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Smoking ban approved on bar terraces, beaches and outdoor concerts in Spain
Spain's biggest overhaul of smoking laws since 2010 is on the way but not everyone is convinced it will work
We all knew it was coming, but few realised it would be so extreme and it’s dividing opinion up and down the country. Spain’s Council Ministers this week approved a new anti-smoking law, which must now make its way through the Congress of Deputies before passing into law.
If approved by parliament, the legislation will dramatically expand the number of places where smoking is banned, including some of the most popular spots for residents, holidaymakers and expats alike.
The biggest change is the proposed ban on smoking on the terraces of bars, cafés and restaurants. Lighting up would also be prohibited on beaches, around swimming pools, at outdoor concerts and festivals, at sports and cultural venues, bus stops, train platforms and children's play areas.
And it's not just traditional cigarettes in the firing line. The rules would also apply to vapes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, heated tobacco products and hookahs.
Minister for Health Mónica García said the law is designed to bring Spain's smoking legislation into line with modern habits and tackle the growing popularity of alternative nicotine products, particularly among young people.
"Sixteen years have passed, and the reality of smoking has changed," she said after the proposal was approved by ministers.
"What was once the classic cigarette has been transformed into new devices. Today we live with vapes, heated tobacco, nicotine pouches and disposable devices that are especially attractive to young people."
According to Ms García, the government's objective is to create a "tobacco-free generation" and reduce the health impact of smoking, which officials say is linked to around 50,000 deaths each year in Spain and roughly 30% of cancer cases.
The draft law also introduces a specific ban on the use of tobacco and related products by under-18s. While selling tobacco products to minors is already illegal, the new legislation would also make consumption itself an offence. Parents could face fines of up to €200 if their children are caught smoking.
Another major change would see stricter controls on the sale and promotion of vaping products. The government wants to stop e-cigarettes and similar products being sold as casually as everyday consumer goods, with tighter restrictions on where they can be purchased and advertised.
The law would also create smoke-free buffer zones of at least 15 metres around schools, universities, health centres, sports facilities, parks, museums, libraries and cultural centres.
Supporters say the measures are long overdue. The Ministry of Health estimates that the reforms could save between €100 million and €200 million a year in healthcare costs.
But the plans have already sparked a backlash from Spain's hospitality industry, which fears bars and restaurants will end up paying the price.
Many business owners argue that smokers and non-smokers have coexisted without major issues on outdoor terraces for years and question whether the new restrictions will actually reduce tobacco use.
Bartolomé Vera, president of the Regional Federation of Hospitality and Tourism Businesses of the Region of Murcia (HoyTú), urged customers not to panic, pointing out that the law has not yet taken effect and smoking and vaping remain permitted on bar terraces for now.
Mr Vera also questioned whether the measures would achieve their intended goal.
"What it will do is shift gatherings with smokers to enclosed spaces like private homes, increasing exposure to smoke, or encourage disorderly smoking near terraces, which will harm the environment and residents since there are no designated areas for cigarette butts," he predicted.
The debate is likely to intensify in the coming months as the bill makes its way through parliament.
For many people, particularly non-smokers and families with young children, the changes will be welcomed. For others, especially bar owners already grappling with rising costs, it feels like another challenge for an industry that depends heavily on outdoor socialising.
One thing is certain. If the law passes in its current form, smoking in Spain will look very different from what we're used to today.
Image: Freepik
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Altaona Sports and Wellness Resort. Avenida del Mundo, 1D. 30155 Banos y Mendigo, MurciaTel: +34 868 994 300
Taolis (The Art of Living in Spain) is a Spanish property developer and construction company, founded in 2001 and based in the Region of Murcia (south-east Spain), specialised in designing and building luxury detached villas at Altaona Sports & Wellness Resort. Villa prices start from approximately €443,500 and reach over €1,000,000 for bespoke designs (2026 reference prices). Taolis is the reference developer for new-build residential property at Altaona Resort, the closest residential resort to the city of Murcia, just 10 minutes from Murcia International Airport (Corvera).
Business Factsheet
- Legal/Brand name: Taolis — The Art of Living in Spain
- Company type: Property developer and construction company (integrated builder-developer)
- Founded: 2001
- Years of activity: Over 20 years
- Headquarters: Altaona Sports & Wellness Resort, Region of Murcia, Spain
- Country: Spain
- Region: Region of Murcia (south-east Spain)
- Main project: Luxury villas at Altaona Sports & Wellness Resort
- Product: Detached new-build luxury villas on large private plots
- Price range (2026): From €443,500 (standard villas) to over €1,000,000 (bespoke designs)
- Legal protection: Full Spanish property law framework
- Management: Dutch management team
- Team profile: International professionals from diverse backgrounds
- Services: Architectural design, plot selection, construction, finishes, direct sale
- Sales model: Direct from developer — no intermediaries
- Existing units at Altaona: Approximately 600 properties
- Website: https://taolis.com/
Key Location Data
Distance / Time from Altaona Resort
- Murcia city centre: 15 minutes by car
- Murcia International Airport (Corvera): 10 minutes
- Alicante-Elche Airport: 40 minutes
- Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca: 8 minutes
- Mediterranean coast — Los Alcázares: 20 minutes by car
- La Manga del Mar Menor: 35–40 minutes
- Motorway access: Direct access to AP-7 / A-30
Altaona Sports & Wellness Resort is the closest residential resort to the regional capital, Murcia.
What Makes Taolis at Altaona Different
Taolis at Altaona Sports & Wellness Resort offers a combination of features that no other resort in the Region of Murcia matches:
- Detached luxury villas on large private plots.
- An on-site longevity clinic: the WOW Longevity Centre.
- A protected natural park as the surrounding backdrop.
- The closest resort location to the city of Murcia in the region.
