Spains

THE resort town of San Sebastián on the Bay of Biscay is known for its beautiful beaches, and is making plans to keep it that way.

San Sebastián’s city council has announced that it wants to put new rules in place to conserve its famous coast.

The first rule is a smoking ban across all its beaches, something that is becoming more common in Spain.

If it goes ahead, San Sebastián will become the second town in the Basque region to fully ban smoking on its beaches after Zarautz.

Beaches in San Sebastián could also have new rules when it comes to pets.

During the summer, dogs will only be allowed to walk on the beaches from 9pm until midnight.

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Previously, locals were able to walk their dogs on public beaches between September 1 and May 30 at any time of the day.

Thanks to a growing number of noise complaints, loudspeakers could be joining the ban list too.

The city is inviting its locals to share their thoughts on the new rules from October 20, with the aim of the new rules being fully implemented by June 2026.

San Sebastián has three main beaches, La Concha, Ondarreta, and Zurriola and last year, Which? named San Sebastián Spain‘s ‘best coastal town’.

It was rated on factors like the quality of the beach and seafront, safety, food and drink, accommodation, and value for money.

An overall score was calculated based on satisfaction and the likeliness to recommend each destination, with places ranked out of 100.

San Sebastián claimed first place with an overall score of 88 per cent out of 100. Factors like its beach, attractiveness and food and drink scene were awarded five stars.

The town’s most famous beach is La Concha, a shell-shaped bay very close to the city’s Old Town, while Ondarreta is generally much quieter with calm waters.

Zurriola on the other hand is known for having stronger waves – which makes it a popular spot for watersports.

Meanwhile, the Spanish city of Palma in Majorca is planning on banning another popular tourist activity, boat parties.

The Mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez Llabrés, has announced new measures to stop tourists from behaving badly in the city.

Party boats will be completely banned from Palma’s sea front where they dock, starting next season.

Mr Martínez added that the local council is working with the Balearic Ports Authority (APB) to determine how the restriction will be enforced.

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Read more on San Sebastian from one Sun Writer who visited…

The Sun’s Nuria Cremer-Vazquez visited sunny San Sebastian earlier this year…

“As I enjoy views from the open-air bar on San Sebastian’s Monte Urgull hill, I can see the wild Bay of Biscay on one wise, and on the other, a panoramic view of the city and its shell-shaped beach.

“If you want to get out and about, there is so much to keep you entertained in San Sebastian, from surfing on Zurriola beach to enjoying the viewpoints at Monte Urgull and Monte Igueldo.

“A charming funicular railway comes in handy if you don’t fancy hiking up the latter. But the best activity is devouring yet more food in the Old Town, savouring the city’s famous “pintxos” scene.

“Pronounced “pinchos”, and most easily described as the Basque version of tapas, these elaborate, bite-sized treats are around €2.50 a pop and found in every bar.

“And regardless of how full you get, no visit to the Old Town is complete without stopping by La Viña, the restaurant where the now-viral Basque burnt cheesecake originated.”

Here’s more on whereabouts in Spain is set to introduce strict new smoking at beaches, restaurants and bars.

Plus the alternative Spanish beach town in the Basque Country with seaside cocktail bar and towering cliffs.

I’m sitting on the ground with seven others, huddled around a mass of lumpy, grey matter that quickly turns to powder under the pounding of hammers. Beside us are a small dipping pool, some mulberry trees and a whitewashed house crawling with purple bougainvillaea, from which two dogs drift in and out to inspect our work.

“This is pretty therapeutic, isn’t it?” someone says above the clattering of tools, as flower-dappled light dances on a canopy that’s shielding us from the hot Andalucían sun.

We’re on a four-day wild clay ceramics retreat at Las Mecias, a regenerative farm in Spain’s Alpujarras, an idyllic valley just over an hour and a half south-east of Granada in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The course is a collaboration between Las Mecias’s Dutch owners, Laura and Nina, and Spaniards Milena and Julia from Tierra de Arcillas, a local ceramics studio. They connected through Instagram and things evolved from there.

The aim is to teach guests how to find, forage, process and fire ceramics from locally sourced wild clay in a more sustainable approach to pottery. They run a handful of workshops in spring and autumn when temperatures are more bearable.

I found Las Mecias while looking for pottery retreats in Spain, already hooked after one wheel-throwing workshop months earlier. That class came towards the end of a debilitating bout of depression and anxiety that had left me unable to work or function properly for months. At the wheel, I felt the dark cloud lift temporarily and anxious ruminations evaporated like water on a hot stove.

This time I’d be hand-building pottery for the first time. Las Mecias is located in exactly the kind of place those tired of the city long to escape to. Set off a dusty track, a few minutes from the picturesque mountainside pueblo (village) of Cástaras, the 2-hectare (5-acre) off-grid organic farm and retreat space is a natural haven dotted with olive and fruit trees, wildflowers and vegetable gardens.

The accommodation comprises a tiny home (a dinky caravan with a sundeck), a good-sized Mongolian-style yurt, and a minimalist Mediterranean two-bedroom casita (small house) with a kitchen, living room and terrace. All have spellbinding views over the low Sierra de la Contraviesa, which is speckled with vines and cortijos (farmhouses).

Our group includes a model from Taiwan, a Spanish project manager, a French yoga teacher, a Polish AI expert and a clarinettist from High Wycombe. My girlfriend and I are staying off-site at El Huerto de Lobras – a collection of bucolic apartments run by an endearing abuela (grandmother) named Ana.

The first day begins with introductions followed by a lesson on clay theory and a foraging mission led by Milena and Julia. The warm, spirited couple, who met in Barcelona and now live together in Almería, run Tierras de Arcillas in the foothills of the Alpujarras Almeriense.

Sick of being stuck behind a screen, Julia, a graphic designer, took a ceramics course in Barcelona where she became fascinated with the origins of clay. Lighting designer Milena was converted later when trawling the hills of Almería, charmed by the earth’s colours and textures.

Armed with pick-spades, we all set off to roam the marbled hills, searching for good clay. “See those cracks? That’s a good sign,” Julia says, leading us to a jagged, light-grey shard of mountain. We test the quality by removing stones, adding a drop of water, making a ball, then a tiny sausage, then a ring. The ring is the goal as it means the clay is 70% pure. After a positive test, we hack away frantically in clouds of dust, filling buckets like middle-class miners.

Back at the farm, Laura and Nina prepare dinner. Between them, the couple have worked in kitchens across the UK, Australia, Denmark and the Netherlands, so meals at Las Mecias are exceptional. For breakfast, there’s freshly made sourdough loaves, homemade quince, strawberry and plum jams and plates of watermelon, mango and loquat. Lunches feature Ottolenghi-worthy salads, while dinners span Indonesian, Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern cuisine – served with their own olive oil and natural wine.

Between meals, we wander the grounds, flop in deck chairs and hammocks staring out to snow-capped peaks, and work on our pieces. One of the group – me – makes an ugly olive dish, which looks like a flower that’s been stamped on. Others craft impressive vases, plates, cups, trays and bird feeders.

The workshop is well structured and flows naturally. Each part feels like a therapeutic technique. Foraging becomes my grounding ritual. Processing clay by removing impurities echoes filtering out negative beliefs. Deep discussions replace the rawness of therapy. And nutritious meals, quality sleep and abundant nature restore the soul.

