Spain's leading property portal, Idealista, (www.idealista.com) has compiled a list of what you can't do on Spanish beaches. Many areas of Spain and Mallorca have their own by-laws but the main laws are the same throughout the country. Although many of the by-laws are not strictly enforced in Mallorca you could be fined for wearing swimming clothes away from the beach.
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Pets on the beach: Prohibited on most beaches (except guide dogs), with fines up to €3,000. In Mallorca there are some beaches which do allow dogs.
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Beach parties and loud music: Strictly regulated. Fines can reach €22 per square yard for unauthorised gatherings and €750 for playing music too loudly.
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Illegal street vending: Selling goods without a permit can cost up to €1,500. Street vendors are common in Mallorca despite police crackdowns.
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Tents & shelters without authorisation: Some municipalities, like Valencia, impose fines between 1,501 and 3,000 euros.
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Using soap or shampoo at beach showers: Banned nationwide, punishable by a €750 fine.
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Urinating in the sea: Surprisingly, this can lead to fines of €700 in places like Vigo.
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Sleeping overnight on the beach: Fines range from €40 to €1,500, especially in Valencia.
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Reserving beach spots with towels or umbrellas: Can cost up to €750 in Benidorm and €300 in Malaga.
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Swimming under a red flag: Very dangerous -and expensive - with fines up to €3,000.
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Playing paddle tennis: Forbidden in areas like Benidorm and San Javier, Murcia, with fines up to €3,000.
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No smoking areas: Many beaches are now smoke-free zones. Fines for smoking where it's banned can reach €450.
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Alcohol consumption: Though sometimes overlooked, fines for drinking on the beach or promenade can range from €1,501 to €3,000.
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Littering: Leaving rubbish behind could cost you between €751 and €1,500.
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Bonkers
Charles Dalrymple-ChumleyWhat's really interesting about my original comment is that 4 readers didn't like it. Since I was commenting on the explosion of unlicensed African street sellers and how they could be stopped, what exactly do these 4 people find objectionable in my comment? Do they actually desire the herds of street sellers occupying every main street in Palma? Do they value fake tacky merchandise being on offer on our streets? Are they defending the "human rights" of the Africans to sell what they want where they want? These 4 people have the wrong attitude and it's greatly detrimental to Palma's ambitions to prosper and grow as an (international) capital city.
I do love the "€22 per square yard" fine for unlicensed beach gatherings. Brilliant! I'll have to set a €220 budget for my next beach gathering, and be careful not to exceed capacity!
Total non-news. As these “laws” seem arbitrary and vary wildly. And even if enforceable… they isn’t anyone to enforce it. A fine for smoking? I don’t think a single ticket was written for that like EVER!
Some of these go back to Franco's days, especially sleeping on the beach. The Guardia Civil used to regularly patrol the beaches to guard against contrabandistas and immoral displays by the young. Somewhere I have an excellent double cartoon published in the 80's by El Jueves ( published on a Friday, a Spanish Private Eye) showing Franco's beach and 'todays' beach. Huge social change over a relatively short period.
Spain still hasn't let go of it's Franco roots.
It might be more efficient to release the list of things we "can" do on the beach!
Most of these beach laws are ignored and are largely unenforceable, like having a pee in the sea! Ridiculous. @Charles. I was in Palma recently and was alarmed at the number of street sellers there were, far more than I have seen previously, especially around the promenades near the cathedral. Not a good look for the city and quite intimidating for visitors. Add a cruise ship or three and Palma is an absolute no go b
African street sellers are becoming a real nuisance in central Palma laying down large sheets and covering them with their merchandise. I've tripped over bags and slid on polyester football shirts while walking in the centre. What can be done? I've proposed confiscating their goods which would have the effect of taking them off the streets. Fines are useless since they're slippery and move locations. Under Euro law I believed that openly selling fake LV and other branded goods was an offence?