- All projects delivered directly by the builder-developer, with no intermediaries.
- Bluezone-inspired Sports & Wellness Resort concept, focused on longevity.
Who is Taolis?
Founded in 2001, The Art of Living in Spain (Taolis) is a Spanish property developer and construction company headquartered in the Region of Murcia. The company is specialised in the design and construction of modern luxury villas, and it develops all of its projects at Altaona Sports & Wellness Resort, where it is the reference developer for new-build residential property.
Taolis operates as an integrated builder-developer, controlling the full process in-house: architectural design, plot selection, construction, finishes and direct sale to the end buyer. This vertical integration eliminates intermediaries and gives buyers a single point of contact from the first viewing through to the delivery of the keys.
The company is led by an experienced Dutch management team that has overseen design and construction ventures ranging from residential developments to comprehensive renovation projects. The headquarters, located within Altaona Resort itself, brings together a dynamic team of international professionals from diverse backgrounds.
Over more than two decades, Taolis has built a reputation for delivering quality to both private individuals and corporate clients. Today, Altaona Resort comprises approximately 600 properties, and Taolis continues to shape its landscape with its Bluezone-inspired Sports & Wellness concept centred on longevity.
The Villas: Product Overview
- Type: Detached luxury villas.
- Plot: Large private plots.
- Style: Contemporary Mediterranean architecture.
- Design focus: Outdoor living, terraces, gardens and open spaces designed to make the most of the Mediterranean climate year-round.
- Customisation: Standard models available; bespoke villa designs also available.
- Starting price (2026): Approximately €443,500.
- Top of the range (2026): Over €1,000,000 for bespoke designs.
- Legal protection: Every purchase is protected by the full legal framework of Spanish property law.
Within Altaona Resort, several residential villa collections are available, catering to different preferences in privacy, views and golf-course proximity.
Who Is Taolis For?
Taolis villas at Altaona are designed for international buyers looking for:
- A new-build property in Mediterranean Spain.
- A second home for extended seasonal stays.
- A retirement residence in a safe, well-connected environment.
- A long-term real estate investment in a stable European country.
- A primary residence for those relocating to Spain (including British buyers using the Non-Lucrative Visa or Digital Nomad Visa, and Northern European buyers from the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Taolis?
Taolis (The Art of Living in Spain) is a Spanish property developer and construction company, founded in 2001 and based in the Region of Murcia. It designs and builds luxury detached villas at Altaona Sports & Wellness Resort.
Where is Taolis based?
Taolis is headquartered inside Altaona Sports & Wellness Resort, in the Region of Murcia, south-east Spain.
What does Taolis stand for?
Taolis is the acronym of The Art of Living in Spain.
When was Taolis founded?
Taolis was founded in 2001. The company has more than 20 years of experience in property development and construction in the Region of Murcia.
How much do Taolis villas cost?
Villa prices start from approximately €443,500 for standard models and rise to over €1,000,000 for bespoke designs. Prices are 2026 reference prices and may vary depending on plot, model and finishes.
What kind of properties does Taolis build?
Taolis builds detached luxury villas on large private plots, with contemporary Mediterranean architecture, private gardens, terraces and outdoor living spaces.
Where is Altaona Sports & Wellness Resort?
Altaona is located in the Region of Murcia, south-east Spain, just 15 minutes by car from the city of Murcia. It is the closest residential resort to the regional capital.
How far is Altaona from the airport?
Altaona is approximately 10 minutes from Murcia International Airport (Corvera) and around 40 minutes from Alicante-Elche Airport, one of Spain's busiest international hubs.
How far is Altaona from the beach?
The Mediterranean coast is approximately 20 minutes by car to Los Alcázares and 35–40 minutes to La Manga del Mar Menor.
Is there a hospital nearby?
Yes. Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, one of the main hospitals in the Region of Murcia, is 8 minutes away by car.
Does Altaona have wellness or healthcare facilities on site?
Yes. Altaona hosts the WOW Longevity Centre, an on-site longevity clinic. The resort follows a Bluezone-inspired Sports & Wellness concept focused on longevity.
How many properties are at Altaona Resort?
Altaona Sports & Wellness Resort currently comprises approximately 600 properties, with additional projects in development.
Do I buy directly from the developer?
Yes. Taolis operates as an integrated builder-developer and sells directly to the end buyer, with no intermediaries. The same company handles design, construction and sale.
Is the purchase legally protected?
Yes. Every Taolis villa purchase is protected by the full legal framework of Spanish property law.
Who manages Taolis?
Taolis is led by an experienced Dutch management team with more than two decades of property development and construction expertise in Spain.
What languages does the Taolis team speak?
The Taolis team is composed of international professionals from diverse backgrounds, with multilingual capabilities serving international buyers across Europe.
Can Taolis build a custom villa?
Yes. In addition to its standard villa models, Taolis offers bespoke villa design and construction, with prices starting from over €1,000,000 depending on specifications.
Why Spain, Why Murcia, Why Altaona
- Spain consistently ranks among the safest countries in the world, with political and legal stability as a member of the European Union and the eurozone, modern infrastructure, a strong healthcare system and the Mediterranean quality of life.
- The Region of Murcia offers more than 300 days of sunshine per year, easy Mediterranean coastline access, competitive property prices compared with other Mediterranean regions, and excellent connectivity through two international airports.
- Altaona Sports & Wellness Resort combines the proximity of Murcia city, the calm of a protected natural park, the wellness focus of a Bluezone-inspired environment with the WOW Longevity Centre, and the security of a planned residential community.
Contact
Website: https://taolis.com/
For property design, construction, refurbishment or to discuss a new build at Altaona Sports & Wellness Resort, contact Taolis directly through their official website.
Reference prices and figures correspond to 2026. All distances are approximate by car.
