Via Verda near Artà: Mallorca’s Green Railway Trail

The Via Verda begins in Artà where trains once departed. Today, no tracks lead out of the town; instead, there is a broad compact-gravel path running between fields, gardens, and low hills, past former railway stations and all the way to Manacor. The former railway line belongs to walkers, runners, cyclists, and horse riders; motorized traffic is not permitted on the trail.

Its particular appeal lies less in any single viewpoint than in the steady rhythm of the route. Old railway cuttings, long straight sections, and gentle gradients still recall the days of train travel. Between them, the landscape of eastern Mallorca opens up, with almond and carob trees, vegetable gardens, pastures, and views of the towns along the route.

The complete route between Artà and Manacor is 29 kilometers long, but no one has to cover all of it. Starting from the former railway station in Artà, the Via Verda is easy to use for a short walk, a family outing, or a longer bike ride. Its gentle gradients also make it appealing to anyone who wants to experience Mallorca’s landscape without mountain passes or heavy road traffic.

History and significance

The railway to Artà

1921 saw the first steam train run between Manacor and Artà. The route followed a profile typical of railways: long, open sections, wide curves, and only gentle gradients. These very features still shape the experience of the Via Verda today. Where an ordinary country road would follow the hills more closely, the former railway line runs comparatively evenly through the terrain.

The railway served the towns and rural areas between Manacor and Artà. Former station buildings in Sant Llorenç des Cardassar, Son Carrió, Son Servera, and Artà remain visible stopping points in this history. They give the route its distinctive character: the Via Verda is not merely a purpose-built leisure trail, but a preserved piece of transport history whose course is still shaped by the requirements of the railway.

Closure and decline

Train services ended in 1977. After that, the line lost its original purpose and gradually fell into disrepair. Plans to revive the railway connection did not lead to services resuming. Over the decades, however, the most important feature remained intact: a continuous corridor between the towns, free from the steeper gradients found on many other routes in the east of the island.

This legacy eventually became the basis for a new use: the old railway line was converted into a trail for non-motorized travel. As a result, its historic course remained legible in the landscape even after the tracks and trains had disappeared.

From track bed to greenway

The redesigned route opened as the Via Verda in 2014. Almost 5.000 trees and more than 15.000 shrubs were planted along the corridor, including pines, holm oaks, wild olives, tamarisks, and mulberry trees. Over time, this planting will provide more greenery and shade.

Today, the Manacor–Artà connection is regarded as Mallorca’s railway trail: a place for everyday exercise as well as excursions. Information panels about flora, fauna, and the Natura 2000 network of protected areas draw attention beyond the railway’s history to the cultural landscape of the east. The route therefore tells two stories at once—the story of an abandoned mode of transport and that of a landscape corridor given a new purpose after decades.

What to see

The former Artà railway station

At the northern end of the route, the former Artà railway station is its clearest historical anchor. The station grounds are not simply an arbitrary access point to the trail, but the former terminus of the train connection. A tour can begin or end here with time spent in the town. The station also brings together information about the Via Verda and offerings related to local products and food.

From the station grounds, the trail continues onto the former track bed. Its average width and compact-gravel surface make the former route clearly recognizable. The eye often follows long lines typical of railways. Instead of road traffic, walkers, bicycles, and the occasional horse rider define the scene.

The landscape between Artà and Son Servera

The section south of Artà passes through open countryside where fields, low elevations, and Mediterranean vegetation alternate. Toward Son Servera, there are also views of the coast and the hills of eastern Mallorca. The route remains technically straightforward; its character comes from the alternation between open countryside, planted verges, and traces of the former railway.

In many places, the newly planted trees are not yet dense enough to form a continuous canopy of shade. This is precisely what keeps the views open. In spring, green fields and blossoming almond trees characterize some sections, while later in the year the landscape appears drier and more golden. Panels along the trail explain typical plants, animals, and protected habitats.

Son Servera and Son Carrió

At the former stations of Son Servera and Son Carrió, the history of the connection becomes tangible once again. The station areas divide a longer tour into natural stages and offer opportunities to leave the railway trail for a detour into the towns. A particularly flat section runs between Son Carrió and Son Servera; from parts of the route, views open toward the sea and the coastal resorts near Sa Coma and Cala Millor.

The station buildings make it clear how closely the railway was once connected to the settlements. Today, the towns primarily serve as places to rest and obtain supplies. Anyone who does not want to ride the entire Via Verda can begin or end a partial route here.

Sant Llorenç and the Sa Cova tunnel

Before Sant Llorenç des Cardassar, the route reaches an elevated section overlooking the town. Shortly afterward comes the 59-meter-long Sa Cova tunnel—a small but distinctive relic of the railway line. This short passage interrupts the open straight sections and serves as an immediate reminder that the route was not planned for walkers, but for a railway.

Around Sant Llorenç, the impression changes again: the town, its former railway station, and the farmland beyond each add their own character. Farther toward Manacor, long open stretches dominate, with almond and carob trees, gardens, poultry farms, and pastures. The early Christian basilica of Peretó is also located near the route; particular care is required on the detour because of the busy Ma-15.

Rest areas and railway details

Several rest areas are distributed along the route. Tables, benches, bicycle racks, and waste bins make them useful stage destinations, especially on a longer bike ride. However, the Via Verda is not a continuously serviced promenade; between the towns, it runs through open countryside for long stretches.

