The crazy parties of Ibiza, the beautiful beaches of Mallorca, and the intriguing culture of Barcelona are just some of the many reasons why travellers worldwide love to spend their holidays in Spain. However, the country recently introduced many rules and restrictions to curb noise and pollution. So, if you are planning to spend the summer in Spain, then you need to know all the new travel rules that have come up before heading for your holiday.
The Iberian destination has been one of the most visited European countries for some time now, and many people are choosing it to spend their vacation post-reopening of borders. Over 49 million tourists visited Spain in 2022. This huge flow of visitors has created a menace for locals, and to check the same, these new travel rules have been implemented in various parts of Spain post-COVID-19 pandemic.
All the new travel rules in Spain you need to know about
Smoking bans on beaches
Spain is not as smoking-friendly as it was a few years ago. Several smoking bans have been introduced across many popular beaches of the Balearic Islands and all the beaches in Barcelona.
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Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca have “smoke-free zones” on their beaches, with four-metre banners declaring their status. However, a decision on fines has not been taken yet. But, in Barcelona, you could end up paying the penalty for breaking the rules. The “smoke-free zones” have been created to improve the public’s health as well as tackle the pollution created by cigarette butts thrown away on the sand and in the sea. These beaches have with QR codes giving more information regarding the smoke-free zone, reported The Mirror.
Ibiza’s Playa de Santa Eulalia del Río and Playa de Talamanca, Menorca’s Binissafúller and Platja Gran, Mallorca’s Sant Joan, Sa Platgeta, Santa Ponsa, Cala Estància and Cala Sant, and Barcelona’s Barceloneta, Llevant, Sant Sebastià and Mar Bella are some of the many beaches in Spain where smoking is now banned.
Dress code for restaurants
Among the new travel rules in Spain, there is one on attire too. Last year, over 11 restaurants on the island of Mallorca introduced dress codes for diners and put a ban on beachwear to encourage customers to wear appropriate clothing while dining in their establishment. Some banned clothes are swimming trunks, swimming suits (including bikinis and monokinis), tank tops without straps, football jerseys/clothing with football strips and clothes purchased from street vendors.
Book your stay at Nobu Hotel Barcelona via Booking.com
Book your stay at Nobu Hotel Barcelona via Agoda
Restaurant reservations
Your name is no longer enough to make restaurant reservations. Restauranteurs in Spain are facing a lack of diners even after receiving confirmed reservations, leading restaurants to lose out on business. That’s not all, restaurants have been booking tables under fake names at their competitors to drive their business. To curb these issues, last year, it was decided that diners need to give their credit card numbers while making the reservation. If diners fail to show up for their reservations, they will be charged 20 per cent of the average anticipated bill.
Drinking limit at all-inclusive resorts
A new rule has been put in place at all-inclusive beach resorts that will curb liquor consumption to six alcoholic drinks per day. Resorts like Magaluf, El Arenal, Playa de Palma in Mallorca and Sant Antoni in Ibiza have made policies where drinks will be distributed between lunch and dinner, offering only three free drinks per meal. If customers request more alcoholic beverages, they will be billed for it.
Book your stay at Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza via Booking.com
Book your stay at Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza via Agoda
Fine for making too much noise
From this year, authorities in Alicante, a tourist hotspot on Spain’s east coast, will levy a heavy fine if one is found to be making too much noise in the city. The fines could range from EUR 600 (approx. HKD 5,116) to EUR 30,000 (approx. HKD 2,55,834), and the ban includes playing loud music on the beach, scraping furniture during anti-social hours, or even talking too loudly.
Mallorca’s party boats will also be under checks for noise pollution, and police could come and break parties on boats if too much noise is made.
Fine for attending illegal parties
Authorities in the Balearic Islands are now cracking down on attendees and organisers of unlicensed events. They can be issued fines up to EUR 25,000 (approx. HKD 2,13,195) in Ibiza and Mallorca, with police also having the authority to shut down these parties.
(All currency conversions were done at the time of writing the story.)
Hero and feature image credit: Jorge Fernández Salas/Unsplash
Related: How To Eat And Drink Your Way Through Spain’s Most Famous Wine Region
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Answer: Many beaches in Spain have implemented "smoking-free zone", banning smoking to curb pollution.
Answer: Restaurants in Mallorca now require travellers to share their credit card number while making reservations.
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