare — buy a ticket from the machine or driver; the A2 line serves Playa de Palma/Arenal. A metered taxi to the centre takes about 15 minutes and is honest, running on the meter with no haggling. Many visitors rent a car at the airport to explore the island (the rental area is large and busy in summer). There's no arrival scam scene; use the bus or the official taxi rank rather than any unsolicited offer. Pay by card/contactless (universal) or euros, and choose euros on any terminal.

Is the airport bus or a taxi better from Palma airport?

For most visitors the A1 airport bus is the best value — it's inexpensive, runs frequently, and reaches the centre and port in about 15–25 minutes. A metered taxi (or a ride app where available) makes sense if you have heavy luggage, a group to split the cost, an early or late flight, or a hotel awkward to reach by bus — it's honest and on the meter (about 15 minutes to the centre), just pricier. In peak summer the taxi rank can have queues, so the bus is often faster. There are no taxi scams at Palma; use the official rank and ignore anyone soliciting rides inside the terminal. Buy the bus ticket from the machine or driver, pay by contactless, and choose euros on the terminal. If you're renting a car for the island, leave nothing visible in it when parked.

Should I rent a car at Palma de Mallorca airport?

It depends on your plans. Palma city itself is walkable and well served by buses, the metro, and taxis, so you don't need a car for a city-and-beach stay near the capital. But Mallorca is a large, beautiful island — the Tramuntana mountains, Sóller, the coves (calas), and the far coasts — and to explore independently a rental car is worth it, with the desks right at the airport (book ahead in peak summer, when demand is high). If you drive, drive on the right, note that mountain and coastal roads are winding, and — importantly — never leave valuables visible in the parked car at beaches, trailheads, or lookouts, where break-ins are the island's main tourist crime. For a city break, skip the car and use the A1 bus and taxis. Pay by card/contactless and choose euros on any terminal.