The understated railway details in particular deserve a second look: cuttings in the terrain, raised embankments, gentle curve radii, and the consistently low gradient. They explain why the route feels so different from many Mallorcan farm tracks. The former track bed still determines its direction and pace today.

Visiting the Via Verda

By bicycle

The character of the Via Verda is particularly easy to appreciate by bicycle. Depending on pace, the complete 29 kilometers in one direction is said to take around one to two hours of riding time; breaks, visits to towns, and photo stops must be added. Significantly more time and stamina are therefore needed for the return journey. A tour does not have to end in Manacor, however, as the former station towns make suitable turning points for shorter excursions.

The surface consists mainly of compact gravel. Some sections are fine and firm, while others are coarser and looser. A trekking bike, gravel bike, or mountain bike is therefore better suited to the surface than a delicate road bike. There is no through motorized traffic on the actual trail, but roads do cross it. Care is required at these crossings.

Walking and running

From Artà railway station, the Via Verda can also be explored without planning a long tour. Even a walk along the first section conveys its typical profile of a broad track bed, gentle gradient, and open cultural landscape. For walkers, the complete route in one direction is a substantial undertaking; without arranged return transport, a self-selected turning point is recommended.

Runners also benefit from the even alignment. However, the surface is not paved throughout, and the exposed setting can be more strenuous in the sun than the flat profile might suggest. Water and sun protection are therefore sensible preparations even for a seemingly short outing.

Time of day and planning

On warm days, an early start is the most pleasant option because the sun is less intense. In summer, the later hours of the day are also suitable. Midday is less favorable because large parts of the route are exposed and the planted trees do not yet provide substantial shade everywhere.

Fixed opening hours and admission information are not included in the current visitor data. Before a planned tour, you should therefore check whether any current notices apply to individual facilities at the station, rental services, or particular sections of the route. The Via Verda itself is a linear landscape trail, not a conventional visitor attraction with a set circuit.

Getting there and parking

From Palma Airport to Artà

From Palma Airport, the route follows the Ma-15 toward the northeast of the island. Artà is 71 road kilometers away, and the journey takes around 59 minutes. This figure applies to the town of Artà, not to an arbitrary access point along the way. Once in the town, follow signs to the former railway station or the Via Verda.

The Ma-15 is the main road connection toward Manacor and Artà. After arriving, the most practical access point for a tour is at the northern end of the green route by the former railway station. The character of the railway trail begins immediately there, so there is no need for a lengthy search for an access point in the surrounding countryside.

From Palma to Artà

From central Palma, the journey to Artà covers 74 road kilometers. Via the Ma-15, it takes around 66 minutes. Here too, the distance and journey time refer to Artà itself. For the final section to the starting point, follow local signs to the station grounds.

Anyone wishing to travel the complete route in only one direction should plan the return journey in advance. The endpoint near Manacor is not at the old railway station and feels less clearly defined than the station grounds in Artà. For a spontaneous tour, it is therefore often easier to start in Artà and turn around at one of the intermediate towns.

Parking and bus

There is parking beside the entrance to the Via Verda at the former Artà railway station. It is particularly convenient because there is no need to approach via farm tracks or travel a longer distance before reaching the route.

Artà can also be reached by bus. Possible stops in the town include Artà 1, Artà 2, and Mercat d’Artà. From there, the final section to the former railway station is covered on foot through the town. Anyone traveling with a bicycle or planning a one-way trip should check in advance which rules apply to carrying bicycles on the selected service.

Nearby

Artà

Artà is more than the starting point for an active excursion. The former railway station is close enough to the town to combine the tour with a walk through the center, a café break, or a restaurant visit. This is especially pleasant after returning from the direction of Son Servera, when the steady gravel trail gives way once again to streets and squares.

Anyone who only wants to experience a short section of the Via Verda can make their time in Artà the main part of the excursion and add a walk along the railway trail. Conversely, the town makes a peaceful conclusion to a longer tour from Manacor or one of the intermediate stations. The station grounds, with information, local products, and services related to the route, form the transition between countryside and town.

The former station towns

Sant Llorenç des Cardassar, Son Carrió, and Son Servera are more than simple waypoints. Each town provides an opportunity to interrupt the tour, obtain supplies, or create an individual partial route. The linear connection thus becomes a sequence of manageable stages. This structure is particularly valuable for families, as there is no need to decide at the outset exactly how far the ride will go.

In Son Servera, the bike ride can be combined with a short visit to the town; the Església Nova is an obvious destination there. Sant Llorenç also has an inviting center, while the former railway station keeps the route’s historical connection visible. Detailed sightseeing should be planned as additional time rather than treated as incidental stops during a tightly scheduled ride.

Coast and nature in the northeast

From Son Servera, there are connections toward the coast, including the areas around Cala Millor and Sa Coma. A detour changes the character of the tour, however: you leave the protected, flat railway trail and encounter different routes as well as local traffic. For a tour focused purely on the Via Verda, the coast is therefore better treated as a planned extension than as a brief side trip.

North and east of Artà begins the landscape of the Llevant peninsula. Anyone wishing to combine exercise and nature will find additional excursion options there, although they may be very different from the gentle railway trail. The Via Verda is therefore well suited to an easier day during an active stay in Mallorca.