Holiday warning as tourists face fines for taking pebbles from beaches and wearing high heels in Brit hotspot
BRITISH holidaymakers have been warned that they could face stiff fines over seemingly innocent activities in Greece this summer.
Tourists need to watch out for a few of the country’s strange rules, which prohibit wearing high heels in some areas or picking up pebbles from the beach.
Those hoping to tour the wonders of Greece or attend concerts and performances at the ancient sites will have to watch out for their foot attire.
British tourists are warned that wearing a pair of high heels to any of the country’s historical monuments could carry a hefty fine, according to Parkdean Resorts.
Since 2009 it has been illegal to wear shoes that could scratch after fears from archaeologists that heels would disrupt or damage the old stones.
These include the likes of the Acropolis, Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens and the Epidaurus Theatre in the Peloponnese region.
Meanwhile, those heading for the beach need to be sure not to take home anything that doesn’t belong to them – including the beach itself.
In Lalaria Beach in Skiathos, it is illegal for you to take pebbles home from the beach and anyone who does could be fined a whopping £771.
It comes as British tourists heading to Greece are warned of an “insidious” heatwave on its way with the mercury set to hit a sizzling 45C in some regions.
Forecasters predict the heatwave is set to start on Wednesday and is due to last ten days with an average of 42-43C and a peak of up to 45C on Friday.
Across the Mediterranean, other strange fines could affect British travellers and those heading to Spain are reminded to stick to only wearing beachwear on the beach.
On the popular island of Majorca or in the city of Barcelona, if you walk around the cities in a swimsuit, bikini, swimming trunks or even bare-chested you can be fined anywhere between £86 – £171.
Last month, authorities in Majorca also unrolled new fines in a bid to crackdown on “undesirable” behaviour on their most popular beaches.
The tough crackdown is designed to get rid of rowdy tourists as the council wants to win coveted Blue Flag status for the area around Colonia de Sant Jordi.
The new bylaws ban being naked and the use of speakers, radios, and musical instruments that “may cause a nuisance”.
Street and beach vendors are also banned – as is camping on the beaches, lighting fires, or detonating fireworks.
Bizarrely in the Brit hotspot of Benidorm, if you want to build sandcastles on Levante beach – you’ll need to get a permit first or you could be fined up to £129.
And if you also smoke, sleep or use shampoo or body wash on the beach you could be fined hundreds more.
Meanwhile in Sardinia, you could be slapped with £430 fines after a popular Italian resort town rolled out new etiquette rules.
Locals and tourists hitting the beach in Sant’Antioco will be walking on eggshells after 23 controversial new restrictions, which even forbid eating ice creams.