Laws Travellers Should Know
It’s important to know the laws and customs of any destination you’re visiting. Not only is it the courteous thing to do Tas a visitor - but it could save you from a lot of trouble.
Whether it's avoiding hefty fines or even worse - being expelled or arrested - it’s critical to be versed on the rules wherever you may be going.
Today, we will focus on some of the most popular destinations in southern Europe and rules impacting key tourist attractions.
If you are heading to Greece this summer, and the Acropolis is on your list of destinations - leave the high heels behind.
Officials have banned them to help protect the integrity of Athens’ most historic landmark.
Plus, given the crowds, narrow staircases, and uneven pathways, it’s safer to wear a sturdy sandal or sneaker while you explore the site.
It’s worth noting, officials have restricted the number of visitors to the Acropolis to 20-thousand per day. They also require people to register through an online booking system.
This program is being expanded to include over two dozen different archaeological sites across Greece, which means visitors must confirm a time slot before they arrive.
Italy’s capital is known for its breathtaking public fountains - the Trevi fountain being the most famous.
While photos are encouraged, wading in the water, sitting on the edge, or eating and drinking too close to the fountain could run you a 5-hundred euro fine.
If you’re also planning to visit the Vatican during your trip to Rome, don’t expect to be able to use your camera everywhere.
Photography is not allowed inside the iconic Sistine Chapel. This rule has been in place for decades and there are monitors keeping a constant eye on guests as they funnel through the room, staring up at Michelangelo’s masterpiece.
In Venice, there are a number of requirements that visitors must abide by.
First off, feeding the birds in the city’s famed Piazza San Marco - is prohibited. Pigeons, in particular, have long been a nuisance, damaging monuments and buildings and requiring a lot of cleanup.
It’s been over 15 years since this ban in Saint Mark's Square was first brought in - fines start at 50 euros and go up from there.
Officials are also trying to crack down on over tourism and reduce the impacts on locals.
That includes restricting the use of loudspeakers and capping the size of tour groups to 25 people.
This spring and summer, the city is also rolling out an online booking system, requiring daytrippers to pay five euro per person to enter the city during peak times on the busiest days. That’s slightly under 7 and half dollars Canadian. The so-called ‘Tourist Contribution Program’ runs through mid-July. Tourists staying in Venice overnight are exempt.
Visitors will need to show a QR code at various checkpoints in the city. Those caught without proper documentation face fines of 50 to 300 euros - that’s roughly 75 to 440 canadian dollars.
