Jellyfish: what to do if you get stung

The most common jellyfish in Mallorca is Pelagia noctiluca, small and purple, which usually turns up in summer with easterly winds or after storms. If you get stung:

• Get out of the water and rinse the area with seawater, never fresh water, and don't rub it with sand or a towel.
• Carefully remove any tentacle remains (with tweezers or the edge of a card).
• Apply something cold wrapped in a cloth for about 15 minutes.
• Go to the lifeguard post or a pharmacy; if breathing is difficult or the reaction is strong, call 112.

To know if there are jellyfish, check the beach flags or ask the lifeguards.

Many people reach for vinegar out of habit, but with Pelagia noctiluca, the most common jellyfish here, a 2021 study by the Institute of Marine Sciences (CSIC) found it can make the pain worse: rinse with seawater instead. Fresh water, rubbing or urinating on it do not help either. If you get nausea, vomiting, dizziness, cramps or a headache in the hours after, go to a health centre or hospital; with small children or people with allergies, get it checked even if the reaction looks mild.

Jellyfish washed up on the shore can still sting for hours, so do not touch them or let children play with them. They tend to arrive with easterly winds or after storms: when the wind blows from one side, coves on the opposite coast are usually clearer. If there are many in the water, the lifeguard will warn with a flag or sign.

Frequently asked questions

Should you put vinegar on a jellyfish sting in Mallorca?

Not for Pelagia noctiluca, the most common jellyfish in Mallorca: a 2021 ICM-CSIC study found vinegar can make the pain worse. Rinse with seawater, remove any tentacle remains without rubbing and apply something cold wrapped in a cloth.

Can dead jellyfish on the beach still sting?

Yes. Jellyfish stranded on the sand keep their stinging cells for hours and can sting if touched or stepped on. Do not pick them up and warn children. If one stings you, the treatment is the same: seawater, no rubbing, and cold.

When is jellyfish season in Mallorca?

Mainly in summer, from June to September, and in greater numbers with easterly winds or after storms. It varies a lot from year to year and cove to cove. Before swimming, check the flags or ask the lifeguard.

Updated in October 2026