Brits should take note of strict dress code rules in a number of holiday hotspots across Spain, Portugal, Italy and Croatia with hefty fines for rule-breakers12:53, 27 May 2026Brits planning to hit the beach or pool in the likes of Spain, Portugal, Italy and Croatia this summer may want to take note of some strict rules, or risk potentially hefty fines.‌In recent years, a number of holiday hotspots have clamped down on dress codes for both locals and tourists, particularly when it comes to the likes of bikinis, pool cover-ups and swim shorts.‌The issue isn't that people are wearing these on the beaches, but rather when they wander into local towns. In fact, since 2022 Italian hotspot Sorrento has banned wearing swimwear away from beaches and pools. Anyone caught flouting the restrictions could face fines of up to €500 (approximately £433).‌You're not going to get a fine if you're walking around your hotel or a beach club in your swimwear, or if you're at a pool or beach. However, if you stay in your swimwear to walk into the town and try to enter shops or restaurants, that's where you could potentially face some trouble.We take a look at some of the holiday hotspots with these strict rules below...Spain dress code rules‌A number of Spanish hotspots have been introducing beachwear dresscodes in recent years. In Barcelona you could face fines of up to £260 for wandering around the town, while in Majorca you could face fines of up to £500 if you're wearing beachwear away from the main beaches and pools. The rule also applies to anyone wandering around shirtless. Plenty of restaurants also have firm signs and rules banning visitors from wearing beachwear in their establishments.Meanwhile in Malaga, wandering into the city centre in your beachwear could land you a fine of up to €300 (approximately £259).Italy dress code rulesIn Sorrento, locals have argued that they're trying to protect the area's decency with the rules, and swerve people rocking up to lunch spots in just swim shorts or bikinis. The ban doesn't just apply to swimwear; it also applies to visitors who walk around the town topless.‌Portofino, Positano and Capri all enforce similar rules with with fines of up to €500 (approximately £433) if you're spotted walking around the main town in beachwear.READ MORE: I tried easyJet's new £44 UK flight to budget destination rivalling MajorcaREAD MORE: Simon Calder names 3 'very cheap' summer holiday destinations in Europe for 2026Other Italian hotspots with similar restrictions include Venice where walking around the historic city centre in swimwear or bare-chested is strictly prohibited, and could land you an on-the-spot fine of up to €250 (approximately £216).Portugal dress code rulesIn Albufeira, new dress codes were brought into force last year. That includes fines from €300 to €1,500 (approximately £259-£1298) for those who are found wearing swimwear outside of beach or pool zones, for example when wandering down the town streets. The dress codes came as part of a wider crackdown on unruly tourist behaviour.Article continues belowCroatia dress code rulesIn Dubrovnik, tourists are banned from entering the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town in swimwear or shirtless, with fines of up to €700 for rule-breakers (approximately £606). It's not the only Croatian city to enforce rules of this nature; in Split, you could face fees from €150 (approximately £129).Meanwhile over on the party island of Hvar, new rules include fines for wandering around in swimwear or being shirtless out and about in town.Have you been caught out by a holiday hotspot's dress code? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com.