Both sides in numbers, with climbing times and the loops we ride
Quick answer
- From Sóller (north side), Coll de Sóller is 8.9 km at 5.3% with 473 m of climbing and a steepest 100 m of 9.5%.
- From the Bunyola side (south), it is 5.0 km at 5.1% with 258 m of climbing and a steepest ramp of 6.2%.
- At a steady 800 m of climbing per hour, the north side takes about 35 minutes and the south side about 19.
- Bikes are not allowed in the Sóller tunnel, so riders take the old road over the col, which carries little through traffic.
- Our Sóller Coastal Loop from Valldemossa is 54.0 km with 1,023 m of climbing and crosses the col from the south.
Coll de Sóller cycling: how hard is the climb?
Coll de Sóller is a medium climb with two very different sides. From Sóller it is 8.9 km at 5.3% with 473 m of climbing; from the Bunyola side it is 5.0 km at 5.1% with 258 m, according to our climb database. Neither side is steep for long. What riders remember is the road itself: an old mountain pass of tight hairpins, stone walls and olive terraces, left almost empty since the tunnel took the through traffic.
The col sits at the southern edge of the Sóller valley, on the old Ma-11 between Palma and Sóller. Most visiting riders meet it as the gateway climb of the west Tramuntana, the one you ride on the way in or out of Sóller rather than the big day of the week. The full figures for each side are on our Coll de Sóller north climb page and south climb page.
Coll de Sóller north and south in numbers
The north side has nearly twice the climbing of the south side and the steeper ramps. The table puts both sides next to the two other cols you usually ride on the same loops from Sóller.
| Climb | Length | Climbing | Average | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coll de Sóller (north, from Sóller) | 8.9 km | 473 m | 5.3% | 9.5% |
| Coll de Sóller (south) | 5.0 km | 258 m | 5.1% | 6.2% |
| Coll d'Honor (from Orient) | 6.2 km | 334 m | 5.8% | 8.9% |
| Coll d'en Bleda (from Sóller) | 4.1 km | 201 m | 4.8% | 7.1% |
Read the two Coll de Sóller rows together. The averages are almost the same, 5.3% against 5.1%, so the difference is length and the steepest ramp: on the north side one 100 m stretch reaches 9.5%, while the south side never goes above 6.2%. You will see other lengths quoted for the north side elsewhere, because guides start the climb at different points in Sóller; ours is the full 8.9 km.
The north side from Sóller
The north side is the harder and better side of Coll de Sóller: 8.9 km at 5.3% with 473 m of climbing. It starts on the main Ma-11 out of Sóller, which is wide and carries tunnel traffic. Just before the tunnel mouth you turn left onto the old road, and from there to the top it is hairpin after hairpin through olive terraces and forest, with very few cars.
How long does the north side take? About 30 to 50 minutes for most riders. Divide the 473 m of climbing by your usual climbing rate:
- 1,000 m per hour: about 28 minutes.
- 800 m per hour: about 35 minutes.
- 600 m per hour: about 47 minutes.
These are our own calculations, not timed results, and they assume no stops. The hairpins break the climb into short pieces, which makes the pace easy to misjudge: ride the first hairpins at the effort you could hold for the full 35 to 45 minutes, not at the effort the next corner invites. The north side faces the valley and much of it is shaded in the morning, which is one more reason to ride it early.
The south side from the Bunyola valley
The south side is the shorter, gentler way up: 5.0 km at 5.1% with 258 m of climbing and a steepest ramp of 6.2%. It is the side you meet when you ride back to Sóller from Bunyola, Orient or Palma, often at the end of a loop. It starts with a few irregular kilometres along the hillside, then settles into wider, smoother hairpins for the second half.
How long does the south side take? About 15 to 25 minutes: roughly 15 minutes at 1,000 m of climbing per hour, 19 at 800 and 26 at 600. With nothing above 6.2%, it is the better side for a first Mallorca col. The catch is the sun. The south side faces the plain and gets warmer from late morning, so on summer afternoons it feels harder than its numbers.
Which side of Coll de Sóller should you climb?
Climb the north side if you want the full Coll de Sóller, and the south side if you want the easier way over. In practice your base decides it. From Port de Sóller or Sóller, a loop that leaves on the north side gives you the long climb on fresh legs in the morning shade. From Valldemossa, Deià or Palma, you normally climb the south side and descend into Sóller.
