Croatia Holidays

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-breakers

Brits 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 rules

A 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 rules

In 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.

Other 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 rules

In 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.

Croatia dress code rules

In 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.

The bundle includes three suitcases in different sizes, designed to cover everything from short weekend breaks to longer holidays abroad

Holidaymakers hoping to upgrade their luggage without spending a fortune might want to pop into Home Bargains before jetting off on their next summer getaway. The discount retailer has quietly slashed the price of a travel essential by nearly £90, and it’s being hailed as “perfect for every trip”.

Home Bargains has cut the price of the Overlow Suitcase Set of 3, which normally sells for £149.99, down to a bargain £59.99. The set comprises three suitcases in varying sizes, catering for everything from quick weekend escapes to extended holidays overseas.

According to the product listing, each case is crafted from lightweight ABS material with a hard-shell construction designed to offer durability while minimising weight. The product description, available on the Home Bargains website, reads: “Travel smart with the Overlow Suitcase Set of 3 in sleek black – lightweight, durable ABS material with smooth 4-wheel glide for effortless airport navigation. Perfect for every trip, whether you pack light or heavy.

“Modern Suitcase. Lightweight. Whether you pack light or travel heavy, we’ve got you covered! The smooth 4-wheel glide makes navigating airports effortless, while the strong yet lightweight material ensures durability without adding extra weight.”

The largest case measures 70 x 48 x 29cm, while the medium and cabin sizes come in at 60 x 41 x 26cm and 50 x 35 x 20cm respectively. All three cases are designed to stack inside one another for convenient storage when not being used.

Home Bargains describes the set as “perfect for any trip”, emphasising its lightweight construction and smooth-rolling wheels as standout features designed to reduce travel hassle. Thanks to the current discount, shoppers can now save an impressive 60 per cent, with comparable sets elsewhere carrying significantly steeper price tags.

Budget-friendly suitcase sets such as this have grown increasingly sought-after amongst travellers seeking to reduce costs before holidays, especially as travel demand continues climbing during peak booking seasons. Retailers have noted strong appetite for affordable luggage bundles as families and solo travellers hunt for value-focused alternatives.

The set is also stocked in other colours including grey and navy through the same retailer, with prices staying uniform across the collection while stocks remain available. Shoppers keen on the offer can locate further information, including home delivery arrangements, via the Home Bargains website.

Brijuni National Park in Croatia is one of Europe’s most fascinating destinations – from real dinosaur footprints and an elephant gifted by Indira Gandhi to the vintage Cadillac that once carried Queen Elizabeth II

Brijuni may be one of Croatia’s tiniest islands, but it boasts one of Europe’s most extraordinary travel tales.

Situated just off the coastline near Pula, it is home to Brijuni National Park, where visitors can discover genuine dinosaur footprints, an elephant presented as a gift by Indira Gandhi, a car in which Queen Elizabeth toured the island, and the former private hideaway of Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito.

For many years, the island was shut off from the public on the orders of the dictator, who resided there alongside a remarkable collection of exotic animals, bestowed upon him by world leaders.

With Tito long since gone, the island now welcomes tourists. And getting there couldn’t be simpler, with direct flights from London to Pula available from May, with prices beginning at around £35–£40.

Local guide and villa rental company Villsy founder Toni Hrelja explained: “Brijuni may look like a classic Mediterranean paradise, but its history is anything but typical,” says Toni Hrelja, local guide and founder of Villsy, a villa rental company.

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“Thanks to its time as a private residence for former Yugoslav leader Tito, the islands became home to exotic animals gifted by political leaders; and today, you can still see them, or their descendants, grazing freely. It’s a bizarre, fascinating slice of history you simply wouldn’t expect in Croatia.

“Spring is one of the best times to visit, everything is green, temperatures are mild, and you avoid the peak summer crowds. You get the full experience without the heat.” Brijuni National Park comprises 14 islands, with the largest, Veliki (Big) Brijun, home to the main attractions. Despite its name, it’s fairly compact (5.6 km2), making it ideal to explore in a single day.

More than 30 animals inhabit the island, including Lanka, a 54 year old elephant. She arrived in 1972 as a gift from former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and is renowned for her calm nature and engagement with visitors.

The zebras represent another legacy of the Non-Aligned Movement, a herd presented in the 1960s by an African leader.

One of Tito’s most cherished pets still resides on the island: Koki, an African grey parrot with a notoriously mischievous personality. Famous for “talking” to tourists, he’s equally likely to catch visitors off guard with the odd insult. He is also known for shouting “Tito! Tito! Tito”.

Alongside these star animals, the safari also features ostriches, llamas, Somali sheep and Indian cattle (zebu).

The animals serve as the walking and (talking) legacy of Tito, but there’s one mechanical memento of the dictator’s era.

If you’re prepared to spend a bit extra, you can hire a ride in a vintage Cadillac Eldorado, presented to Josip Broz Tito by Croatian emigrants in Canada. The 1953 convertible remains in immaculate condition and continues to be one of the park’s most sought-after attractions. “Tito used it to drive around the island, but what makes it special is who sat in it. Leaders like Indira Gandhi and Queen Elizabeth II were among its passengers,” Toni added.

“Once you’ve explored the safari, it’s time to discover the island’s other highlights. I recommend taking the tourist train (especially if you’re with kids), hiring a bicycle or a small electric golf cart. One of my favourite spots is the pine tree avenue.”

These pine trees are more than 100 years old and soar to heights of up to 25 metres, forming a striking landscape.

Brijuni boasted a fascinating history long before it became a political haven for Non-Aligned Movement leaders. During the 5th and 6th centuries, the islands served as a crucial strategic outpost for the Byzantine Empire.

“The Byzantine remains are another fantastic spot for photography and offer a glimpse into the island’s layered history. The ruins look like a giant stone puzzle,” Toni said.

Gandhi’s elephant isn’t the largest creature to have roamed Brijuni. The islands contain over 200 genuine dinosaur footprints, dating back approximately 130 million years to the Early Cretaceous period.

Croatia is a short-haul destination, roughly a 2.5-hour flight from the UK. From May onwards, reaching Brijuni is straightforward, with direct flights from London to Pula available from around £35 with easyJet, Jet2 and Ryanair.

Direct flights also operate from Birmingham and Bristol. Pula Airport sits 13 kilometres from Fažana, the port where travellers can board a boat to the national park.

The most convenient way to purchase tickets for Brijuni National Park is online. Guided tours generally cost approximately £30–£35 for adults and roughly £13 for children, depending on the season, with marginally reduced prices in spring.

Lodging is available on the island, spanning from hotel rooms to luxury villas, although many tourists opt to base themselves on the mainland and rent a villa in Istria, treating Brijuni as a day trip.