Terraces are part of the summer image in Spain, especially in the areas most popular with tourists, but the extreme heat is forcing the hotel and restaurant sector to adapt work rules to protect employees exposed to the sun for several hours.
This change could affect the Portuguese, British and any other tourists traveling to Spain this year.
In practice, bars, cafes and restaurants may have to reduce or suspend service on terraces when there are orange or red level weather warnings and the company is unable to guarantee safe conditions for workers.
Rule was not born now, but it gained new weight in the hotel industry
The legal basis has already been in force in Spain since May 13, 2023, after the publication of the Boletín Oficial del Estado. This diploma introduced rules for outdoor work during episodes of extreme temperatures and other adverse meteorological phenomena.
The most recent news is linked to the VI State Labor Agreement for the Hostel sector, known as . The original agreement was published in the BOE in 2023, but unions and employers in the sector announced an amendment signed on April 13 of this year to adapt the employment framework to new social and climate realities.
According to the communication from the signatories themselves, the points included include prevention measures in the face of catastrophes and adverse meteorological phenomena. This is particularly relevant for the hospitality industry, where waiters, terrace workers, kitchens and delivery workers may be more exposed to intense heat.
The legal text establishes that, when work takes place outdoors or in places that cannot be closed, appropriate measures must be taken to protect workers. The standard even provides for the prohibition of certain tasks at times when adverse weather events occur, if it is not possible to guarantee the necessary protection.
Esplanades can close, but not automatically
If there is an official orange or red level warning and preventive measures are not sufficient to protect workers, the company will have to adapt working conditions. This adaptation may include reducing or changing hours, reorganizing shifts or temporarily suspending outdoor activity.
What the law requires is an assessment of the risk and a proportionate response. If a restaurant can guarantee safe conditions, with shade, hydration, breaks, adequate organization and other effective measures, the situation may be different from a space where employees are exposed to extreme heat for hours, according to the sources previously cited.
When the orange and red warnings come on
The Spanish State Meteorological Agency, , uses the Meteoalerta Plan to warn the population about adverse meteorological phenomena. Among the phenomena covered are maximum temperatures, and the warning levels are yellow, orange and red, in increasing order of danger.
In the orange warning, the danger is considered important and serious impacts may occur, especially on vulnerable people or areas. In a red warning, the danger is extraordinary and there could be very serious or catastrophic impacts, which is why the authorities recommend preventive measures and action in accordance with official indications.
Fines can exceed 50 thousand euros
Sanctions must also be rigorously explained. In terms of preventing occupational risks, serious infractions can cost up to 49,180 euros, while very serious infractions start at 49,181 euros and can reach 983,736 euros, according to the Law on Infractions and Sanctions in the Social Order.
The specific value will depend on the qualification of the infraction, the severity of the risk, the number of workers affected and the company’s performance in relation to the obligation to prevent damage to health.
Brits in the spotlight, but the rule applies to everyone
The topic gained prominence in the British press because Spain continues to be one of the favorite destinations for tourists from the United Kingdom, especially in the Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Andalusia, Valencia and Catalonia. Still, the rule is not aimed at the British, nor at tourists in general, but at Spanish companies and the protection of their workers.
For those who travel, the consequence can be practical: on days of extreme heat, there may be fewer tables available outside, terraces with reduced opening hours or service transferred indoors. Restaurants, bars and hotels may favor air-conditioned rooms when the risk to outdoor workers is considered high, say the sources cited above.
El Niño increases attention, but does not guarantee alerts in Spain
The possible return of the El Niño phenomenon has also been associated with the topic, but it is good to avoid alarmism. The World Meteorological Organization indicated, on April 24, that there are signs of a possible development of El Niño from mid-2026, with conditions potentially emerging between May and July.
NOAA also pointed, on April 9, to neutral ENSO conditions at the time of analysis, with El Niño likely to emerge between May and July 2026. Still, this does not automatically mean that Spain will have red heat warnings in May, nor that all terraces will be affected at the same time.
What tourists should expect
Tourists who travel to Spain in the warmer months must rely on more demanding rules on days of extreme heat, especially during hours of greatest sun exposure. Lunch on a terrace may continue to be possible in many locations, but will depend on weather conditions, official warnings and each establishment’s ability to protect workers.
The main change is, therefore, in the balance between tourism, customer comfort and job security. Spain is not putting an end to terraces, but it is making it clear that, in the face of extreme heat, the health of workers must come above the tourist routine of eating and drinking outdoors.
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