![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_244206235-1eab.jpg\")
\n\t\tSpain has introduced new measures to combat overtourism (Picture: Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tSpain has introduced new measures to combat overtourism (Picture: Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
Spain<\/a> has long since been one of the most popular holiday destinations for Brits.<\/p>\n In fact, British tourists made up the biggest proportion of the record-breaking 94 million tourists Spain welcomed in 2024.<\/p>\n While we\u2019re huge fans of paella and historic landmarks, it seems Spaniards aren\u2019t so impressed with us, complaining of overcrowding and a lack of affordable housing in tourist hotspots.<\/p>\n Several protests have been held by Spanish locals in areas like Barcelona<\/a> and Tenerife<\/a> and, as a result, there have been crackdowns by local authorities<\/a> on tourism<\/a>.<\/p>\n Quite a few new rules have been enforced, so if you\u2019re planning on heading to Spain or the Canary Islands<\/a> for some sun this year, you\u2019ll need to be in the know to avoid unexpected charges or fines.<\/p>\n Full list of Spain tourist rules travellers should know Spain is implementing two new tourist taxes that will impact holidaymakers travelling to different parts of the country.<\/p>\n Tax 1:<\/strong><\/p>\n Where:<\/strong> The Balearic Islands<\/a> \u2013 Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza or Formentera.<\/p>\n When:<\/strong> It\u2019s unclear. The new measures are awaiting approval.<\/p>\n \t\t How much will it cost:<\/strong> Overnight tourist charges could rise from \u00a33.36 to \u00a35.04 per person per night. Rates will vary depending on the quality of your accommodation, with guests at four and five-star hotels paying the most in the months of June, July and August.<\/p>\n This means holidaymakers in luxury accommodation will pay \u00a335.31 per person per week \u2013 a rise of \u00a311.77. Cruise<\/a> ship passengers will be worse off, with overnight charges increasing by 200% from \u00a31.68 to up to \u00a35.04 per person per night.<\/p>\n Exemptions:<\/strong> These charges will be scrapped for tourists who visit in January or February. Children under 16 are also exempt.<\/p>\n Tax 2:<\/strong><\/p>\n Where:<\/strong> Barcelona.<\/p>\n When:<\/strong> By the end of 2025.<\/p>\n How much will it cost:<\/strong> Tourist tax is set to double<\/a>, reaching up to \u00a312.40 per person per night \u2013 again this is dependent on the quality of accommodation.<\/p>\n Currently, the maximum fee is \u00a36.20 for guests in five-star hotels and \u00a34.70 for guests in four-star hotels. Those staying in flats are charged \u00a35.20.<\/p>\n Tourists visiting wider Catalonia<\/a> will be charged between 99p and \u00a34.95 per day.<\/p>\n Exemptions:<\/strong> Children under 16 are exempt.<\/p>\n \t\t Brits are more likely to reach for cash when paying for something on holiday than we are at home, according to\u00a0ABTA Travel Money<\/a>, but if you\u2019re going to\u00a0Spain, you might want to think again.<\/p>\n That\u2019s because the European country is implementing currency changes which could see your bank notes be rejected when you try to buy something.<\/p>\n As of July, if you attempt to use any crumpled or worn \u20ac50 notes, it\u2019s unlikely they\u2019ll be accepted by retailers, due to the central bank\u2019s plans to withdraw damaged notes from circulation to tackle fraud.<\/p>\n Other note values like \u20ac5, \u20ac10 and \u20ac20 should all be fine, but the \u20ac50 is being targeted by banks because its among the most susceptible to counterfeiting and being damaged by anti-theft protection systems at cash points.<\/p>\n Read the full story here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Banned beach items and behaviour<\/p>\n Where:<\/strong> Gran Canaria<\/a>.<\/p>\n Authorities released a new list of banned items on the beaches of Gran Canaria in March, and using any of this contraband on Spanish sand could see you hit with a \u00a32,500 fine.<\/p>\n You can\u2019t:<\/strong><\/p>\n Fines:<\/strong> Breaking these rules means you\u2019ll have to pay authorities \u00a325 to \u00a3629 for a minor infraction, \u00a3630 to \u00a31,258 for a serious infraction, and fines of up to \u00a32,517 for a very serious violation.