A young Australian woman has issued an urgent warning to anyone travelling to Europe this summer: “Wear a T-shirt over your swimsuit.”
Isabelle Lakinfrom Sydney, said anyone who ignores this little-known rule could be fined A$1,100.
The 23-year-old warned: “If you don’t want a €700 fine, don’t wear a bikini top without anything on when you leave the beach. You’ll get caught, they don’t want tourists doing that.”
The PSA aired on a viral TikTok.
And it came out for women traveling to Italy, to Hvar in Croatia, or to Dubrovnik.
If you’re going to sail with Sail Croatia and think you can tour the city in a tiny bikini, I don’t recommend it.
“Last year I met some people who were badly affected and most of them were Sail Croatia members who simply forgot the rules. So don’t do it, you’ve been warned.”
A number of European cities have implemented the fine, including Sorrento in Italy, Dubrovnik and Barcelona.
Isabelle is enjoying a summer getaway in Europe and was reminded of a rule she learned last year. In Croatia, she noticed other bikini-clad women receiving a hefty fine of €700 (AUD1,137) for not covering their bodies when not on the beach.
In Sorrento, the strict dress code was established following complaints from locals about tourists exposing their skin and bodies in bikinis while walking through towns or cities after coming from a beach.
This highlights the importance of researching the laws, rules and restrictions of each new place you visit before you arrive at your destination.
Isabelle’s 30-second video has already surpassed more than 229,000 views, with many others admitting they “had no idea” about periods.
“I had no idea about this. I was in Croatia last year. I walked around the city and its walls in a bikini and skirt. Thank God I didn’t get any fines,” one person commented.
“I’m watching this now after having done it in Split without knowing… luckily I didn’t get fined,” said another.
In some European cities like Dubrovnik and Barcelona, tourists can be fined for not covering up while wearing a bikini on the street (stock image)
“This almost happened to me in Marseille!” admitted another.
A tour guide also joined the conversation, writing: “This is true. I work as a tour guide in Croatia. You shouldn’t walk around the city in a bikini or without a shirt. It depends on luck.”
Someone else wrote: ‘In some places in Sicily they do this too.’
However, others could not believe that the travelers did not know about this rule.
“Isn’t this just common sense? I don’t see people in bikinis walking around London,” wrote one.
But someone else said: “It’s very common in Australia to do this as many seaside towns are very different from London.”
Last year, another Australian woman warned travellers to “not show their breasts” in Rome after she was refused entry to several tourist attractions due to her choice of clothing.
Jacki Hodge, 26, from Australia, took to TikTok to explain that her white, backless mini dress with cut-outs on the bodice had caused quite a stir.
She said the “sexy” dress looked amazing in photos but was far from ideal as she was turned away from some of Italy’s most famous landmarks including the Vatican and the Pantheon.
