Landing on a holiday island, you have to get from the airport to the hotel, and the choice is between a public bus, a taxi or a driver you booked in advance. The price gap depends heavily on the number of people and the route. We collected published prices for four popular destinations and compare them for a family of four. The airport bus fare in Mallorca comes from the city bus company itself. The other figures are published by a transfer company in its own guides, which is a commercial source, so treat them as examples and check the current price.
What each option means
A public bus or tram is the cheapest per person, but it stops where the line stops and follows a timetable. A taxi leaves when you do, and in most places the meter or a fixed fare decides the price. A pre-booked private transfer has a price you agree before you travel, paid for the car, with a driver waiting in arrivals. For groups, the price per car matters more than the price per person.
The prices at a glance
| Destination | Public transport | Taxi | Private transfer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palma de Mallorca | EUR 5 airport bus, per person | about EUR 28 | EUR 38 for up to 4, EUR 53 for up to 8 |
| Antalya | Havaş EUR 3.90, tram EUR 0.89, per person | EUR 11 to 30 | from EUR 23 for up to 4 |
| Hurghada | shared minibus, price negotiated | EUR 13 | EUR 13 |
| Heraklion, Crete | bus EUR 4, per person | EUR 19 fixed for 1 to 4 | EUR 19 |
The Palma bus fare is on the EMT fares page, which lists the airport single ticket at EUR 5 with no transfer included. Children under 5 travel free with a paying adult. The same page says contactless bank card payment gives group discounts for up to 5 people. All other figures are from Welcome Pickups guides for Palma, Antalya, Hurghada and Heraklion, checked on 10 October 2026. The Palma guide is dated July 2025, so prices may have moved.
Worked examples: a family of four, one way
- Palma: 4 times EUR 5 equals EUR 20 by bus. A private transfer is EUR 38, so EUR 18 more for door-to-door.
- Antalya: 4 times EUR 3.90 equals EUR 15.60 by Havaş. A private transfer from EUR 23 costs EUR 7.40 more.
- Heraklion: 4 times EUR 4 equals EUR 16 by bus. A private transfer or taxi at EUR 19 costs EUR 3 more.
- Hurghada: the guide lists EUR 13 for the taxi and for the private transfer. It states that local taxis are poorly regulated and that the fare depends on time of day and whether the meter is used.
For two people the bus gap grows, for a family of four it nearly disappears. Return trips double each figure.
Palma and Heraklion: the bus in detail
The Palma guide says the A1 airport bus takes about 30 minutes and stops at Plaça d'Espanya, runs from 06:15 to 02:00 in summer and from 06:00 to 01:00 in winter, and has a waiting time of about 12 minutes in summer and 15 to 17 minutes in winter. A taxi is the quicker choice at around 15 minutes. For larger groups the guide lists private transfer prices of EUR 53 for up to 8 passengers and EUR 68 for up to 12. In Heraklion the guide gives the bus as 20 minutes, EUR 4, between 06:00 and 23:00, so after 23:00 only a taxi or private transfer is left.
Antalya: transport options
The guide describes taxis as metered rather than fixed at Antalya, with a night surcharge of about 50% between 00:00 and 06:00. Havaş departures are tied to domestic flight arrivals, so you may wait. The tram costs EUR 0.89 and takes 30 minutes, and the local bus the same price with a longer ride.
Hurghada: no fixed public line
For Hurghada the guide says that several private companies offer shared minibuses to the city centre and resorts, that you need to negotiate the price with the driver and that you may have to wait until the bus is full. Taxis offer fixed-rate fares rather than using the meter. A pre-booked transfer removes the bargaining.
Where tripprice fits
On tripprice you can find transfer providers with vouchers and cashback, such as Welcome Pickups, Kiwitaxi and Holiday Extras. When you compare, check whether the price is per car or per person, whether waiting time after a delay is included and what the luggage rules are.
Step by step
- Count people and large bags.
- Look up the airport bus or tram fare and multiply by the number of travellers.
- Look up the taxi range and compare it with a fixed quote for the same route.
- Compare the private transfer price per car.
- Consider the time of arrival: at night, public transport may not run.
- Book ahead when the gap is small and you land late or with children.