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Visitors to Spain will have to remember more than just their passport this year. Here’s what you need to know to stay on the right side of the tourist rules in Spain.
ADVERTISEMENTA warm and sunny climate, 5,000 km of coastline and world-class food and wine – it’s easy to see why Spain continues to be a top destination for tourists from all over the world.In 2024, Spain welcomed a record-breaking 94 million visitors, 10 per cent more than arrived in 2023. International tourists spent approximately €126 billion, accounting for around 13 per cent of the national GDP.But with this influx of tourists came a raft of problems, some of which Spain is trying to rectify in 2025. Following a year marked with high-profile anti-tourism protests, a number of new rules are being brought in or considered in an attempt to balance the needs of the locals with the impact of soaring visitor numbers. With rules being set at multiple levels – some applying nationally and others just in specific towns and cities – navigating these new regulations can be a minefield for visitors. Nevertheless, with some rules attracting fines of hundreds of euros, it’s important to be aware of what to do and expect when planning a trip to Spain this year.What do you need to remember to get into Spain?Spain’s entry requirements for tourists depend greatly on where you’re coming from, how long you plan to stay and why you’re travelling. For visitors from the EU, EEA or Schengen Area, entry is still fairly straightforward. Just a national ID Card or Passport is required, and there’s no limit on the length of stay, although visitors must register if they plan to stay longer than 90 days.For non-EU travellers, which includes the UK, Canada and USA, border checks have been tightened to better control arrivals. Even if you’re only visiting Spain for one day, you’ll need a passport valid for at least three months after your planned departure date, as well as up to five other documents.New for 2025, Spain is now requiring proof of travel insurance at the border for non-EU visitors. You should have a return or onward travel ticket in hand too, as you may be asked to show this.You also need to show you have enough funds to cover the length of your stay in Spain, and proof of your hotel booking. If you plan to stay in your own property, you’ll need a proof of address.For those staying with friends, family or a third party, a ‘carta de invitation’ from the person you’re staying with or proof of their address may be required.If you’re planning a trip to Spain later in the year, be aware that the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is set to come into force in mid-2025. This travel authorisation costs €7 and can be applied for online, lasting for three years following a successful application.What accommodation rules will be in place this year?The Spanish government implemented new restrictions on short-term rentals on 2 January. Any property owner wishing to rent out their house is now required to be registered in a national database and obtain a permit before they can list their property on booking platforms.Accommodation providers are also required to collect sensitive personal information from their guests, including bank details and personal identifiers. Spain has also proposed raising VAT on short-term rentals to match the 10 per cent paid by hotels which, if it happens, could make a stay in the country more expensive.ADVERTISEMENTAirbnb has criticised the move, noting that previous efforts to restrict short-term rentals in other cities have not had the desired effect on overtourism. Travellers are still able to stay in hotels, guesthouses and Airbnbs that were registered before these restrictions came into place, so in the short term, there should be little impact on holidaymakers. However, as visitor numbers continue to grow, the lack of new rental accommodation could see prices begin to inflate in the coming years.Are Airbnbs banned in Spain?Airbnbs are not banned across Spain, but will be restricted in some neighbourhoods. In Malaga, 43 neighbourhoods have been identified where rental apartments exceed 8 per cent of the housing stock. In these neighbourhoods, no new rental properties will be allowed.ADVERTISEMENTBarcelona plans to shut down all 10,000 apartments currently licensed as short-term rentals in the city. Airbnb-style flats will not have their licenses renewed, while new properties will be refused. Barcelona hopes to phase out all short-term tourist lets by 2028.What tourist taxes will you need to pay in Spain?Spain has had forms of a tourist tax in place since 2012, when Catalonia introduced a ‘ecotax’ of €0.60 to €3.50 per night. Now, several cities and regions have implemented a visitor tax, which has to be paid to the accommodation provider, usually at check-in.Barcelona’s tourist tax is one of the fastest rising in Europe, and in 2025 it has been doubled. In early March, the Catalan government signed an agreement allowing Barcelona and other Catalan destinations to raise fees from €3.50 to €7 per night for luxury hotels.Fees are doubling but remaining smaller at less lavish accommodation, with four star hotels attracting a rate of €3.40 per night, up from €1.70. Cruise passengers will be expected to pay €6, up from €3, even if they are just visiting for the day.ADVERTISEMENTOn top of this, Barcelona has a municipal surcharge of €4 per night, which could also be doubled in 2025. This would bring the total cost per night in taxes to €15 for the top end hotels, with VAT added on top. In the Balearics, including Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca, approvals