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• Passports, travel and living abroad
• Travel abroad
• Foreign travel advice

Entry requirements

This advice reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK, for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Spain set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact Spain’s embassy or consulates in the UK .

If you are planning to travel to Spain through France, check the latest FCDO travel advice for France before you start your journey.

If you are planning to travel to Spain through Gibraltar, check the latest FCDO travel advice for Gibraltar before you start your journey.

COVID-19 rules

There are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for travellers entering Spain.

Passport validity requirements

If you are planning to travel to an EU country (except Ireland), or Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City, you must follow the Schengen area passport requirements .

Your passport must be:

• issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the ‘date of issue’)
• valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

Check your passport meets these requirements before you travel. If your passport was issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date.

Contact Spain’s embassy or consulates in the UK if you think that your passport does not meet both these requirements. Renew your passport if you need to .

Visa requirements

You can travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This applies if you travel as a tourist, to visit family or friends, to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events, or for short-term studies or training.

If travelling to Spain and other Schengen countries without a visa, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day limit. Visits to Schengen countries within the previous 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days.

To stay longer, to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons, you need to meet the Spanish government’s entry requirements. Check with Spain’s embassy or consulates in the UK before you travel about what type of visa or work permit you may need.

If travelling to Spain for work , read the guidance on visas and permits.

If you cannot return to the UK before the expiry of your visa, permit or visa-free limit, contact the Spanish government’s national information service (In Spanish, English speaking operators are available). You can dial 060 from a Spanish phoneline.

If you are visiting Spain and need to extend your visa-free stay for exceptional reasons, such as a medical emergency, you must apply to the immigration authorities (‘Extranjería’) (in Spanish).

If you stay in Spain with a residence permit or long-stay visa, this does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.

Passport stamping

Check your passport is stamped as you enter or exit the Schengen area through Spain as a visitor.

Border guards check you’re complying with the 90-day visa-free limit for short stays in the Schengen area. If you do not have relevant entry or exit stamps in your passport, they will assume you have overstayed.

You can show evidence of when and where you entered or exited the Schengen area, and ask the border guards to add this date and location in your passport. Examples of acceptable evidence includes boarding passes and tickets.

Use the desks staffed by border officers. If you are aged 18 or over, and airport staff instruct you to, you may be able to use e-gates where they are in operation.

If you use an e-gate, make sure you get your passport stamped by a border officer.

Additional documents required by tourists

If you enter the Schengen area as a tourist, you may need to provide additional documents at the border. As well as a valid return or onward ticket, when travelling to Spain you could be asked to show:

• you have enough money for your stay
• a hotel booking confirmation
• proof of address if visiting your own property (such as second home)
• an invitation or proof of address if staying with a third party, friends or family. A carta de invitation completed by your hosts is one of the options available.

You can visit the Spanish Ministry of Interior website for more information (only available in Spanish).

Residents of Spain

If you are resident in Spain your passport should not be stamped when entering or leaving Spain.

Actively show your proof of residence, such as the foreigner’s identity card (‘la tarjeta de identidad de extranjero’ or ‘TIE’), when presenting your passport at Spanish border control. For further information, read about living in Spain .

Travel between Spain and Gibraltar

Spanish border checks can cause delays when crossing between Spain and Gibraltar. If you are travelling to Spain through Gibraltar, check the travel advice for entry requirements for Gibraltar .

There is no charge to enter or leave Gibraltar. You should not hand over money to anybody claiming there is a charge.

Unaccompanied minors

Spanish law considers anyone under 18 to be a minor. If an unaccompanied minor comes to the attention of the Spanish authorities (particularly in connection with criminal incidents or when in hospital) they will be considered vulnerable and may be taken to a minors centre until a parent or guardian is found.

Vaccination requirements (other than COVID-19)

At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the vaccinations and certificates you need on TravelHealthPro .

Customs rules

There are strict rules about what goods can be taken into and out of Spain. You can find details on the National Tax Agency leaflet (in Spanish and English). Declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking food and drink into Spain

You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries. There are some exceptions for medical reasons, for example certain amounts of powdered infant milk, infant food, or pet food required for medical reasons. Check the rules about taking food and drink into the EU on the European Commission website.

Taking money and goods into Spain

Check the National Airport Association website for guidance on taking money and goods into and out of Spain.

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A Summer Rite in Spain: Coping With the British Tourist Invasion

On the front lines of a low-cost resort, Spanish residents complain that U.K. visitors drink too much and don’t spend enough.

By David Segal

Reporting from Magaluf in Mallorca, Spain

A fit and ruddy 19-year-old with blond hair and a sheepish smile, James Henderson is tanning on a beach in Magaluf, a town on the Spanish island Mallorca that has long been the destination of choice for young Britons in search of a boozy holiday in the sun. Asked to recount the revelry of the day before, he grins like a man who has just completed a decathlon and is pretty psyched about his performance.

There was a few hours of “pre-drinking,” as he put it, at his hotel, then on to Punta Ballena, a crammed and gritty strip of pubs, tattoo parlors and lap dance emporiums that bursts with action until dawn every summer day. By the time he and his vacation buddy headed to bed, at 3 a.m., they had each knocked back roughly 20 drinks over the course of 15 hours.

“I had a bit of a strange taste in my mouth this morning,” Mr. Henderson said, proudly describing the minimal aftereffects of this marathon, “but nothing too bad.”

Every summer, Magaluf crawls with young British people in search of a bacchanalia, and they find one in what is essentially a slab of the United Kingdom set in the Mediterranean, except seedier than anything in the dingiest corners of London. There are also G-rated home comforts, like kebab shops, Yorkshire pudding and pubs, all at strikingly affordable prices.

