Let’s talk about all the tourism laws in Valencia that you should know about. As a traveler, you have certain rights and obligations. But when you’re visiting Valencia, Spain has specific requirements in the travel industry that you be aware of. So here’s how to stay safe, not get scammed, and avoid any legal trouble. 

General Overview

After the rise of anti-tourism protests in Spain, many people have been worried about specific laws that may affect them. Whether that’s in the form of a tourist tax or a lack of lodging – travelers need to know how the local laws affect them. 

So in this article, we’ll be talking about Valencia specifically. Since every autonomous community (and even every city) has their own rules and regulation – I’ll focus solely on Valencia, Spain. 

But to sum it up – there are no anti-tourism laws. Currently, most of the public infrastructure encourages tourism, rather than discourages it. But you do have certain obligations when you come here, and people working in tourism are also required to help make the industry more sustainable. 

Now let’s look into what tourism laws you should know when traveling to Valencia. 

Important Laws for Tourists

There are some laws that very directly and obviously affect tourists. So let’s look at a few Valencian laws that are important for you to be aware of. 

Please note: these laws are from October 2024, and are subject to change. I will do my best to update this article as time goes on, but please make sure to check the laws themselves for any updates. 

Tourism Taxes

For several years, Valencia did have a tourist tax for people visiting the city. However, as of October 2024 – there are  no tourist taxes.

These refer to small fees you may pay to hotels or lodging on a nightly, per-person basis. For example, if you travel to Mallorca – you may have to pay a few euros per night, per person in addition to your normal hotel rate. 

Although, this is likely going to change in the future. The City Hall is currently in talks with the hospitality industry to discuss what an appropriate tax rate could be. When they do decide, however, it likely won’t be more than €3 per person. So even if you’re traveling on a budget, it isn’t likely to cause any issues. 

Reporting and Identification

This is one of the most important laws for tourists in Valencia: Royal Decree 933/2021

This tourist law requires hotels and private tourist accommodations to collect information about travelers and report it to the central government. Which means wherever you stay in Valencia, the establishment will need to collect some of your personal information, including:

• Full name
• Travel documentation
• Date of birth
• Sex
• Nationality
• Physical & email address
• Phone number
• Date and length of stay 
• Number of travelers
• Specific room number
• Payment method 

This is currently planned to go into effect December 2nd, 2024. 

In other words – if your hotel asks to make a copy of your ID, don’t be alarmed. This is now going to be a legal requirement. In fact, if they don’t report your information, they could be charged with sanctions up to €100,000. 

Airbnbs and Tourist Apartments

Short-term rentals have become a very contentious debate in València. Faced with an ongoing housing crisis, the locals are quite frustrated with these tourist apartments. 

Because even though home ownership has decreased significantly, there has been a 160% increase in tourist accommodations since 2014. 

To begin combating this problem, the city hall has implemented the following measures:

• Short-term rental licenses must be renewed every 5 years
• City Halls can put a ceiling on the number of tourist apartments
• Key boxes cannot be in a public space
• Singular rooms cannot be rented (Law 15/2018)

Likewise, owners can face fines of up to €100,000 in these cases:

• Not collecting the appropriate identity information
• Lack of correct documentation
• Falsifying information regarding the space’s habitability 
• Lack of permits
• Living spaces don’t meet legal standards

Which is why for most travelers – I highly recommend staying in a hotel, rather than an Airbnb, as they are more sustainable. They also support the Valencian economy more, as short-term rentals are often owned by foreign investors.  

Rights for Tourists

Just as the tourism laws in Valencia place certain restrictions on tourism workers, these laws also establish rights and obligations for visitors. 

So yes – even if you’re not from here, you are still protected by certain rights. Likewise, you also have to abide by certain rules. 