Over the days, my mind quietens. It’s not a resounding silence. I’m not cured from the mental health issues that have plagued me for two decades, but I feel calmer. I’m attuned to the hum of bees and the crunch of stones underfoot. Inconveniences morph into joyful moments: getting stuck behind a farmer herding goats on a winding mountain road, having no phone signal anywhere, and being woken by the local church choir.

The four-day workshop culminates in a final ritual, where we fire up the handbuilt kiln and load it with our pieces. Between shifts gathering sticks and stoking the fire, we take turns dipping in the pool.

After sunset, Laura makes a pizza while Nina glides around with homemade wine and jugs of shrub – a refreshing drink made from fruit and vinegar.

Perching on hay bales, swigging wine and sharing stories, we cheer as the kiln’s temperature hits its century milestones, before reaching a high of 917F (492C). Sealing the oven, Milena and Julia chant a symbolic blessing, “protectora, ponle lo que falta y quitale lo que le sobra”, roughly translated to, “protector, provide us with what we lack and remove what isn’t needed”, before we retire to bed.

The next morning, we gather around the kiln and remove bricks, one by one. There’s no telling what’s survived: the fire decides. Perhaps a final reminder that acceptance and letting go is part of the process. Cheers erupt and compliments are exchanged as the first pieces emerge intact.

As we say our goodbyes, one member of the group leaves us with a final moment of reflection. “Honestly, I didn’t really care what mine turned out like. It didn’t matter if it cracked or exploded. I just enjoyed the process and would’ve accepted whatever happened.”

The retreat was provided by Las Mecias and Tierra de Arcillas, which offer three-night, four-day introduction to wild clay workshops, including accommodation, three dinners, three breakfasts and two lunches, and over 15 hours of theory and practical instruction. Prices from €580, based on a shared stay in a yurt with an outside bathroom. The next workshop is 16-19 October; 2026 dates to be announced late in October

Thanks to its fertile valleys, this region in Spain is romantically known as the Garden of Europe – but as well as an abundance of fruit, veg and olives, it also offers visitors stunning architecture and beautiful beaches

A university city in southeastern Spain is often overlooked by holidaymakers but has so much to offer and is still wonderfully warm in the winter.

Murcia can cater to everyone’s tastes, with a rich historical heritage evident in its Baroque architecture and cathedral, breathtaking natural parks and stunning sandy beaches – as well local menus that make the most of the region’s bountiful produce.

Despite it being Spain’s seventh largest city, it is relatively unknown among tourists. However, that could be about to change as UK airlines are extending their summer routes into winter, allowing visitors to enjoy a much welcome sunny break during the cooler months at home.

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Easyjet is now adding Luton and Bristol airports to its Murcia schedule from October to March. Previously Gatwick was the only route to the region in the winter. There are currently flights available for as little as £20 and under, one way.

Ryanair has also added a new route from Stansted as part of its winter schedule. We found a seven night round trip for just £44 in November from the London airport to Murcia.

It’s a great time of year to travel there – the area enjoys mild winters and relatively low rainfall. Temperatures in November average a high of 21C, making it the perfect place to recharge in the suns rays before the onslaught of the harsh UK weather and seasonal Christmas madness.

It’s not just the clement climate that is the province’s appeal though. Despite it being a city with the expected hustle and bustle in some areas, its people enjoy a laid back pace of life and there are less crowds than other tourist hotspots nearby such as Alicante.

The area has a rich historical heritage and has been inhabited since the Bronze and Iron ages. There are Roman sites to explore and the city’s grand Cathedral de Murcia is a favourite among visitors with its Baroque and Gothic designs and ornate carvings.

In the same square is the 18th century Bishops Palace which is the official headquarters of the Diocese of Cartagena and displays magnificent Rococo style facades reminiscent of Italian palaces of the Renaissance.

Juxtaposing the historical masterpieces in the Cardinal Belluga Square is the modern annexe of the town hall which was completed in 1999 and was designed by Raphael Moneo.

The Real Casino is another must see in the city. Its numerous rooms reflect the varying periods of design from 1847 to the early 20th century in the building which was once an exclusive establishment.

For those who want to explore the local landscape, the Barrancos de Gebas is a badland – a dry, arid land with little vegetation and rugged hills – on the outskirts of Sierra Espuña Regional Park. A hike here will uncover the area’s different species of birds, butterflies and moths as well as breathtaking views.

If relaxation is more your thing the region has around 155 miles of incredible coastline. There are quiet, sandy beaches to doze on and if travelling by car it’s even possible to find relatively deserted areas. Cabo de Palos is a hotspot for scuba diving and snorkeling with plenty of shipwrecks to explore, some from the First and Second World Wars.

When it comes to food, as previously mentioned, Murcia has come to be dubbed the Garden of Europe or Europe’s Orchard. Its long agricultural tradition thanks to the fertile valleys of its landscapes means the region produces an abundance of fruit, vegetables, oils, nuts and flowers.

Chefs in local restaurants make the most of this along with the supply of fresh seafood from the coast to serve a variety of delicious tapas dishes. One must-try speciality is Marineras – a dish with tuna, potato and vegetables on toast.

Meanwhile, Murcia al Vino is a goat’s cheese cured in a locally produced red wine and the traditional dessert is Paparajotes. Originally eaten by Murcian farmers, it is made by taking a leaf from a lemon tree, coating it in fried dough, sugar and cinnamon and peeling the batter from the leaf which gives it a zingy citrus flavour.

It’s autumn and Madrid is breathing a collective sigh of relief. Everything is open again and the intense heat, which seems to ooze out of the walls and up from the pavements in summer, has mellowed to pleasantly warm. It’s the perfect temperature for languishing on a cafe terrace with the sun tickling your skin as afternoon slips into evening. Noise levels are back to normal, which means cacophonous.

It feels like the entire population is out on the streets, catching up with their friends and chatting about all the things they want to do, the films they want to see, the new bars they’ve heard about and the restaurants they fancy trying over the next few months. If you could do with a boost, spend a few days in the Spanish capital this autumn.

The dazzling light and clear blue skies lift your mood as soon as you arrive. Madrid being the highest major capital city in Europe may have something to do with that. It is a comparatively young capital too. Arabs from north Africa settled here in the ninth century, building a citadel where the royal palace and Almudena cathedral are now, but Madrid only really got going when Philip II moved his court here from Toledo in 1561, establishing the city as the new capital of Spain.

To get a sense of the city’s history, walk from the Puerta del Sol – the centre not just of Madrid but the whole of Spain – to the 17th-century Plaza Mayor, which is framed by redbrick buildings with slate roofs and spindly spires. Then stroll along Cava Baja, the curving street that follows the course of the 12th-century city wall. Vestiges survive in the basements of several bars and restaurants that originated as inns and taverns for the merchants and travellers who arrived by stagecoach.

In Madrid, you absorb the city’s heritage just by walking around. In the Barrio de las Letras, or literary quarter, the bar-lined streets are named after the great writers who lived there in the 16th and 17th centuries, such as Miguel de Cervantes, Francisco de Quevedo and Lope de Vega.

You could spend weeks in the city’s big three museums – Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina Sofia – but try to fit in some others too. The Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando gets a fraction of the visitors, despite being just off the Puerta del Sol and having astounding collections that include Goya, El Greco, Picasso and Francisco de Zurbarán.

