Mallorca Hop-On Hop-Off Buses

Mallorca is a very diverse tourist destination, which offers you beach entertainment, fun in the best style of the Mediterranean countryside and above all many stories both in its capital and in the rest of the towns of the island. Therefore, the best things to do in Mallorca are those that know how to combine all these tourist attractions, and the buses that travel through the most interesting points of the island fall into this category.

I invite you to familiarize yourself with everything that has to do with these tourist buses in Mallorca so that you understand how you can take advantage of them in your trip to go from one point to another in an economical, safe and very entertaining way. Remember that the success of a trip lies in the possibility of enjoying every moment of it and just a bus like this one is something that offers you entertainment in those moments that are usually boring and transitory in your tourist planning.

As you can imagine, there are many tourist buses in Mallorca and many of them operate openly to the public, while others are booked in advance through hotels or websites. The truth is that the best of all are those that operate with a hop-on, hop-off system that allows you to see the island's attractions on your own terms. That knowing that another bus of the company will pick you up at the site when you finish your tour.

In the particular case of these buses you have to know that they follow a route very similar to the best tours of Mallorca, since they are about 18 stops approximately that are given in the most iconic corners of Palma, the capital of the island. When I talk about the ups and downs it has to do with the fact that it is a fleet of vehicles that you are entitled to use by paying a daily pass. So you can take advantage of this transport system throughout the day, in a schedule that usually goes from 7 am to 6 pm.

There are 24 and 48 hour tickets, but the usual is that the ticket of approximately 20 euros that works for a whole day is more than enough. Keep in mind that they are labeled as tourist buses due to the fact that on board there are audio guides that tell you the history of the interesting corners of the island such as the Paseo Marítimo of Palma de Mallorca or the Bellver Castle. These are must-see spots in the city if you have a seven-day trip to Mallorca before heading to the northern towns of the island.

Positive aspects of this type of tourist experience is that the audio guides clearly have an option in Spanish and almost always offer you a free cancellation of your purchase if you do it well in advance. There is also the fact that children under the age of 8 ride for free. In addition, there is the fact that in busy tourist seasons the number of buses is doubled so that you don't have to wait more than 20 minutes at each stop for the next bus.

This type of Mallorca sightseeing buses I have been telling you about usually have two routes. Actually, in most of the year they only offer one and this consists of a route that goes through the Plaça del Mercat and also through the Bellver Castle, with stops at the Cathedral of Mallorca and also at the Bullring of Palma de Mallorca. It is a route that focuses primarily on the iconic corners of the city and that is valid for those who want to know them all in one day.

The other route that is usually only added during the summer to offer a variation to the tourist demand is a much shorter one, but at the same time it connects with other truly inaccessible sites of the island if you only go through the historic center of Palma de Mallorca. This route seeks to connect the users of the other route from the Bellver Castle stop with a trip that also takes them to Cala Major. Which is a coastal neighborhood of Palma that is characterized by its beautiful views of the bay.

Keep in mind that the large number of stops of both routes, which can amount up to 25 if both are combined, makes this trip a very complete way to get to know Palma de Mallorca and its tourist attractions. Even if there is only the 18-stop route in the tourist low season, it is still one of the best plans to do in Mallorca during winter or autumn.

One thing to note is that these routes are very urban tours that focus on the architectural essence of Palma. Therefore, it is preferable that you opt for one of these bike tours in Mallorca if you are interested in a more natural route that goes towards the suburbs of Genova or towards the Bendinant Castle area and up to the corners of Palmanova Beach.

As you can imagine, there are several advantages associated to a trip in the tourist buses of Majorca. All of them I am telling you to be able to assure you that this kind of tours are worth it if you are looking for one of those 10 best activities to do in Majorca. Whether during a short, medium or long visit. The first has to do with logistical practicality, since many of the sites on this route are relatively far away from each other.

That means that you will have to use a vehicle to get to them, but in a tourist bus you only have to worry about paying a small amount for the whole day of tours without even knowing what it is like to take a driving wheel. Comfort also goes hand in hand with this point, since these are first class buses in which you have guaranteed internal air conditioning. That to escape the extreme summer heat as well as comfortable seats that allow you to rest between each stop on the route.

The savings factor is another great advantage, as a fare of approximately 20 euros for adults will never come close to what you would pay for several cabs to take you to half of the sites you could visit on a tourist route with these characteristics. In fact, if you wish, you can pay for a 48-hour ticket. This allows you to make the itinerary in a more leisurely way and thus dedicate the whole afternoon of one of the two days to those activities or one-day excursions in Mallorca with children.

Also, something you cannot forget is the audio guide on the bus, as this resource can help you to quickly and easily understand the importance of the sites you are visiting along the route. This is clearly not the case when you are in an expensive private car or even less in a cab.

