Varenna, an Italian town on Lake Como, has updated its regulations to include stricter fines for tourists deemed to be dressed inappropriately. The town's mayor, Mauro Manzoni, stated that the measures are intended to balance welcoming visitors with protecting the quality of life for residents and maintaining the town's peaceful atmosphere.
The updated urban police regulations now impose a fine of €200 (approximately $325) for individuals caught walking through the town shirtless or in swimwear outside of designated beach areas, piers, and boat docks. This penalty is a significant increase from the previous €50 (about $80) fine.
This policy change is part of broader amendments aimed at managing the impact of a recent tourism boom. Beyond dress code regulations, Varenna has also capped tourist groups at a maximum of 25 people. Group leaders face penalties ranging from €100 to €400 (about $162 to $650) if they exceed this limit or use voice amplification equipment, such as loudspeakers, which are prohibited to prevent excessive noise.
Travel experts advise tourists to be highly aware of local customs and laws when visiting European destinations. Quentin Long, managing director of Australian Traveller Media, emphasized that while a single visa may grant access to multiple European countries, it does not imply a uniform set of laws or customs. "As Australians, we want to be not just aware of laws but also local customs - and increasingly, those two things are becoming the same," Long told Yahoo News. He added, "People are getting sick of bad tourist behaviour, and governments are responding by legislating against it."
Varenna is not alone in enacting such rules. In Sorrento, Italy, tourists can be fined up to €500 (about $810) for walking in swimwear or shirtless through town. The mayor of Sorrento previously described such behavior as "widespread indecorous behavior."
Similar regulations are in place in other European locales. In Dubrovnik, Croatia, tourists in the Old Town risk fines of up to €150 for wearing swimwear or going shirtless. In Portugal and Spain, including Barcelona, penalties for wearing bikinis or being shirtless away from the beach can reach up to €300.