“No swimwear on the streets!” – This is the resounding ban message being sent by the French coastal town of Sables-d’Olonne along with other well-known European resorts to tourists, sparking intense reactions and discussions on social media. The town’s mayor, Yannick Moreau, decided to draw a clear “red line” between the beach and the urban area, asking visitors for “a little self-restraint” when walking around downtown.
European resorts ban swimwear outside beaches with fines up to €150 for violators
As he told the New York Times, the phenomenon of half-naked tourists walking around off the beach has gotten out of hand. “We see people leaving the beach and going to shops, grocery stores and restaurants wearing only their swimsuits,” he said characteristically. “The cup has overflowed. If you go to buy fruits and vegetables, you can’t be half-naked, with your hair falling on the products.”
The regulation banning circulation in swimwear outside the beach has been in effect since 2020, however this year, in July alone, fines were imposed on 10 French tourists — a record number for the period. Fines reach up to €150. “I don’t know if they want to show off their abs or just tan faster without losing a minute of sunbathing,” the mayor commented sarcastically.
European cities against the movement of “half-naked” tourists
The phenomenon is not limited to France. In many European tourist cities, authorities are intensifying controls and imposing sanctions for similar behavior. In Spain, in certain areas it is forbidden to even walk around in swimwear on beachfront promenades, while fines reach hundreds of euros. The tourism organization of Malaga recently reminded via social media that visitors must be “appropriately dressed.”
Similar rules apply in Italy, where in Sorrento tourists risk heavy fines if they walk around shirtless. In Croatia, Dubrovnik has also established a ban on walking around in swimwear in the city streets, as part of efforts to maintain public decency. Authorities in European coastal cities now seem to be setting clear boundaries between the relaxed spirit of vacation and respect for public space.