The duration of these tours is quite subjective, as it all depends on how long you want to stay on the bus. For example, driving the route that includes 18 or 19 stops usually takes about an hour and a half or even 2 hours depending on the traffic and the time of the day you are on the bus. That means that you can easily spend that time on the bus and you will have used it in all its dimensions.

On the other hand, the main distinctive of these buses is the fact that you can get off at all the stops to get to know the area or the nearest specific attraction and then take it again when you feel like it. So you can easily spend 3 or 4 hours on the bus if you add up the time it will take you between stops and the section of the route that you will repeat to return to the site that is closest to your accommodation.

Keep in mind that the schedules of these Mallorca Hop on Hop off buses are another of the great distinguishing features of the experience. In summer they usually start to travel the streets in the early hours of the morning and extend their service until around 6 or 7 at night.

So by paying an admission ticket you will have access to a private transportation system that can take you to all your activities of the day from when it starts until it is almost over. Actually, there are also possibilities of night routes in the summer, but it all depends on the number of tourists.

The route that this type of tourist buses operate is restricted exclusively to the urbanized area of Palma de Mallorca and its main tourist and historical attractions. That means that you could get off at iconic sites such as the Cathedral of Mallorca, the Bellver Castle which is characterized by its peculiar circular structure and the Paseo Marítimo which offers you the best views of the Bay of Palma de Mallorca and also of its harbor and private marinas for luxury yachts.

The Royal Palace of the Almudania, the ramblas and the Plaza Major are other corners that are included in this type of routes. If you wish, you can finish your tour at the stops that are closer to the coast of the city, such as those on the promenade or Cala Major. This is due to the fact that they will leave you a couple of steps away from the docks from where the best boat rides in Mallorca depart. Which can be your activity to say goodbye to your day enjoying a beautiful sunset.

Keep in mind that Palma de Mallorca is one of the most beautiful cities in the Spanish Mediterranean and specifically it is the one with the greatest historical importance in the whole archipelago of the Balearic Islands. So touring this city in all its splendor before starting a trip to the coves or the more rural villages of the island is an excellent idea that I recommend with much enthusiasm and safety.

The average price for a day ticket on these Mallorca sightseeing buses is usually around 20 euros per person. That is a more than convenient rate, as other equally touristy cities often have similar tours for prices double this number. Actually, the cost of renting a private car for a single day would not come close to this figure during the high season either, and that is if you do not count the cost of having to fill up the fuel tank.

This economic saving is favorable, as the fact that children under 8 years old can enjoy the tour completely free allows you to use those funds for other fun things that can be done at another time. In fact, you can use that money the same day on those activities to see or do in Mallorca in the evening. These range from dinner in a restaurant to partying in the bars and nightclubs of the capital.

It is also worth noting that the price of a two-day ticket has minimal variation, costing around 24 to 25 euros. That implies that it is worth the investment of spending a couple of euros more and so you will have much more time to enjoy this transport system without having to worry about speeding up your visit to the tourist attractions on the route.

I have told you about the reference of schedules that are handled for these buses during most of the year, since the most common is that they start to circulate through the streets at about 7 am and stop their routes at 6 or 7 pm. However, the influx of tourists in summer and other seasons such as Christmas means that these transfers can be extended until 8 pm.

Something you have to keep in mind is that it is completely indifferent the time you decide to use these buses, because the fare you pay is fixed and unalterable. That implies that by giving your 20 or 25 euros approximately for your ticket you could ride as many times as you want between that time slot.

So if you feel like doing another activity in the middle of your day like the segway tours in Mallorca you can still continue with this service until the buses close their doors at the end of the working day of the drivers.

The operation of these buses is quite simple to understand and it is actually a formula that has proven successful in all the major tourist destinations on the planet. Basically, it is a fleet of about 10 to 15 buses that leave simultaneously to the streets of the city so that the users who pay their daily fare always have a vehicle at their disposal when they are at some of the stops of the route.

When you get on the bus you will have the audio guide that will tell you all the important details about the area you are passing through and about the monuments you will approach at each of the stops. At times with too many tourists it is also possible to include an English and Spanish speaking guide in the vehicle to favor the interests of users and to make the service stand out among other similar alternatives.

When you get off at some of the stops you have the option to immediately board the next bus that arrives at that point of the route. This service actually has an app that allows you to track the frequency and distance of these vehicles so you know exactly how long you have to wait at each of these stops.

The seats are comfortable, the bus is modern and also has internal air conditioning that can protect you from the unfavorable weather conditions that can be felt in the sunniest days of the Mediterranean summer. It is a disabled access vehicle and there is also a section where you can leave baby strollers if you wish.