Palma to Barcelona Ferry

The link between Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona is the busiest ferry route between the Balearic Islands and mainland Spain. Palma is the islands' main port and capital, and Barcelona is the closest major mainland gateway, so this corridor carries heavy year-round traffic in both foot passengers and vehicles. If you are moving between Mallorca and the Catalan coast, this is the workhorse connection.

Year-round overnight sailings

The classic service is the overnight conventional ferry, operated by Baleària, Trasmed and GNV. Ships leave in the evening and arrive early the next morning, letting you sleep through the crossing and save a night's hotel. Crossing times vary a little by operator: GNV sailings run around 7 hours 15 minutes, Trasmed about 7.5 hours, and Baleària roughly 8 to 8.5 hours. Between them the operators offer up to three overnight departures a day on most days of the week, which is exceptional frequency for a Balearic route.

Ships, cabins and vehicles

These are large conventional vessels such as the Abel Matutes (Baleària), the Ciudad de Palma (Trasmed) and the GNV Spirit. They offer private cabins, reclining seats, restaurants, bars and shops, and they carry cars, campervans, motorcycles and freight, which is why the route is a mainstay for both holidaymakers and hauliers. Bringing a vehicle across is straightforward and popular.

Alongside the overnight ships, faster daytime crossings are also available on parts of the year, cutting the sailing time at the expense of cabins. Departure times can move by half an hour to an hour with the season, and the operator mix varies by day, so confirm the exact schedule for your travel date before booking.