Categorised in:
Port of Soller is a wonderful little village situated in one of Mallorca's most beautiful horseshoe harbours on the west coast. Surrounded by the Tramuntana mountains, this town has the best of both worlds - magnificent mountain scenery and a sea view to boot.
It has not been over-developed in the past and this fact is being taken advantage of now by attempts to turn it into a sophisticated holiday destination. Add to this the proximity of the charming inland town of Soller (5 km away and accessible by vintage tram), and you have the almost perfect place for a vacation.
The bay is lined by a sandy beach with a pedestrianised promenade behind, where you will find cafes, restaurants and shops. Port de Soller still has an air of tradition about it, but there are now several more contemporary places to hang out and sip decent cocktails.
The Jumeirah Group have opened a super-luxury hotel on the hills above Port de Soller, which promotes itself as one of the most luxurious places to stay in Europe, let alone Mallorca. As a result, the town has undergone a bit of facelift, with the sea-front being redeveloped, and the tram line that runs to Soller being re-routed.
Watch this...
History & Culture in Port de Soller
As is the case throughout Mallorca, Port de Soller was originally just a place to moor fishing boats, with the main town of Soller being located a few miles inland to protect residents from sea-faring invaders. The Port started to grow in it's own right in the 19th century when the export of citrus fruits grown in the area became big business.
Port de Soller missed out on the mass tourism developments of the mid 20th century because of its inaccessibility, being hemmed in by mountains. This changed in 1997 when the Soller tunnel was built which allowed a more direct route for visitors to reach this remote spot. Since then, the town has gone from strength to strength in terms of tourism, with a number of good boutique hotels and quality places to eat opening up.
Also see: History of Mallorca, Spain
Events in Port de Soller
Port de Soller has many events throughout the year. The main one is the Fira & Firo in the second week of May, which features the crazy mock battle between invading pirates and the good folk of Soller. Sant Joan on June 23rd and Sant Pere on June 29th are both big festivals. The Lady of Carmen festival on August 15th features a procession of boats in the bay.
There is no market in Port de Soller, so head up to the main town of Soller on a Saturday morning to experience one of Mallorca's best markets.
Hotels in Port de Soller
The Hotel Es Port is a fine choice for those wishing to experience a 17th century mansion set in beautiful gardens and only a stones throw away from the sea. All mod-cons, spa, outdoor swimming pool and tennis courts are available. A more contemporary experience awaits you at the Hotel Aimia, which has a more boutique feel to it, aswell as a spa and fitness room. Many of the bedrooms have sea views.
The Esplendido Hotel is situated right on the beach promenade and offers retro styled bedrooms in a boutique hotel environment. Set further back from the harbour lies Soller Garden which offers individual bungalows set in gardens which may appeal to families on a budget.
The Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel & Spa is now open and promises to be one of the most luxurious hotels on the Island.
For other accommodation options, you may want to have a look at what's on offer in Soller, which is the nearby town and very much part of the same area.
Things to Do in Port de Soller
Behind the beach lies a promenade and the tram line. The promenade is lined with cafes and are popular throughout the day to take refreshments and admire the views. The tram takes you along the beach front and then back up to Soller and is a tourist attraction in itself as well as being a handy mode of transport. Vintage cars from the turn of the 20th century are still in use. Our webcam of the Port de Soller sometimes catches the tram as it tootles by!
Shopping is fairly limited to touristy gift shops and convenience stores. The Port does not have a weekly market, but there is a great market every Saturday up in Soller (take the tram!). The Soller Marine Museum (Oratory of Santa Caterina d'Alexandria) relates information about the role of fishing and the sea to visitors.
The harbour lies in the northern part of the bay and is busy with every type of boat, from fishing vesels to luxury yachts and pleasure cruisers. Port de Soller is the starting point for several boat trips along the coast; the trip to the beauty spot of Sa Calobra is one of the few to run throughout the year. Sailing up or down the coast affords marvellous views of the Tramuntana mountain range and are highly recommended. There are many hidden coves along the coast line, great for snorkelling or diving, or for a spot of private sunbathing. Charter a yacht to get the most out of exploring the coast. Octopus Diving can help you out with diving equipment and excursions. You can also read about our day sailing on a boat from Port de Soller, and also an experience of yacht charter from Port de Soller.
Have a look at our experiences of sailing and beachy activities in our Sea & Beach Reviews.
Port de Soller is also a good base for walks and hiking. A climb of less than an hour brings you to Cap Gros lighthouse for panoramic views of the bay and the mountains behind; a longer path, through rock gardens and olive groves, connects with an old mule track from Deia to Soller. Walks further afield into the Tramuntana mountains are plentiful - to get the most of the area, hire a guide or join an organised hike. Try local companies Mallorca Hiking or Tramuntana Tours.
Read about some of our adventures in and around the Port of Soller, in our Activity Reviews Section.
Beaches in Port de Soller
Port de Soller has the only beach of any note along the entire north west coast - there are actually two - Es Traves is the longest but Playa d'en Repic is the nicest. Both beaches are fairly narrow (at around 10 metres) but the sea is calm and shallow. The original sand was quite muddy but it has been supplemented by gravelly sand from the surrounding area to make it more user-friendly. You can hire sun loungers and canoes on the beach.
Also see: Beaches in Port de Soller, Spain
Restaurants in Port de Soller
A popular restaurant on the promenade behind Repic Beach you'll find Restaurante Es Passeig which serves creative and modern Mediterranean dishes. Agapanto is almost an institution in the Port de Soller. Lying at the end of Repic Beach, it serves refined local cuisine in pretty surroundings with great views of the port. Further out of the Port towards the southern lighthouse is Es Faro (Cap Gros de Moleta, +34 971 631 406). The views back to the bay are unsurpassed - try the local (enormous) prawns if your wallet can stretch that far.
Randemar, in the middle of the promenade, offers more of a chill-out cool vibe, with a bright & contemporary interior, and an Ibiza-esque cocktail terrace and bar. The food ranges from tapas to pizza and grilled local meats - vegetarians are also catered for.
Further along the promenade behind the harbour is the well-liked Kingfisher Restaurant. It calls it's food 'honest cuisine' and that's always a sentiment that we like!
Nautilus is more of a bar/ bistro than a restaurant, but its situation high on the cliffs above the port affords wonderful sunset views. Come for a cocktail on the terrace and watch the sun go down. For something a bit posher, go the Jumeirah Hotel, where they have a selection of bars and restaurants with the most amazing views - book in advance.
The promenade is lined with plenty of other family-friendly restaurants, and all serve up reasonable Mallorcan cuisine, pizza & pastas. One of the best rated restaurants is Sa Barca, a typical Mallorcan restaurant in the centre of the promenade.
We have reviewed several restaurants in the Port, have a look in our Restaurant Reviews page.
Location: Port de Soller
Style
Sight Type: Town/Village
