Hikes in Sóller

Sóller is not only close to the coast, but also in the Serra de Tramuntana, an imposing mountain range that was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011 and stretches along the northwest coast of Mallorca. The mountains of the Serra de Tramuntana cover an area of more than 1,000 square kilometres. The highest peak here is the Puig Major with a height of 1,445 metres and an impressive view.

At the foot of the Puig Major are two clear reservoirs that drain their water through a canyon. The entire area of the municipality of Sóller and the Serra de Tramuntana has excellent access by roads and hiking trails. The paradise for hikers has nevertheless been spared from mass tourism and is therefore perfect for excursions and activities in the untouched nature.

The administrative seat and centre of the municipality of Sóller is the small town of the same name, which lies three kilometres inland. The district of Port de Sóller with its harbour in an almost circular bay lies directly on the sea. In Sóller you will find the perfect starting point for walks and extended hiking tours. The quite small and manageable town itself is characterised by an eventful history and varied architecture and is therefore worth exploring for a while. Here you will also find tips and answers if you have questions about special hiking tours.

In Sóller there are representative city houses from different eras and buildings of the so-called Catalan Modernisme, a special form of Art Nouveau. On the outskirts of Sóller is the Camp d'en Prohom, Mallorca's only botanical garden with an adjoining natural science museum, where you can get an overview of the island's flora.

Since 1912, the so-called Red Lightning has been running in Sóller, a historic tramway that connects the city and the harbour. The railway was originally used to transport the oranges grown here to the harbour. On your tour of Sóller you should see the wonderful parish church of Sant Bartomeu, the façade of the Banco de Sóller and the magnificent patrician houses. Also worth a visit is Sóller's renovated historic railway station, which has recently been displaying works by Miró and Picasso.

Port de Sóller is also an ideal starting point for hiking tours. Well-maintained hiking trails lead through groves of orange and ancient olive trees. If you walk around the harbour bay on the left, you will have wonderful views of the entire complex and the unreal blue sea. There are ideal round trips, for example via Béns d'Avall or even further to Cala Deià, for which you need to plan a few hours and also have to climb a few metres.

As a starting point for your hikes in the Serra de Tramuntana, you could of course also rent a rustic and island-typical finca outside Sóller with a view of the sea or the mountains. To get a view of one of the most beautiful valleys of the Serra and the harbour, it is worthwhile to hike along various routes.

In the Serra you go through gorges, over barren hills and through wild nature. While hiking, you may come across rare animals such as the Mallorca obstetrician's claw, which was only discovered in 1979, or the harmless cap snake. If you want to hike to the Torrent de Pareis gorge, you should find out beforehand whether it is flowing water.