The Unexpected Costly Mistake Too Many Travelers Make On Spain's Beaches

The etiquette of reserving a place in the sun at popular Spanish seaside resorts has a long and controversial history. For years, international visitors have been chastised for trying to reserve spots on already crowded beaches to the point where the act is practically a stereotype. But it's also not that far from reality either. You may have seen TikTok videos of vacationers scrambling for the best spots. The most stressful battleground for many travelers tends to be around the pool, but these sneaky methods also extend to the beaches of Malaga, Benidorm, and elsewhere along the Spanish coast. Yet tourists getting caught up in such shenanigans might find it to be a costly mistake.

Wanting to secure the perfect place to spend a day by the sea is understandable. After all, you've paid for your vacation so why shouldn't you want to beat the rush and secure a choice spot? The issue becomes more vexing when people mark their territory with a beach umbrella (or a sun lounger) and then wander off to do other things. This can leave locals and other tourists feeling irate, and municipal authorities in some regions of Spain have introduced penalties to dissuade people from indulging in such selfish behavior. So be warned — if you follow suit, you might get slapped with a fine if you get caught.

In recent years, Spanish authorities have implemented a swath of new laws to combat the negative aspects of overtourism. In the resort town of Magaluf, long notorious for its debauched nightlife, bans on cheap alcohol deals and drinking in the street were introduced to try to curb the worst excesses of hard-partying visitors. Party boats plying their passengers with booze also fell foul of legislation and were banished from coming within 1 nautical mile of the most popular islands off the coast of Spain.

A whole host of Spanish municipalities have started implementing fines for people who reserve a spot on the beach by leaving their belongings and then disappearing. Every summer season, early risers try to beat the stampede by also getting to the beach early, staking their territory, and heading off to do other things, sometimes for hours at a time. Local authorities in many places have decided enough is enough. In Malaga, culprits could get charged 300 euros ($310 dollars) for the offense plus an extra 50 euros ($52 dollars) to get their items back from law enforcers. Elsewhere, fines can cost anywhere between 750 euros ($777 dollars) and a staggering 3,000 euros ($3,100 dollars) in places like Valencia, Benidorm, Gandia, and Cullera. In 2024, The Independent reported that authorities in Calpe (a beach town in Costa Blanca) forbade items such as umbrellas and deck chairs on the sand before 9:30 a.m. Offenders risk a fine of up to 250 euros ($260 dollars) as well as having their items confiscated and denouncement from authorities.

Such hefty fines for leaving a towel or umbrella on the beach might seem absurd, but it makes sense when you consider the numbers. Spain is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, attracting a record-breaking 94 million visitors in 2024. A substantial amount of those tourists head to the beaches, which can get very crowded in the high season. One report (via Wizz Air) revealed that Spain is home to eight of the top 10 most crowded beaches in Europe, calculated by average towel space per person. The most congested hotspot, Playa Sa Caleta in Ibiza, only had enough room for half a towel each.

The best resort towns on the coast of Spain are at a premium, so it is little wonder that authorities have clamped down on hogging precious patches of beach. That said, spokespeople have pointed out that fines are intended as a deterrent, and enforcing such laws effectively is difficult. After all, beach police can only issue a fine when the owner of the belongings returns. Offenders who spot cops hovering around their stuff may be more likely to cut their losses rather than take a hefty penalty. You can certainly try to find a lesser-known beach in Spain to avoid the crowds this summer, but even then, your best bet is to still err on the side of caution and only step away from your spot for a few minutes at the most — assuming you can find one at all, of course.