Update: The “Water Buses for Mallorca” project is currently taking shape.
As recently confirmed by the Mallorca Magazin, a new water bus (“Bus Nàutic”) will indeed operate in the Bay of Palma starting in late 2026 or early 2027. The operators are reported to be a consortium of TUI and MallorcaAventura, and the port authority has already presented details regarding routes and pricing.
Three different lines are planned: one for cruise ship passengers between the West Pier/cruise port and the Escala Reial near the old town and La Lonja; a commuter line for port workers and residents with stops at the West Pier, the Muelle de Golondrinas (“Swallow’s Quay”), and the Escala Reial; and a tourist line along the Bay of Palma with planned stops in Portixol, Cala Estància, Can Pastilla, and s’Arenal, among others. There could also be a connection from Portopí to El Molinar, reports arabalears.cat.
According to current planning, tickets are expected to cost 6 euros for a single journey and 12 euros for a return trip. For locals and employees, discounted multi-trip cards are planned (20 trips for 20 euros, 100 trips for 50 euros), as reported by Mallorca Magazin. Four hybrid catamarans, each with a capacity for approximately 100 people, are to be deployed. Bicycles will be permitted on board, and the vessels will be fully accessible.
What to do when the Paseo Marítimo is overcrowded? An idea from the Port Authority aims to provide relief: just like in Venice, “floating buses” are soon to operate and serve the route between the Portopí lighthouse and Portitxol. Operations are scheduled to start as early as next year.
What has been common practice in the lagoon city of Venice for many years is now to be implemented on the Spanish Balearic island of Mallorca: as mallorcazeitung.es reports, the city of Palma is to have a new means of transport as early as 2026 – a water bus. As announced by the Port Authority, this is intended to relieve traffic on the busy Paseo Marítimo.
The new water bus, which will connect the port with the city, is part of the general redevelopment of the Paseo Marítimo, the report continues. The project is to be tendered by the end of this year; the concession has a term of 15 years, and a total of four electric boats are to be deployed.
Prices for using the water buses are expected to be “moderate”
According to information from the Port Authority, prices are expected to be moderate and similar to those of the EMT buses. Just like there, single tickets, day tickets, and multi-trip tickets will be available on the water as well. It will also be possible to use the water buses with the Tarjeta Intermodal (for Mallorca residents).
As mallorcazeitung.es further reports, the water buses are to run daily every half hour, from 7 am to 10 pm during the week, and even until midnight on weekends. There will be three different lines: one of them will lead to Portixol. And: at the jetty opposite the Auditorium (Muelle de Golondrinas), passengers will be able to switch to environmentally friendly means of transport such as electric bicycles or scooters in the future.
