Flip flops can get you fines of up to €2,500 if you wear them off beaches in several European tourist destinations

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Wearing flip-flops, one of the most popular summer footwear, can bring fines of up to 2,500 euros in some tourist destinations, where authorities have started to impose increasingly strict restrictions.

European countries, such as GreeceFrance and Portugal, apply penalties that can reach several hundred euros, including in situations such as driving in flip-flops. The measures are also extended by certain attractions or locations luxurysuch as the “La Scala” opera in Milan or exclusive restaurants, which impose more elegant outfits and prohibit access to beach shoes, the publication shows Flash.

More and more popular tourist destinations are introducing restrictions on the footwear, arguing that it poses a safety risk to tourists and puts an extra burden on rescue services, the Daily Mail reports.

2,500 euros, fine in Italy

The strictest rules apply in Italy’s Cinque Terre region, where a ban on wearing flip-flops, sandals and other smooth-soled footwear on mountain and hiking trails has been in place since 2019. Officials have also announced checks and fines of up to €2,500. However, Italy is not the only country with such rules.

In some parts of Spain, flip flops are allowed on the beach, but not while driving.

– The Spanish traffic police have confirmed that drivers can be fined up to €200 if police officers believe that the footwear affects the safety of driving the vehicle. Members of the Civil Guard have the right to decide on the spot – warned Jacob Wedderburn-Day, travel expert and director of Stasher.

Similar rules exist in other European countries. In Greece, drivers wearing flip-flops can be fined up to €100, in France fines can reach up to €375, while in some parts of Portugal there are restrictions on this footwear.

Certain tourist attractions introduce their own rules. According to The Guardian, Milan’s famous La Scala opera house has banned beachwear, while many high-end bars and restaurants require dressier footwear.