Portugal, Greece and Spain new travel rules for 2025: from tourist entry requirements to bikini bans

UK holidaymakers should keep in mind these new travel rules when planning trips to Spain, Greece and Portugal for summer holidays this year

From new tourist taxes and border control rules across Europe, to navigating Spain’s so-called tourist bans, it can be tricky to understand how the latest travel news affects your trip. Add to that dress codes with heavy fines, drinking regulations, and new laws affecting hotels in Spain, and it can be hard to keep up.

Cut through the confusion and plan a hassle-free holiday with our guide to the latest travel rules in Portugal, Spain and Greece in 2025.

Spain travel rules

Is Spain banning tourists?

No. Several areas of Spain have announced bans on short-term holiday rentals — but this doesn’t amount to a ‘tourist ban’.

However, following anti-tourism protests from residents across popular tourist destinations in Spain, a number of cities and local councils have introduced new regulatory measures. The latest short-term rental bans have been put in place to relieve strained housing availability for locals. 

Malaga is the latest region in Spain to announce new regulations on short-term holiday rentals in an effort to combat ‘overtourism’. The new cap means no new short-term let licences will be granted for at least two years across 43 districts in Malaga. It is also considering a city-wide ban on new tourist accommodation listings for three years.  Earlier in January, a similar ban on new holiday lets also took effect in Alicante.

Madrid and Seville introduced measures in 2024, while Barcelona has announced a total ban on holiday apartments by Novemeber 2028. Other restrictions could also be introduced in San Sebastian and the Canary Islands in future.

These new developments are latest in a series of rules introduced in Spain to regulate tourism in the country. This includes new rules that non-EU travellers, including those from the UK, visiting Spain must now share additional personal data when checking into any accommodation or hiring a car. 

What do short-term rental bans mean for tourists?

Holidaymakers may find fewer options for holiday accommodation in areas that have introduced bans — especially as those destinations were already popular with tourists. If you’re struggling to find a holiday let, you might want to consider booking a hotel with a reputable provider.

Get travel advice and recommendations you can trust from the experts with our free monthly Travel newsletter

Spain data collection: what information do I have to give under the new law?

All hotel owners, private rental providers, campsites and car hire companies are now required to collect personal data on guests and supply it to the Spanish Ministry of Interior (similar to the UK Home Office) within 24 hours of check-in.

The Spanish government says the law is designed to improve national security. 

Along with your full name, email address and passport number (all of which were required from hotels before the law change), you’ll now need to share the following information for all members of the group over the age of 14 when checking into accommodation or when renting a car:

• Gender
• Nationality
• Date of birth
• Home address
• Landline phone number 
• Mobile phone number
• Payment details and method
• Relationship to any children in the travelling party under the age of 14.

Should I be concerned by the new law?

If you’re worried about extra paperwork, no. When you’re booking a hotel or car hire online it’s likely you’re already supplying much of this information, including your name, email address, payment details and passport number.

And many hotels already chose to collect additional data, or to scan your passport. Wait times at check-in for your accommodation might also be longer while hotels, rentals and car hire companies adapt to this change.

If you’re concerned about data privacy and hacking risks, then this change is cause for concern. Some businesses may not be equipped to securely store your data. 

You can’t refuse to give your details, however. Instead make sure you have ‘strong’ online passwords that don’t use personal information, and set up two-factor authentication on your devices and important accounts and apps.

Will I have to show my bank balance?

No. This is a myth, based on the so-called '£97 a day rule' when travelling to Spain this summer, which UK holidaymakers are highly unlikely to fall foul of.

What is the £97 a day rule in Spain?

Non-EU citizens, including British tourists,  entering any country in the Schengen area can be asked to provide evidence that they have enough money for the duration of their stay. This figure varies by country and in Spain it's set at €118, or £98.63, after increasing slightly for 2025. 

Visitors can also be asked to show that they have a return ticket and provide details of where they'll be staying during their trip.

These rules have been in place for many years, but since the UK left the European Union, they now apply to British citizens. However, the Ministry of the Interior has confirmed that this rule isn’t being applied to tourists and no British tourist has been refused entry on this basis.

Entry rules and requirements for visiting Spain

British citizens are much more likely to be caught out by changes to passport validity rules post-Brexit.