The annual swarm is both a financial boon and a curse. The Britons here are not the hooligans who occasionally get blanket bans from foreign cities hosting U.K. soccer teams for fear of violent clashes. All of the fun in Magaluf gets posted to Instagram, which means it tends to be more photogenic than destructive.

But young British travelers are notorious for drinking a lot and spending little, and local reaction to the hard partying herd in Magaluf is split between come hithers (from hotel and bar owners) and go yons (from residents).

It’s a source of continuing tension, not just here but on other islands and in the country’s most beloved cities, including Barcelona and Madrid. Tourism accounts for more than 10 percent of Spain’s annual gross domestic product, the European Commission reports, and the United Kingdom provides the largest chunk of that windfall. More than 18 million British people visited Spain in 2019, about one-quarter of the total population, according to U.K. government statistics .

Spanish officials have already predicted that 2023 will break records .

“We don’t have factories here,” said Pepe Carbonell, an owner of Bondi Beach, a bar and restaurant in Magaluf. “We live off tourists, and the only bad customers are the ones who don’t come to Mallorca.”

Many tipple in moderation and spend plenty. But places like Magaluf are hotbeds of what is known here as the “tourism of excess.” The most notorious section of all is Punta Ballena, which has generated tales of hedonism for more than a generation.

Sexual assault is sadly common. There have also been fights and plenty of what is known as “balconying,” the practice of leaping from a balcony onto another balcony or into a swimming pool. (It’s popular enough that the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office published a warning against it .) Public nudity is so prevalent on this strip that signs here state, “Wear no clothes on the street, penalty 400 euros.”

“There are residents who live here, work here, take their kids to school here, and they have to see drunk people all the time, drugs, prostitution,” said Margalida Ramis, campaigner for GOB, a conservation nonprofit. “Living in this reality is like living in hell if you want a normal life.”

Typically, officials here broach the topic of low-end British tourism diplomatically, aware that tastes change and that if young people abandon places like Magaluf, the economic consequences will be severe. The future looks precarious. Like much of continental Europe, Spain has been sweltering in record heat this summer, and U.K. tabloids have suggested that tourists are choosing more temperate climates, even if they offer a fraction of the excitement.

“Costa Del Dull,” read a mid-August headline in The Daily Star, a London-based newspaper, riffing on the name of a southern coastal area of Spain, above a photograph of Hercule Poirot, the fictional Belgian detective. “Tourists swap traditional holiday favorites for boring Belgium to beat global warming crisis.”

Some Spanish politicians are too annoyed by the putative boorish behavior of the British tourists to exercise restraint.

“We have areas of our islands that are clearly marked by the tourism of excess,” Iago Negueruela, counselor of tourism of the Balearic government, which includes Mallorca, told elDiario.es, a Spanish digital newspaper. “That is what does not have to come back, and we will do everything possible so that it does not.”

Such sentiments led to a decree, passed by the regional government in January 2022, to curtail shenanigans in what were officially labeled red zones on three islands, including Mallorca. Party boats — a cruise with a D.J. for a fixed price and an open bar — were banned. So were bikini-clad women dancing in the windows of bars. Two-for-one drink specials were prohibited, too.

The goal was to increase the amount of luxury tourism, and some pricier hotels have popped up at safe distances from Punta Ballena. But if Magaluf is any indication, once a place is renowned for low-end getaways, the label is hard to shed. Plenty of vendors still cater to the bargain hunters. Mr. Henderson, for instance, bought a round-trip flight and three nights at a hotel for about $600, a price that included three meals, with three drinks at both lunch and dinner.

“And a shuttle to the airport is 10 pounds,” Mr. Henderson’s friend, Toby Euston, 18, said. “That’s why people come here. It’s cheap, and there’s nice weather.”

Deals on alcohol remain ubiquitous on the strip. On a recent Tuesday, around 1 a.m., the pavement was chockablock with tourists and what are known here as “reps.” These are bar employees whose job is to stand in the middle of the street and rope in passers-by.

It gives the place the feeling of a noisy, roiling bazaar where the only commodity for sale is liquor. A typical pitch: a triple shot and two more shots for seven euros. Every bar has a variation of this budget beverage offer. And music. A bunch of bars offer “silent disco,” where people listen and dance to music while wearing headphones.

The entire scene is familiar to Daniel Briggs, an ethnographer from Northumbria University in England, who spent four summers studying young British people in Magaluf for research underwritten by the Foreign Office, the arm of the U.K. government that safeguards citizens abroad. He saw plenty of fights and more than a few accidents that led to hospitalizations.

To him, the question of why British youngsters overindulge in Magaluf isn’t a mystery. They are generally taking their first vacation without parents, and that creates a sense that everyone is off the leash. And drinking has been central to British culture for centuries. Businesses here understand that, Professor Briggs said. Magaluf is carefully designed to exploit its core demographic.

“Bar owners know they’ve got a group of people who are young and ready to drink, and they’ve presented all sorts of options for them that encourages the worst behavior,” he said. “Obviously, this is a business.”

Many Britons here know that their reputation for unhinged behavior precedes them. Few seem to mind.

“I think British people don’t really care,” said Bella Fisher, a 21-year-old from Britain, who was walking near the beach with a friend. “They have, like, no standards. Like, they don’t really care about anything.”

But aren’t British people renowned for their reserve?

“Until you get to Magaluf,” she said.

In other countries, officials have explicitly tried to wave away British tourists. Amsterdam, for instance, started an online campaign in March that showed public-service ads to anyone searching the internet for terms like “pub crawl Amsterdam.”

“Coming to Amsterdam for a messy night?” read text in one video showing a man being arrested. “Stay away.”

