UK tourists visiting beaches in Greece warned to brace for £771 fines

Tourists have been warned over a little-known Greek travel law that could see them fined over £700. The holiday company Parkdean Resorts warned that it is illegal for tourists in Greece to take items such as sand and pebbles home as a souvenir from the beach.

They advised: "When going to the beach abroad this summer, be sure to not take home anything that doesn't belong to you - including the beach itself! In Lalaria Beach in Skiathos, it is illegal for you to take pebbles home from the beach.

"If you do, you could be fined €900 (£771). In Sardinia, taking sand could cost you €3,000 (£2,569)." They added: "Several countries, including Barbados, Jamaica and St Lucia, have laws to stop people from wearing camouflage clothing.

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"You could be fined up to $2,000 (£1,574) or even be put in jail for a year for wearing any garment in the style. This rule came into place as camo wear is often associated with 'rebels' and 'troublemakers'." On some Greek islands, you may face a €900 fine if caught taking pebbles as a souvenir. Lalaria Beach in Skiathos, which can only be reached by boat, has reportedly seen a dramatic change in its landscape due to tourists taking pebbles.

Free camping on the beach is not legal, so you cannot just pitch your tent and stay the night. Camping areas will be marked and you will have to pay. If you camp without permission, in non-designated areas, you may be fined anything from €300 to €3,000.

It has also been warned those who wear high heels when visiting historic monuments could face fines of up to £771. Greeks believe that heels have the potential to disrupt and even damage the old stones present across multiple ancient sites, so the stylish footwear is banned at such attractions.

The law in Greece concerning historical monuments, such as the Acropolis, Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens and the Epidaurus Theatre in the Peloponnese region, was introduced by lawmakers in 2009.