As Spain’s holiday destinations hit high season again, the country that saw a record-breaking 94 million visitors in 2024 and a wave of anti-tourism protests, is bracing itself for another influx of incomers. In anticipation, Spanish authorities in various cities and municipalities have introduced measures to eliminate unwanted guest behaviours and better balance the needs of tourists and locals. So, what should holidaymakers be aware of before their trip?
Proof of accommodation now obligatory
One big issue to note is that nationwide rules now apply to Spanish accommodation. Visitors without proof of a legal place to stay can be fined over €9,000, so it’s important to have the documents to hand before setting out.
Those staying in hotel or a short-stay rental can meet the requirement by providing a booking confirmation letter or email, but for people staying with friends or family, the situation is trickier. They will now need to ask local police to issue proof of the stay, something hosts can take care of as long as they are a Spanish national, an EU citizen living in Spain, or a non-EU citizen with legal residence.
Accommodation providers will ask for personal data
This is also the first summer season since new rules introduced in December 2024, making accommodation providers responsible for gathering personal data from tourists including:
- Full name
- Gender
- Nationality
- Passport number
- Date of birth
- Home address
- Landline phone number (if you have one)
- Mobile phone number
- Email address
- Details of how the client paid
Noise, clothing, and disrespectful behaviour
Many destinations across Spain’s territory have brought in rules on anti-social, drunken, lewd, or rowdy behaviours. The Balearic island of Mallorca is warning of heavy fines for disrespect including vandalism, street drinking and fighting. Alicante in Valencia has applied similar bye-laws particular around noise pollution, resulting in potential penalties of up to €30,000.
Malaga reminded visitors in 2024 of a series of etiquette norms, including being properly dressed in public, flouting which can result in fines of €750. Similarly, Platja d’Aro, a Costa Bravan bachelor party favourite about 96 km north east of Barcelona has applied fines of between €300 and €1,500 for being “on the public thoroughfare without clothing or only in their underwear or with clothing or accessories representing human genitals or with dolls or other accessories of a sexual nature.”
The penalty for peeing in the sea in nearby Marbella and at the Galician resort of Vigo is €750, while simply setting foot on the beach after midnight and before 7:00 am in cities like Benidorm could see visitors charged between €750 and €1,200. Benidorm is also fining people up to €2,000 for consuming alcohol and smoking cigarettes on the beach.
Unlicensed parties and taxis
Club-goers and party animals should note they could face fines of nearly €30,000 for attending unlicensed events, and it is attendees as well as the person holding the event that can be charged. Even when they are held in private homes and villas, such parties should be properly assessed for safety but often disobey rules on capacity limits, and lack the proper number of exits and trained staff.
There is also a crackdown on how revellers and travellers get to and from their destinations. Anyone found using an unlicensed cab could be penalised to the tune of nearly €600.
With many of these rules new and evolving all the time, it’s worth visitors checking the situation in the destination they are headed to while in the planning stages of their vacation, to avoid any nasty and expensive surprises.