In Spain, anger about the British is more likely to come from residents than government officials. There’s a derogatory word for visitors from Britain — guiri . It’s a shorthand for any British person behaving in what is regarded as a stereotypically British way — namely, drinking too much, fighting, ignoring social norms like stopping at traffic lights, and spending very little money.

Occasionally, the anger bubbles into something closer to rage. “Tourists go home,” someone spray painted not long ago on a hotel in Mallorca. In some cities, posters that ooze sarcasm have been put up that encourage balconying. One uses an image of a stick figure tripping off a balcony; underneath is text ticking through the benefits of this hazardous activity.

“Prevents gentrification,” the poster reads, “reduces the risk of heart disease, is LOTS of fun.”

Some club and bar owners in Magaluf detect an anti-British bias in laws designed to curtail the tourism of excess. Gerard Pietro, owner of Capitol Bar — which features a large pink neon sign that reads “Please don’t do coke in the bathroom” — says Magaluf should embrace its image and the people drawn to it.

“If I could get 50 customers a night who only bought Dom Pérignon, I’d be the happiest owner in the world, but that is not what happens here,” he said. “We have young people, and they have the right to party.”

During a recent daytime walk through the strip, Professor Briggs said the place looked pretty much the same as when he last spent a summer here, in 2019. He walked past a fish-and-chips spot called the Chippy, and pubs with distinctly British names, like the Red Lion. He stopped briefly at a bar, the Dirty Dog, after spotting a young man seated in a chair and apparently passed out on the patio. A couple of friends hovered nearby, not especially concerned.

“Is he all right?” asked Professor Briggs.

“He’s fine,” a friend said.

“How long you guys staying for?” Professor Briggs asked.

“Forever,” came the reply.

José Bautista contributed reporting.

David Segal is a Business section reporter based in London. More about David Segal

Travel Safe

Information on Brexit for British tourists

How is tourism affected by the end of the transition period?

The following information answers the main questions that may arise on the topic.

Do I need a visa to travel to Spain from the United Kingdom?

No. As of 1 January 2021, UK nationals remain exempt from the requirement to have a visa when crossing the European Union's external borders for short-term stays (up to 90 days in any 180-day period). This visa exemption does not provide for the right to work in the Union and is subject to the reciprocity mechanism applicable to third countries.

Will there be any border controls?

As of 1 January 2021, UK nationals travelling to the European Union and the Schengen area are treated as third-country nationals, and therefore subject to thorough checks at the Schengen area border. This means that intended stays in the territory of EU Member States cannot have a duration of more than 90 days in any 180-day period, and UK nationals will have to meet the entry conditions for third-country nationals.

What about travelling with pets?

You may continue to travel with your pets from 1 January 2021, though you will need the British health authorities to issue the corresponding animal health certificate, and you must also enter Spain at one of the airports or ports authorised to this effect. For dogs, cats and ferrets, a valid rabies vaccination certificate must be presented along with the animal health certificate. When returning to the United Kingdom, you will need to carry out the deworming treatment one to five days ahead of the trip. For more information, please see the page of the website of the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Will my British driving licence be recognised in Spain?

From 1 March 2022, driving licences issued by the UK authorities will be valid for driving in Spain for a period of six months. In the case of short trips or tourism, it will be six months running from the date you enter the country. For British citizens resident in Spain, this period runs from the date on which legal residence in the country was obtained. Once this six-month period has transpired, you will need to obtain a Spanish driving licence. British residents who did not apply for the exchange, renewal or extraordinary replacement of their driving licence before 31 December 2020 will have to apply for a new Spanish driving licence. For more information, please consult the on the website of the General Directorate of Traffic.

Will I have access to the Spanish healthcare system?

Yes, the social security coordination protocol of the Trade and Cooperation agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, for one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, for the other, envisages this health cover with the UK European Health Insurance Card (UK EHIC) or the UK Global Health Insurance Card (UK GHIC). Contact the British institution to find out which document supporting your rights you are going to be issued with.

Travel plans for inspiring you

Practical information

Accessible destinations

Spain’s main sea connections

Recommendations for travelling with dogs in Spain

Disclaimer: This website does not belong to, nor is it affiliated with, the EU. We aim to inform travelers about ETIAS and visiting Europe. The official website of the EU is europa.eu.

Spain Visas » Spain #1 destination for British tourists in 2022

Spain #1 destination for British tourists in 2022

Spain is expected to be the most-visited country amongst British tourists in 2022.

Both the UK and Spain have now scrapped all travel restrictions, including pre-departure testing, making it easier to travel internationally . Millions of British tourists are now planning their first overseas holiday since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Data shows Spanish destinations including the Costa del Sol and Balearic Islands will be the destinations of choice for many UK holidaymakers.

More than a quarter of British tourists will visit Spain in 2022

ABTA, the UK’s largest travel association, named Spain the most popular destination for tourists in 2022. In a survey, 29.3% of people said they planned to visit the country this year.

This is significantly ahead of the country in second position, the USA, which 18.1% of respondents said they intended to visit.

British travellers key to the recovery of tourist numbers in Spain

With COVID-19 restrictions between the UK and Spain now lifted and pent-up demand to travel, visitor numbers could return to pre-pandemic levels in the near future.

Data from the National Statistics Office shows the number of international tourists in Spain increased four-fold in September 2021 compared with the previous year.

In a statement, Spanish Tourism Minister Maria Reyes Maroto said: “These data confirm a reactivation of international tourism is underway and that in 2022 we could recover pre-pandemic levels” .

British holidaymakers will be central to the recovery of tourist numbers in 2022.

Spain expects British tourists to make up largest group of international visitors

Before the pandemic, British passport holders were the largest group of international tourists in Spain. The European country usually attracts 18 million visitors from the UK annually.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, British travellers have been overtaken by visitors from France.

