Sóller and Port de Sóller: Autumn Crowds — Buses Packed, Parking Scarce

Autumn, but no end to the wave of visitors

This morning, around 9:30 a.m., I was surprised myself: people with backpacks, racing bikes, and families with strollers crowded at the harbor stop. One would expect October to bring calm. But it does not. In Sóller and Port de Sóller, day visitors and active vacationers continue to pile up — and that causes irritation and a lot of patience.

Fewer parking spaces, more rounds

Since summer new parking spaces have been added, but apparently they are not enough. Those coming by car often drive up and down the same narrow street several times before a gap opens. Locals describe people who are still desperately looking for a space at 11 o'clock. The mood: annoyed. Especially on Carrer de sa Mar (yes, that is the name of the small street in my imagination) the tension is visible in the car windows.

Buses to the limit

Intercity buses (TIB) are often so full that drivers can't take any more passengers — I saw this with my own eyes over the weekend. Then vacationers push forward while commuters have to go to work. I am late, said an older woman with a shopping bag after a bus had left with no more passengers. The atmosphere: a bit chaotic, a bit hectic.

Patience is a local virtue today. Some tourists wait calmly for the next bus, others shout loudly. You can feel it in cafés and on the squares.

Gastronomy and prices

Restaurants and bars are well attended. This pleases operators after many years with fluctuations. At the same time we hear complaints about higher prices — that changes behavior: Many guests pay closer attention, order less, but still stay longer in the town.

Hikers and cyclists complete the picture

In October active holidaymakers are especially out: hikers in trail shoes, cyclists in colorful jerseys, couples with maps in hand. The nice weather and mild temperatures invite it. This brings life to the alleys, but also exacerbates parking and traffic problems.

Locals miss clear solutions. More parking space alone is not the answer, some say: better bus frequencies, more bicycle parking spaces, and targeted guidance for day visitors would help.

My conclusion

Anyone who wants to visit Sóller or Port de Sóller in autumn should plan: come early, check public transport alternatives, or simply take a stroll. For locals the task remains to find ways to make daily life and tourism fit together without crowds. Until then it remains lively — sometimes too lively.