Almond blossom in Mallorca by car: a late-winter road trip from Palma (late January to early March)

When and where the almond trees flower

Mallorca's almond trees need fewer than 400 hours of winter cold before they flower, so they bloom early: from the end of January or early February until about mid-March. In 2026 the trees near Palma opened ahead of schedule. A late frost or a windy week can strip a field in days, so when you see a good one, stop then. Almonds spread across the island in the late 19th century, after phylloxera destroyed the vineyards. The best blossom country is the Raiguer, the farmland between Palma and Inca at the foot of the mountains, followed by the plain around Llucmajor and the east around Son Servera.

Late winter, month by month

• Late January - highs around 13 °C, lows near 5 °C, about 10 hours of daylight and some rain on 14 days. First blossom near Palma and the fire festivals.
• February - the heart of the season, highs around 14 °C, rain on about 12 days. The Raiguer and the plain are at their whitest.
• Early March - highs around 15 °C, about 12 hours of daylight. Late blossom in cooler spots and the main orange harvest in Sóller.

Day 1: the almond lanes of the Raiguer

Day 2: the Sóller valley in orange season

Over the mountains, the Sóller valley swaps almond blossom for citrus. The trees are full of fruit by January: the early Navelina comes first, the small, sweet Canoneta is picked in February and March, and most oranges are harvested in March. The season peaks in late March or early April with the Fira de sa Taronja, when the market square is decorated with fruit and restaurants serve orange menus. The fast way in is the Ma-11 tunnel, free of tolls since 2017; the scenic way is the old road over the Coll de Sóller.

Valldemossa and Deià lie on this side of the island too, and in late winter the blossom stands out against the green slopes behind them. The classic Ma-10 drive through both villages is in our Mallorca winter guide, so this route stays on the almond side of the mountains.

Day 3: the plain and the east

Mountain roads in winter

The Ma-10 through the Serra de Tramuntana is open all year, but it is narrow and exposed. When snow fell in January 2023, the Consell de Mallorca closed it from the Lluc monastery to the Ses Barques viewpoint above Sóller (km 20 to 45), plus the road to Sa Calobra, reopening later that day. Before a mountain day, check the Consell de Mallorca road information and weather warnings, and keep a plan B on the plain, where the almond trees are anyway.

January fire festivals

• Sant Antoni, 16-17 January: Mallorca's great night of fire for the patron saint of animals. Sa Pobla, Manacor and Artà hold the most spectacular celebrations, with foguerons (bonfires) and dimonis (demons). In 2027 the eve falls on a Saturday.
• Sant Sebastià, Palma, 20 January: the feast of Palma's patron saint. On the eve, 19 January (a Tuesday in 2027), there are concerts in the squares and bonfires where people toast local produce.
• First Sunday of February: the almond blossom fair in Son Servera; check the programme with the town.

Parking in Palma: ORA blue zones

• Blue lines mark ORA paid parking: Monday to Friday 9:00-14:00 and 16:30-20:00, Saturday 9:00-14:00. Saturday afternoons and Sundays are free.
• The maximum stay is 90 minutes; buy a ticket at the ORA machine or a tobacconist and display it.
• From 1 January 2027 the paid area roughly doubles, from about 12,000 to 24,000 spaces, in neighbourhoods such as Foners, Pere Garau Est and Son Oliva. Read the signs even where parking used to be free.
• Parts of the old town are ACIRE restricted areas behind retractable bollards; do not follow the navigation into them.
• For longer stays, Palma's 16 public underground car parks have about 4,500 spaces.

Driving in Mallorca: what to know

• Speed limits: 30 km/h on town streets with one lane each way, 50 km/h with two or more, 90 km/h on ordinary roads (100 km/h where signed) and 120 km/h on motorways.
• The alcohol limit is 0.5 g/l in the blood, and 0.3 g/l for drivers with a licence under two years old.
• Holding a phone while driving costs 200 euros and 6 points; hands-free is allowed.
• Keep the reflective vest inside the car, not in the boot, and seat children under 135 cm in an approved child seat.