However, the Spanish government expects the United Kingdom to make up the largest group of international visitors now travel rules have returned to normal.

UK Airlines respond to increasing demand for Spanish destinations

Major UK airlines are responding to high demand for the UK to Spain routes. Jet2 and easyJet are 2 of the British airlines increasing operations in Spain, according to Fernando Valdés, Spain’s Secretary of State for tourism.

British airlines including Jet2 and easyJet cover the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, and mainland Spain.

Most popular Spanish destinations for UK tourists in 2022

Spain is typically a summer destination for British holidaymakers.

In 2022, the most visited areas are expected to be Benidorm and the Costa del Sol. Business owners in these hotspots are already noticing the return of British tourists and looking forward to a busy summer.

Another popular choice amongst UK travellers are the Balearic Islands: Formentera, Ibiza, Majorca and Menorca.

President of the Balearic Islands Francina Armengol is optimistic, stating: “In 2022 we will begin the season earlier and will be able to recover the level of British tourism we saw in 2019”.

Why UK travellers are choosing Spain in 2022

Spain has long been a favourite amongst British holidaymakers. The relative proximity of Spain to the UK and the promise of sunny weather are 2 of the major attractions.

This year, other considerations are influencing travel choices. It is now possible to go to Spain from the UK with no COVID-19 requirements.

No COVID-19 restrictions to travel between the UK and Spain

All coronavirus restrictions for Spain from the UK have now been eliminated. Brits can now visit Spain without any of the following:

• COVID-19 vaccination
• Negative test result
• Health form
• Quarantine/self-isolation

Previously, British tourists needed valid proof of vaccination to enter Spain. A booster jab was required if vaccination was completed more than 270 days before travel.

Passengers had to complete a Health Control Form (FCS) before entering Spain.

These measures are no longer in place. Brits can now travel freely to Spain with no entry requirements apart from a valid passport. In the near future, the ETIAS will also be needed.

Leisure and tourism services now open across Spain

UK tourists in Spain can now enjoy a relatively normal holiday . Hotels, shops, restaurants, and bars are all now open and operating.

Face masks do not need to be worn outdoors, and a vaccine passport is no longer required to enjoy restaurants and other public places.

Spain is a safe destination for British tourists

Spain has one of the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the world. Around 83% of the population are fully vaccinated, and almost half of people have received their booster jab.

High levels of vaccination in Spain increase confidence amongst British tourists seeking a safe travel destination.

In addition, health control measures are in place in tourism, leisure and hospitality establishments, including increased cleaning and disinfection .

ETIAS to make Spain an even safer choice for UK travellers

Spain is about to become an even safer destination. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will go live in 2025 for visa-exempt visitors.

Travellers who do not need a visa for Spain and the rest of the Schengen Area will have to register with ETIAS before departure.

The new system will screen visa-exempt passengers and identify potential security or health risks. British tourists will be able to apply for ETIAS travel authorisation online in minutes.

ETIAS will be valid to visit Spain, and any of the other Schengen nations, for up to 90 days per 180-day period.

Other popular destinations for British tourists in 2022

According to the ABTA survey, the top 10 countries travellers from the UK will visit in 2022 are:

British passport holders will be able to visit most of these countries using the same ETIAS visa waiver. ETIAS is valid across the Schengen Area which includes Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, and Germany.

Reasons for travelling abroad this year include leisure and tourism, and to be reunited with friends and family members overseas. ETIAS covers these activities, as well as short business trips.

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Brits continue to be the most important tourists in Spain, new figures show

The Costa Blanca beats 2019 foreign tourist record with two months to spare

UK TOURISTS visiting Spain during the first 10 months of 2023 totalled just under 15.5 million people- an annual rise of 14.3%.

The British market has played a leading role in Spain’s tourist recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic and accounts for the biggest number of visitors from a foreign country.

The next two largest groups are from France (almost 10.4 million and an increase of 17.0%) and Germany (with more than 9.6 million, up 9.4%).

In the first 10 months of 2023, the number of tourists visiting Spain exceeded 74.7 million- an 18.2% increase on the same period last year.

If the figure for 2023 is compared with the cumulative figure for the first 10 months of 2019- before the pandemic- foreign arrivals are 0.2% higher.

The statistics for the Costa Blanca and the Valencia region are more dramatic, reaching over nine million foreign tourists up to end of October- over half a million extra than the whole of 2019.

On current trends, Alicante-Elche airport is expected to close the year with a record number of passengers to surpass the 2019 total.

The overwhelming majority of arrivals were independent travellers.

New air routes will boost figures still further with next year seeing more connections.

Last week, easyJet started the first of its Costa Blanca promotional campaigns ahead of the budget carrier opening a base at Alicante-Elche airport in 2024.

It has announced 10 new routes connect with Southampton, Newcastle, Belfast City, Zurich, Prague, Lyon, Lille, Nantes, Nice and Birmingham next summer.

Finnair has also announced that it will run three weekly flights between Alicante and Helsinki during the next high season.

• Record-breaking number of cruise ship tourists visit Spain’s Costa Blanca this year as figure surpasses 192,000
• Tourists are returning to booking hotels on Spain’s Costa Blanca, figures suggest

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Revealed: the most British cities in Spain

Spain has always been a favourite holiday destination for the British people. And what’s not to love about this country? Sunshine all year round, amazing beaches, …

No wonder so many British people decide to move abroad and live the Spanish dream! But despite all of Spain’s charms, sometimes you can’t help but crave a Sunday roast or a decent pint while you’re abroad.

Spain-Holiday , a search engine for holiday rentals in Spain, decided to find out which are the most British cities in Spain.

