If you think some European countries are setting new rules and restrictions just to make vacations for tourists in Europe more troublesome, you have forgotten thousands of years of culture. Many rules have always existed as unwritten behavioral etiquette that local people have followed without paying any attention to them. Years ago, if a tourist entered a restaurant, for instance, in Nice, France only wearing shorts, without a shirt, a waiter might have asked him to pull on a shirt. Today, rules are gradually documented, and fines are possible. In Spain, many supermarkets in coastal towns are displaying signs at the entrance that ask customers to be dressed properly (swimsuit is not a proper attire) to do grocery shopping. Respect the local culture.

These and many other rules are being documented as town-specific or national-level regulation in many European countries, especially in the south where sun seeking tourists sometimes forget that the town belongs to local people who try to live their lives the way their culture defines.

In many destinations, churches and cathedrals are among the top rated sights (on a hot summer day, it is usually cool inside, too). In Catholic countries, churches require visitors the wear shirts that cover shoulders and pants that cover knees, so ordinary shorts won’t do. Some churches allow exceptions to this rule, but if you want to avoid disappointments, be prepared.

Rules for smoking and drinking in public places have been liberal in many countries, especially, in south Europe, but healthy lifestyle choices are winning. For instance, in Spain smoking in public beaches has been the norm. Now, no more cigarettes on the beach. If you are caught, you can be fined. Another smoking related regulation concerns bar and restaurant terraces. Earlier, you couldn’t smoke inside, but at the terrace you could – even if the terrace was covered and essentially part of the building. No more. The new law is expected to be signed during 2025 which forbids smoking at all terraces.

In France, Paris has established a rather complex set of regulation for drinking in public places like parks and streets. The basic rule is that drinking alcohol in public is forbidden from 4pm until 7am. There are zones in the city where it is allowed and other areas where you may get a fine from police if you are caught. What about having a proper French picnic in a park? Yes, some people do special preparations to make wine less visible, like moving the content from glass bottles to other containers or buying wine in a box.

Nitpicker will never remember all the behavioral rules in each country, but if there is a sign outside an entrance that looks like an instruction it is worth reading or translating it in an app (Deepl.com does a good job with European languages).

A reminder for those travelers who are touring Europe by car: view nitpicker’s road toll wish list for the EU Commission, and bookmark the web site tolls.eu where you can find up-to-date information on the toll system for each country.

Forbes has published details on new rules in countries that are popular for summer vacations. Let’s take a look at a few highlights.

• There are plenty of town-specific rules in Italy. For instance, if you are preventing people or traffic to pass by when you are completely focused on taking a selfie, you can be fined.
• Amsterdam is running a stay away campaign that tells party-loving tourists to behave or go somewhere else. Smoking cannabis on the street in the city center has been banned.
• In Germany, the trendy city of Berlin is renowned for its discotheques and raves, but residents are fed up with the noise. Neighborhoods where parties are regularly organized are now closely monitored by police.
• Public beaches in Greece are being cleared of sunbeds. The strategy is to return beaches closer to their natural state. 70% of public beaches must be without sunbeds. Collecting pebbles or seashells is illegal in many regions.
• Cyprus has enforced a new traffic law that forbids drivers eating or drinking while on the road. So, hands on the wheel at all times – not even water or apple for the driver. If this feels a drastic control mechanism, how about Spain? The same eating and drinking prohibition law applies in Spain, but you should also be aware that driving is not allowed if you have a flu or other illness.
• In Portugal, you should be able to choose your own music this summer because speakers blasting songs at high volume on beaches are forbidden altogether.