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Oct 24, 2023

Brit tourists face £3,400 fines over clothes and naps as European holiday hotspot introduces strict new rules

HOLIDAYMAKERS could be slapped with a whopping £3,400 fine for making a couple

HOLIDAYMAKERS could be slapped with a whopping £3,400 fine for making a couple of simple mistakes.

Brits are being warned not strip off in the heat or even take a nap in Croatia - as that could see them hit with a hefty penalty.

The Croatian city of Split has followed the lead of Dubrovnik and decided to ban walking around the old city centre in a bikini or going shirtless.

Split City Council published the decision in February, and rules will affect tourists as well as locals during the summer.

According to Croatia Week, the bylaw is intended to bring order to the city, especially in Split's cultural and historic centre.

"Inside Zone A (cultural-historical centre) it is forbidden be in a bathing suit, underwear or no clothes in a public space," it read.

Communal wardens will patrol the streets looking out for offenders, who can also be fined £129 (€150) for drinking in public and £56 (€66) for walking their dog without a leash.

A list of "what not to do" when enjoying a trip in the Balkan country was also published on the UK Foreign Office website.

Titled "Local laws and customs", it pointed a few habits that are deemed inappropriate in some Croatian town centres.

As well as walking around shirtless or in bathing suits, visitors should avoid wearing clothing that "promotes drug use," the advice read.

Sleeping in public areas, climbing on top of monuments and urinating in public spaces also made the list.

Lastly, holidaymakers should not drink alcohol near "protected public spaces", such as schools, nor vomit in public areas.

According to the government's foreign travel advice, anyone could be fined up to £3,400 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.

However, visitors are advised to take notice of their surroundings, including signage, and seek local advice.

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

Croatia is not the only popular getaway to impose such guidelines.

Brits could also face a £2,500 fine for walking topless in Majorca.

According to the Majorca Daily Bulletin, people are only allowed to go topless on the beaches.

It means they should be fully clothed when they visit town centres or go sightseeing to avoid getting in trouble with the cops.

Anyone without a top on or wearing a swimsuit while wandering the streets could face a fine of up to £2,500 (€3,000), CNN reported.

In some areas, walking from your car to the beach not fully dressed is also banned, so it's best to stay covered up until you hit the sand.

In 2018, the Spanish island penned a new list of rules to encourage tourists to "act responsibly" - and brought in substantial fines for unruly holidaymakers.