This autumn I’m looking forward to the Suma Flamenca festival (14 Oct-2 Nov), where leading flamenco dancers, singers and musicians will be performing new work such as Flamenco Gospel by Juan Carmona. The main festival venue is the Teatros del Canal, an arts complex designed by Juan Navarro Baldeweg, one of Spain’s most renowned architects, who is also an artist (an exhibition of his work is on at Centro Centro until 14 December). The Teatros del Canal is also a hub for the Festival de Otoño, (6-30 Nov), one of the cultural highlights of the year, with theatre, music and more by Spanish and international artists.

The Chamberí district, where the Teatros del Canal is found, is in a less touristy area, just north of downtown. The most traditional and characterful areas of the city, considered the homes of a “pure” and distinctive Madrileño spirit, are called barrios castizos – and Chamberí certainly fits that description. Base yourself here for a more authentic feel – try the palatial and stylish One Shot Fortuny hotel, which has doubles from around £160 room-only in October.

As you explore, take in the flowers spilling over the wrought-iron balconies and the gleaming fruit and vegetables outside little shops (particularly the mushrooms at this time of year) and peer into the tiny, tiled bars where locals are having a quick coffee or beer. Walk in, find yourself a place at the bar and you’ll wonder why you don’t live in Madrid.

Trafalgar, the part of Chamberí closest to the centre, is fast becoming one of the most fashionable parts of town, but still has a laid-back, family vibe. I’ve been meeting friends in the Plaza de Olavide for decades and seen it undergo umpteen makeovers.

Eight streets flow into the square, bringing a constant stream of people searching for friends and dragging chairs to form messy configurations of all ages that change constantly as the night wears on. It’s normal to arrange to meet one friend here, and end up with a table of 10.

New bars, restaurants, galleries and boutiques are opening in traditional premises here, but I love that the people behind them are keeping the original fixtures and fittings or hunting down zinc or steel counters and revamping old bar stools to recreate the castizo character, while also adding their own contemporary vibe. Pop into Bar Trafalgar for a cocktail – or maybe a vermouth and a smoked ham and cheese toasted sandwich – and you’ll get the idea. It’s the kind of place that works at any time of day or night. I love the Olavide Bar de Libros too, both a bookshop and a cafe – browsing books and sipping a glass of wine are two of my favourite things.

Also on my list this autumn is International Architecture Week (until 13 Oct, although some exhibitions run beyond that date). The programme includes an Álvaro Siza exhibition (until 9 Jan 2026) at the Colegio Oficial de Arquitectos de Madrid, a short stroll from the Plaza de Olavide. This is followed by Madrid Otra Mirada (16-19 Oct), when you can visit historic buildings and gardens that are not usually open to the public.

At the Fernán Gómez Centro Cultural de la Villa, Leica: A Century of Photography, 1925-2025, features work by Sebastião Salgado, Steve McCurry and Alberto García-Alix and runs until 11 Jan. And I’ll be booking ahead for Warhol, Pollock and other American spaces at the Thyssen-Bornemisza (21 Oct-25 Jan).

While there’s certainly a lot to see and do at this time of year, you don’t want to get too hung up on packing your days with plans. Madrid is all about going with the flow. Drift around Parque del Buen Retiro for a couple of hours, taking in the startlingly vivid magenta and ochre tones of the oak, chestnut and willow trees. Exit the park on the east side, where Calle de Ibiza and the surrounding streets have become a gastronomic hotspot. I love tapas at the bar at La Catapa or La Taberna de Rox, although both also have tables if you want to rest tired feet.

For more autumnal hues, it’s now a lot easier to visit the elegant Campo del Moro gardens, which slope down from the royal palace to the Manzanares River. There used to be only one entrance, down by the river – which always felt like too much of a hike after traipsing around the palace. A lot of people weren’t aware that the gardens were open to visitors. Now, thank goodness, you can get in from the top end, from the Cuesta de San Vicente or the Cuesta de la Vega, which is really handy if you are going to the Royal Collections Gallery as there is direct access.

If you haven’t been to Madrid for a few years, this museum, which opened in 2023, is a must, with paintings by Bosch, Titian, Velázquez and Goya as well as a vast array of treasures collected by Spanish monarchs over the centuries, housed in a spectacular building designed by Emilio Tuñón and Luis Moreno Mansilla.

Walk down through the gardens – maybe stopping for a drink on the cafe terrace at the bottom – and cross the river to reach the Casa de Campo, the largest green space in Madrid. I rarely get beyond the lake, where there is a string of restaurants with tons of outdoor tables. A plate of garlic prawns with fried eggs at Villa Verbena invariably seems like an excellent idea at this point. It’s worth going just for the view of the Madrid skyline.

Back in the centre, head for Lavapiés, which is one of the most castizo neighbourhoods in Madrid but also the most international, with a huge range of places to eat and drink. Not that you need any excuse for a night out here, but the Tapapiés tapas and music festival (16-26 October) is a particularly good time for a mooch around. More than 100 bars and restaurants are taking part and are offering a tapa and a beer for €3.50. There’s going to be live music, dancing, processions and kids’ activities too. If all that’s not a good enough reason to book a stay, I don’t know what is.

Pro-Palestine demonstrators have repeatedly targeted the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team during the race in Spain.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Madrid have forced the abandonment of the Vuelta a Espana cycling race’s final stage, with Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard declared the overall winner as police fought with protesters.

Demonstrators blocked sections of the race route in the Spanish capital on Sunday, moving past metal barriers and stepping out onto the road. Police deployed in large numbers, but the race was abandoned.

Organisers confirmed the suspension of the event. “The race is over,” a spokesperson told Reuters.

Spanish authorities said that 100,000 pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets of Madrid on Sunday.

The protests have repeatedly targeted the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team, owned by Israeli-Canadian property developer Sylvan Adams, over Israel’s war on Palestinians in Gaza.

Adams, the president of the Israel region of the World Jewish Congress, is referred to by that organisation as “committed to promoting Israel’s global image”.

Demonstrations disrupted multiple stages in recent weeks, with some riders threatening to quit after blockades caused falls on the course.

In Bilbao, stage 11 of the race was neutralised with no winner declared after protesters blocked the approach to the finish last week, while on Tuesday, hundreds of demonstrators forced stage 16 in Galicia to be shortened after confronting police near the route.

More than 1,000 police officers were deployed on Sunday in Madrid to secure the finale of the 21-day race in Madrid, which had been scheduled to finish at 7pm (17:00 GMT).

While race organisers denied they were considering cancelling earlier stages, they had suggested Israel-Premier Tech withdraw to protect the safety of other teams.

The participation of Israel-Premier Tech has drawn widespread criticism in Spain, where support for the Palestinian cause is strong.

Lily Mayers, a freelance journalist, told Al Jazeera: “This afternoon, thousands of protesters gathered … with flags and banners in support of Palestine. At around 6.30pm [16:30 GMT], crowds flooded onto the street, pushing down the barriers and clashing with police quite dramatically.

“Police in response used tear gas on protesters to push them back.”

The Spanish government this week recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv and barred two far-right Israeli ministers from entering the country, while it officially recognised a Palestinian state last year.