All Spanish cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants were considered, and the ranking was drawn up using two main data points: the percentage of residents with British nationality, and the ratio of British pubs, shops and similar establishments per inhabitant. The ranking reveals that:

• The Costa Blanca town of Benidorm is the most British city in Spain!
• The Costa del Sol dominates the ranking, with 5 towns in the top 10.
• Brits prefer to settle in popular tourist destinations, staying in areas that are already well-known and avoiding inland cities.

Top 10 most British cities in Spain

1. benidorm, alicante (costa blanca).

As arguably the most famous holiday destination in Spain, it shouldn’t surprise us that Benidorm takes the title of most British city in Spain.

Benidorm was one of the earliest holiday resort towns to exist, drawing tourists to its shore since 1925 . A lot of British families have been spending their summer holidays in Benidorm for generations! So when deciding on a place to settle down, a lot of expats stick to their familiar holiday haunts and move to sunny Benidorm.

During the summer, the British community in Benidorm easily triples in size thanks to the many tourists, but even outside the high season the city has a lively community of British expats who permanently live there.

With several British supermarkets that bring your familiar brands and favourite products to the Costa Blanca, and a good number of British restaurants that serve lovely Sunday roasts and full English breakfasts, Benidorm truly is a “home away from home”.

Benidorm’s British stats:

• Permanent residents with British nationalities: 3,389 (4.90% of the total population).
• British shops, restaurants & pubs: 43.

2. Orihuela, Alicante (Costa Blanca)

The second most British city of Spain lies just to the south of Benidorm: Orihuela, a charming town near Torrevieja. It is divided into two parts: Orihuela Costa, the part of the town located directly by the sea (and the most popular location for Brits to settle down) and the old medieval part of Orihuela a few minutes inland.

Orihuela has always drawn plenty of expats because of its Blue Flag beaches and the nearby national parks.

This town is also well-connected with the rest of the country and Europe, thanks to two nearby international airports, another reason why it’s so popular with Brits wanting to move to Spain!

Orihuela’s British sports bars will make sure you won’t have to miss a single Premier League match, and your trusted British brands are always available in the British 'supermercados.'

Orihuela British stats:

• Permanent residents with British nationalities: 10,025 (12.70% of the total population).
• British shops, restaurants and pubs: 18.

3. Benalmádena, Málaga (Costa del Sol)

The Costa del Sol finally makes its appearance in this ranking with Benalmádena, which closes the top 3!

In summer the city is taken by storm and its beaches fill up with tourists, but in winter, Benalmádena becomes a sleepy town where expats and locals live side by side .

The town has a very international population that is divided between 3 main areas: Benalmádena Costa, known for its beaches, Benalmádena Pueblo, quiet and located on the slopes of the Malaga mountains, and Arroyo de la Miel , located in between the previous two and with plenty of entertainment for locals and tourists alike.

While people from all over Europe enjoy life in Benalmádena, Brits are one of the most prominent nationalities. Here you will find the most British shops and bars in all the Costa del Sol, converting Benalmádena into the British centre of the Costa del Sol!

Benalmádena British stats:

• Permanent residents with British nationalities: 3,420 (4.87% of the total population).
• British shops, restaurants and pubs: 31.

4. Mijas, Málaga (Costa del Sol)

For the next town in the ranking we stay on the Costa del Sol, because Mijas is the fourth most British town in Spain!

While Mijas Pueblo has always attracted many visitors because of its natural beauty and traditional Spanish architecture, you will find that most British expats have settled in its coastal area, also known as Mijas Costa .

This beautiful piece of coastline has attracted many expats wanting to experience Spanish living.

Thanks to its central location on the Costa del Sol, living in Mijas makes it easy to explore the Andalusian coastline and the 'pueblos blancos' located inland. Combine this with marvellous weather and a welcoming British community , and you get one of the cities with the highest percentage of British residents of the Costa del Sol!

Mijas British stats:

• Permanent residents with British nationalities: 8,610 (9.93% of the total population).
• British shops, restaurants and pubs: 3.

5. Torremolinos, Málaga (Costa del Sol)

The next most British town in Spain another one of our favourite holiday destinations: Torremolinos.

This lively coastal town attracts both young professionals and pensioners who want to make Spain their home. It’s well-connected with Malaga, the capital city of the province, and the southern part of Torremolinos has become a real tourist hub, with plenty of British pubs, restaurants and shops.

The northern part of town still conserves that authentic Spanish 'pueblo' look and feel, so any expats living here can enjoy Spanish living and at the same time you can go down to the coast and order a pint whenever you’re feeling homesick .

Torremolinos British stats:

• Permanent residents with British nationalities: 1,353 (1.99% of the total population).
• British shops, restaurants and pubs: 28.

6. Fuengirola, Málaga (Costa del Sol)

From one Costa del Sol town to another: Fuengirola comes in sixth place! While the town is mostly known as a hub for Scandinavian expats , it still has a large British community.

Because of the many green spaces, the child-friendly, clean beaches and the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the city, Fuengirola has attracted many British families with young children who’ve made the city their home.

The city has everything an expat could wish for: plenty of pubs and restaurants where you can watch Premier League matches and enjoy a pint, many English-language events all year round, and even a local 'Spainsburys' to buy all your favourite snacks from home!

Fuengirola British stats:

• Permanent residents with British nationalities: 5,508 (6.67% of the total population).
• British shops, restaurants and pubs: 15.

7. Torrevieja, Alicante (Costa Blanca)

Moving back to the Costa Blanca, Torrevieja is the next city in the top 10.

This is another resort town, where Brits have been spending their summers since the 50s. No wonder many expats decide to make this town their home when they move to Spain! Most of them do not live in the city centre, rather they chose to live in the suburbs, where you can find entire neighbourhoods that consist only of expats!

