Millions of Brits will be jetting off to Spain for their summer holidays in the coming weeks to soak up the sunshine - but holidaymakers heading to one of the most popular tourist hotspots have been warned of a number of rules in place that could see them hit with hefty fines.
Benidorm is known for its buzzing nightlife, attracting around seven million tourists from the UK each year - but its reputation as the so-called "party capital" of the Costa Blanca has led to local authorities tightening restrictions on what visitors can and can't do when staying there. The destination's famous golden beaches have been a major focus of these changes, with a series of regulations now in place in order to help keep them clean and tidy, BirminghamLive reports.
There are five beaches for tourists to enjoy - Levante, Poniente, Mal Pas, Almadrava and Tio Ximo. According to BenidormSeriously, there are a number of rules in place that people should know if they're planning to visit any of them in order to avoid penalties of up to 2,000 euros.
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These include boozing, smoking, going on the beach between midnight and 7am when town contractors carry out cleaning procedures and urinating in the sea. You could also be fined for not putting a top on when leaving the beach to go to the bars or back to the hotel.
Other forbidden actions include using soap and shampoo at beach showers, lighting barbecues, or sitting within the first six metres of the water. Here's the full list for tourists to be aware of:
- Entering the beach (including swimming) between midnight and 7am – fine 750 to 1,200 euros
- Sleeping or camping on the beach - fine 1,200 euros
- Placing parasols and towels to reserve space – fine 150 euros
- Playing ball games outside designated areas – fine 120 euros
- Swimming when the red flag is flying – fine 1,000 euros
- Stripping off on a non-nudist beach - fine 650 euros
- Urinating in the sea – fine 150 euros
- Using soap and shampoo at the beach showers - fine up to 650 euros
- Building large sand sculptures – fine 150 euros (children's sandcastles are fine but any that are big enough to impede the nightly cleaning of the beach are not permitted)
- Fishing with a rod or net – fine 750 euros
- Fishing with a harpoon – fine 1,100 euros
- Drinking alcohol on the beach – fine 750 euros. Be sure to avoid buying any water or drinks from the beach vendors who appear when the beaches get busy as they are all unlicensed and unauthorised.
- Smoking on the beach - fine up to 2,000 euros
- Sex on the beach – fine 750 euros
- Not covering up when leaving the beach and going into the town - fine up to 300 euros
- No barbecues or fires are allowed on any of the beaches
- No sitting or sunbathing on the first six metres of sand nearest the water. This was introduced during the Covid pandemic and has been kept in place so bathers can easily get in and out of the sea and people can stroll along the shore without sun loungers getting in the way. It also improves access for emergency services.