have been granted to raise the overnight charge from €4 to €6 per person, per night. Rates will be highest for those holidaying in peak periods (June, July and August) and at the most luxurious hotels.The Canary Islands are also mulling a tourist tax in the wake of multiple protests last year. The town of Mogan on Gran Canaria was the first to take a step, introducing a €0.15 fee per person, per day, in January. Elsewhere in Spain, Santiago de Compostela and Toledo are introducing new tourist taxes in 2025, with fees ranging between €1 and €2.50 per person per night. ADVERTISEMENTThe bad behavior that could get you fined in SpainAside from the confusing taxation and rental rules, some Spanish towns have some pretty unusual rules about tourist behaviour.Boozing bans in Barcelona and the BalearicsCracking down on drunken disruption, Barcelona will ban pub crawls in the historic Eixample district from 1 June. Pub crawls have already been banned in the city’s old town – the Ciutat Vella district – since 2012, and that particular prohibition will remain in force until at least 2028.In the Balearics, alcohol consumption has been restricted in all major resorts since May 2024. The rules apply in Llucmajor, Palma and Calvia (Magaluf) in Mallorca as well as San Antonio in Ibiza. Alcohol consumption on the street is banned, and shops are not allowed to sell alcohol between 9.30 pm and 8 am. Breaking these rules could see fines of €750 to €1,500 for disruptive behaviour or as much as €3,000 for the most serious offences.ADVERTISEMENTTourist driving ban in MallorcaHiring a car is set to get more difficult too, as visitors will be required to provide the same information to hire firms as they do to hotels. Some firms are allowing visitors to fill in the required forms before arriving to speed up the process, but remember to take a valid ID with you when collecting your vehicle.The town of Soller in Mallorca has moved to ban tourists from driving in the town centre with its new low emission zone. Covering 12 historic streets and some 70 hectares of the municipality, the rule means only residents’ cars will be allowed to circulate.Visitors driving non-registered vehicles, such as hire cars, will be asked to park in newly-created parking spaces, on the edge of the historic town centre.Bans on beach gazebos and tentsTorrox, a popular destination on the Costa del Sol, is banning beach tents, gazebos and similar structures from being set up on the beach. Approved by local councils on 24 February, the rule aims to increase safety in the town.ADVERTISEMENTCouncilors explain that such structures take up space, create noise and block the view of lifeguards trying to protect swimmers. They could also get in the way of emergency services trying to access the beach.Torrox first made headlines in 2014 when it became the first municipality in Malaga to issue fines for beachgoers who tried to reserve spots by leaving deckchairs, umbrellas, or personal belongings unattended.Smoking in Spain could light up a fineOver recent years, Spain has cracked down on smoking heavily. Although smoking indoors has been banned since 2011, several outside spaces also have restrictions that visitors should be aware of.Barcelona was the first major city in Spain to ban smoking on beaches, but more than 100 other beaches in the country have since imposed bans.ADVERTISEMENTOn the Balearic islands, 28 beaches are now smoke-free zones. In Ibiza, these include Playa de Santa Eulalia del Río and Playa de Talamanca; in Mallorca, it includes Sant Joan, Santa Ponsa, Cala Estància and several others; and in Menorca, smoking is banned at Binissafúller and Platja Gran.Elsewhere in Spain, 53 beaches in Andalucia, 61 beaches on the Canary Islands and 18 beaches in the Costa del Sol have all been declared smoke-free. In Costa Blanca, one in four beaches has banned smoking.In addition to traditional smoking, a recent rule change has seen vaping banned in several locations. Ten beaches in Barcelona and 28 in the Balearic Islands have banned the use of vapes.Peeing in the sea could cost you more than your dignityWhatever your stance on urination in the ocean, Spain is keen to stop it happening.ADVERTISEMENTTwo years ago, the northern Spanish town of Vigo introduced fines for “physiological evacuation on the beach or in the sea.” Following in its footsteps, Malaga has also banned underwater urination at 25 beaches in the municipality, and is looking to increase its fines from €300 to €750.The ruling for Malaga is still under consultation, but if it is passed, it could see a number of other disruptive activities banned like playing with balls, allowing dogs to enter the water and reserving areas with parasols.How to stay the right side of the tourist laws in SpainWhile it may seem confusing, most of the rules on taxation fall to your accommodation provider to comply. Tourist taxes should be collected by the property and then declared to the government, and any failure to do so will see the accommodation owner in trouble, not the tourist.Making sure you have all the right documentation is a natural part of any trip. Keep it on hand as you go through border control in case you’re asked for proof, and watch out for news on the ETIAS coming into force as this will be another step to remember.ADVERTISEMENTWhen it comes to bad behaviour, acting with decency and consideration from local residents will usually be enough to keep you away from any fines. However, do check with your accommodation or travel agent about the rules in place at your destination to avoid falling foul of any new local restrictions.
