Palma Completes Contactless Payment Rollout Across Entire EMT Bus Fleet

Friday, March 13th, 2026

Until recently, using the municipal bus network in Palma required a certain amount of forward planning. Passengers were generally restricted to paying with cash on board, and drivers were often unable to accept any notes larger than €10. This meant that visitors and occasional riders had to ensure they carried small change to board. While ticket machines offered card payments at specific locations, such as the airport, they were not available across most of the city.

The introduction of contactless bank card payments across the entire fleet of the Municipal Transport Company (EMT) marks a significant shift, making bus travel in Palma far more accessible and convenient for everyone.

Significant Savings for Contactless Users

As of March 2026, the move to digital payments also brings a new fare structure designed to incentivise card use. While residents with specific transport passes continue to travel for free throughout 2026, visitors and those without passes now receive a substantial discount simply by tapping their card upon boarding. This is similar to what has been in place on the interurban TIB buses for quite some time.

Route Type	Cash Fare	Contactless Fare	Savings
Airport Routes	€5.00	€3.00	40%
Standard Urban Routes	€2.00	€1.20	40%

In addition to individual savings, the system supports group travel. For groups of up to five people travelling together, the first passenger receives a 40% discount, while companions can benefit from a reduction of up to 60% on their fare.

A Fully Upgraded Fleet

To facilitate this transition, 1,040 new validation machines have been installed across 256 vehicles. To ensure accessibility, readers are located at every entrance, including the rear doors used by passengers with pushchairs or wheelchairs.

According to city transport officials, the process is straightforward: passengers only need to scan their card when entering the bus. There is currently no requirement to “tap off” when exiting the vehicle.

Phasing Out Legacy Tickets

Travellers who frequently visit Palma should be aware of changes to older ticketing formats. As of late January 2026, several traditional ticket types are no longer valid, for example, the pre-paid 10-trip vouchers.

If you have unused journeys on these older tickets, you can claim a refund at the EMT Palma Customer Service office. These refunds are available during morning hours until 31 July 2026, and no prior appointment is required.

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