Eventually, British travellers will also need a visa waiver, known as the European Travel Information and Authorisation Scheme (ETIAS) to enter Spain – although the launch date for this has been pushed back to the end of 2026. The same is true of the Entrance/Exit System (EES), which will ultimately require UK travellers to have their fingerprints taken at the airport or other entry point, and has been postponed to October 2025. 

Here’s a summary of everything you need to know when visiting Spain this summer.

• Spain’s post-Brexit entry rules
• Will I need to be fingerprinted to enter Spain?
• Do I need a visa to travel to Spain?
• Why you probably don’t need to worry about the €118 per day rule
• Local laws in Spain: alcohol limits and bikini bans

Get travel advice and recommendations you can trust from the experts with our monthly Travel newsletter – it’s free

What are the passport rules for Spain?

British passport holders need to check if their passport meets the EU and Schengen area’s requirements for ‘third-country nationals’. Since Brexit, this includes British passport holders.

You can do this by checking if your passport’s ‘date of issue’ and ‘date of expiry’ satisfy the following two requirements.

How long do you need on your passport to travel to Spain?

Date of issue: it must have been issued less than 10 years before your arrival date in Spain.

Date of expiry: it must be valid for at least three months after the day you’re leaving Spain.

These passport rules also apply to the Canary Islands, as well as every country in the EU and Schengen area apart from Ireland.

Some UK holidaymakers have been denied boarding because their passport was issued more than 10 years ago. This is because the Passport Office used to add extra months if you renewed your old passport early, so your current passport could be valid for more than 10 years.

You’ll also need to renew your passport if you run out of blank pages, as it will be stamped when you enter and exit Spain.

The Passport Office currently advises travellers to allow at least three weeks for their application to be processed – but at peak times, waits can be much longer. Make sure to check your passport before you book your holiday.

Will I need to be fingerprinted to enter Spain?

Eventually. The new Entry/Exit System (EES) will require any non-EU citizen entering most European countries – including Spain – to provide 'biometric data'. 

This means you'll be fingerprinted and have your photo taken at your entry point into the country. For most people this will be at the airport. Biometric data will then need to be taken on all future trips, rather than having your passport stamped when entering or leaving the country.

The introduction of EES has been delayed several times. The EU has said it will be introduced in October 2025. This is a progressive start date, and it is not currently clear when the system will be fully operational.

This is separate to the planned visa-waiver scheme, Etias – which is expected to be introduced in late 2026. Both schemes are intended to tighten Europe's borders and make it harder for terrorists and other criminals to enter. 

Considering the Canaries? Find out the best Canary Island, according to our latest survey.

 Visas for Spain: do I need a visa to go to Spain when travelling from the UK?

You don’t need a visa for short visits to Spain. British passport holders are allowed to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 out of 180 days. So you could stay in Spain for up to 90 days or visit several countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days.

You will eventually need an Etias visa waiver to visit Spain and the Canary Islands, as well as every country in the Schengen zone. The European Commission currently expects this to begin in the last few months of in 2026. It’s expected to cost €7 (£6) and be valid for three years.

Read more about Etias on the official European Union website.

 Local laws in Spain: alcohol limits and bikini bans

Spain has introduced local laws and restrictions on alcohol, smoking and wearing swimwear in public in recent years. Make sure you’re aware of these rules to avoid being fined.

Drinking and smoking in public in Spain

Some local authorities in Spain, including in Madrid, the Balearics and the Canaries, have banned drinking alcohol and smoking in public places with on-the-spot fines for anybody who doesn’t comply with the rules. These rules apply to some beaches as well. 

There’s a limit on the amount of alcohol you can buy or consume in an effort to clamp down on anti-social behaviour in several resorts in the Balearics – Magaluf and Palma on Mallorca, and parts of Ibiza. Tourists on all-inclusive deals are limited to six drinks a day, and two-for-one drinks, happy hours and pub crawls are banned.

Smoking is prohibited on most Spanish beaches, including all beaches in Barcelona. Those caught smoking where they’re not supposed to could be fined £25.

Where do you need to cover up in Spain?

It’s against the law to wear just a bikini or swimming trunks in the street in Barcelona, parts of Malaga and Palma in Mallorca. Being bare-chested in the street has also been banned in some areas. You could be fined up to €300 (around £250) for not following the rules. 

This rule applies to other public settings too, such as restaurants, shops and bars. Always cover up when walking back from the beach or swimming pool to be on the safe side.