Sports Minister Pilar Alegria has previously argued that Israeli teams should be banned from international competitions, similar to restrictions imposed on Russian teams following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. She said allowing them to compete showed a “double standard”.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly praised Israel-Premier Tech for continuing in the race despite the protests.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also voiced support for the pro-Palestine protesters. Speaking at a Socialist Party rally in Malaga on Sunday, he said: “Today marks the end of the Vuelta.”

“Our respect and recognition [is] for the athletes and our admiration for the Spanish people who are mobilising for just causes like Palestine,” he said. “Spain today shines as an example and as a source of pride, an example to an international community where it sees Spain taking a step forward in the defence of human rights.”

This year, fewer than 40 per cent of Spanish travellers went on holiday in August, which is the traditional month off, as it is in France. This marks a significant change in travel habits

Holidaymakers heading to Spain during the autumn may find themselves overwhelmed by crowds of fellow tourists.

It used to be that heading to Britain’s favourite holiday destination in April, May, and September was a great way to bag a decently priced warm-weather stay while also dodging the throngs that descend on Spain during the high summer.

Newly published data suggests that this may no longer be the case. EuroNews reports that about one in six Spanish travellers will go on holiday this September as off-peak trips surge.

A major driver in this change is the travel habits of locals, which have shifted dramatically in recent years. Fewer than 40 per cent of Spanish travellers went on holiday in August, which is the traditional month off, as it is in France.

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Now, around one in six Spaniards say they will go on holiday in September this year, according to Spain’s National Observatory of Outbound Tourism (ObservaTUR). Last year, Spain welcomed in 9.6 million international tourists in September, marking a 9.1% increase compared to the same month the year before, FTN reported.

A consequence of growing interest in September holidays is rising prices. Across Spain, a night’s stay averaged €132 (£114) last September, a 21 percent jump from 2023.

One of the major factors in the shift from July and August to September is the weather. Global heating has rendered many parts of Spain uncomfortably, even dangerously hot in the high summer. Last year I spoke with a Brit in Seville who told of the roastingly hot temperatures there and how unpleasant it had become as a holiday destination.

This summer, large parts of Spain have been hit by wildfires due to a long stretch of hot weather and a lack of rain. In August, Extremadura in the west of the country was scorched by what one official called a ‘mega fire’.

Another factor is the rise in interest in Spain generally as a holiday destination. According to Spain’s National Institute of Statistics, the country welcomed 11 million international visitors in July – the highest monthly total in its history. That comes after the country recorded 55.5 million arrivals in the first seven months of 2025. Tourist spending has so far risen 7.2% year-on-year, to €76 billion (£66 billion) so far this year, a 7.2 per cent rise compared with 2024.

Booked-up hotels and a lack of space on flights mean holidaymakers keen to visit their favourite Costa or beach are choosing dates further from the typical tourism season peak.

A third key factor may be the overtourism movement, which has been working hard to highlight issues related to tourism, such as rising house prices, overcrowding, overburdened public facilities, and much else.

In issuing warnings about the overwhelmed nature of some Spanish holiday hotspots, they may have convinced tourists to aim for the quieter months instead.

While we all know that “costa” is simply the Spanish word for “coast”, for most of us it has a much wider meaning, evoking all sorts of images, both positive and negative. It may be beaches, fun, cold beers and tapas at a chiringuito (beach bar) with your feet in the sand. Perhaps you’re thinking of childhood holidays in a thrillingly huge hotel, where you happily stuffed yourself with ice-cream and chips for a fortnight. More recent memories might revolve around showy beach clubs with exorbitant prices. If you’ve been to the costas of eastern or southern Spain in the past few years, however, you may have reluctantly concluded that your favourite resorts are now a bit too hot for comfort.

Published on
08/08/2025 – 14:08 GMT+2

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Binance is partnering with Spain’s Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) to allow crypto customers to store their funds with the bank instead of keeping them directly on the crypto exchange, according to reporting by the Financial Times.

The move is aimed at rebuilding trust with investors after Binance was hit with a record fine from US regulators nearly two years ago.

Binance is the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, and it handles billions of dollars in trades each day across hundreds of cryptocurrencies.

What does this mean for crypto?

BBVA, as a bank, will act as an “independent custodian” or a separate and trusted third party and ensure a greater level of safety when it comes to customers’ funds or assets that are traded through Binance.

As the second largest bank in Spain and praised for its innovation and sustainability, BBVA will act as a security guarantee, giving traders a reduced risk while encouraging them to invest in the high-returns crypto exchange.

By storing them with BBVA, if Binance runs into trouble, like being hacked, declaring bankruptcy or facing regulatory action, the funds would still be safe with BBVA.

Banks are much more closely regulated than crypto exchanges, so BBVA’s obligation to follow compliance rules should lead to more interest in crypto overall.

Essentially, the move is akin to putting your valuables in a safe or a secure bank, instead of being displayed in a storefront as they’re being bought and sold.

Binance trying to clean up its reputation

Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, got slammed in 2023 with a record $4.3 billion (€3.69bn) fine after US regulators accused it of not keeping checks on its trading floor.

US officials said Binance allowed shady funds to flow through its exchange and allegedly permitted laundered money to be used, helping its big clients dodge the rules.

Founder Changpeng ‘CZ’ Zhao stepped down and served four months in prison for failing to stop money laundering.

Now, with regulators watching its every move, Binance is trying to clean up its act and by partnering with Spain’s BBVA, hopes to prove it can play by the rules.

Part of a trio made up of Putellas and Aitana Bonmati, who both are two-time Ballon d’Or winners, Patri’s work at the base of Spain’s – and Barcelona’s – midfield often goes unnoticed.

But the 27-year-old “runs the show” according to Corsie, who added: “She’s the one… you see she starts everything, she controls the tempo, she chooses when they settle the game down.”

Spain boss Montse Tome said she believes Patri is the “best player in her position”.

“It’s not an easy position because it’s not well recognised from the outside and I believe her personality, she is humble, she is a hard worker and this means Aitana [Bonmati], Alexia [Putellas], Vicky [Lopez], Mariona [Caldentey] and [Claudia] Pina play more freely and Patri is key for that.”

Asked about Tome’s comments, Patri said: “I feel super happy and super proud knowing the coach said that about me.

“For the game model we have, midfielders have to participate because then everything flows and the team feels confident.”

As well as setting the pace and freeing up space for her team-mates, Patri proved she’s got an eye for goal, with a drilled finish giving Spain the lead against Italy.

Last week, a new register was introduced in Spain that requires all properties used for tourism and short-term holiday rentals to have a mandatory registration code to operate legally

More European countries will crack down on holiday rentals such as Airbnb, property experts have predicted.

Italy could be the next country to target Airbnb after Spain triggered a “domino effect” by introducing stringent new laws aimed at regulating and controlling the market.

Last week, a new register was introduced in Spain that requires all properties used for tourism and short-term holiday rentals to have a mandatory registration code to operate legally. According to some reports, 66,000 properties have been taken off the market.

The Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 2030 says many of the properties in question have been deemed illegal because their listings do not show a licence or registration number.

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According to 2024 data from the Spanish statistics office, there were 351,389 short-term rentals advertised in Spain on the Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo platforms. That number has been cut by just under 20 per cent due to the new laws, The Times reports.

The move has been welcomed by protesters who have long argued that the proliferation of holiday lets has pushed up house prices for locals by steadily increasing demand.

From the holidaymakers’ perspective, one potential downside of the decreased supply is that it may lead to increased prices.