Apart from the many pubs (where you can enjoy a decent cider if that’s your fancy), there are several small British supermarkets and even a Dealz and Iceland located in town. Whenever you feel like having a taste of home, your familiar brands and products are waiting for you.

Torrevieja British stats:

• Permanent residents with British nationalities: 4,743 (5.73% of the total population).

8. Calvià, Mallorca (Balearics)

Calvià is the first city in the ranking on one of the Spanish islands!

The actual town, located inland in the south of Mallorca, is small, sleepy, and not very well-known. However, the administrative area of Calvià includes the nearby holiday resorts Magaluf and Palma Nova , much-loved holiday destinations by many of us.

The majority of British expats, however, prefer quieter neighbourhoods like Nova Santa Ponsa and Bendinat as places to settle down. This means that in summer, expats can avoid the crowds at the holiday resorts , but they will only have to drive a few minutes to get to the resort towns with all the pubs, restaurants and shops for those moments of homesickness.

Calvià British stats:

• Permanent residents with British nationalities: 4,068 (7.89% of the total population).
• British shops, restaurants and pubs: 5.

9. Arona, Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands)

Next in the ranking is Arona, a sleepy town located in the south of Tenerife.

Just like Calviá, the name might not sound familiar, but its coastal area definitely will ring a bell, with holiday resorts like Los Cristianos and Playa de las Américas dotting the costa of Arona. Most Brits living in Arona settled there, to be able to enjoy the amazing beaches of Tenerife and be a part of the lively British community.

With Tenerife being called the Island of Eternal Spring , it’s no surprise that many Brits decide to make this area their home!

Apart from the high season in summer, Arona is a calm area where you can experience island living with all the comforts from home!

Arona British stats:

• Permanent residents with British nationalities: 4,013 (4.86% of the total population).
• British shops, restaurants and pubs: 17.

10. Estepona, Málaga (Costa del Sol)

We return to the Costa del Sol with the next most British town on the list: Estepona. This town to the west of Marbella is both traditionally Spanish and cosmopolitan at the same time.

Its beautiful old town and amazing beaches draw plenty of visitors from all over the world, but they also draw a lot of expats to this paradisiacal part of Spain.

The expat community in Estepona is very large, about 25% of the general population , and one fifth of them are British.

Combine this with plenty of expat clubs and groups, pubs and shops offering your familiar products, and Gibraltar only a 45-minute drive away , Estepona has definitely earned its place in the list of most British cities in Spain!

Estepona British stats:

• Permanent residents with British nationalities: 4,111 (5.72% of the total population).

‘Go home’: British tourists in Spain face protests and anti-foreigner graffiti

Some locals across spain feel that their towns and cities are becoming invaded by tourists who do not respect their customs and lives.

IN MADRID – British holidaymakers in Spain may face escalating outbreaks of ‘tourism phobia’ from locals this year over increasing pressures on services, with foreign visitor numbers set to rise even further.

Experts from Spain’s tourist industry have predicted that 2024 will be a record year for visitors to the to the UK’s favourite holiday destination.

However residents, faced with a sense that their towns and cities are becoming invaded by tourists who do not respect their customs and lives, are increasingly voicing their opposition.

The holiday season has not even started but already graffiti is appearing in resorts across Spain , reading: “Tourists go home.”

In Tenerife, “My misery, your paradise” and “average salary in Canary Islands is €1,200” were scrawled on walls and benches in the town of Palm-Mar, in the island’s south.

The reference to the monthly salary in the islands highlights the disparity between wealthy British and other northern European tourists and how much locals earn.

Last May, @CanarioToday, which posts news from the Canary Islands on X, posted a video showing protesters yelling “Go home” at tourists in Playas de las Américas, a popular resort in south-west Tenerife.

In Barcelona , the slogan “Tourists go home” has been daubed on walls in popular tourist areas like Gràcia and Barrio Gòtico, and campaigners have attacked tourist buses in the past.

Last year, in Arona in Gran Canaria, demonstrators started attacking tourists saying, “we want an ecological balance, go home!” They called some tourists “monkeys”.

Spain received a record 85.1 million foreign tourists in 2023, 17 per cent more than the year before, 17.3 million of whom came from the UK.

Exceltur, the Spanish tourism body, estimates that even more tourists will arrive this year, boosting revenues to more than €200bn (£170m), raising its contribution to GDP from 12.8 per cent to 13.4 per cent.

My wife died after taking common Spanish painkiller - it should be banned

Macià Blázquez-Salom, a professor of geography at the University of the Balearic Islands, said with more tourists, there would be more resistance from local people who see their own towns and cities being invaded by foreigners.

“There is more pressure on housing, public space, and inflation caused by tourism. These aspects make people who live in tourist areas to call for the right to live there in peace,” he told i .

“The population resents the fall in the quality of life which is caused by the expansion of tourism. Clearly if there is a record number of tourists [this year] this will bring more complaints.”

Professor Blázquez-Salom said many cities in Spain such as Barcelona, Madrid, and the Canary and the Balearic Islands had introduced policies to limit tourist expansion.

He accused the tourism sector of using the “blackmail” of saying that jobs would be lost if tourist numbers in resorts were limited by politicians.

The Canary Islands’ tourist authority said the graffiti in Tenerife happened two months ago.

At the time, Jessica de León, the Canary Islands tourist minister, said it was “regrettable”.

In Gran Canaria, a tourism authority spokeswoman said anti-tourist protests were “isolated”.

José Juan Loreno, director general for tourism in the Canary Islands, said: “The perception that the Canarian Islands citizens have of tourism is positive according to the latest survey carried out by the Canary Islands Statistics Institute in 2019. In that survey 80 per cent agreed with the statement: ‘Tourism development has been positive for the island and its citizens.'” 

