If you're planning a beach vacation in Spain, be warned: wearing your swimsuit in the wrong place could cost you more than you think.
According to updated guidance from the UK Foreign Office, tourists visiting popular Spanish destinations can be fined for walking around town in nothing but a bikini or swim trunks — even just a few blocks from the beach. That includes being shirtless on boardwalks, seafront promenades, and nearby streets in cities like Barcelona, Palma, and parts of the Canary Islands.
“In some parts of Spain it’s illegal to be in the street wearing only a bikini or swimming shorts,” the official notice on the agency's website reads. “Being bare-chested is also illegal in some areas.”
AdvertisementAdvertisement#_R_a72adkalhb5fiv5vddbH1_ iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#_R_i72adkalhb5fiv5vddbH1_ iframeThe laws around dress code, which are enforced by local authorities, are part of broader efforts to maintain public decency and reduce nuisance behavior in areas that draw heavy tourist crowds.
Read more: Locals in this European hotspot are telling tourists to stay home — here’s what to know
Enforcement varies from region to region, but fines can and do happen.
To avoid trouble, throw on a shirt or cover-up before leaving the sand — even if you’re just heading to a nearby café or hotel.
The same travel advisory also reminds tourists to carry valid ID at all times, as Spanish police are legally allowed to detain individuals who fail to produce identification. Additionally, face-covering garments like burkas and niqabs may be restricted inside official buildings, and passport rules have changed post-Brexit.
Bottom line: when packing for Spain, bring your swimsuit — but don’t forget your cover-up. What’s totally normal on the beach could be a fine-worthy offense just steps away.
Yahoo CreatorAlesandra DubinAlesandra (Alice) Dubin is an award-winning travel and lifestyle journalist. She has a BA from UC Berkeley and an MA in journalism from NYU. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their twins.FollowFollow
