Free walking tours in Sóller and what to see

Must-sees

Sóller lies in a valley enclosed by the mountains of the Serra de Tramuntana, surrounded by orange and lemon groves. Village life revolves around Plaça de la Constitució, with its terraces under the plane trees and the tram passing through. Here stands the church of Sant Bartomeu, with a Modernista façade by Joan Rubió, a pupil of Gaudí. Very close by, the Can Prunera museum occupies a Modernista house and is worth a short visit.

The wooden tram runs down to Port de Sóller, an almost enclosed bay with a promenade, a calm beach and fishing boats. From there you can walk up to the Cap Gros lighthouse. Inland, the cobbled path through the Biniaraix gorge and the hamlets of Biniaraix and Fornalutx show the Majorca of stone and terraces. Another classic is to arrive from Palma on the wooden train that has crossed the mountains since 1912.

Free tours and guided visits

There are few free walking tours in Sóller and they do not run every day. When you find one, it usually covers the centre in a group, paying what you like: the square, the Modernista buildings, the history of the citrus trade with France and the pirate raids that marked the coast.

Paid visits are usually the most interesting. The day trip from Palma combining train, tram and boat is very popular. There are also boat trips from the port to Sa Calobra and the Torrent de Pareis, guided hikes in the Tramuntana and kayak trips along the coast.

How long to spend

One day is enough to see the centre, take the tram down to the port and have lunch by the sea. Two or three days are ideal. That way you can spend a morning in the village and the museum, an afternoon at the port and the lighthouse, and another day walking to Fornalutx or taking the boat trip. If you like walking, add a day for the mountains.

Where to stay

You have two clear options. Sóller centre is convenient if you want to travel by train, have dinner on the square and have the walking routes nearby. There are plenty of small hotels in old houses. Port de Sóller is better if you want a beach, a promenade and sea views, and it is well connected to the centre by tram. The rural estates in the valley are a third option for anyone with a car who wants silence.