Planning a trip to Málaga this summer? The southern Spanish city has a message for you. Or, rather, 10 of them.
“Dress completely” and “do not be conspicuous” stand at the top of the list of golden rules just released by the city. They are all part of Málaga’s ‘Improve Your Stay’ campaign.
First launched last summer, the updated tourist behaviour campaign aims to curb the antics of certain unruly visitors.
What are Málaga’s new rules?
The list of 10 strongly suggested rules, now displayed on buses, billboards and social media, is designed to ease tensions between tourists and residents, many of whom feel the city has reached a breaking point.
The campaign asks visitors to keep noise down, especially at night; avoid shouting or blaring music in residential areas; and use designated bins and toilets.
Scooters and bicycles are banned from pedestrian areas, while skimpy outfits and bare skin are discouraged anywhere off the beach.
Last year, the city upped fines for infractions such as littering, excessive noise and public drunkenness to €750.
But while Málaga is encouraging visitors to tidy up their behaviour, many locals believe the issues run deeper than etiquette.
Tourism backlash grows across Spain
Spain is facing a wider reckoning with mass tourism. From Barcelona to the Balearic Islands, residents have been staging protests against soaring rent, housing shortages, overcrowding and the environmental toll of unchecked visitor numbers.
In Málaga last year, demonstrators plastered the city with anti-tourism stickers bearing messages like “this used to be my home,” among other less polite sentiments. Similar protests erupted in San Sebastián, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife and Seville throughout 2024, and the movement has shown no signs of slowing down in 2025.
In March and April, fresh demonstrations broke out across the country ahead of the busy Easter season. Locals called for caps on cruise ships, restrictions on short-term rentals and a more sustainable model of tourism that puts residents first.
New regulations have begun to reflect these concerns. Earlier this year, Spain’s Supreme Court upheld an order in Catalonia to remove nearly 66,000 illegal tourist listings from Airbnb and other platforms. In the Balearic Islands, stricter controls on alcohol consumption and party boats have been introduced to curb excessive behaviour.
Meanwhile, Barcelona has announced plans to completely phase out short-term tourist apartments by 2028, returning thousands of properties to the long-term rental market.
Tourism is welcome in Spain, but pay attention to rules
While tourism remains a vital part of Spain’s economy, the message from many Spanish cities this summer is clear: visitors are welcome, but not at any cost.
Whether you're headed to Málaga, Madrid or Mallorca, expect more rules, steeper fines and less tolerance for disruptive behaviour.
Travellers should keep an eye on local guidelines, respect residents’ space and, above all, travel consciously.
Or as Málaga’s posters put it, don’t be conspicuous.
