Swedish Teens' Wild Parties in Magaluf: A Summer Tradition
The party street in Magaluf has become so popular among Swedes that it has earned its own nickname. Newly graduated students flock here to party and sunbathe.
– I bought a 24-pack of condoms for six days, says Leon, 18, from Landskrona.
– It's all about having fun, drinking, and just going for it, says Mattias Helén from 'Paradise Hotel.'
Outside one of the many tattoo studios on Magaluf's party street, a group of blonde girls stands. It's past one in the morning, and the clubs have been open for hours. A guy is dragged out by a bouncer, slurring something in British English. The Swedish girls watch him with raised eyebrows.
Then they turn back to their friend lying on the black bench with a tattoo needle against her lip. She grimaces in pain.
– Girls always ask for lip tattoos, says Marina, a tattoo artist at the studio 'Kratos.'
Many Swedish youths come here because they're drunk, the tattoos are cheap, and they want a permanent memory from a trip they'll only make once in their lives.
What do they usually tattoo on their lips?
– 'Fitta,' she exclaims.
– Or 'yolo,' adds her colleague Juan.
A smiley face or a camel on the toe for 'camel toe' is also common among Swedes. The guys often write something in Swedish on their legs.
– One guy once did a Swedish sentence. When we googled what it meant, it said 'Fitta ska smaka som fitta, inte som tvål,' or something like that. That's probably the craziest, says Marina.
At the pool party at the popular club Oceans, 19-year-old Alice from Kungsbacka shows off her new tattoo. 'Magaluf' is written in cursive on the inside of her foot. She came here with a large group of friends two days ago, and they decided early on to get a friendship tattoo.
– Everyone has done one, so it's a fun thing, shouts Alice to be heard over the music.
Then she points above her bikini bottom and continues:
– We just took the first best. We thought about writing 'heaven' here first, but maybe that's not so fun in the future.
Thousands of Young Swedes Gather in Magaluf
Between 2,000 and 2,500 Swedish youths. That's how many have flocked to Magaluf on the Spanish island of Mallorca during a week in early June to celebrate the end of 13 years of school. Most graduated from high school in their student caps just a few days ago. Now they spread out on 'Platja de Magaluf' to enjoy the warmth and freedom.
– It feels so damn good. I hate school, says Ludde, 18, from Kungälv. He sits on the beach among his classmates' scattered towels with a lukewarm can of beer in hand.
– A group chat was created with like half of Uppsala on Snapchat where we voted on where to go. And Magaluf won by two votes over Ayia Napa and Zakynthos, says Adam, 19.
– It's really nice. It's warm, you party. There are many places to go, and the alcohol is cheap, says Tilde, 19, from Floda.
On the beach, the Swedes stand out. Unlike the other tourists, they are many, loud, and most hold a beer can or a plastic cup in hand. Sunbathing is just as important a part of the trip as partying. Many have the same tactic to manage going out to the club every night and getting up to the beach every morning.
– Resorb in the morning, Resorb in the evening, says Filip, 19.
– Every other water, says Ludvig, 19.
But food is also important.
– I eat churros for breakfast, says Ella, 18.
– Fat, carbohydrates, everything, protein. Everything so the body can cope, says Filip.
– Kebab! shouts 19-year-old Alexander.
Around their wrists are colorful fabric bands. The bands give access to their apartment hotel and the clubs. Many have booked the trip through the travel organizer 'Nordic Invasion,' which includes accommodation, flights, and guides. For those who want to participate in all activities and events, it's possible to buy the 'big VIP band' for about 1,400 kronor. No one wants to miss party boats, foam parties, or the chance to see Anis Don Demina, who is playing this week.
– It cost around 15,000 together with flights and accommodation. But after yesterday, I felt it would be expensive, says 18-year-old Hedda from Uppsala, who landed on the island the day before.
– You have to check how it went in the wallet the morning after, says Helmer, 19, from Kungälv.
Many have worked alongside school, saved gift money during the year, or borrowed from their parents to afford the trip.
'Will Get Chlamydia'
Between the sun setting and the clubs opening, wild pre-parties take place in hotel rooms. Screams are heard from the balconies. There's a competition about who is best at pre-partying. Some girls say they flashed their breasts to those opposite.
In the two-room apartment at the hotel 'TRH,' three girls live. This evening, they've invited their girlfriends over. The floor and furniture are covered with clothes. On the available surfaces are curling irons, eyelashes, liquor bottles, and glasses sticky with dried Resorb. They pull clothes out of each other's bags, change, and wait for a reaction. Even though the rest say 'so pretty' in unison, they repeat the procedure at least three more times before they look satisfied.
– I made an order for about 3,000 on Shein for the trip, says Hanna, 19.
The pre-party begins to wane. The girls haven't eaten anything since breakfast and head towards the pizzeria before moving on to the party street. Wherever they go, they always stick together.
Several people say they've heard about how others – mostly girls – have been drugged at the clubs in previous years. Some say they've been advised by the guides working with the Swedes not to go home alone at night.
Those working at the clubs disagree with that image. A person working at one of the Swedish bars says that a bad combination of too much heat, too little food, and too much alcohol often makes the young tourists too drunk.
On the dance floor inside the Swedish club Pepe's Bodega, the colorful light reflects off white unbuttoned shirts and white short skirts. It's 'white party' tonight, and it's never been easier to distinguish between the Swedes and the Brits as they fight for space on the crowded street.
In Magaluf, the Swedes have their own part of the party street. There, the bars Viking, Shotstugan, and Pepe's Bodega are lined up. The Brits don't dare come here.
– They're not a fan of us Brits. We're crazy, says Jack, 19, from Scotland.
– It's called 'Scandinavian Bar Street,' it's even on Google Maps, says Martin, who owns the popular 'Pepe's,' as the club is called.
At the bar inside Pepe's Bodega, people jump and sing along to the songs. On the bar counter, Mattias Helén from 'Paradise Hotel' pours liquor from a vodka bottle into everyone's open mouths. A few days earlier, a video was published on TikTok where Mattias and 'PH' colleague Fredrik 'Fimpen' Olsson reveal that they will be working at 'Pepe's Bodega.' The video quickly gained several hundred thousand views. Now people flock outside the club to talk, take a selfie – and drink shots with the reality star.
– So, we work here and chill, me and Fimpen. We have fun, drink, and just live life. It's a record week now, so there are so many people, says Mattias, who was last on 'PH' in 2024.
Later, Mattias reveals a secret trick he uses behind the bar. To keep the guests happy and still be able to work, he has filled a vodka bottle with water, which he pours for himself while filling the other glasses with vodka.
– Everyone comes here and says: 'Mattias, can we take a shot.' But I can't take a shot with everyone. Then I would die, he says.
Besides sun and partying, the hunt for a holiday fling is also part of the trip. Several reveal that they received condoms in the goodie bag from 'Nordic Invasion' on the bus from the airport.
– You want to be a little free. You do what you want, says Hedda, 18.
A girl says she paid 500 kronor to get into a guy's hotel room at night.
– Look what I have in my pocket here, says Leon, pulling out a pack of condoms from his pocket and waving it.
– So we bought a 24-pack of condoms for six days. We're going to hook up with girls, you get it?
– Mom, I'm going to get 'chlamydia,' continues Leon. The goal is to get a sexually transmitted disease.
Few have that goal for the trip, but one thing everyone agrees on: Love is not found here.
– If you find someone in Magaluf, I promise it won't last the rest of your life, says Filip.