Beach rules and fines in Spain, Italy, Portugal and Greece

A seaside holiday is about switching off: stretching out on the sand, taking a dip, savoring an ice cream and letting your worries drift away. But glance the wrong way and that easygoing mood can evaporate. Across Europe, tourists can be fined for almost anything—from an abandoned towel to a selfie in the wrong spot. Here’s what to avoid on the beach if you don’t want to pay for it.

Spain: rules at every turn

Spain’s beach rules are especially strict, and Benidorm is a standout example. The list is long enough to trip up even seasoned travelers.

- Being on the beach at night — up to €1,200.
- Swimming under a red flag — €1,000.
- Leaving a towel or umbrella to “reserve” a spot — €150.
- Relieving yourself in the sea — €150.
- Smoking on the beach — up to €2,000.
- Using soap in beach showers — €650.
- Stripping completely on a regular beach — €650.
- Barbecuing — up to €3,000.
- Bringing a dog where they’re not allowed — up to €1,500.
- Playing ball games outside designated zones — €120.
- Drinking alcohol or having sex on the beach — €750.
- Fishing with a speargun or a rod — up to €1,100.

Elsewhere, rules also bite. In cities like Vigo, relieving yourself in the sea can bring a fine of up to €750. In Calpe, setting up umbrellas and loungers before 9:30 a.m. is banned and penalized.

Italy: beautiful but strict

In Sorrento, tourists can be fined €500 for walking the streets in swimwear; it’s deemed to spoil the city’s appearance.

On Sardinia’s Spiaggia della Pelosa, regular towels are off-limits—only special ones are allowed to keep the sand from being stirred up. There’s also a €3 entry fee, and numbers are capped at 1,500 people a day.

At Spiaggia Rosa the rules are stricter still: access is completely prohibited, and even attempting to get in can cost up to €3,500.

Portofino has introduced fines of up to €275 for selfies in crowded spots. In Rome, sitting on the Spanish Steps is forbidden, with penalties from €250 to €400.

Portugal: silence is mandatory

In Portugal, the beach is for rest, not parties. Blast music from speakers and you could face fines of up to €36,000; even having music playing at all can count as a violation. Silence, here, isn’t just polite—it’s required.

Greece: beaches under protection

Greece has brought in new measures to protect nature. Now, 70% of each beach must remain free of umbrellas and sunbeds; in protected areas the figure rises to 85%, and in some places nothing can be set up at all.

Collecting shells, pebbles or sand is also banned, with fines ranging from €400 to €1,000.

Takeaway: a holiday is about more than the sea

It’s easy to stumble into a fine without realizing it. Local rules are often far from obvious, and ignorance won’t get you off the hook. Before you set off, take a moment to check a resort’s regulations on official city or tourist information sites—two minutes of homework can save a holiday’s worth of money and nerves.