Ballermann in Transition: Playa de Palma and Magaluf Show a Quieter Season — but One Nuisance Remains

Less Riots, More Routine — but not everything is under control

On a warm August morning I walked along Avenida de Alemania, and it was immediately noticeable: the music was quieter, the streets cleaner, and on the beach more uniformed officers patrolled than usual. No comparison to the images from previous years. The mood: relaxed, almost normal.

Local hoteliers unanimously report that the season was significantly calmer. Several local sources cite the increased presence of the local police — about three dozen additional officers, as heard from hotel circles. The visible presence has stifled many outbreaks at their root, says a spokesperson for the Playa de Palma hotel association. He sounds relieved, but not euphoric.

The result: pickpocketing, open drug dealing and nightly noise have noticeably decreased. In the evenings you now more often see families with children or couples who previously preferred other parts of the island. In short: the image of the permanently drunk party crowd has cracks.

One problem still grows: illegal street trading

If there is a dark side, it is the flourishing illegal trade on the promenade. Sellers openly offer jewelry, alcohol and electronic devices — often aggressively and without controls. That is slipping away from us, warns a hotelier representative. The demand is clear: more deployment of the national police and harsher sanctions.

Officially, they say they have already taken sufficient measures and Playa is safe. That does not fit the experiences of some hoteliers and residents who at night observe vendors quickly appearing and disappearing. A constant construction site, one could say.

Magaluf also changes its face

In the western part of the island, similar tones draw a changed picture: Magaluf, once synonymous with excess, appeared calmer this season. The municipality has tightened controls, regulated sales of alcoholic beverages and limited opening hours. A Palmanova-Magaluf association spokesperson sums it up: We have stabilized, guests come more consciously and spend more money.

The visitor profile shifts noticeably: fewer party goers, more families and travelers with higher purchasing power. Smartphones and drones complement classic police work — surveillance, say officials, has taken on more modern forms.

Economically solid, but different

Financially the result is surprisingly positive: overnight stays on the Playa de Palma fell by roughly four percent, but higher prices offset the decline. Hoteliers report about eight percent higher average rates. For September occupancy was expected at around 85 percent, and October also looks solid according to bookings.

In the end, a mixed conclusion: more safety in everyday life, fewer public escapades — but an unresolved problem with illegal street trading. And a sense that the island is slowly reordering itself. I will keep a close eye on it — on the next walk, perhaps with a coffee in hand and without party noise in the background.

Note: Statements come from local association representatives and observations from the 2025 season.