UK tourists heading to Spain warned of strict outfit rule that could land them £500 fine | World | News

Brits on holiday in Spain have been warned of a little-known rule that could land you with a whopping £500 fine– ruining your holiday in the process. Being on holiday somewhere warm might feel like the perfect time to wander round in just your swimming costume, but in Spain, the police might have something to say.

Laws in parts of the country forbid the wearing of bikinis and swimwear in certain public places. Going shirtless is another rule, facing the same potential financial penalties. The Foreign Office is warning that if people are caught not properly covered up in some areas near to beaches they will be stopped by the police. While swimwear is still fine to wear on the beach or by the pool, in some areas of Spain it is against the law to be dressed that way in the streets.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) explained: “In some parts of Spain it’s against the law to be in the street wearing only a bikini or swimming shorts.

“Being bare-chested is also illegal in some areas in Spain. You may be fined if you’re caught wearing swimwear on the seafront promenade or adjacent streets.”

This fine applies to the city of Barcelona, where anyone caught in a bikini in the town centre could be fined up to £250.

Whereas in the Balearic Islands, which includes Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza, people in swimwear, or walking around shirtless, in areas beyond the beach could be hit with a fine of up to £500.

The rules on holiday attire go a step further in some resorts, such as in Majorca where some restaurants and bars are not allowing anyone wearing apparel associated with “drunken tourism”.

Drivers also face fines if they don’t have on appropriate footwear. Though the law doesn’t directly ban flip-flops or sandals, if an officer deems your footwear unsafe or hindering control, a fine of up to £167 may be issued.