Overtourism and local backlash in Barcelona, Málaga and the islands

Key rules

• Barcelona licences: Tourist-flat licences in Barcelona end for good, with no renewal, so do not plan around one.
• Local mood: Protests target tourist flats, rent rises and mass tourism, not foreign residents as such.
• Short-term lets: Every short-term let in Spain needs a registration number in the national registry, in force since July 2025.
• Málaga: New tourist-flat licences are banned for three years in 43 neighbourhoods.
• Historic centres: Rents are hardest hit in historic centres, so searching a little further out can save money.

The short version

The anger is about housing and mass tourism, not about foreign residents as such. Most long-term foreign residents report being welcomed. But the pressure on rents is real, and it shapes what you can rent, where, and what you can do with a flat.

What the protests are about

Big marches have taken place in the main hotspots in 2023, 2024 and 2025:

• Palma and Mallorca: large protests in May and July 2024 and again in June 2025.
• Barcelona: demonstrations in July 2024, when some protesters sprayed tourists with water pistols, and again in June 2025.
• Málaga: marches under the slogan "Málaga para vivir, no para sobrevivir" on 29 June 2024 and 28 June 2025, with thousands attending.
• Canary Islands: "Canarias tiene un límite" protests in October 2023, May 2024 and 2025.
• Ibiza: protests in May 2024.

In June 2025 protests were coordinated across southern Europe.

The targets are tourist flats, rent rises and crowding. Hostility is aimed mostly at visitors, investors, and digital nomads or "gentrifiers". Some slogans have also hit wealthier foreigners. If you arrive to live, work and join the neighbourhood, you are unlikely to meet hostility. If you arrive on a high remote salary and rent in a historic centre, expect the debate to include you.

Why it affects your housing search

Tourist flats take homes off the long-term market. Counts vary, and they are approximate: Spain has several hundred thousand tourist dwellings. Madrid has roughly 17,000 to 20,000. Barcelona has about 10,000 licensed ones. Málaga has roughly 8,000 to 10,000, and Palma about 20,000 including illegal ones. City averages hide the real picture: in historic centres, such as Málaga's, the share of homes used for tourists can be over 10% and in some centres 15% to 25% or more. Expect fewer long-term rentals and higher prices there. Looking slightly outside the centre usually helps.

What authorities are doing

• Barcelona: all roughly 10,000 tourist-flat licences will end without renewal by 15 November 2028. Tourist taxes are rising and cruise terminals are being cut back. Long-term, this should push some flats back toward ordinary rentals.
• Málaga: since 2025, no new tourist-flat licences for three years in 43 neighbourhoods. A regional rule also gives building communities a say.
• Balearics: Mallorca has capped tourist places and banned new tourist rentals in flats. Palma has a 2025 limit on places and also bans tourist rentals in flats.
• Nationally: since July 2025, all short-term lets need a registration number in a single national registry. Community approval is also required for tourist flats.

Courts and later decrees can change details, so check the current rule with the town hall before you rely on any of them.

What this means for you

• Renting long-term: your landlord may have switched from tourist lets to long-term lets, or the reverse. Ask whether the flat is legally registered for the use in your contract.
• Buying to rent to tourists: do not assume it is allowed. In Barcelona, Palma and parts of Málaga, new tourist licences are closed or banned. Check the rules with the town hall and the building's community before you buy.
• Everyday behaviour: be considerate. Noise, luggage in stairwells and short stays in residential buildings are what neighbours resent.

The questions below cover local attitudes and the national changes in more detail.

Frequently asked questions

Will locals be hostile to me as a new resident?

Probably not. The protests target tourist flats, rent rises and mass tourism, not foreign residents as such. Most long-term foreign residents report feeling welcomed, though some slogans have aimed at wealthier incomers, digital nomads and investors.

How many tourist flats are there in the main cities?

Málaga has roughly 8,000–10,000, about 3–4% of its housing citywide and over 10% in the historic centre. Barcelona has roughly 9,500–10,000 licensed flats, about 1.3%. Historic centres in Sevilla, Málaga and Valencia are often 15–25% or more.

Can new tourist flats still open in Málaga?

Not in 43 neighbourhoods. Since 2025 the city has banned new tourist-flat licences there for three years. Building communities also have a say, so check the rules for your street before you rent or buy.

What changed for short-term lets nationally?

Since July 2025 every short-term let needs a registration number from a single national registry. If you rent a short-term let, ask the host for that number before you pay.