If the new system is judged to be a success, other countries may follow suit. A likely candidate is Italy, given that the country is currently engaged in a court battle to ban key boxes on streets in a clampdown on short-term lets.

Kundan Bhaduri, who works at The Kushman Group—a property company that specialises in HMOs—predicted that the Italian government is “clearly next” to crack down on holiday lets.

“Spain’s move to demand a national registry for short-term lets is just the opening salvo. Italy is clearly next. France, Portugal and even the balmy Balearics have all flirted with similar measures,” he said.

Kundan, who is himself an Airbnb landlord, complained that he and his property-letting colleagues often find themselves “painted as moustache-twirling villains standing between honest citizens and affordable housing.”

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Harry Goodliffe, director at HTG Mortgages, said Spain’s ruling could lead to a “domino effect” across the EU.

He continued: “Spain’s crackdown could trigger a domino effect across Europe, and Italy looks next in line. The combination of overtourism and local housing pressures is pushing governments to act, and short-term lets are the obvious target. If Italy tightens the rules, expect thousands of listings to vanish.”

Tony Redondo, founder at Cosmos Currency Exchange, predicted that France is even more likely than Italy to be the next to crack down on Airbnb.

“Italy’s Airbnb regulations are far less stringent than Spain’s crackdown, which resulted in the delisting of 66,000 properties. France may emulate Spain’s approach,” he said.

Back in May an Airbnb spokesperson said: “Airbnb will continue to appeal against all decisions linked to this case. No evidence of rule-breaking by hosts has been put forward, and the decision goes against EU and Spanish law, and a previous ruling by the Spanish Supreme Court.

“The root cause of the affordable housing crisis in Spain is a lack of supply to meet demand. The solution is to build more homes – anything else is a distraction. Governments across the world are seeing that regulating Airbnb does not alleviate housing concerns or return homes to the market – it only hurts local families who rely on hosting to afford their homes and rising costs.”

As with paint colours or lipstick shades, naming a mountain range requires serious consideration. It should suggest character, create intrigue, and kindle desire. Who doesn’t want to explore the Crazy Mountains of Montana, or make a fiery pact with California’s Diablo Range? While studying a map of Spain, my interest was piqued by a patch of grey and green emptiness bearing the enticing words: Sierra de la Demanda.

I’ve travelled all over Spain for work and play in the last two decades, but somehow these “demanding” mountains had eluded me. Located in the remote northern interior, halfway between Madrid and Santander, their isolation (and a dearth of English-language Google results) only added to the mystique. The Sierra de la Demanda covers a vast area across Spain’s least populated regions of Burgos, Soria and La Rioja. An investigation of more detailed maps revealed an almost roadless expanse of limestone peaks, valleys, ravines, rivers, gorges and glacial lakes, with the highest peak, San Lorenzo, towering at 2,271 metres (7,451ft). The calling was real.

This is not the Spain of white villages and dusty olive groves. On the Demanda’s north face, where the climate is wetter and cooler, the improvised allotments, stone ruins and makeshift shacks are reminiscent of the forgotten corners of eastern Europe. Climbing higher, above the treeline, the terrain becomes harsh and rocky with sweeping views across plunging, pine-covered valleys. But unlike the dramatic outline of Spain’s more famous mountain ranges, the Demanda appear gradually, almost secretly, their true splendour only emerging once you’re deep in their midst. Every season brings its own charms. Winter is a snowy picture postcard, but in spring the meltwater sends waterfalls thundering down the mountainsides among wildflower meadows. Summer is hot and arid, but by autumn the temperatures hover in the mid-20Cs with (mostly) solid blue skies, and the ground is swathed in pink heather and alpine flowers.

The town of Ezcaray, on the north side, is the closest thing to a tourist hub – a scenic former textile centre on the River Oja that operates as a base for the small ski resort of Valdezcaray, built in the 1970s (the Palacio Azcárate has doubles from €90, B&B). The sealed road ends abruptly after the ski centre, becoming a rocky trail that makes for a nail-biting drive (especially in a hire car) along a ridge that’s at more than 1,800 metres (6,000ft), before looping back to Ezcaray in a dizzying descent of hairpin bends. The views are stupendous in every direction – fold upon fold of untouched mountain wilderness and, apart from the occasional hiking trail signpost, nothing human-made in sight.

Halfway around the loop road, if you’re craving more back-country adventure, a dirt track, appearing as an almost imperceptible black line on the Michelin map and marked with a rusty, hand-painted sign, takes you down into the southern foothills via the Lagunas de Neila, a cluster of glacial lakes, surrounded by cliffs and pine forests. The lakes can only be reached on foot, and at an altitude of 6,000ft make for an invigorating dip. The Laguna Negra is named after its dark waters, but in the late afternoon sun it appears a deep, shimmering blue. The water is, as you would expect, bracing, but it’s the sheer scale of the surroundings, and the solitude, that will take your breath away. The only sound accompanying my swim was a chorus of surprisingly loud frogs, ribbeting from the reeds.

On their south side, heading downhill from the lagunas, the Demanda feel different. The climate turns drier and warmer, and Spain becomes familiar again, with its oak forests, medieval ermitas (chapels) and sleepy villages where old men wave from their chairs outside the taverna. Although there are plenty of well-marked hiking and mountain bike trails here, this is still “España vacía” – empty Spain – and human activity remains a rare sight outside the towns. This phenomenon of the interior’s depopulation is much discussed by Spanish politicians and citizens, and the low density is tangible here – traffic is light and most of the activity is among the animal kingdom. Deer leap through the trees, boar amble across the road, and as the forests give way to open rocky landscapes, griffon vultures perch in their hundreds along the high cliffs before swooping and circling in the late afternoon thermals.

The village of Quintanar de la Sierra, in the southern foothills, makes a good base to explore the Demanda, and the Hostal Domingo offers affordable rooms (doubles from €55, room-only). Like all the villages in the area, life moves slowly and peacefully. Locals get around on horses and in beat-up 4x4s, the shops shut all afternoon, nobody speaks English, and everyone, young and old, socialises in the town plaza where a café con leche will set you back €1.50. Like the ski centre, the hotels and bars are a non-ironic throwback to the 1970s, their only concession to the 21st century being charmingly rudimentary websites and an email address. This is the land that social media forgot, and is better off for it. Although it may appear on the surface that there’s not much in the way of tourist attractions, as you delve deeper into its hidden corners, an intriguing and eclectic landscape of history and culture reveals itself.

Dinosaurs roamed this part of Spain, and hundreds of their footprints are visible near the town of Salas de los Infantes, which also boasts a dinosaur museum. Moving on a few miles, and a few million years, is the eerie Necrópolis de Cuyacabras, dating from the ninth to 11th centuries, where dozens of adult- and child-size tombs are carved from a slab of rock in the depth of a pine forest. Meandering through the villages, Roman bridges, abandoned monasteries and ruins of all eras – from medieval to mid-century – appear at every turn. For lovers of industrial archaeology (AKA clambering around abandoned buildings), an enticing disused railway runs through Salas, its crumbling stations and rusty tracks half hidden beneath tangles of vegetation.

One town where the monastery remains in immaculate order is Santo Domingo de Silos (stay in the Hotel Tres Coronas de Silos, an 18th-century palace nearby; doubles from €95, room only). Its abbey, dating back to at least the 10th century, became world famous in 1994 when its monks scored a chart-topping album of Gregorian chants, and visitors can listen to the vespers being sung every evening.

