Driving and Parking in Mallorca: Essential Apps and Parking Rules for 2026
Getting around Mallorca by car, especially in the busy capital of Palma, is much easier when you know which digital tools to rely on. Below, we have summarised the apps that can be particularly useful in different situations. You will also find an overview of the park-and-ride facilities on the outskirts of Palma, along with a guide to parking regulations in Palma and across the rest of Mallorca.
General Navigation
To find your way around, standard apps remain the most reliable:
- Waze: Highly recommended for Mallorca because of its active user base that reports temporary road closures (common during local festivals/Firas) and mobile speed cameras.
- Google Maps: The most accurate for business hours and finding hidden “Calas” (coves), though it sometimes struggles with the narrow, one-way streets in Palma’s Old Town.
ACIRE Zones (Palma)
If you are driving into Palma City, be careful: The historic centre of Palma has several ACIRE zones (Area de Circulación Restringida or areas with restricted access).
- What this means: Only residents or authorised vehicles can enter. These zones are monitored by cameras that scan license plates.
- The Risk: If you follow your GPS into an ACIRE street without a permit, you will receive an automatic fine (approx. €90).
- Tip: If your hotel is located inside an ACIRE zone, you must give them your car’s license plate number so they can authorise your entry in the municipal system.
ZBE Zone (Sóller)
- As of March 2026, Sóller has implemented a Low Emission Zone (ZBE) and restricted access zones in the town centre to combat congestion.
- Non-registered vehicles, mainly hire cars, are prohibited from entering about 12 main streets.
- Visitors must use the car parks outside this zone.
Best Apps for Parking in Mallorca
These apps are specifically tailored to the infrastructure of Palma and the wider island of Mallorca. They are available on Android and iOS.
MobiPalma
This is the official app from the Palma City Council.
See here for what it offers
- It provides a real-time map of the city showing live traffic conditions. Extremely helpful for avoiding traffic jams.
- Real-time occupancy levels of public car parks. You can see exactly how many free spaces are left in major underground garages before you drive there.
- It also integrates public bus (EMT) and bike (Bicipalma) info if you decide to park and ride.
- Cost: Free of charge.
mobiAPParc
This is the official app for managing the ORA (Blue Zone) parking in Palma.
See here for what it offers
- Instead of finding a ticket machine and carrying coins, you enter your license plate and pay via the app. It allows you to “top up” your time remotely if you’re still at lunch or the beach.
- Note: It generally requires a Spanish or EU license plate to register effectively.
- Cost: Free to download; you pay only the standard parking fees.
Doobl
This is a crowd-sourced app.
See here for what it offers
- A new, collaborative app (launched/expanded in 2026) where users notify the community when they are leaving a street parking spot.
- It uses a “virtual coin” reward system to encourage people to report empty spaces.
- Very useful in residential or high-demand areas where multi-storey car parks are expensive or far away. It helps you find those elusive “free” or unoccupied street spots.
- Cost: Free to use.
ElParking
This is a national Spanish apps that work across many cities, including Palma and the Calvià region (Magaluf/Peguera).
See here for what it offers
- Allows for express entry into many private car parks (the barrier opens automatically via license plate recognition) and street parking payments.
- Great for those who are also travelling to other parts of Spain.
- ElParking is particularly good for booking spaces near Palma Airport or the Port if you are taking a ferry.
- Cost: Free to download; some transactions may carry a small service fee (usually around 10%).
“Park & Ride” on the Outskirts of Palma
Driving and parking in Palma city can be a stressful experience. Luckily, Palma has several dedicated Park & Ride (Aparcaments Dissuasius) car parks designed specifically to keep traffic out of the historic centre. These are ideal for visitors with hire cars because they are generally free of charge, offer large spaces, and are connected to the city centre by fast public transport (Metro or Bus).
Son Fuster Vell
Location: Northeast of the city, just off the Ma-13 motorway.
Best for: Visitors coming from the North (Alcudia, Pollença) or Central Mallorca (Inca).
See here for more info.
- Capacity: ~900 spaces. This is the largest park & ride car park.
- Cost: Free.
- Transport to Centre: Metro: Line M1 (Son Fuster Vell station) takes you to the central Plaça d’Espanya in just 5–7 minutes. Bus: Line 10.
Estadi Mallorca Son Moix
Location: Northwest, near the RCD Mallorca football stadium.
Best for: Visitors coming from the West/Northwest (Andratx, Valldemossa, Sóller).
See here for more info
- Capacity: ~350 spaces. Note: Availability may be restricted on match days.
- Cost: Free
- Transport to Centre: Bus: Lines 6 and 8. The journey to the centre takes about 15 minutes.
Son Sardina
Location: North of the city, near the University (UIB).
Best for: Those staying in the northern rural areas who want a quick “hop” onto the Metro.
See here for more info.
