6 New Rules In Europe That Could Cost Tourists Hefty Fines

Long gone are the days when Europeans actually went out of their way to make tourists feel welcome. When they're not out protesting with picket signs, urging them to ‘go home', they're handing out crazy fines for the most trivial reasons.

If you thought Portofino's controversial ‘selfie fine‘ was the last straw, then nothing can prepare you for what's about to come next:

This year, 6 new outlandish rules have been rolled out across the Old Continent, impacting visitors in a number of tried-and-true vacation hotspots—and even when they're flying! Buckle up (literally), because it could turn into a bumpy ride from here on:

$70 For Unbuckling Ahead Of Time During Turkey-Bound Flights

The first one is on Turkey's tab: earlier this year, the Turkish Civil Aviation Authority introduced a slate of ‘administrative fines' of roughly $70 (or the equivalent in Turkish liras) for passengers who unbuckle seatbelts ahead of time.

You read that right.

Unless the seatbelt sign has been switched off, and cabin crew deem it's ‘safe' for you to stand up—this includes both mid-flight and post-landing—you could be out of cash before you even have the time to get scammed at Istanbul Airport.

$585 For Unruly Behavior During Ryanair Flights

The next one concerns exclusively unruly passengers. You know, the odd drunken passenger who's had one pint too many at the airport, and simply can't reel it in on the flight to Ibiza.

Budget carrier Ryanair has unveiled a wallet-wipping $585 fine this summer for passengers who cause ‘unnecessary disruption' during journeys, including behavior considered ‘unacceptable' or ‘antisocial' by aircrew.

Essentially, as long as you don't treat the aircraft like your own private stag do, and you don't get into verbally-abusive or physical altercations, your main concern as far as sanctions go remains to ensure your free carry-on bag fits Ryanair's overly-strict luggage size.

$350 For Driving Barefoot (Or With Sandals!)

If you've ever rented a car abroad, you know it can come with its fair share of headaches.

You could get into some significant trouble if you're not wearing the appropriate footwear while driving. Yep, that's a thing.

In countries like France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece, famous for their beach settings and sun-soaked coastlines, driving barefoot, or while in flip flops or sandals can result in a whopping $350 fine if you get caught.

$1,750 For Wearing Beach Attire Outside Beach Areas

Everyone tends to think of Europeans as generally permissive when it comes to beach attire; after all, nudist-friendly coves are a thing in most coastal resorts, and women typically sunbathe topless at public beaches.

There may be some truth to that, but on the other hand, don't go about thinking this mentality extends beyond that stretch of golden sand, or designated bathing areas.

Those caught wearing swimwear, or ‘inappropriate' attire away from the beach in cities like Albufeira (Portugal), Barcelona (Spain), Cannes (France), Sorrento (Italy), or Split (Croatia) will often get issued a jaw-dropping $1,750 fine on the spot.

$3,500 For Drinking In Public In Parts Of Spain

The next one deals with consuming certain substances in public spaces.

In general, public drinking across a majority of Spain's beach hotspots is frowned upon, to say the very least, and could entail fines of around $3,500. This includes Magaluf, in the trendy vacation island of Mallorca, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and even the party capital that is Ibiza.

Lighting up cigs is equally risky, especially in parks and on beaches. Just recently, France became the first European country to implement a nationwide ban on smoking in public areas—ironic as it may be, given the widely-known French inclination to puffing, you don't want to flout the ruling.

$235 For Eating In The Vicinity Of Monuments In Italy

Though we've already touched on these previously in an accompanying article, you can never stress Italy's arguably absurd fines for seemingly harmless acts enough times.

Selfie fines and driving bans in downtown areas aside, perhaps the most shocking of all is the fact that, should you sit on the ground, or steps (especially church steps, or in the vicinity of monuments) to eat and drink, you may be fined up to $235.

Not only that, but you could be issued an official ‘ban' from the grounds. This practice is particularly enforced in cities like Rome (which, to be fair, has dealt with plenty of degradations in recent years), Florence, and Venice.

Europe Is A Minefield Of Unspoken Rules

It seems satisfying the increasingly complex entry requirements, and ensuring you pack all your essentials, is no longer enough to guarantee a stress-free vacation, y'all.

While we cannot offer you legal advice on how to handle unexpected fines while traveling in Europe, we can help you prepare to deal with cultural sensitivities. Trust us, tipping the wrong way, or even tipping at all, can equally land you in hot water.

Check out our newly-launched 10-Second European Tipping Calculator, and steer clear of the occasional fiasco.