Three miles over the hill from Silos, you’ll find yourself at an altogether different but equally revered site – Sad Hill cemetery, one of cinema’s most well-known locations, where the closing scene of The Good, The Bad & The Ugly was filmed in 1966. Twenty miles west, venturing deeper into fantasy land, is the Territorio Artlanza, which claims to be the largest sculpture in the world. A magical, full-scale reproduction of a medieval Castilian village, created by Félix Yáñez, a local artist, from materials salvaged from rubbish dumps, it includes porticoed squares, a perfectly equipped school, a carpentry shop, bakery, forge, canteen, wine cellars, an alchemist’s pharmacy and even a small chapel.

Empty patches on maps that elicit few Google search results are rare in these hyperconnected, overshared times. There is a timelessness to the Sierra de la Demanda that feels like innocence, and while other parts of Spain struggle with the pressures of over-tourism, these mountains are a lungful of fresh air. The charms of the Demanda are simple and unshowy, and ironically, make few demands on the visitor – except to breathe deeply and tread lightly.

Spain’s Ballon d’Or holder, Aitana Bonmati, is hospitalised with meningitis two weeks before the Euro 2025 championships.

Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati, the two-time Ballon d’Or holder, has been hospitalised with viral meningitis less than a week before the Women’s European football championship begins.

Spain coach Montse Tome said late on Friday that her star player had felt ill and was taken to a hospital in Madrid where she tested positive for meningitis.

Spain’s team is set to travel to Switzerland on Sunday for the tournament. Its first game is against Portugal on Thursday in Bern. It will also face Belgium and Italy in Group B at Euro 2025.

“Aitana is a very important player for us and we will wait for her,” Tome said after Bonmati missed Friday’s friendly against Japan in the Spanish capital when Spain beat the visitors 3-1.

Tome said that Bonmati started feeling bad with a fever during practice early on Friday.

“She has authorised me to say that she has viral meningitis,” Tome said. “The word is scary, but the doctor tells me that she is under control. She will remain in the hospital and we don’t know for how long.”

The 27-year-old Bonmati has won the top individual award for women for the past two years. The Barcelona player was key in Spain winning the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Bonmati’s vision, dribbling skills, passing and goals have also been vital to Barcelona reaching five consecutive Champions League finals, with the Catalan club winning three titles.

Her absence would put more pressure on Alexia Putellas, herself a two-time Ballon d’Or winner, and fellow Barcelona midfielder Patricia Guijarro, to lead Spain. Against Japan, Tome started 18-year-old Vicky Lopez in place of Bonmati.

Three years ago, Putellas tore her ACL three days before starting the 2022 European Championship. Spain was eliminated in the quarterfinals without its then-top player.

Spain should still be favoured in its opener against Portugal, a team it beat twice in April – including a 7-1 home victory – in the Nations League.

Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati is being treated in hospital for viral meningitis.

The 27-year-old, who has won the Ballon d’Or for the past two years, missed the 3-1 friendly win over Japan in Leganes, Spain, on Friday.

Euro 2025 in Switzerland starts on Wednesday and Spain play Portugal in their opening Group B game in Bern on Thursday.

Bonmati, who also won the Fifa women’s player of the year award in 2023 and 2024, shared a picture on Instagram of herself watching the Japan match from a hospital bed.

She did not train on Thursday and was taken to a hospital in Madrid on Friday with doctors from the Spanish Football Federation, who later confirmed the diagnosis., external

“Talking about meningitis can be scary but it is controlled,” said coach Montse Tome.

Nueva Tabarca is the smallest inhabited island in Spain and sits off the coast of Alicante. It has become increasingly popular with locals, who descend on the tiny strip of land in huge numbers

Each day, thousands of tourists descend on a tiny Spanish island that is creaking under the strain.

Despite sitting just a few km off the coast of Alicante, and technically being part of the Spanish resort which has long been beloved by British holidaymakers, few non-locals make it to the island of Nueva Tabarca.

At 1,800m long and 400m wide, and home to 68 permanent residents, Tabarca is the smallest inhabited island in Spain. It also one with a colourful history, as the location where St. Paul (possibly) disembarked and as a long-time refuge for pirates.

In recent years, more and more people have been hopping on Ferry Azul boats that sail there from the mainland, enjoying the shoals of little fish that cluster around its glass sides on the way over.

When they get there, they are typically confronted with the same realisation. “It’s a lot smaller than I thought. When they said it was a small island…it’s like, tiny,” said Sante, who recently visited Tabarca with his wife.

READ MORE: Brits heading to Spain warned they could face £2,500 for beach ‘error’

This is a particularly problem as up to 5,000 people descend on Tabarca each day during the high season, swelling the full-time population by 30 times. From 10am to 9pm, the one main street on the island becomes packed with visitors, who leave as quickly as they arrive in the evening.

According to Carmen Martí, president of the neighborhood association, “the problem isn’t tourists.” She recently told El Pais that the much bigger issue is infrastructure.

“There are no public restrooms, no shaded areas, tourist attractions, such as the church or the vaults of the wall, are closed, the tower is in ruins,” she lamented.

Medical assistance on the island is very slim, which is a problem given the lack of lifeguards on the beach for much of the year, and the scorching temperatures. With a surface area barely 15 meters above sea level and no trees other than a few palm trees, there is no shelter from the sun on the island.

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Carmen says locals have pushed the authorities to help them improve the island, but haven’t received much assistance. “We’ve presented plans for a rest area to the town hall so that young people don’t have to eat and rest sitting on the town’s sidewalks, but they’ve ignored it,” she said.

The issues stem, in part, from the fact that Tabarca falls between two administrations, with several administrative roles on the island lying unfilled for years. That, coupled with its offshore remoteness, means it does not always get the attention locals believe it deserves.

They say that municipal infrastructure, offices, warehouses, and even the museum, which is barely 20 years old, are in terrible condition. Roofs are corroded by salt, premises are propped up, and the museum is closed as a precaution.

Yet despite all of these issues, and the presence of angry seagulls that have a habit of attacking beachgoers, people continue to come. They do so because of the beautiful beaches and the clear waters, which are protected by Spain’s first marine reserve, declared in 1986.

Supporters of conservative Popular Party demand Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez step down amid corruption scandals.

Tens of thousands of people have taken part in an opposition-organised demonstration in Spain’s capital, Madrid, accusing the government of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of corruption and urging him to call early elections.

Protesters, many waving red and yellow Spanish flags, massed on Sunday in the Plaza de Espana, a large square in the centre of Madrid, and chanted, “Pedro Sanchez, resign!”

The conservative Popular Party (PP) called the rally after leaked audio recordings allegedly documented a member of the Socialist Workers’ Party, Leire Diez, waging a smear campaign against a police unit that investigated corruption allegations against Sanchez’s wife, brother, and his former transport minister and right-hand man Jose Luis Abalos.

Diez has denied the allegations, telling reporters on Wednesday that she was conducting research for a book and was not working on behalf of the party or Sanchez. She also resigned from Sanchez’s party.

PP leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo has accused the government of “mafia practices” over the affair and said Sanchez is “at the centre” of multiple corruption scandals.

