People heading to Spain for a holiday this summer should heed several laws quite different from those in the UK that restrict behaviour.
Spain is one of the UK’s top holiday destinations and according to easyJet more than 30 percent of Brits plan to holiday there this year.
As pleasant as a week lounging in the sun or swimming the crystal blue seas of Spain sounds, falling foul of the the country's laws could leave a bad taste in the mouth and a dent in your wallet.
Here are a few of the laws worth knowing about as a tourist.
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Bikinis
Bikinis are completely fine to wear on a Spanish beach, but that’s where they belong in some areas of Spain.
Topless men and women wearing bikinis face being fined up to 300 euros (£253) if they're spotted on the street in Barcelona and Marjorca.
Fines could even be issued on adjacent streets close to the beach, so tourists should keep their shirt on until they hit the sand.
Tourists can also be fined up to 750 euros (£634) for using soap or shampoo at some communal beach shower facilities, because chemicals in some products can be extremely harmful to marine life.
In some areas of Spain, beach showers are switched off if there’s a water shortage, so tourists will need to shower at home.
Smoking
Smoking is banned on some beaches in areas of Spain, including Barcelona, the Balearics and the Canary islands.
Tourists will be able to smoke in a designated smoking zone, so those looking for a puff should look for clear signs before lighting up.
Smoking away from a designated area could see a tourist fined up to 2,000 euros (£1,691).
Cigarette butts can be extremely harmful to marine life as well as making the general environment unpleasant for visitors.
Balconing
Balconing is when tourists decide to jump into a hotel swimming pool from their balcony or try to climb between balconies.
It’s extremely dangerous and has sadly led to the deaths of several British tourists in Spain.
Even without the threat of a fine, it's probably best to avoid doing this if from a self-preservation perspective.
Spain is attempting to stop the practice by introducing a huge 60,000 euro fine (£50k) for anyone caught balconing.
Alcohol
Drinking alcohol on the streets is banned in some areas of Spain including Barcelona and Madrid.
Holidaymakers could be fined up to 600 euros (£507) for breaching the strict rules in the cities.
Tourists holidaying in parts of Majorca and Ibiza will also face new drinking rules this year including a six drink limit at some all-inclusive hotels.
Party boat cruises, all-you-can-drink bar crawls and some drink offers will also be banned in an attempt to cut down on rowdy behaviour.
