Barcelona–Palma Ferry

The Barcelona-Palma ferry connects Barcelona on the Spanish mainland with Palma, the principal ferry port on Mallorca. It is one of the main passenger and vehicle routes between mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands.

Route overview: Ferries operate between Barcelona and Palma throughout the year. The route is served by both fast and conventional ferries, allowing passengers to choose between a shorter daytime crossing and longer services with overnight accommodation.

Last checked: 7 September 2026.

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Barcelona-Palma is one of the principal ferry corridors linking mainland Spain with Mallorca. The route carries foot passengers, cars, motorcycles, motorhomes and freight between the Catalan capital and the largest city in the Balearic Islands.

Baleària and Trasmed both operate between Barcelona and Palma. Ferry type and journey time vary between services, with fast ferries providing the quickest crossings and conventional ferries offering a more traditional overnight journey.

The route forms part of the wider Balearic Islands ferry network, which connects Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera with mainland Spain and with each other.

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Operator	Service	Passenger access
Baleària	Fast and conventional ferry services	Foot passengers and vehicles
Trasmed	Conventional ferry services	Foot passengers and vehicles

Operators can use different departure times and vessel types, so passengers should compare the current timetable for their travel date rather than assuming all crossings have the same journey time.

Browse FerryLines ferry operator profiles.

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The crossing time between Barcelona and Palma depends strongly on the type of ferry.

Baleària’s fast ferry service can complete the direct Barcelona-Palma crossing in approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes. Conventional services take considerably longer, with journey times of around seven hours or more depending on the sailing and operating schedule.

Overnight ferries are an alternative for passengers who prefer to travel during the night and arrive on Mallorca in the morning.

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Baleària operates the high-speed Margarita Salas on the Barcelona-Mallorca corridor. The vessel can complete the direct journey between Barcelona and Palma in approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes.

The fast ferry carries passengers as well as cars, motorcycles and bicycles. This makes it possible to combine a relatively short crossing time with the ability to bring a vehicle to Mallorca.

Fast ferry schedules can vary during the year, so the vessel and journey time should be checked for the individual departure.

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Conventional ferries provide a different way to travel between Barcelona and Mallorca. Many services depart in the evening and cross the Mediterranean overnight.

These vessels generally offer more onboard space than high-speed ferries and can include private cabins, reclining seats, restaurants and other passenger facilities.

An overnight sailing can also reduce the practical impact of the longer journey time because passengers travel while they would otherwise be sleeping.

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Cars can be carried on the Barcelona-Palma ferry, making the route particularly useful for passengers who want their own vehicle on Mallorca.

Motorcycles, bicycles, motorhomes and other vehicle types can also be accepted depending on the vessel and booking conditions. Vehicle dimensions should be entered accurately when making a reservation.

Passengers travelling with a vehicle normally need to arrive earlier than foot passengers because vehicles are checked in and assembled in designated port areas before boarding.

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Foot passengers can travel on the principal Barcelona-Palma passenger ferry services. This makes the route an alternative to flying even for travellers who do not need a vehicle on Mallorca.

Boarding arrangements differ from those for passengers travelling with cars. The exact terminal and check-in point should therefore be confirmed from the operator’s travel information before departure.

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Ferries to Palma depart from the Port of Barcelona, one of the largest passenger ports in the Western Mediterranean.

Different ferry operators use different terminals within the port complex. Passengers should check the terminal specified on their booking rather than travelling to a general port entrance.

See the Barcelona ferry port guide for information about ferry terminals, destinations, operators and access to the port.

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Ferries arrive at the Port of Palma on the southern coast of Mallorca. Palma is the island’s principal city and its largest passenger ferry gateway.

The port also has connections with Valencia, Dénia and other Balearic islands, making it an important interchange within the regional ferry network.

See the Palma ferry port guide for more information about routes, operators and access to the port.

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Palma is not the only ferry destination on Mallorca from Barcelona. Ferries also connect Barcelona with Alcúdia on the northern side of the island.

The best arrival port depends on the passenger’s final destination. Palma is convenient for Palma de Mallorca and much of southern and western Mallorca, while Alcúdia can be useful for destinations in the north and northeast.

Alcúdia also has an important inter-island ferry connection with Ciutadella on Menorca.

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Barcelona-Palma is one part of a much larger network connecting mainland Spain with the Balearic Islands. Barcelona also has ferry services to Ibiza and Menorca, while Valencia and Dénia provide alternative mainland gateways.

From Mallorca, passengers can continue through the inter-island network towards Ibiza and Menorca. Ibiza in turn provides the principal ferry connection with Formentera.

See the Balearic Islands ferry guide for an overview of the complete network.

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Facilities vary considerably between fast and conventional ferries. High-speed vessels focus on shorter journey times while still providing seating, food and drink facilities and passenger areas.

Conventional ferries are designed for longer crossings and may offer private cabins, reclining seats, restaurants, cafés, children’s areas and outdoor deck space.

Specific facilities depend on the vessel operating the individual sailing and should be checked when booking.

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Pets can travel on many Barcelona-Palma ferry services. Accommodation varies between operators and vessels and can include pet-friendly seating areas, kennels or designated pet cabins.

Passengers should check the operator’s current pet conditions before travelling, including documentation requirements and restrictions applying to individual animals.

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Barcelona-Palma is an established year-round ferry corridor, although the number and timing of departures can vary between seasons.

Summer is the busiest travel period and demand for both passenger tickets and vehicle space can be considerably higher. Booking ahead can therefore be particularly important for travellers taking cars or motorhomes.

Weather, maintenance and operational changes can affect individual departures and vessel assignments. Passengers should check the current operator timetable before travelling.

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The Barcelona-Palma route directly connects two major nodes in the Spanish ferry network. Barcelona acts as a mainland hub with routes throughout the Western Mediterranean, while Palma is Mallorca’s principal passenger ferry gateway.

Together with Barcelona-Alcúdia and mainland routes from Valencia and Dénia, the corridor gives Mallorca several alternative ferry connections with mainland Spain.

The route therefore forms one of the core links within both the Spanish ferry network and the wider Western Mediterranean ferry network.

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• Barcelona ferry port
• Palma ferry port
• Balearic Islands ferries
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Current route status, crossing times, passenger access and vehicle availability were checked against official ferry operator information. Primary sources reviewed for this update include Baleària and Trasmed.

Departure times, crossing times, fares, operating periods and vessel deployment can change. FerryLines distinguishes active passenger services from seasonal, freight-only, proposed, suspended and discontinued routes.