- Capacity: ~50 spaces (Smaller, but very convenient).
- Cost: Free.
- Transport to Center: Metro: Line M1 to Plaça d’Espanya. Bus: Line 12.
Son Gibert
Location: East of the centre, near the Fan Mallorca shopping area.
Best for: Visitors coming from the East (Cala Millor, Manacor, Llucmajor).
See here for more info.
- Capacity: ~125 spaces.
- Cost: Free.
- Transport to Centre: Bus: Lines 3, 27, and 7.
Marivent / Porto Pi
Location: West side of Palma, near the Royal Palace of Marivent.
Best for: Visitors coming from the Southwest resorts (Palmanova, Magaluf, Santa Ponsa).
See here for more info.
- Capacity: ~600 spaces.
- Cost: Free.
- Transport to Centre: Bus: Lines 1, 4, 20, and 30.
Parking Rules in Mallorca
Parking rules in Mallorca are standardised by a colour-coded system painted on the kerbs or road surface. Understanding these “horizontal markings” is the most reliable way to know if you can park and whether you need to pay. If you see Blue Lines on the road, you must pay (usually via mobiAPParc or a machine). Yellow Lines mean no parking at any time. White Lines usually mean free parking.
The Colour-Coding System
| Line Colour | Meaning | Rule for Visitors |
| White | Free Parking | You can park for free without a time limit (unless a vertical sign says otherwise). These are rare in city centres. |
| Blue (ORA) | Paid Parking | You must pay at a nearby machine or via an app (like mobiAPParc). Usually limited to 2 hours. |
| Green | Resident Priority | Primarily for residents. In some areas, visitors can park for a higher fee and shorter time (max 1–2 hours). |
| Yellow (Solid) | No Parking | No parking or stopping allowed at any time. |
| Yellow (Zigzag) | No parking | The area is reserved for special vehicles (e.g. emergency services, buses, etc.) |
ORA (Blue Zones) Rules
The ORA (Ordenanza Reguladora de Aparcamiento) is the regulated parking system in Palma and other major towns (like Manacor or Inca).
- Payment Hours: Usually Monday to Friday (09:00–14:30 and 16:30–20:00) and Saturday mornings (09:00–14:30). Sundays and public holidays are typically free.
- How to Pay: Find the nearest “Parquímetro.” You must enter your license plate number. Many machines now accept contactless cards, or you can use the mobiAPParc app.
- The “Fine Cancellation” Trick: If you find a ticket on your windshield because your time expired, check the machine. You can often pay a small “cancellation fee” (around €6 – €10) at the machine within a specific window (usually 1 hour) to nullify the much larger fine.
VADO Signs
Look out for signs on garage doors that say “VADO” (or Gual in Catalan). These indicate a permanent right-of-way for a garage. Parking in front of a VADO sign will lead to your car being towed almost immediately, even if there are no coloured lines on the road.
Fines & Towing
Parking fines
See here for the steps to take if you have received a parking fine for your hire car.
- Check the ticket for a “cancellation” fee: Many parking meters in Mallorca allow you to pay a small “annulment” fee (roughly €6–€10) within an hour or two of receiving the ticket to cancel it on the spot.
- Pay online promptly: Most municipal fines in Mallorca (like those from Palma or Calvià) can be paid online via the local council website or the DGT website using the reference number on the ticket. Paying within 10–20 days (depending on the municipality) typically reduces the fine by 50%.
- Pay at a local bank: You can often pay in person at major Spanish banks such as CaixaBank, Santander, or BBVA using the barcode on the ticket.
- Show proof at return: Your car hire company will receive a notification from the authorities regarding the fine. If you pay the fine at a bank or online before returning the car, it is therefore important to show the receipt when you return your hire car to avoid the company charging you again.
Note: Even if you pay the fine yourself, the rental company will still charge you an administration fee (often ranging from €25 to €50).
Towing
If your car is towed by the municipal service (la grúa) in Mallorca (particularly in Palma), a small, usually triangular, coloured sticker (often yellow, orange, or blue) is commonly left on the pavement or road at the spot where your car was parked.
Find out more about the process
- What the sticker says: The sticker informs you that your vehicle has been towed and typically provides the phone number of the towing service or the Policía Local. It may also have your license plate number written on it.
- Alternative to the sticker: If there is no sticker, do not assume the car is stolen. In many cases, the police have a record, and you should call the Policía Local (092) or +34 971 22 55 00 for Palma, with your license plate number ready.
- Where to find your car: The car is usually taken to the Depósito Municipal de Vehículos (municipal vehicle depot/pound).
- Costs: Towing fees in Mallorca can be high (often 100€ -150€ or more), plus the parking fine itself.
- Tips: If you have a rental car, contact the rental company immediately, as they will know the procedure, or check your rental agreement for roadside assistance info.