Do you need a car in Palma de Mallorca?
Yes — Mallorca is a large island, and Palma alone won't show you what makes it worth visiting. The Serra de Tramuntana villages, the beaches of the north and east coast, and the Drach Caves are all a drive away, and public transport thins out fast once you leave the city. Israeli and other non-EU driving licences are generally accepted on their own in Spain, without a legal requirement for an International Driving Permit — though carrying one is a sensible extra precaution some rental desks still ask for. If you're only staying in Palma's old town for a city-and-beach break, you can manage without a car — but that means missing roughly 80% of the island. For most travelers, a car in Mallorca is essential.
- Rent a car to see Mallorca beyond Palma — the Tramuntana mountain villages, the north and east coast beaches, and the Drach Caves all require your own wheels.
- Israelis and other non-EU visitors don't legally need an International Driving Permit in Spain, but bringing one is a sensible precaution some rental counters still request.
- Palma itself is walkable and well served by buses, the metro, and the historic Sóller train — you can skip the car if you're only staying in the city.
- Driving is on the right, just like in Israel, and Mallorca has no toll roads — but the Tramuntana mountain roads are narrow and winding, so drive them carefully and never at night.
Mallorca is a big island — Palma is just the starting point
Mallorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands, and Palma, on the south coast, is really just your gateway. The city itself is easy to explore on foot, but the island's standout beaches — Cala Millor, Es Trenc, and Cala d'Or — are on the north and east coasts, an hour or more away. The Drach Caves near Porto Cristo and the mountain villages of the Tramuntana are car-dependent day trips. Without your own wheels, you'll see Palma and little else.
The Serra de Tramuntana is the reason to rent a car
The Serra de Tramuntana, a UNESCO World Heritage mountain range running along Mallorca's northwest coast, is dotted with villages like Valldemossa, Sóller, and Deià — each worth a stop for their stone architecture, viewpoints, and cafés. Getting between them by public transport means stitching together infrequent buses; a car lets you string several villages into a single day and stop wherever the view demands it.
No IDP legally required, but bring one anyway
Spain generally accepts a valid Israeli driving licence on its own, alongside a passport, without requiring an International Driving Permit by law. That said, some rental companies in Palma still ask for an IDP as an internal policy, especially at smaller counters or during peak season. Bringing one costs little and removes any risk of a counter argument when you're picking up the car.
Palma itself is easy without a car — buses, metro, and a historic train
Palma is compact and walkable, with a good EMT bus network, a light metro line, and the century-old Sóller train that climbs into the mountains — a scenic trip in its own right. If your plans are limited to the city and its immediate beaches, you can genuinely skip the rental. The moment you want to reach the north coast, the interior villages, or the caves, though, public transport options thin out quickly.
Winding mountain roads and tight city parking
Roads through the Tramuntana, especially routes like the descent to Sa Calobra, are narrow, twisting, and cut into cliffside terrain — drive them slowly, stay alert on blind curves, and avoid them after dark. In Palma, parking is metered in the blue ORA zones and tight in the old town, so a paid garage near your accommodation is usually the easier bet than circling for street parking. Village parking also fills up fast in peak summer season, so arrive early if you're visiting Valldemossa or Sóller midday.
