UK tourists face £2,500 fine for breaking new rules in popular Spanish city

Valencia is the third most populous municipality in Spain, with a city population of over 840,000 residents (Picture: Shutterstock / saiko3p) The popular Spanish city of Valencia has introduced a wave of strict new rules and hefty fines for tourists, with penalties as high as €3,000 (£2,500) The new rules target anti-social behaviour such as littering and rowdy pre-wedding celebrations. Innovation and tourism minister Paula Llobret said: ‘We want Valencia to remain a city where tourist mobility is compatible with the day-to-day life of those who live here. ‘To achieve this, it is essential to regulate cycling and personal mobility vehicle journeys, especially when it comes to large groups, and to ensure they can get around safely and responsibly.’ Llobret added that the objective was ‘not to limit tourism’, but to ‘better manage its activities and ensure that we can all share the streets in appropriate conditions’. We are committed to a responsible tourism model that takes into account the mobility needs of both residents and visitors,’ he continued. The city is keen to crack down on anti-social behaviour and prevent cycling accidents (Picture: Getty Images) What are the new rules? Visitors caught dropping litter, chewing gum, cigarette butts, or paper or failing to clear up pet excrement face fines ranging up to €1,500 (£1,250). Meanwhile, more serious offences — such as spitting or urinating in public spaces — will carry penalties climbing as high as €3,000 (£2,500). The city council is also launching a ‘responsible cyclist’ campaign in conjunction with Visit Valencia. This includes a ten-point code of good practice for anyone getting around the city by bike. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. To combat congestion, tourist cycling and e-scooter groups are now capped at a maximum of 10 people (down from the previous limit of 15). Larger groups must split up and maintain a distance of at least 50 metres from one another. The limit will apply to both bicycles and e-scooters (Picture: Getty Images) This latest crackdown on anti-social behaviour in Valencia builds on new rules proposed this year targeting rowdy stag and hen parties. Under the new proposals, groups participating in stag and hen celebrations on public streets between 10:00 PM and 8:00 PM (Sunday to Friday, and until 9:30 AM on Saturdays) would face fines, ranging from €750 to €1,500 (£625 to £1,250), unless the event has been officially authorised by the council. Wearing items that represent human genitalia or carrying inflatable dolls and other explicit sexual props through public spaces would result in fines of up to €750 (£625). The proposal would make Valencia the first Spanish municipality to explicitly target hen and stag parties with a specific regulation. This comes as Benidorm city, which is part of the greater region of Valencia, banned two-seater mobility scooters in October as part of a campaign to crack down on accidents and rowdy behaviour. This is part of a wider campaign across Spain to tackle anti-social behaviours (Picture: Shutterstock / jksz.photography) Similarly, Tenerife recently introduced a £2,500 fine for camping, overnight stays, littering, smoking and playing loud music on beaches as part of an effort to clean up its coastline. Last year Spain also introduced stricter drink-driving laws, with a universal alcohol limit of 0.2g per litre in the blood or 0.1mg per litre in breath. The island of Mallorca has recently set new requirements for tourists too. Originally proposed to limit walking tours to 20 people per group, this faced harsh backlash and was compromised to a maximum of 35 people per group in January this year. Our Top Shopping Picks The Orlando holiday deal Disney fans shouldn't miss We're adding this discounted NEOM gift set straight to basket Want an LED face mask for less? This Black Friday deal could save you hundreds This teeth whitening sale could save you up to 64% before Black Friday These Simba Black Friday deals are too good for tired shoppers to ignore Additionally, tour guides in Mallorca are now banned from using loudspeakers or megaphones in public areas. More travel news from Metro Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Arrow MORE: TV channels and more flights receive bomb threats on the third day of chaos Arrow MORE: Goalkeeper Jesus Owono issues first statement after death of Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel Arrow MORE: Iconic Greek holiday island should prepare for possible tsunami, seismologist warns The Getaway Expert Your exclusive seven-day guide to travelling with confidence from Metro's resident travel expert, Alice Murphy.