Car Hire Palma Nova: Do You Need a Car in Mallorca?
Resort · Balearic Islands · Mallorca · Spain
Car hire in Palma Nova is a choice rather than a necessity, and that is worth knowing before you book. The resort sits about 15 minutes by road from Palma de Mallorca airport, which has direct flights from the UK. Neighbouring Magaluf is barely a mile along the coast, and most of the beaches you will want are within walking distance. A car earns its keep once you look further afield: the coves towards Bendinat, the water parks or a run to the ferry port at Palma. You can compare car hire prices on this page, alongside hotel prices, tours and package deals, and decide which mix suits your fortnight.
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- Palma de Mallorca airport is roughly 15 minutes' drive, so pick-up and return are quick.
- Cala Comtessa and Caleta de Bendinat, three miles or so east, are easy short drives.
- Marineland Mallorca and Western Water Park are both within two miles of the resort.
Airports for Palma Nova
Palma de Mallorca (PMI) has direct flights from the UK, including London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted, London Luton and Manchester.
Palma de Mallorca (PMI)
About 15 min by road to the nearest resortdirect flights from the UK
Do you actually need a car
For a beach holiday based in the resort itself, probably not. Platja del Carregador is right in the centre, Son Caliu Beach and Na Nadala are around half a mile away, and Magaluf is only a mile or so along the shore. Many British travellers simply book transfers from Palma airport to Palma Nova as part of a package and walk everywhere else.
A rental starts to make sense if you want variety. Cala Vinyes, Cala Comtessa and Caleta de Bendinat lie between two and three miles out, the Castle of Bendinat and the Naveta Alemany archaeological site are a short hop away, and families heading to Marineland Mallorca or Western Water Park with children and bags may prefer their own wheels to a queue for taxis in Palma Nova. Some visitors hire for just a few days in the middle of the stay rather than the whole week.
Where to collect your car
Palma de Mallorca airport (PMI) is the obvious place to pick up: it is about 15 minutes from Palmanova and 16 minutes from Magaluf, so you can rent a car in Palmanova, Mallorca, the moment you land and be at your hotel shortly after. The comparison on this page lets you set airport collection and see which car rental options in Palma Nova and the wider Mallorca area are available for your dates.
If you would rather settle in first, taking a taxi or a pre-booked transfer to the resort and arranging car hire for later in the week is a sensible alternative. Taxi fares from Palma airport to Palma Nova vary with time of day and luggage, so check the current rate on arrival rather than relying on old figures.
Driving around the Calvià coast
Distances here are short. Everything in the resort's immediate orbit, from Platja de l'Hostalet to the Castle of Bendinat, sits within about three miles, so you will spend more time parking than driving. The port of Palma is around six miles away, while Alcúdia's ferry port is roughly 39 miles, a proper day's outing rather than a quick errand.
The weather shapes how you drive. July and August reach around 32°C, so air conditioning matters, and never leave children or anything heat-sensitive in a parked car. September is the wettest month, with about ten rain days, and October and November are not far behind, so allow for slicker roads if you travel in the shoulder season. May and June, the best months for a visit, offer warm days of 24°C to 29°C and comfortable driving.
Booking tips before you fly
Choose a full-to-full fuel policy where you can: you collect the car with a full tank and return it full, paying only for what you use. With an airport just 15 minutes away, filling up before drop-off is easy to plan.
Read the excess terms carefully and decide in advance whether to buy excess cover, either from the rental desk or separately before you travel, so you are not making the decision at the counter. If you are travelling with young children, reserve child seats when you book, especially during the school holidays, when demand at Palma is at its highest. Whether you search for car hire in Palma Nova, Majorca, or car rental in Palma Nova, Mallorca, the live comparison here shows the options side by side.
Resorts and towns near Palma Nova
Driving times from the nearest airport.
MagalufIlles Balears · 1 mile from Palma Nova
3 sights · 16 min from PMI · on the coast
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Questions people ask
What is the best beach in Palma Nova?
Palmanova beach is actually a group of beaches, and platja del Carregador sits right in the centre of the resort. Son Caliu Beach and Na Nadala are around half a mile away, so you can try several on foot without needing a car.
Which are the best beaches near Palma Nova?
Within a short drive you have Cala Vinyes near Magaluf, about two miles away, plus Cala Comtessa and Caleta de Bendinat, roughly two and a half to three miles east. These smaller coves are where a hire car becomes genuinely useful.
What are the best things to do in Palma Nova?
Beyond the beaches, Marineland Mallorca is just over a mile away and Western Water Park, with its Western Land, Indian Town and El Paso areas, is about two miles. History lovers can visit the Castle of Bendinat and the Naveta Alemany archaeological site.
How long is the transfer from Palma airport to Palma Nova?
The drive from Palma de Mallorca airport to Palmanova takes about 15 minutes, and Magaluf about 16. That short hop applies whether you pick up a hire car, take a taxi or use a package transfer.
Is it easy to get taxis in Palma Nova?
Taxis in Palma Nova are a practical option for short trips, given how close the beaches, Magaluf and the airport are. Fares are set locally and change, so confirm the current rate before you set off.