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not clear what is considered a minor, serious or very serious offence, so don\u2019t risk it.<\/strong><\/p>\n \t\t Where:<\/strong> Mallorca.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a crackdown on walking tours<\/a>, specifically in Palma. New requirements will see tours limited to 20 people per group, which will likely make them more expensive.<\/p>\n But it\u2019s not yet clear how these group numbers will be monitored. These caps don\u2019t apply to the Balearic Islands, so walking tours are still able to accommodate up to 70 people.<\/p>\n A resident\u2019s only area<\/p>\n Where:<\/strong> Mallorca.<\/p>\n The largest of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca, has a destination hailed as a \u2018typical old Mediterranean town\u2019, S\u00f3ller<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re planning on visiting there by car, you\u2019ll need to think twice. Some locals were concerned about the number of tourists, so the council introduced a \u2018residents only\u2019 zone<\/a> blacklisting hire cars from the town centre.<\/p>\n Across 70 hectares of the town, which spans 12 streets, only residents with registered cars will be allowed to drive, with no hire cars \u2013 or cars not registered to the area \u2013 allowed.<\/p>\n According to S\u00f3ller\u2019s councillor for mobility, Pep Porcel, the new policy will ensure that visitors arriving in a car will \u2018leave them parked in the car parks\u2019 to be set up \u2018next to the Desv\u00edo\u00a0road.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t\t\tDiscover Spain’s little-known destinations with Metro\t\t\t<\/p>\n Debunking the \u2018three year\u2019 tourist ban<\/p>\n Where: <\/strong>Malaga<\/a>.<\/p>\n When:<\/strong> January 14, 2025.<\/p>\n A new three-year law introduced in Malaga has been dubbed a \u2018tourist ban\u2019<\/a> by some. The term is misleading \u2013 the law doesn\u2019t ban tourists from anywhere. Instead, it prevents the registration of any new holiday rentals<\/a> across 43 districts in the area.<\/p>\n The measure, introduced by Malaga City Council and Costa del Sol, is expected to last beyond the initial three years, and aims to stop the rise of holiday-rental properties in the most crowded parts of the city and give locals a better chance of finding long-term lets.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t panic, you can still book hotels, Airbnbs and other accommodation as normal.<\/p>\n Where else has introduced the ban:<\/strong> Alicante, Madrid and possibly Seville.<\/p>\n Alcohol ban<\/p>\n Where:<\/strong> Llucmajor, Palma, Calvia (Magaluf) in Majorca and Sant Antoni in Ibiza.<\/p>\n When:<\/strong> 2024.<\/p>\n What:<\/strong> A late night drinks ban<\/a> prohibiting the sale of alcoholic drinks from 9.30pm to 8am the next day was introduced last year.<\/p>\n The ban means you can\u2019t just stock up on drinks before the curfew and continue drinking through the night, as you won\u2019t be allowed to drink on public roads during these times.<\/p>\n And if you\u2019re thinking \u2018fine, I\u2019ll just go to a boat party\u2019, you might have to think again \u2013 under a law passed in 2020, party boats are not allowed to operate within one nautical mile of the designated area.<\/p>\n The crackdowns are an effort to save the popular resort areas from rowdy behaviour induced by excessive drinking.<\/p>\n Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Arrow Arrow
\nTourist tax<\/p>\n![\"Tourists](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/GettyImages-522156676.jpg\")
\n\t\tIf you\u2019re staying overnight in The Balearic Islands, you could get taxed even more (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Eixample](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/GettyImages-2153797124.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe tourist tax in Barcelona is set to double (Picture: Getty Images)
\nCurrency changes<\/p>\n\n
![\"Crowds](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/GettyImages-2088893755.jpg\")
\n\t\tBeach behaviour is being monitored and breaking the rules could cost you (Picture: Getty Images)
\nWalking tour caps<\/p>\n![\"Port](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/GettyImages-899922202_cecf26.jpg\")
\n\t\tSoller, in Mallorca, introduced a residents only area (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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