In countries such as the UK, Australia or the US, it’s mostly legal for men to go shirtless around city streets or for women to walk around in their bikini tops, but can the same be said for Spain? It depends.
During sweltering summers, shirts come off and bikini tops go on in many countries, with people not thinking twice about whether walking around the city streets dressed this way breaks the law.
While being topless for both men and women is very common on Spanish beaches, when you’re away from the sand, in the streets or in stores, it’s a very different story.
It’s worth noting that there is no common law in Spain that prohibits going topless or wearing a swimsuit on public streets, instead each province instead regulates its own laws on the matter.
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It’s usually not socially acceptable to go shirtless or wear a bikini top away from the beach in Spain, and it’s actually illegal in certain places.
This applies to those who are carrying out sports activities as well, be it jogging or riding a bike.
In the following places in Spain you can in fact be fined for going shirtless, no matter how hot it gets.
ANDALUSIA
Málaga
Those in Andalusia must comply with the rules prohibiting going shirtless if visiting the popular coastal city of Málaga. Here you can be fined between €300 and €750 if you walk around the city streets in swimwear.
Marbella
The upmarket resort town of Marbella also passed a similar rule in 2018. Areas where you are allowed to walk around without a shirt on or in swimwear include swimming pools, beaches, coastal access routes and the promenade. If found doing it anywhere else in the area, you could also be fined between €300 and €750.
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BALEARIC ISLANDS
Palma de Mallorca
Mallorca may be known as a holiday island, but if you walk around in swimwear or go topless on the streets of its capital, you could be fined between €100 and €200.
Wearing a bikini or swimsuit while not on the beach is only allowed on the beach promenade.
Sant Antoni de Portmany, Ibiza
According to the local rules in this municipality, wearing clothes is an “unavoidable obligation”. Small fines may be handed out if the rules aren’t respected, but there is no set amount.
READ ALSO: What are the rules on going topless at the beach in Spain?
CATALONIA
Barcelona
If you’re caught walking around bare-chested around the city or in a swimsuit or bikini you could be fined from €120 up to €500.
A fine of between €300 and €500 fine is for those who walk around nude or almost nude, while those between €120 and €300 are more likely for going shirtless.
Salou
In the Catalan resort of Salou, going topless is banned in the old town, surrounding urban area, and the local markets. Fines for those caught can range from €100 to €300.
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VALENCIA REGION
Alicante
In Alicante, the Civic Coexistence Ordinance was launched in February 2022, which included fines up to €750 for “going naked or with a totally naked torso on public roads, except on beaches, adjoining promenades, swimming pools or other spaces where it is not expressly authorised”.
There were attempts were made to impose fines in the whole Valencia region, but so many people continued to ignore the rule that it was deemed futile. Entry to establishments without wearing a shirt, however, is still prohibited.
Canary Islands
Lanzarote
In the village of Teguise in Lanzarote, fines of up to €750 can be issued for going shirtless in public areas.
