Why So Many Drivers Get Parking Fines in Palma

Always look down at the road markings. Bus stops, loading zones, and taxi areas are working spaces. Parking there blocks others from doing their job, and they will not be patient with you.

Leaving your car partly on a sidewalk or bike lane may seem polite, but it’s not allowed. Not even with hazard lights on. It blocks people and cyclists and often leads to fines or towing.

6. EV parking spots

Electric vehicle spots are only for fully electric cars. The car must have a visible environmental or zero-emission badge. Hybrid cars are not allowed, even if the spot looks empty. Check for the sign: “excepte vehicles elèctrics en càrrega”.

7. ACIRE zones

You might see cars driving or parking in ACIRE zones and think it’s allowed. Don’t do it. These drivers usually have special permission. ACIRE zones are about access control, not parking and fines here are very common.

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This is the golden rule of parking in Palma and one of the most important things to remember. Always read the signs carefully, including extra signs. A space that is free right now may be reserved very soon, even within a few minutes.

Parking in Palma – What you need to know

Over time, and after many trips to Palma, one thing has become clear: parking here requires attention and patience.

Blue zones
These are paid parking areas with time limits. You must pay during regulated hours and display a valid ticket or use a parking app. Time limits vary by street, so always check the signs.

Green zones
Primarily reserved for residents. Visitors are usually not allowed to park here, or only for a very short time. These zones are best avoided unless clearly stated otherwise.

White zones
Free parking areas. They do exist, but they are rare and usually located far from the city center. Expect competition for these spots.

Public parking garages are often the easiest and safest choice for visitors. They’re well signposted, centrally located, and eliminate time limits and zone confusion. Prices are reasonable compared to fines or towing fees.

A parking garage is the best option if you want peace of mind. There’s no need to keep track of traffic signs or move the car during certain hours, and the cost is predictable.

SMAP

Sociedad Municipal de Aparcamientos y Proyectos manages several car parks in Palma (some open only to residents in the respective areas) but the following are also open to the public.

Parc de la Mar (image)
Comtat del Rosselló
Santa Pagesa
Parc de la Riera
Comte d’Empúries
Manacor
Plaça Major
Via Roma
Marqués de la Sènia
Avingudes ( Avenidas)
Eusebi Estada

Sociedad de Gestión Parkings Palma

Parking de Paseo Mallorca (image)
Parking de Plaza de España
Parking de la Plaza de los Patines

Price: €2,34/hr, maximum cost per day €28,40

More info: https://www.parkingspalma.com/

SABA Aparcamientos
Plza. Porta Sant Antoni
Prices: From €2,95/hr. Possibility to book one or more days at a discounted price.
More info: https://www.saba.es/en/parking-palma-de-mallorca

Passatge Particular de Santa
Catalina de Sena, 3 (next to Mercat de l ́Olivar)
Prices: About 2€/hr or about 24€/day

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2. Zona Azul (Blue Zone) and ORA 👍

“Azul” means blue and, coincidentally, are the blue-marked parking areas in the city that you should stick to, both parking spaces and along the streets. These are chargeable and time-limited.

O.R.A. stands for Operación de Regulación de Aparcamiento – a legal provision whose purpose is to establish the maximum time that can be spent in the parking lots in the city. Since access is limited, the authorities want there to be a “rotation of vehicles”, which means that you can park for a maximum of 2 hours (exception, zone 3-2, where the maximum time is 3 hours).

Zone 2: 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4

Zone 3: 3-2.

The common denominator for these is the fee as well as the time limit. The difference between them is the price you pay per hour, as is well known, the most expensive closest to the center.

More info regarding prices: https://mobipalma.mobi/mobilitat/estacionament/ora/#1463568976523-815ba482-fdbc

Check the map below to see the boundaries of each zone.

Paid parking hours

Monday–Friday
9:00–14:30 and 16:30–20:00

Saturday
9:00–14:30

Sundays and public holidays: Free

Payment

You can easily pay at the parking machines located in each area.

Accepted payment methods:

• Coins: 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, €1 and €2

• mobiAPParc app

• ORA prepaid card (can be topped up with up to €50)

Avoid driving into the ACIRE, zones where permission is required. Also, don’t complicate it by looking for parking space in the alleys or following others who leave their cars in unmarked places. Keep in mind that residents have their own solutions regarding parking permits, rented places, etc.

❗Important:
These zones are about driving access, not parking. Even entering briefly without permission can result in a fine — so always check signs before driving in.

• Payment made for parking within one zone applies to the entire zone. That is, you can move the vehicle and park in another place as long as it is within the same zone.
• Each zone has a code color, Zone 1 = red, Zone 2 = green, Zone 3 = blue
• Within Zone 1, in connection with the payment, you need to enter the car’s license plate number in the parking meter. This will then be visible on the parking ticket.
• Once the parking time has expired, you must move the car at least 250 meters to a new parking space and pay again.
• If you receive a ticket for exceeding the paid parking time, you can cancel it within one hour by paying €6 at the parking ticket machine.
• If you pay a parking fine within 20 days, the amount is reduced by 50%.
• Parking attendants on Palma’s streets are generally friendly and helpful. Don’t hesitate to ask them for assistance — they’re happy to explain how the machines work and answer any parking-related questions.

Accommodation: Where to stay in Palma de Mallorca