Planning a trip? Check out the top new flight routes in 2025

Portugal travel rules

British travellers visiting Portugal will need to make sure their passports meet the requirements for entry to Portugal. And when the European Travel Information and Authorisation Scheme (ETIAS) is launched (currently expected in the last few months of in 2026), they will also need a visa waiver to enter the country — though this has been delayed. 

The Entrance/Exit System (EES) has also been pushed, with a progressive start date in October 2025. The first phase of EES will mean that non-EU citizens, including British travellers, will be fingerprinted or have a facial photograph taken the first time they cross the border into the Schengen zone for short stays. 

Eventually British travellers give all biometric information (both fingerprints and face scans) checked every time they enter any of 30 European countries for a short stay.

Travellers to Portugal will also need to be aware of new tourist taxes and dress codes in certain areas of Portugal.

How long do I need on my passport to visit Portugal?

Date of issue: it must have been issued less than 10 years before your arrival date in Portugal.

Date of expiry: it must be valid for at least three months after the day you’re leaving Portugal.

These passport rules also apply to Madeira and the Azores, as well as every country in the EU and Schengen area apart from Ireland.

It’s a legal requirement to be able to show your ID if asked by the authorities, at all times when in Portugal. Sometimes a photocopy of your passport is enough, but you may be asked to show the original.

Do I need a visa to travel to Portugal in 2025?

Not for short visits. As with Spain and other countries in the EU, British passport holders are allowed to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 out of 180 days — meaning you could stay in Portugal for up to 90 days or visit several countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days.

From some point later in 2025, you will need a visa waiver to visit Portugal, as well as every country in the Schengen zone. It’s expected to cost €7 (£6) and be valid for three years. The EU’s Etias was due to be introduced last year but has been postponed until the last few months of 2026.

Portugal tourist taxes

Visitors to popular destinations in Portugal will likely have to pay a tourist tax, added onto the cost of accommodation. Lisbon’s tourist tax doubled from €2 to €4 in September 2024. 

Setúbal, Caminha and Madeira all introduced a tax of €1.50-€2 per person per night in 2024, and Faro’s high season tourist tax also doubled to €2. The Azores began charging €2 per person per night from January 2025.

Cover up rules and fines

Travellers should watch out for dress codes or ‘cover-up’ rules, particularly in beach destinations. Albufeira in The Algarve recently proposed fines of up to €1500 for wearing a bikini or going shirtless outside of beach zones.

 Greece travel rules

Just like in Spain and Portugal, travellers to Greece will need to make sure their passports meet validity requirements. And, when the Entry/Exit Scheme is introduced in October 2025, British travellers will need to provide biometric information at the border, starting with fingerprints or a facial photo. 

When the Etias scheme is introduced (currently planned for the last few months of 2026), travellers will be required to have a visa waiver (Etias).

How long do I need on my passport to visit Greece?

Date of issue: it must have been issued less than 10 years before your arrival date in Greece.

Date of expiry: it must be valid for at least three months after the day you’re leaving Greece.

These passport rules apply to all Greek Islands, as well as every country in the EU and Schengen area apart from Ireland.

As in Portugal, It’s a legal requirement to be able to show your ID if asked by the authorities, at all times when in Greece. Police may not accept a photocopy.

Do I need a visa to travel to Greece in 2025?

Not for visits under 90 days long. As with Spain, Portugal and other countries in the EU, British passport holders are allowed to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 out of 180 days — meaning you could stay in Portugal for up to 90 days or visit several countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days.

Eventually, you will need an Etias visa waiver to visit Greece, as well as every country in the Schengen zone. It’s expected to cost €7 (£6) and be valid for three years. It is expected to be introduced in the last few months of 2026.

Greece tourist taxes

This year Greece raised tourist taxes significantly. Visitors between November and February will be expected to pay a tax of €2 per room per night (an increase from 50 cents). Those visiting in the high season will pay €8 per room per night between April and October. Greek officials say the money will help improve infrastructure and deal with climate-related damage.

Greece tourist laws

Tourists can be arrested for rowdy or ‘indecent’ behaviour. Some fancy costumes might also be considered offensive, and could lead to fines or arrest.

Greece smoking ban

It’s illegal to smoke indoors in public in Greece, including in malls and public transport buildings, with fines up to €500.