Spain is one of Europe’s most popular holiday destinations for good reason: it’s packed with fabulous city breaks, world-class beaches and enough food and culture to make any trip a memorable one. But its popularity comes at a price – in destinations like Barcelona and the Canary Islands, unregulated mass tourism is pushing up rental prices and generally making life a lot more difficult for locals.
And now, authorities are finally doing something about it. Is Spain banning tourists? No, not quite – but certain new rules and restrictions might impact your next trip to the country. Here’s what’s going on.
What is the Spain ‘tourism ban’?
Spain isn’t banning tourists entirely, but following anti-tourism protests in places like Barcelona and Tenerife, authorities have begun to introduce bans and restrictions that will, hopefully, make life easier for residents. The biggest change for travellers will be the availability of accommodation, as some of the most in-demand areas across the country are clamping down on the number of holiday lets.
These restrictions come after new rules were introduced in places like Malaga and Majorca last year that aim to put a stop to disrespectful tourist behaviour. Seville also introduced rules to prohibit ‘obscene’ behaviour in 2023.
Which areas are affected?
Most recently, an amendment to Spain’s Horizontal Property Act, which extends to the Canary Islands, has been announced to clamp down on holiday lets. It states that for any property owners hoping to let-out their spaces as short-term holiday lets, 60 percent of the local community must approve, and neighbours reserve the right to demand halting the operations if this is ignored. However, various regions across Spain have their own policies.
A new cap on holiday lets was introduced in 43 districts across Malaga, meaning no new licenses will be granted for tourist apartments in the city’s most crowded areas. The ban will be in place for three years and is expected to be extended.
Alicante also introduced a two-year ban on new holiday lets that came into effect in January. During the ban, holiday homes that do not comply with regulations (it’s thought that a whopping 3,292 homes are unlicensed) will be shut down.
Last summer, Madrid implemented a ban on new licenses for holiday lets, set to last until 2025. These restrictions have since extended to completely ban tourist apartments from all residential buildings in the historic centre.
In October 2024, Seville pledged to restrict new licenses for holiday rentals, meaning that across the city’s 108 neighbourhoods, no more than 10 percent of properties can be tourist apartments.
Barcelona, Spain’s most popular destination for international tourists, announced a total ban on holiday apartments – of which there are currently around 10,000 – by 2029.
San Sebastian announced plans to ban new hotels and holiday apartments in 2023.
Tourist taxes, fines and other restrictions in Spain
Destinations in Spain have charged visitors different kinds of tourist taxes for a while now. The Balearic Islands have significantly raised the levy with a brand-new ‘eco-tax’, which depends on the kind of accommodation you’re staying in, and cruise passengers will have to pay 200 percent more than previous years. Also, Barcelona has recently doubled its tourist tax.
Last summer, destinations across Spain announced strict rules for tourists to abide by to avoid paying a fine. In a bid for Malaga to no longer be treated like a ‘theme park’, visitors were threatened with a €750 fine for littering and not wearing enough clothes, and a wider notice was issued across Spain.
Ibiza and Majorca also tightened up restrictions on drinking, meaning alcohol can no longer be consumed in any public spaces, and shops selling the stuff must close between 9.30pm and 8am.
New rules for public spaces in Gran Canaria include bans on smoking, vaping, playing loud music, barbecuing, shell and rock collecting, blocking access to paths and engaging in sexual activity, and a serious breach of these rules could incur a fine of up to €3,000.
What Spain’s new tourism measures mean for travellers
If you have a trip booked to Spain, don’t worry. The country is packed with stellar hotels and underrated cities ready to welcome you with open arms. And if you want to use your tourism for good, here’s our guide on how to be a better tourist in Europe’s most popular cities, written by local editors. We also have new guides on the world’s most sustainable tourism destinations, and tips on how to sustainably travel.
Did you see that this popular Spanish landmark is introducing a dedicated ‘selfie zone’ to ease overcrowding?
Plus: These are Europe’s best cities right now, according to Time Out.
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