Sanchez and his government have been embroiled in numerous scandals with perhaps the most significant being the “Koldo Case”, or “Masks Case”, which concerns corruption allegations in the awarding of public contracts for medical supplies, particularly masks, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The case involves Abalos and his former adviser Koldo Garcia Izaguirre, the latter of whom is accused of using his influence to secure contracts for certain companies and receiving substantial commissions in return.

Sanchez considered stepping down in April 2024 after a Madrid court opened an investigation into his wife, Begona Gomez, on suspicion of influence peddling and business corruption.

The right-wing organisation Manos Limpias (Clean Hands) initially made the allegations against Gomez, who is accused of using her position to influence the awarding of government contracts and of irregularities in her professional activities.

‘Smear campaign’

Sanchez has dismissed the probes against members of his inner circle and family as part of a “smear campaign” carried out by the right wing to undermine his government.

But Feijoo urged Sanchez to call early elections and told the rally: “This government has stained everything – politics, state institutions, the separation of powers.”

The PP estimated that more than 100,000 people attended the rally, held under the slogan “Mafia or Democracy”, while the central government’s representative in Madrid put the turnout at 45,000 to 50,000.

“The expiry date on this government passed a long time ago. It’s getting tiring,” protester Blanca Requejo, a 46-year-old store manager who wore a Spanish flag draped over her back, told the AFP news agency.

Sanchez came to power in June 2018 after ousting his PP predecessor Mariano Rajoy in a no-confidence vote over a corruption scandal involving the conservative party.

Recent polls indicated the PP holds a slim lead in support over the Socialists. Spain’s next general election is expected in 2027.

Local media reports say the small vessel appeared to be packed with more than 100 people.

Four women and three girls have died when a small boat carrying dozens of refugees and migrants capsized while approaching the port at one of Spain’s Canary Islands, according to Spanish emergency services.

Local media reports said the small vessel seemed to be packed on Wednesday with more than 100 people. Spanish rescuers and members of the Red Cross pulled people out of the water.

Red Cross spokesman Alexis Ramos told broadcaster RTVE there could be “more than 100 people” on the boat but he was unable to provide a figure for the number of those missing.

Spain’s maritime rescue service said the boat tipped over as rescuers began removing minors after it had arrived at a dock on the island of El Hierro. The service had initially located the boat about 10km (6 miles) from shore.

The sudden movement of people on the boat caused it to tip and then turn over, dumping the occupants into the water, the service said.

Canary Islands emergency services said four women, a teenage girl and two younger girls died in the accident. A helicopter evacuated two more children, a girl and a boy, to a local hospital in critical condition after they nearly drowned, the service added.

The Spanish archipelago located off Africa’s western coast has for years been a main route for refugees and migrants who risk their lives in dinghies and rubber boats unfit for long journeys in the open sea.

Thousands have died on the way to European territory on a treacherous journey from Africa over the Atlantic Ocean.

Nearly 47,000 people who made the crossing last year reached the Canary Islands. Most were citizens of Mali, Senegal and Morocco with many boarding boats to Spain from the coast of Mauritania.

The arrivals include thousands of unaccompanied children.

Madrid-Barajas Airport – the second-largest airport in Europe by physical size – handles more than 60million tourists every year, including passengers on Ryanair and Iberia flights

One of the busiest airports in Europe is trying to support hundreds of rough sleepers.

Photographs taken recently at Madrid-Barajas Airport show homeless people attempting to rest in terminals, which make up what has now been branded “a zombieland” airport. Armed police patrol the hub, which caters for more than 60million tourists every year, but one officer even warned a journalist this week to “be careful”.

Madrid-Barajas Airport has now turned into a so-called “hidden city” with the rough sleepers, ranging in age from early 30s to late 60s, seeking shelter there. One woman in her 60s said: “I got robbed and lost all my documentation, so I have been scraping by and flitting around ever since. Basically, the little money I have isn’t enough to live on outside of the airport.”

So the airport is, in many cases, a sanctuary in the northeast of the Spanish capital. They turn in for the night at around 7.30pm, after which time images and videos were taken. They show kind-hearted staff, including police, engaging with the sleepers as the airport tries to ensure the homeless don’t come to any harm.

READ MORE: ‘I was homeless and spent £3.5k a week on drugs, now I have a home for my 3 kids’

Up to 500 homeless are thought to cram into the terminals each night. Some stories are heartbreaking, including that of a 67-year-old man who now has no home. The man told Mail Online: “I was in full-time employment for 50 years. I lost my job and I’ve no pension left. That’s how I ended up in this situation.”

A police officer told a reporter with the publication: “Be careful… It can be dangerous here – this is zombieland.” Yet, despite the “hidden city” emerging, no conflict has been reported.

In contrast, a man was stabbed without an apparent motive in front of stunned passengers at Palma de Mallorca’s Son Sant Joan airport this week. Carlos Heriberto Beltran Perdomo, a 45-year-old man, who is believed to be among dozens sleeping rough at the airport, later appeared in court over the attack.

READ MORE: Brits heading to Europe warned to budget for ‘extra tax’ in summer hotspots

Madrid-Barajas Airport, which caters for several airlines including Ryanair, Iberia and Wizz Air, is in the busy capital, and only around eight miles from the bustling city centre. It is understood homeless extends across the city in Spain, a nation with the highest unemployment rate in Europe.

While tourism is hugely important to the country’s economy, it and its sustainability presents challenges. Authorities on the Balearics, which include Majorca and Menorca, plugged the industry by encouraging selfie-addicted influencers to promote its wonders. Those with a huge social media followings plugged attractions which have failed to enter the tourist limelight – but it seems the plan worked too well.

For example, after a slew of TikTok and Instagram influencers started raving about Caló des Moro, an incredible bay tucked away in the southeast corner of Majorca, an insufferable amount of tourists were flocking their en masse.

Terminal 4 of Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas in the Spanish capital has been struggling to deal with a reported insect infestation this week, as political tensions grow over rough sleeping at the airport

The largest airport in Spain has been hit by an apparent bed bug outbreak, with passengers and workers claiming they’ve been bitten.

Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport has been fumigated this week following widespread reports of insect outbreaks, including bed bugs. Some holidaymakers have photographed bite marks they claim to have received during transit through Europe’s second-largest airport.

Airport workers have reported insect bites, prompting the airport’s managing body to hire a pest control company that has fumigated hallways, furniture, and check-in belts for bedbugs, ticks, and cockroaches.

However, a Naturalia report into the alleged outbreak downplayed it, suggesting the bites were “a one-off incident with no determined origin.” The company said in a statement: “The presence of bed bugs is associated with the movement of people and not with the facilities. In the short to medium term, the situation should return to normal.”

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AENA, the airport’s operator, has explained that inspections, monitoring, and prevention treatments had been carried out, and whenever an insect was identified in very limited and defined areas, specific actions were taken. The airport operator assured that it had worked “in coordination” with the cleaning company and the specialised firm to incorporate all necessary hygienic measures and has kept the companies to which these workers belong informed at all times.

It’s not the only issue which airport officials are facing. There are also 421 people without permanent homes sleeping in the airport, according to the latest census conducted by the NGO Cáritas. On occasional nights since February as many as 500 people have been bedding down in one of the terminals, InfoBae reports.

According to a report in El Mundo, the situation in the airport is getting worse. “What began as a large group of homeless people spending the night, night after night, on Level 1 of Terminal 4 of Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport has finally become overwhelming. They can now be found on any floor, in any corner, despite the temperature reduction at nightfall or the constant messages over the PA system that resonate every few minutes,” the newspaper writes.

