Brits could face £3,400 fines for breaking new tourist rules in Croatia

12 June 2023 , 12:14

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Split harbour and Diocletian's Palace (Image: Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images)

Brits heading on Croatia holidays should take note of strict new rules for tourists, from bikini bans to limits on booze - and fines of up to £3,400 for those who flout the restrictions.

Dubrovnik already bans visitors from wandering around its old city in a bikini or topless, and now the city of Split is following suit.

The new rules prohibit people from walking around the historic centre "in a bathing suit, underwear or no clothes in a public space", and applies to both tourists and locals.

The restrictions are intended to "bring order to the city", with fines of up to €150 (approximately £128) for rule-breakers.

Tourists who wear "clothing that promotes drug use" could also be slapped with a penalty.

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But those aren't the only tourist rules that Brits need to pay attention to. Tourists planning to make the most of the Croatian nightlife should be warned that you can be fined up to €4000 (£3,400) on the spot for actions considered to be "disturbances to public order", such as being visibly drunk in public.

The Foreign Office has updated its Croatia travel advice to reflect the recent changes and warn Brits of the various restrictions in place, which also including climbing monuments or falling asleep in public areas.

The updated guidance includes a new section on the fines, reading: "In some Croatian town centres, authorities may issue on the spot fines for behaviour which is locally considered inappropriate, such as:

• walking through towns shirtless or in swimwear
• wearing clothing that promotes drug use
• sleeping in public areas
• climbing on top of monuments
• urinating in public spaces
• drinking alcohol near protected public spaces (e.g. schools)
• vomiting in public areas

"You can also be fined up to €4000 for actions considered to be disturbances to public order. These include fighting, verbal abuse and drunken behaviour.

"Most towns have signage to advise about actions that are prohibited by local law. Take notice of your surroundings, including signage, and seek local advice.

"Drug related offences are punishable with fines and jail sentences."

Croatia's not the only holiday hotspot with restrictions in place for Brits. In recent years, Spain has introduced a host of strict new rules for tourists from smoking bans to booze limits at all-inclusive resorts.

These also include dress codes, particularly in the Balearic Islands.

Last year dress codes were adopted by 11 restaurants that are associated with Palma Beach resorts in the Balearic islands and involve a number of banned items of clothing, including football shirts, strapless vest tops and swimsuits.

Banned items include: Tank tops without straps, swimming trunks, swimsuits, any accessories, purchased from street vendors, football strips.

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Meanwhile over in Italy, tourists could be slapped with a £242 fine for taking selfies. The local government in the town of Portofino has introduced no-waiting zones to stop tourists from 'lingering' for too long in popular beauty spots.

If you are caught with your phone turned face-wards in certain spots you could be fined up to 275 euros (£242).

Julie Delahaye