Spain’s latest rules for Brits – bikini bans, beach fines and £85 a day spends
Spain holidays are a summer classic thanks to the glorious weather, the beautiful sandy beaches, the brilliant all-inclusive resorts.
However, if you're planning a trip to mainland Spain, the Canary Islands or Balearic Islands in the coming months, then you'll want to take note of some of the new rules in place for UK tourists.
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From bans on swimwear when you're not at the beach, to limits on how many drinks you can have throughout the day, Spain has been introducing some rules for tourists in recent months as part of a crackdown on rowdy behaviour.
We take a look at the top five rules worth keeping in mind…
Bikini bans
Swimwear is fine on the beach or poolside – but head out to the shops in your bikini, and you could end up being slapped with a fine.
In hotspots such as Barcelona and Majorca, topless men and women wearing bikinis face fines of up to €300 (£253) if they're spotted walking around away from the beach.
This also includes streets adjacent to the beach, so keep shirts and cover-ups on until you hit the sand.
Limiting all-inclusive drinks
If you're heading to Magaluf, El Arenal, Playa de Palma in Majorca, or Sant Antoni in Ibiza, be prepared for new restrictions around what counts as all-inclusive.
Earlier this year, the Balearics government introduced a rule capping all-inclusive drinks at six a day – and only alongside lunch and dinner.
This means three drinks per meal – if you want to have drinks poolside, you'll need to pay extra.
Smoking
Barcelona has a new law making its 10 beaches smoking-free, with fines of up to €30 (£25) for rule-breakers.
Similar smoking bans also apply in other parts of Spain, and the islands. For example, smoking is banned in Majorca at hotspots like Santa Ponsa, La Romana (Paguera) and Carregador (Palmanova).
If you want to smoke, you'll need to go to one of the designated smoking zones – being caught smoking elsewhere could see you facing a fine of up to 2,000 euros (£1,691).
Where you can drink
Boozing on the streets is banned in Barcelona and Madrid, with fines of up to €600 (£507) for those who flout the rules.
In parts of Majorca and Ibiza there are new bans on party boat cruises, all-you-can-drink bar crawls and some drink offers. This includes Magaluf, El Arenal, Playa de Palma in Majorca, and Sant Antoni in Ibiza.
£85-a-day spending
Brits may be required to prove they can spend £85 a day when heading to Spain this summer, to be granted entry into the country.
That doesn't mean you're forced to spend £85 a day; but you'll need to be able to show you have that amount in your account.
The Foreign Office's Spain advice warns Brits that they may need to show proof that they "have enough money for your stay" to visit Spain.
They add that this can include "proof of accommodation for your stay, for example, a hotel booking confirmation, proof of address if visiting your own property (e.g. second home), or an invitation from your host or proof of their address if staying with a third party, friends or family".
For more information on local rules and Covid entry requirements head to the Foreign Office's latest Spain travel advice.
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