Think about the descent as much as the climb. Descending the north side into Sóller means many tight hairpins through forest, and our route notes warn that north-facing roads stay damp early in the morning and in winter. If descending is the part that worries you, climb the north side and come down the south, where the bends are wider and the road gets more sun.
Can a beginner ride Coll de Sóller? Yes, from the south. At 5.0 km and never above 6.2%, it is within reach of a fit beginner who rides at their own pace, and an e-bike makes either side comfortable. Our tours offer Trek Domane+ and Charter+ e-bikes for riders who want help on the climbs.
The best Coll de Sóller loops from your hotel
Coll de Sóller works best inside a loop, not as an out-and-back. These are the Coll de Sóller rides in our own route library, with distance and climbing from our GPX files:
- Sóller Coastal Loop, from Valldemossa: 54.0 km and 1,023 m. Over the south side of Coll de Sóller into the valley, then back along the coast over Coll d'en Bleda and Coll Can Costa.
- Valldemossa loop via Coll de Sóller, from Port de Sóller: 60.2 km and 1,089 m. The same three cols ridden from the Sóller end.
- Puig Major & Orient, from Port de Sóller: 98.6 km and 2,055 m. Puig Major first, then the Orient valley and home over Coll d'Honor and the south side of Coll de Sóller.
- Coll de Sóller & Sa Batalla, from Deià: 105.9 km and 1,952 m. The north side of Coll de Sóller, Coll de Sa Batalla and the short west side of Puig Major in one day.
If you have one easy day and want Coll de Sóller in it, ride the Sóller Coastal Loop from Hotel Valldemossa: three short cols, coffee in Deià and the Sa Foradada viewpoint, all in 54 km. If you want the full north side, base yourself in Port de Sóller and start the day with it. Our guide to Puig Major by bike covers the big climb on the other side of the valley, and every route is on our Mallorca routes map.
When to ride Coll de Sóller, and what to watch for
Coll de Sóller can be ridden all year, and spring and autumn are the best seasons. At Palma airport, AEMET's 1981–2010 averages give highs of 19.8°C in April and 23.9°C in October, against 31.2°C in July. In July and August ride it before mid-morning: our route notes carry a heat warning for the loops that use the south side. Our month-by-month guide to the best time to cycle Mallorca has the full picture.
The old road is quiet, not empty. The same route notes flag buses near the viewpoints, fast junctions with the main road, and goats on the road. At the top, the viewpoint looks straight down the Sóller valley, and Ca'n Topa, a café right by the summit sign, is the usual stop; check its hours outside the main season, when businesses in the mountains often close. Fill your bottles in Sóller or Bunyola before you start.
Ride Coll de Sóller with Medfeel
Our Classic Mallorca Bike Short Tour climbs Coll de Sóller from the south on its last riding day, a 71 km, 1,270 m loop from Jumeirah Mallorca in Port de Sóller through Deià and Valldemossa. The tour lasts 5 days with 3 riding days, 330 km and 3,290 m in total, is rated Intermediate with e-bikes available, and starts from €1,250 per person in double occupancy. Flights, travel insurance and meals beyond breakfast are not included; we recommend travel insurance, and cancelling 35 days or more before departure gives a full refund (excluding non-refundable third-party costs). To build a Coll de Sóller day into your own dates, send them through Plan your trip.
FAQ: Coll de Sóller cycling
Can you cycle through the Sóller tunnel?
No. Bicycles are not allowed in the Sóller tunnel on the Ma-11. Cyclists ride the old road over Coll de Sóller instead, which is why the col carries so little through traffic.
Is Coll de Sóller harder than Puig Major?
No. Coll de Sóller from Sóller is 8.9 km with 473 m of climbing, while Puig Major from Sóller is 14.4 km with 815 m. Coll de Sóller has the steeper short ramp, 9.5% against 7.0%, but Puig Major has nearly twice the climbing.
Is the road over Coll de Sóller busy?
Usually not. Most cars and coaches use the tunnel, so the old road over the col is quiet, but you will still meet some cars, buses near the viewpoints and fast traffic where it joins the main road.
Can I ride Coll de Sóller and Puig Major in one day?
Yes. Our Puig Major & Orient loop from Port de Sóller does both in 98.6 km with 2,055 m of climbing, finishing over the south side of Coll de Sóller.
Is Coll de Sóller open all year?
Yes. The road over the col is open all year. In winter the north side stays damp in the shade, so take the descent into Sóller slowly in the early morning.
