Dreaming of a European summer filled with gelato in Rome, lazy afternoons on Greek islands, or tapas in the Spanish sun? You’re not alone—Europe is a perennial favourite for Australian travellers, especially as the weather cools down back home.
But before you dust off your passport and start packing your swimmers, a new wave of rules and regulations sweeping across the continent could turn your dream holiday into a costly lesson if you’re not careful.
Let’s face it: Australians are known for being friendly, fun-loving, and sometimes a little too relaxed regarding local customs. But after years of post-pandemic travel surges and a few too many rowdy tourist incidents, European hotspots are tightening the screws.
Local governments are responding to what they call ‘bad tourist behaviour’ with new laws, hefty fines, and even tech-driven border controls.
Quentin Long, managing director at Australian Traveller Media, puts it bluntly: ‘We now access continental Europe with a single visa, but that doesn’t mean a single set of laws. Australians need to be hyper-aware of local customs and systems—and increasingly, those two things are becoming the same.’
The European Union (EU) is rolling out its new Entry/Exit System (EES) in October 2025.
This means that all non-EU travellers, including Australians, will be fingerprinted and photographed on entry to the Schengen Zone (29 countries, including most of your favourite destinations).
Your biometric data will be stored, and your length of stay will be tracked. If you return within three years, you can clear borders with a face scan or fingerprint.
The days of a friendly wave and a quick passport stamp are over. Overstaying your 90-day limit in any 180 days, missing a passport stamp, or failing to register your stay could see you in hot water, and border officials are less forgiving than ever.
So, make sure your passport is valid for at least three months after your planned departure, and allow plenty of time for renewal if needed.
Heading to the United Kingdom? As of April, you’ll need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before you go.
It costs about $30, is valid for multiple entries over two years (or until your passport expires), and is a must-have for all Australian visitors.
Here’s where things get interesting—and potentially expensive. Across Europe, seemingly minor slip-ups can now cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Here’s a quick tour of the new rules in some of the most popular spots.
Italy
- Going topless off the beach in Sorrento: $800 fine.
- Sitting on Rome’s Spanish Steps: up to $600.
- Stepping into a fountain: $800.
- Hiking in thongs (flip-flops) in Cinque Terre: up to $4,000.
- Venice day-tripper access fee: $8 (8:30 am–4 pm).
France
- Oversized luggage on a train: $80.
- Being seen naked in your hotel room: up to $24,000
- Smoking is now banned in almost all outdoor public places.
Spain
- Wearing a bikini away from the beach in Ibiza: $600+.
- Drinking on the street: $2,000+.
- Party boats: banned.
- Six-drink cap per day on all-inclusive hotel deals.
- Antisocial behaviour in Palma de Mallorca: $5,000+.
- Swimwear in the city: $500+
- Canary Islands: $5,000 fines for street drinking, smoking on the beach, or bringing a BBQ, umbrella, or tent.
Greece
- High heels at archaeological sites: fines apply.
- Topless in public, smoking indoors, or taking pebbles from the beach: all fineable offences.
Portugal
- Public nudity in Albufeira: $3,000+.
- Sex, urinating, or wearing a bikini away from the water: $2,000+.
- Excessive noise in Lisbon’s quiet zones: $3,000+.
Croatia
- Public urination, nudity, vomiting in the street, or napping in public in Split: fines.
- Hvar: fines for swimwear off the beach, topless sunbathing, and drunkenness.
Turkey
- Standing up before the plane has fully stopped: a fineable offence.
Netherlands (Amsterdam)
- Littering, urination, drunkenness, or rowdy behaviour: $140+.
- Group debauchery: even higher fines.
Other destinations to watch
- Brazil: Australians now need a visa (processing fee approx. US$80.90).
- Bali: Tourist tax and visa required (pay online or at the airport).
- China: Temporary visa-free entry for up to 30 days until the end of 2025.
- South Korea: No Korea Electronic Travel Authorisation required for Australians until 31 December 2025 (visa-free stays up to 90 days).
Have you ever been fined or had a close call with local laws while travelling? What’s the strangest rule you’ve encountered overseas? Share your experiences in the comments below—your tip could save a fellow traveller from a holiday headache.
Also read: Centrelink docks traveller’s pension after extended stay overseas