These are the guaranteed rights for tourists in Valencia, established by the Law 15/2018:

1. To receive objective, truthful, and complete information about the services available to you. 
2. To obtain documents that certify your services with any tourist accommodation. 
3. To receive all of the tourism services in the conditions agreed upon with the service hired. 
4. To enjoy access to tourism spaces, infrastructures, and services.
5. To freely access tourism establish and services according to the relevant laws. 
6. To access establishments that comply with legislation regarding architectural and fire safety. 
7. To be clearly informed about any installations or services that may implicate any safety risks. 
8. To receive a receipt from any tourism service. 
9. To formally lodge a complaint and receive true, accessible information about the complaint procedure, as well as to access public administration services to process one. 
10. To access judicial and extrajudicial resolution processes regarding any conflict and economic consequences. 
11. To request that relevant accreditations and certifications regarding any establishment be published in a visibly public space, including capacity, prices, and quality ratings. 

For most tourists, the most relevant right is that: if you want a lodge a complaint – you have the legal right to do so. 

Obligations for Tourists

Along with rights, tourists also have certain legal obligations when visiting Valencia. Respecting the rules outlined in this law helps support the locals, their culture, and their economy. 

Here are your legal obligations as a tourist in Valencia according to Law 15/2018:

1. To respect the traditions, culture, and social practices of the destination. 
2. To respect the environment, historic/cultural patrimony, and the tourism resources. 
3. To pay for contractually agreed services, regardless of whether you lodge a formal complaint. 
4. To respect the agreed-upon time and date to access and occupy touristic lodging. 
5. To observe norms regarding respect, politeness, social harmony, dress, and hygiene for an adequate usage of tourist establishments and services. 
6. Respect the installations and equipment of tourist companies. 
7. Respect the local laws and rules regarding tourist establishments, schedules, and rules of conduct when visiting or undergoing tourist activities. 

In summary: you are legally required to respect the local culture, norms, and established rules. 

Advice and Recommendations

Overall, the tourism laws in Valencia are relatively standard. This means that they honestly shouldn’t be a problem for most travelers. 

And definitely not something you should be worried about. 

But since this is a very recent and delicate topic, I’d like to offer some advice for anyone visiting the city.

Stay in a hotel

Choosing a hotel is usually the best option for travelers. They tend to provide better services, are more accommodating, and are generally less divisive when it comes to the current role of tourism in society. 

Likewise, they also tend to be more sustainable and have stricter regulations when it comes to quality and environmental impact. 

So here are a few resources to help you find accommodations in Valencia:

• Neighborhood guide
• Where to stay
• How to get cheap rates for hotels in Valencia

Respect the language and culture

Valencia has a rich language and culture that is completely different from anywhere in Spain. So as a traveler, you should do your part to show your respect towards the local customs. 

From learning a few basic phrases in Valencian to trying the local foods, there are plenty of ways you can integrate yourself just a tiny bit. Even small actions can leave a positive impact when traveling. 

Here are a few resources:

• Valencian expressions for travelers
• Valencian meal times
• Tips on visiting Valencia

Travel responsibly

Lately, there has been an influx of tourist apartments, leading to increased housing prices and gentrification. 

Many neighborhoods, such as El Cabanyal, Russafa, and La Ciutat Vella are all facing issues where locals cannot afford to live in the areas they grew up in. 

And while I obviously want you to come experience Valencia and enjoy everything it has to offer – you should also do so in a respectful way. So here are some things you can do to travel more responsibly and to leave a positive impact:

• Shop in local stores 
• Avoid international chains 
• Be wary of your voice at night
• Don’t be loud during times of rest 
• Try to speak to people in Valencian

Valencia Travel Resources

In the end, the tourism laws in Valencia are not very harsh or strict. For most travelers, there really is nothing to worry about. 

Although perhaps in the future, we may see a small tourist tax – severe anti-tourism laws in Valencia don’t seem likely. 

But you should still be respectful, help the local economy, and travel responsibly. Just as you would for any other city in the world. 

Extra travel resources:

• Do you need the tourist card?
• What are things to do in Valencia?
• Is Valencia safe?
• What is the cost of living in Valencia?
• Travel medical insurance

Please Note: I am not a lawyer and this page is not obligated to be constantly updated to reflect any changes. I am not liable for any misinterpretations or mistranslations of legal documents. This is purely for general public knowledge and if you have any legal questions, you should contact a qualified legal representative. 

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