Magaluf rules: 64 things you won't be able to do at the resort this summer
New rules were passed last year to try and curb Brits’ unsavoury behaviour
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Your support makes all the difference.Mallorcan resorts have cracked down on tourists’ bad behaviour with a slew of rules that, if broken, could result in fines of thousands of euros.
Calvia Council, the municipality home to notorious party resort Magaluf, started the process of cleaning up the town’s image back in 2015, bringing in rules to “punish uncivic behaviour” according to a council spokesperson. A host of other restrictions were added in autumn 2016, and this summer will see the new rules enforced for the first time, with extra police officers on hand to ensure holidaymakers comply.
The rules prohibit defecating in public places, having sex in public, and being naked in public, as well as littering, tearing branches off trees and playing music above 65 decibels.
The list of banned behaviour is entirely reasonable, but may convince some British partygoers to head elsewhere in search of hedonism, to one of the various other good-time resorts usually found on Spanish or Greek islands.
This wouldn’t cause too much concern to the local authorities. Many of the restrictions were first proposed in response to around 15,000 complaints made by citizens to the police and council each year. It’s all part of Calvia’s five-year regeneration plan, expected to cost €240 million, which aims to attract a better class of tourist to the area – namely families and couples, rather than 18 to 30s types.
Fines for those caught breaking the rules range from €100 for a minor infraction, such as climbing a tree, to €3,000 for a serious offence, such as vandalism or selling alcohol to under 18s.
The Mayor of Calvia said last year: “We have improved the experience for tourists and we are now no longer in the news for bad coverage. There has been a major decrease in infractions, arrests, balconing [jumping from a balcony into a pool] and all kinds of illegal or anti-social behaviour.”
The crackdown has begun already this year – two drunk British men were cornered by police at Palma airport on 13 June, reports Majorca Daily Bulletin. They were held overnight and charged with assaulting police officers.
Meanwhile, 19 British tourists were fined on 9 June after running naked through the streets of Palmanova.
Despite the attempted clean-up, tourists who visited Magaluf last year say the resort is much the same as ever. “I’m embarrassed to admit I went last year,” travel writer Mike MacEacheran tells The Independent. “It's now undeniably my least favourite place in the world.” When asked if the town still attracted drunk young Brits or whether it had improved, he responded: “The former. It was ghastly.”
Should you wish to head to Magaluf yourself this summer, here’s what not to do:
1. Not to argue or fight in public places
2. No abusive language
3. Respect others
4. Don't damage street furniture
5. Co-operate with the police or officials
6. Respect tourist facilities
7. Don't cause any interference to public events
8. Must not give false information about your identity
9. Carry any sort of prohibited weapon
10. Must not disrespect police officers
11. No shining of laser beams
12. Respect any physical barriers put in place by the police
13. Event organisers to guarantee people's safety
14. Bar and cafe owners have to ensure good order
15. They mustn't serve anyone already drunk
16. And not to anyone under 18
17. Never serve drink or food to consume on the street
18. Stop customers going out in the street with glasses or bottles
19. Don't damage litter bins, statues, parks, gardens and so on
20. Forbidden to rip off branches from trees
21. Mustn't carve names or initials into the bark
22. Don't climb trees
23. Don't throw litter into the road
24. Mustn't damage flowers in parks
25. Don't cause discomfort to others with skateboards or balls
26. No defecating, urinating or spitting in public places
27. Don't throw down chewing gum, cigarette butts, cans, papers, containers etc
28. Interfere with street lighting
29. Ban on any type of graffiti
30. No scratching surfaces
31. Public event organisers must ensure proper conduct of guests
32. Adhere to safety rules on the beaches
33. Don't swim when red flag flying
34. Or bathe anywhere it is prohibited
35. Wash any sort of item or garment under the beach showers
36. Leave jars, buckets or containers under them
37. Drink directly from the showers
38. Absolutely forbidden to have sexual relations in a public place or anywhere visible from public places
39. No begging
40. No collecting money for sand castles unless structures are approved by council
41. Any activity which might cause obstruction on public highway or interfere with other people's mobility
42. No begging in the street
43. No authorised services in the public space, such as tarot, clairvoyance, massages or tattoos.
44. No tipping off anyone about the presence of the police
45. Comply with noise limits ie with music on the beach
46. Don't drink alcoholic beverages in public spaces when it may cause discomfort to people who use the public space and in living locally (unless at a previously authorised event).
47. Don't drink alcohol if it is going to harm the peacefulness of an area or lead to drunkenness.
48. Or if drinking alcohol is done in a demeaning way which would upset other people
49. Or if there are children around.
50. Behave at organised events or it is the duty of the organiser to call the police.
51. Put drink containers into bins
52. Don't throw down bottles or cans etc on the street
53. Bottle parties in the street in public places are banned
54. Respect the right of people to rest, especially between 8pm and 8am
55. No taking away drinks, whatever containers they are in, to have in the street. Owners should have warning signs in various languages, including English
56. Commercial establishments can't sell you alcohol between midnight and 8am
57. Illegal to take drugs or other substances in public places
58. Forbidden to go naked or semi-naked in the street
59. Must wear tops ie no bare chests in public places away from the beach
60. Forbidden to use any glass vessel or glass in the sand and adjacent areas
61. Can't use soap or gel under the public showers
62. Balconing (jumping from a balcony into a swimming pool)
63. Coercing others to do balconing
64. Gambling in the street
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