How safe are the islands and resort towns outside summer?

Key rules

• Party zones: Magaluf, Playa de Palma and parts of Sant Antoni have alcohol limits, and street drinking is fined in many resort towns.
• Winter burglary: Empty holiday homes are a recurring target out of season, so alarms, neighbours and insurance matter.
• Choosing a street: Pick a place with year-round neighbours rather than a development that empties after summer.

The short answer

Islands and resort towns have party-zone and tourist theft problems in season, and empty-home burglary out of season. As a year-round resident, the winter risk matters most to you. In summer, the main thing is to know where the noisy areas are and avoid them.

In summer: party zones and tourist theft

Some resort areas draw heavy drinking crowds. Magaluf, Playa de Palma and parts of Sant Antoni de Portmany in Ibiza are the best-known examples. Pickpocketing and bag theft target tourists in busy places, and residents get caught up in it too.

Local rules try to keep this under control:

• In the Balearic Islands, these zones have limits on alcohol sales, happy hours, pub crawls and party boats.
• In Magaluf, public drinking is banned and fines apply. Calvià also has rules on street drinking and on balconing (climbing between or falling from balconies).
• Lloret de Mar, Salou and other Costa Brava and Costa Daurada towns ban street drinking, with fines, and restrict hours for shops selling alcohol.
• Many other Spanish towns ban botellón (drinking in the street).

Fines differ from town to town. Check your town hall's rules before you buy or rent, and visit the area on a summer weekend night first. If you want quiet, choose a street away from the main bar and beach strip.

Out of season: empty homes

Once the season ends, many urbanisations and resort towns are largely empty. Burglary of unoccupied holiday homes is a recurring problem. If you live there all year, you may have few neighbours, less police presence and fewer services.

Common ways to reduce the risk:

• Fit an alarm.
• Get to know the neighbours who stay all year, and agree to watch each other's homes.
• Use a caretaker if you leave the home empty for weeks.
• Take out good home insurance, and read what it covers when the home is empty.

If you are choosing where to live, favour a street or complex with year-round residents over a development that empties in October.

Other winter risks

Isolated rural properties are more exposed, and scams aimed at residents also happen. Winter storms and flooding can hit coastal areas. On the islands, healthcare and transport are reduced in winter, and bad weather can disrupt ferries and flights. The warnings and FAQ below cover these in more detail.

What to watch out for

• Empty-home burglary out of season: Many urbanisations and resort towns are mostly empty outside summer, so burglary of unoccupied holiday homes is a recurring problem. You may have few neighbours and thinner police presence. Fit an alarm, agree a neighbour watch, use a caretaker for empty periods and keep good home insurance.

• Isolated rural properties: A home far from others is easier to target and harder to reach for help in the off-season. Add lighting and an alarm, and tell a neighbour when you will be away.

• Scams aimed at residents: Scammers also target people who live in these areas year-round. Do not pay or sign anything on the spot, and check any caller or offer with a trusted local before you agree.

• Winter storms, flooding and cut-off islands: Winter storms and flooding can hit coastal areas. On the islands, weather can stop ferries and flights, and healthcare and transport are reduced. Check the home for flood risk before you rent or buy, keep basic supplies, and plan travel with spare days.

Frequently asked questions

Which resort towns ban drinking in the street?

Magaluf, Lloret de Mar and Salou all ban drinking in the street, and you can be fined for it. Playa de Palma and parts of Sant Antoni de Portmany in Ibiza also limit alcohol sales, happy hours, pub crawls and party boats.

Do fines for street drinking differ between towns?

Yes, fines for street drinking differ from town to town, so the amount in one resort does not apply to the next. Ask the town hall or local police for the current figure. Calvià, which includes Magaluf, also has rules on balconing, meaning climbing between balconies.

Can ferries and flights to the islands be disrupted in winter?

Yes, weather can delay or cancel ferries and flights to the islands, especially in winter storms. Healthcare and transport are also reduced outside the season. Keep a few days of medicines and basics at home, and leave extra time before any appointment on the mainland.