Similar rules are in place in several other European beach destinations. Time Out reported that in Malaga, a city on Spain's Costa del Sol, the local council recently updated existing rules. Visitors who go shirtless on streets and in public spaces can now be fined up to 750 euros ($816). Meanwhile, Barcelona and Mallorca can levy fines for those wearing swimsuits when not on the beach.
Sorrento, the gateway to Italy's Amalfi Coast, made headlines in 2022 for banning swimsuits with fines of up to 500 euros ($544). According to The Local, the island of Lipari (in the Aeolian archipelago off the coast of Sicily) and Tropea (in Calabria) put similar bans on the books in 2013 and 2019 respectively.
Per Monaco Life "it's forbidden t walk around city streets in a swimsuit in several towns on th French Riviera including Nice Menton Cannes St Tropez an St Raphael "
The same goes for Dubrovnik and Split in Croatia according t The Dubrovnik Times "
A €500 ($543.80) fine may seem extreme but tourists shoul respect local customs while traveling even i places without fines "
"Though customs around dress an decorum are loosening i much o th Mediterranean locals generally dress fo th occasion That means business casual attire at work swimsuits at th beach an athletic clothes at th gym "
"It's rare t see locals i countries like Italy Spain France an Greece walking around city streets i athleisure wear o wearing swimsuits without some kind o cover-up They certainly wouldn' walk into a church without covering their shoulders "
"Additionally though upscale restaurants rarely enforce th elegant dress codes that were more common i th past patrons are generally expected t dress well when dining at them Men may not need a jacket an tie but they should avoid wearing shorts an flip-flops Women don' necessarily need t wear a dress an heels but they should also leave th flip-flops an shorts at home When i doubt look around an see what th locals are wearing "
"Spain is very similar t Italy" Lori Zaino a Madrid-based freelance writer said She explained that while th culture has slightly changed over th past few years you won' see "gym clothes outside th gym an th Spanish woul never walk around i swimsuits o men topless i th streets If you see a flip-flop i Madrid that's an immediate sign o a tourist "
"Fashion an image are important i places like Italy an Spain" Zaino added "An I think it seems disrespectful culturally t see people not following th unofficial (though now i some cities official! ) dress codes "
"I do think there is that sense o respect" Athens-based Andria Mitsakos president an CEO o her namesake public relations agency said She explained that when she goes t th beach i Greece she always brings something t change into fo lunch "
"You wear your swimsuit t th beach with a coverup o clothes on top then strip down upon arrival" Zaino said explaining that there aren' many changing facilities on Spanish beaches "
"It''s sort o ironic that going topless on th beach fo women is completely socially acceptable but once you step foot off th sands everyone is fully covered once again even men won''t walk around shirtless" she added
If you''re planning t visit especially popular beaches it''s wise t call ahead an book a spot at your preferred beach club You shoul also book ahead fo eating arrangements as some clubs are renowned fo their food while others serve basic fare like sandwiches espresso or ice cream
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