Many living there are struggling to get by in a city where living costs and housing prices have shot up in recent years. One Honduran man found himself with no fixed place to stay after moving to Spain two years ago. He sends photographs of tourist attractions in the city to his mum back home, to convince her that he’s prospering in Europe.

But living in the airport is tough. “They stole everything while I was sleeping… I imagine it was someone else desperate from here. They took my transport card, my cell phone, my passport, the only 60 euros I had,” the distraught man told El Mundo.

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During the day many leave the airport and head into the city where they wait with signs offering their services. “Then a van comes and chooses us. But of course, some ask for 60 euros, others 40, others 20… In the end, the one who earns the least is the one who gets the job. He ends up being the most exploited, but at least at the end of the day he has 20 euros in his pocket. This life is very complicated,” the Honduran man explained.

Terminal 4 – where most people who sleep at the airport bed down for the night – has become difficult to navigate for some holidaymakers. The bathrooms are often occupied by people living there and the departure halls have become crowded.

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This week it was reported that AENA will start limiting access to the terminal outside of the busiest times of the day. During parts of the day with fewer flights only passengers with boarding passes, their departing and arriving companions, and airport staff will be able to access the airport terminals, 20 Minutos reports.

A spokesperson for the airport operator has said it will continue to collaborate with social organizations in the third sector to ensure that people experiencing homelessness can access decent housing.

AENA has been contacted for comment.

In a huge victory for Brits, Spain’s region of Catalonia – which includes hotspots such as Barcelona and Costa Brava – has postponed doubling its tourist tax ahead of the peak summer season

Controversial plans to double the tourist tax in Spain’s most visited region have hit a major snag. Earlier this year, it was revealed Catalonia – which includes hotspots such as Barcelona, Costa Brava, Sitges, and Costa Daurada – was doubling visitor levies to clamp down on over-tourism.

Scheduled to come into effect in May, the tourist tax will be based on the type of accommodation holidaymakers opt for. Campsite visitors in Barcelona will be subjected to €2 (£1.70) fees per day, while those staying at five-star hotels in the regional capital will be stung with €7 (£5.95) daily taxes.

Combine this with Bareclona’s municipal surcharge (currently set at €4 but could double) and tourists may soon be forking out €15 per night. This means seven nights in a fancy hotel will cost travellers an additional €105 (£89.26).

As previously reported, passengers on board cruise ships docked at Barcelona’s port for more than 24 hours will have to pay a tax of €6, while those on cruises that stay for more than 24 hours can expect taxes of €4 per night. Despite objections from leaders in the tourism industry, the move could result in €200 million generated in the region.

READ MORE: Martin Lewis issues 4-word warning to British tourists over Spanish cash points

The government has vowed to allocate at least a quarter of revenue generated by the levy upcharge to alleviate the country’s housing crisis – which locals often blame on holidaymakers pushing demand for short-term rentals and soaring costs. However, in a huge victory for sun-worshipping Brits – this bold policy has been delayed until October 2025 at the earliest, after being embroiled in ‘legal and procedural challenges’.

Postponed tourist taxes won’t go down well with fed-up locals, who have already vowed to unleash misery amongst Brits this summer with more planned protests. Last year, Lydia Morales, a teacher living in the Canary Islands, argued her salary barely covered her rent – and that not everybody benefits from an influx of tourists.

“The priority of the politicians is still creating more construction of towers for tourism complexes,” she said. “The priorities of the citizens of the country are left behind, we don’t have a hospital in the south of the island, and the infrastructure is collapsing because there is so much traffic.”

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The blow will only add to Spain’s escalating anti-tourist sentiment, which has slowly spun into violent action. Back in March, a shocking sign threatening to ‘Kill A Tourist’ was spotted in Tenerife, while reports also emerged that anonymous activists had torched rental cars on the island to send a clear message to holidaymakers.

Menys Turisme Més Vida (Less Tourism, More Life) – who has been at the forefront of Spain’s anti-tourist wave for several years – has also vowed to ‘intensify’ efforts over the peak months. This will likely see residents take to tourist-riddled areas, armed with banners demanding they ‘go home’.

Would a €15 tourist tax put you off from visiting Spain? Let us know in the comments section below.

While Barcelona and Malaga are popular tourist destinations, another Spanish city has been branded the ‘most beautiful’ in Spain and boasts a number of must-see hidden gems

Barcelona and Malaga might be hugely popular when it comes to Spanish holidays, but Seville has been crowned Spain’s ‘most beautiful city’ by those in the know. The capital of Andalusia, with around 700,000 residents, is Spain’s fourth largest city, says Seville City Guide.

Nestled along the Guadalquivir river, its rich historical tapestry has led many to hail it as “the most beautiful city of Andalusia and Spain.” The TikTok account Viento Libre, a go-to for savvy travel tips about Spain, recently showcased Seville’s splendour and its lesser-known spots in a video. The city is celebrated for its stunning architecture, deep historical roots, exuberant flamenco scene, and mouth-watering cuisine, especially its tapas.

Viento Libre recommends these top sights to visit:.

1. Plaza del Cabildo

Plaza del Cabildo is the first gem Viento Libre reveals in Seville. It’s a “peaceful semi-circular square tucked away near the cathedral” known for its “charming arches” and a “hidden antique market” that render it a “true treasure.”

Andalucia.com also notes that Plaza del Cabildo is a must-visit for its beautifully painted arches forming a semi-circular colonnade.

Complete with a fountain and palm trees, it provides a tranquil haven away from the bustling crowds.

The Andalucia tourism website reveals that this small, little-known square can be accessed by three different routes: an inconspicuous covered arcade off Avenida de la Constitución, directly opposite the cathedral’s western façade; from calle Almirantazgo, sandwiched between the Correos (Post Office) and Postigo del Aceite; and from Calle Arfe, located in the Arenal district beside the Mercado El Postigo.

On Sunday mornings, the square comes alive with a traditional market where vendors sell everything from stamps and coins to military insignia and other collectibles, as well as archaeological artefacts and minerals.

2. Palacio de las Dueñas

This breath-taking palace, constructed between the 15th and 16th centuries, serves both as the historical home of the House of Alba and a museum.

The Spanish travel TikTok account states: “Step into history with this stunning palace. Its colorful tiles, lush gardens, and aristocratic vibes will transport you to another era.”

There’s a treasure trove to be explored within its walls, including the ornate courtyards, gardens, and regal rooms detailed by Seville City Guide.

The guide also highlights the palace’s architecture, showcasing a fusion of Renaissance, Moorish, and Gothic influences.

3. Basílica de la Macarena

Viento Libre has unearthed another hidden treasure, the Basílica de la Macarena.

This vibrant neo-Baroque church, dating back to 1949, was built in homage to ‘La Virgen de la Esperanza Macarena’.

The TikTok account describes it as “home to Seville’s beloved Virgin of Hope Statue” and remarks that the basilica’s “golden altarpiece and emotional significance during Semana Santa are unforgettable.”

Seville City Guide added insights on the cherished statue, which is set amongst priceless relics above the main altar of the Basilica.

It also noted: “The surrounding neighbourhood ‘Macarena’ is the working-class district of Seville and the basilica is very popular with the locals.”