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Brits urged to check before holiday after Spain brings in new ‘daily charge’ for tourists

Not what you want during a cost-of-living crisis..

British tourists have been urged to keep a look out for the upcoming ‘daily charges’ for holidaymakers in Spain.

During a cost-of-living crisis , the last thing you want to hear is another wallet drainer for when you're on holiday .

For those wondering, Jose Maria Bellido, the Mayor of Cordoba , has explained why he thinks it's a good idea.

He told Europa Press: “We are going to reach a point where it is necessary to impose a tourist tax.

"There are municipalities that understand that it would be positive and I can share that analysis.

"There are cities in which there is an agglomeration (of tourists) with significant costs for public services of all kinds, such as cleaning, transportation, security, and maintenance. [A tourist tax] may be reasonable]."

For those travelling to the Balearic Islands or mainland Spain, it's being reported that holidaymakers will be charged approximately £3 a day in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands.

Although, the tourist tax in Catalonia will vary, depending on the type of accommodation and the season you visit in.

For 5-star hotels, the rate will reportedly be €3.50 per night, while a typical tourist flat will set you back €2.25 per night.

The mayor of Malaga, Francisco de la Torre, added: "I have always declared myself in favour of it.

"A tourist, even if he contributes indirectly with his expenses through taxes and revenue on spending, is enjoying city facilities paid for by residents."

Meanwhile, the Tourism Business Council of the Confederations of Entrepreneurs of Andalucia has discouraged the move, arguing that it would 'negatively affect the competitiveness of the sector and the regional economy as a whole'.

The change is certainly an unwelcome one amongst the hotel sector, as host of this year’s Olympics and Paralympics , Paris, is increasing its tourist tax.

In a statement, the Union des Métiers et des Industries de l'Hôtellerie (UMIH) and Groupement National de Chaines Hôtelières (GNC) said: “It is another hard blow for the competitiveness of our sector and for the image of France, at a time when all the spotlights are on Paris 2024.”

Venice, Amsterdam, Barcelona and Manchester have already brought in tourist fees to crackdown on overtourism to spruce up the area in the process.

People who call the seaside towns their home have launched petitions calling for a tourist tax to be brought in, which would supposedly apply to anyone entering specific - and popular - zones.

Maris Lake is the man behind one of the appeals to the council and he championed the idea of charging visitors a small amount, saying it would help remind them to be on their best behaviour.

He told the Bournemouth Echo: "We know how our beaches end up after the weekend - I think all the locals are aware of it.

"When something is free, people abuse it. If people had to pay, it could shift their mentality."

Topics:  Cost of Living , Money , Travel , UK News , World News

Anish is a GG2 Young Journalist of the Year 2024 finalist. He has a Master's degree in Multimedia Journalism and a Bachelor's degree in International Business Management. Apart from that, his life revolves around the ‘Four F’s’ - family, friends, football and food. Email: [email protected]

@ Anish_Vij

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• Per capita spend by British tourists in Spain 2010-2022

Average expenditure by residents of the United Kingdom who traveled to Spain from 2010 to 2022 (in euros per person)

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Spain, United Kingdom

2010 to 2022

including only overnight tourists

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*Total number of survey participants from all countries. The source uses the term "more than" to introduce the figures. Further information about the methodology can be found here . Data prior to 2016 was retrieved from statistics published by the Subdirección General de Conocimientos and Estudios Turísticos. Numbers were rounded.

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Statistics on " Inbound tourism in Spain "

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• Premium Statistic Countries with the highest number of inbound tourist arrivals worldwide 2019-2022
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From Barcelona to Malia: how Brits on holiday have made themselves unwelcome

The bad behaviour of British tourists abroad caused a surge in complaints to police in the Spanish city last year – but where else dreads their arrival?

I s it something we said? If you are daydreaming about a summer holiday, you might get a less than warm welcome this year. This week, Barcelona became the latest tourist destination to hit back at British holidaymakers, blaming them for adding to a rise in complaints to police of almost a fifth last year , according to news reports.

Offences included drinking in the streets, all-night parties and getting naked in public – and totalled 113,707 between July and September. UK visitors avoiding countries targeted by terrorists created a tourist boom in Spain . But money can’t buy you friends, it seems – with Brits regularly topping surveys of the nationality that locals least want to see propping up their bars. So where have we made ourselves unwelcome?

Aside from Barcelona, we are hardly more popular elsewhere in Spain – even the British hotspot of Majorca is cold-shouldering us. This summer, graffiti sprang up across the island’s historic capital, Palma , reading “Tourists go home” and “Tourist, you are the terrorist”. The harsh words were said to be a response to the huge number of Brits now flooding the island. In 2014, things were even worse after the local mayor insisted he would take action when a teenager was filmed performing oral sex on 24 men in Magaluf , sparking outrage. A year later, British police were sent to Magaluf and Ibiza to try to help local police with unruly tourists.

What’s the problem with British tourists? The mayor of Malia was clear : “They scream, they sing, they fall down, they take their clothes off, they cross-dress, they vomit,” he announced back in 2008. And, in case there was any question, he added: “It is only the British people – not the Germans or the French.” By 2013, the situation was bad enough for the mayor to suggest creating an “out-of-town” area for foreign holidaymakers, quickly dubbed a “tourist ghetto”.

The city of Riga is equally fed up with Brits behaving badly. Unsurprisingly, many in Latvia took exception at tourists urinating on the city’s Freedom Monument , which honours soldiers killed while fighting for independence. “If we also had other tourists, then British visitors who piss about all the time would not be as noticeable. Let’s not be politically correct – unfortunately, this is their speciality,” the mayor said in 2009 . One tourist information company said it had stopped dealing with British tourists altogether .

In 2015, a British tourist was accused of causing one of the country’s deadliest earthquakes. A British woman – one of 10 tourists who stripped off on the top of Mount Kinabalu for a dare, to show they could withstand freezing conditions – was accused of angering the mountain, which is considered sacred by indigenous people. Four of the tourists were arrested for “committing obscene acts in public” , but later released with a fine after apologising.

The good news

According to the Foreign Office’s British Behaviour Abroad report, we are getting better. In the latest data , from 2014, there was a slight decrease in the numbers of British people arrested abroad in 2013/14. Most cases were handled in Spain (1,389), followed by the US (1,153) and the United Arab Emirates (261). Drug arrests had slightly increased from the year before (by 7%) but “the number of cases remains low compared to recent years”.

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Britons in Spain warned about holidaying in Canary Islands as anti-tourist protest date looms

Britons in the Canary Islands should be aware of a protest happening in just weeks

By Anna Barry

Published: 04/04/2024

Some locals believe that mass tourism in the area has led to a "crisis" and that "enough is enough"

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Britons holidaying in the Canary Islands have been warned that a protest is set to take place on April 20.

In holiday hotspots Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and La Palma, locals will reportedly take to the streets against overtourism. The protest is being organised under the slogan, "The Canary Islands have a limit".

Britons heading to the Canary Islands for a mid-April break should be aware of protests and anti-tourist sentiment.

Locals believe that mass tourism in the Canary Islands has a negative impact on residents.

'It's like everything is made for British and German tourists who just want to drink cheap beer, lay in the sun and eat burgers and chips'

Tourists are often noisy and contribute to pollution by littering. What's more, increasing demand for Airbnbs has driven up rent costs.

Ivan Cerdeña Molina is helping to organise the protest as part of his role at local conservation group ATAN (Asociación Tinerfeña de Amigos de la Naturaleza).

He said: "It's a crisis, we have to change things urgently, people are living in their cars and even in caves, and locals can't eat, drink, or live well.

"Airbnb and Booking.com are like a cancer that is consuming the island bit by bit," he told MailOnline.

He acknowledged the benefits of the tourism industry but claimed that these "are not trickling down to everyday people".

Some locals are calling for the departure of a certain type of tourist - but not all holidaymakers.

Local painter Vicky Colomer said: "I feel like a foreigner here, I don't feel comfortable anymore, it's like everything is made for British and German tourists who just want to drink cheap beer, lay in the sun and eat burgers and chips.

"We need higher quality tourists who actually want to experience our culture and food and respect our nature."

Despite the protest warning, Britons should not be deterred from visiting the Spanish archipelago.

Canary Islands president Fernando Clavijo called for locals to use their "common sense", explaining that tourism is the "main source of employment and wealth" for the local economy, he said in a statement.

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Canary Islands president said that it's 'irresponsible to attack our main source of employment and wealth'

He added that it is "irresponsible to attack our main source of employment and wealth".

Britons have clapped back at anti-tourist feelings in the Canary Islands , with some GB News readers threatening to boycott the holiday hotspot.

In response to signs in Tenerife reading, "Tourists go home", one holidaymaker said: "Won't go where I'm not wanted, I can spend my money anywhere."

Another seconded this: "Simple, just don't go, plenty of other sunny places to go and spend money, see how long the moaning goes on when no money coming into the area."

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Wife of British tourist who died ‘taking selfie’ speaks out

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The widow of a British tourist who died after being swept out to sea during a storm has denied he was taking a selfie at the time.

The victim, a 62-year-old only identified as ‘John’, was believed to have fallen into the sea off San Esteban de Pravia in northern Spain after going for a walk with his wife on March 28.

It’s thought he was taking a selfie when he was knocked off his feet by a rogue wave – but his widow has written an open letter in the local newspaper denying this and saying there were ‘no visible’ warning signs about accessing the breakwater in bad weather.

His Spanish wife, who asked not to be identified, has called on the local authorities to improve safety and hopes her husband’s death will not be in vain.

The tragedy occurred at an old fishing village west of the town of Gijon, and he had travelled to the area for a short holiday with his wife.

In the letter published in La Nueva Espana, John’s widow said: ‘Many will pacify themselves saying the accident happened to a naive or careless Englishman who failed to adequately evaluate the danger and there will be some truth in this.

‘But I want to put on record that he was not one of those who lost his life for a photo or a selfie that he didn’t even try to take.

‘I cannot accept that because it simply wasn’t the case.

‘I would like to know in the future that John’s death was not in vain and that it has served to consider investment in the installation of an effective warning system to alert about the dangers in the area.

‘Then if someone nevertheless chooses to ignore it because they are determined to take the must-have photo, we can all sleep with a clearer conscience that everything possible was done to warn of the danger.

‘Hopefully this place of incomparable beauty is primarily known for that and for the unparalleled kindness and hospitality of those lucky enough to live there, and not for the number of tragic deaths in the area.

‘Hopefully the relevant authorities heed my plea and install security systems that, while not preventing all deaths, will reduce them.’

The town’s mayor, Celestino Novo, said at the time of the tragedy that there was a sign near the breakwater entrance warning people not to access it during bad sea conditions – but local reports say the sign had been vandalised at the time.

The dead man’s body was found on a small rocky beach area a short distance from where he ended up in the water following a search that lasted nearly an hour.

Local reports suggest he was one of four people killed as Storm Nelson battered the Mediterranean country.

Three other people are reported to have died during Storm Nelson in Spain, including a woman who fell into the sea in the port of Cudillero.

A teenager, as well as a 30-year-old German man who got into difficulty trying to rescue the teen, drowned in the eastern coast city of Tarragona.

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