3 fines in Italy that may surprise you
Last updated on January 8th, 2026.
The downsides of traveling are something that most travel guides don’t often highlight.
But the reality is that they can happen when on vacation and at any time. Incidents could be minor like being overcharged for a taxi to something major like getting seriously injured.
And one topic not discussed enough is the issue of receiving fines when abroad. Something that few of us would give a second thought towards, we could easily end up with an unexpected fine.
It may come as news to visitors, but Italy has several fines already in place and in popular tourist destinations.
In this Italy travel guide, I’ll be listing 3 fines in Italy that may surprise you. I’ll be listing each fine in detail and how you can avoid being on the receiving end.
An essential guide for anyone planning a trip to Italy, share this with others that plan on visiting soon.
Not the typical fines
When most of us think of receiving a fine, it likely has something to do with parking or driving.
The most notorious fine that many Italian, and foreign, drivers receive is for entering the ZTL. This is an area of many city centers in Italy. In short, it prohibits cars without the appropriate permit from entering during a certain period.
Driving into the Zona Traffico Limitato (Limited Traffic Zone) when it’s activated has culminated in many fines in Italy.
Naturally, most visitors are unaware of this law and end up receiving a fine, typically through their car rental company.
Parking fine story time
My husband and I were on the receiving end of a parking fine when visiting Tallinn, Estonia.
We’d parked in a quiet road close to the restaurant where we’d booked a table for dinner. Given it was evening and we didn’t see any parking meters or signs anywhere we assumed it was fine. We were mistaken.
On returning to the car, we were greeted with a ticket tucked into the windshield wiper.
Granted, it was an easy error to make, but had we known beforehand we wouldn’t have parked there.
Unlike our Tallinn trip, the following fines in Italy aren’t related to parking or driving. Instead, they’re fines that can easily affect many oblivious visitors on vacation in Italy.
Because of this, they’re worth knowing about before you travel.
3 surprising fines in Italy
1. Sitting on the Spanish Steps
It’s one of the most famous, and most visited, landmarks in Piazza di Spagna in Rome.
But, a law passed in 2019 prohibits sitting or eating on the Spanish Steps (Trinità dei Monti).
Fines can range from €160 ($171/£135) to €400 ($428/£339)* if caught resting your derriere on the famous steps. Some news sources list different minimum amounts that include €150 ($161/£127), €160 ($171/£135) or €250 ($268/£212).
This means that Trinità dei Monti is off-limits to anyone that wants to sit and enjoy the view or to rest.
As mentioned, the ban, established by the urban police in Rome, has been in place for a few years.
Essentially, the police can enforce the fine if they find anyone sitting, damaging or dirtying the monument with food and/or drinks.
Unhappy locals
The regulation first came into effect in Rome in August 2019.
However, not all were happy with the new measures, such as local criminal lawyer, Lorenzo Simonetti. In an act of protest against the regulations he decided to defy the ban by sitting on the steps.
His act was swiftly dealt with by the police, resulting in a fine and a ban for 48 hours from Piazza di Spagna.
Simonetti would later appeal the fine but would lose his case leaving him liable to pay. On top of this, the court also ordered him to pay an additional fee of €180 ($193/£152).
The alternatives
If the Spanish Steps are now deemed off-limits to sit on, what are the alternatives?
The answer lies in the bars surrounding the piazza. However, prices for basic items like a coffee typically tend to be hiked up so bear this in mind.
As for workers in the area, they too can no longer enjoy their lunch breaks on the steps. Instead, they must find another place to relax or risk receiving a hefty fine.
How can they enforce the ban?
Though the ban has been around for a few years, it’s not quite clear how the urban police enforce it.
The Spanish Steps attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors but I’ve not yet read about anyone receiving a fine.
Details are scarce online as is the information surrounding the fine (how to pay it etc).
Because of this, I can understand why people are skeptical and why they could think the fine isn’t true.
Ultimately, the best advice I can give is to err on the side of caution when visiting.
Avoid sitting anywhere near the monument and make sure not to consume food or drinks close to the steps.
While you may not receive a fine should you sit down for a minute, ultimately it isn’t worth the risk.
Watch: 3 fines in Italy that might surprise you
2. Wearing the wrong footwear in Cinque Terre
Flip flops or sandals are a staple for any summer packing list.
However, should you plan on visiting Cinque Terre you may want to stick to packing more suitable footwear.
The popular destination in northwest Italy attracts visitors from all over for its pretty scenery and hiking trails.
No flip flops allowed
In 2019, the Cinque Terre National Park authority ran a campaign highlighting the dangers of wearing the wrong footwear.
In brief, it warned tourists against climbing the cliffs wearing sandals or flip flops.
One of the most surprising fines in Italy I’ve come across, the reason behind it actually makes sense.
Essentially, local services had become frustrated with the number of rescue calls of injured visitors requiring help in hard-to-reach places.
Not only was it difficult to get to the injured parties but it was also a costly effort too.
Raising awareness of the risks, and fines, helped to deter visitors from being victim to potential accidents.
How much is the fine?
Fines for wearing the wrong footwear while hiking or climbing range from €50 ($54/£42) to €2500 ($2,678/£2,118).
Visitors not partaking in these activities shouldn’t incur any fines as long as they steer clear of the trails.
However, like the ban in Rome, I’ve not personally read about any experiences regarding this fine in Cinque Terre.
But, as above, I’d be mindful of these fines in Italy and would stick to wearing the right footwear.
Map of Italy
3. Taking selfies in Portofino
Most of us have taken a selfie or two while on vacation without giving it a second thought.
But in the popular Italian destination of Portofino, taking a selfie comes with a price tag.
In 2023, its mayor, Matteo Viacava, issued an ordinance against stopping to take selfies for too long in certain spots. These areas in question are Piazzetta sul mare and the Umberto I pier — two popular, and busy, places in Portofino.
Labelled as red zones, visitors can incur fines ranging from €68 ($73/£58) to €275 ($295/£233)) for spending too long taking photos.
It’s not clear what the ordinance defines as ‘too long’ for a timeframe when taking selfies. I can only assume that it allows for a few minutes as opposed to orchestrating a 1-hour photoshoot.
The reason why
Like many of the best places in Italy, overcrowding is something that Portofino regularly has to deal with.
Reaching its peak during the summer months, the ordinance would help to control the situation.
The mayor denied that it was a ban on selfies and more about having common sense. Having it in place not only helped to manage crowds but it also allowed emergency vehicles to pass through easily.
At the time of writing, the ordinance is valid throughout the summer season from 9am to 6pm.*
Other fines in Portofino
Aside from the 2023 ordinance, Portofino has a number of restrictions already in place. They include:
- vehicles can’t stop or park at the edge of the quay
- vehicles weighing more than 15 Tonnes are prohibited from entering
- a maximum speed limit of 10km/h for drivers authorized to enter the ZTL
Fines in Italy: other restrictions
It appears that the selfie ordinance is one of many put forward by the Viacava administration.
Throughout the municipality, visitors are prohibited from walking around barefoot or in a bathing suit outside the beach. Music must be turned off by 12:30am and camping along the road is prohibited. (news source: Sky.it)
It doesn’t seem that visitors will incur a fine for any of the above, for now. In the meantime, visit Portofino, enjoy the scenery and make sure that any selfies you take are short and snappy.
What are your thoughts on this Italy travel guide listing 3 surprising fines in Italy? Are they a good idea to have in place? Will they deter people from visiting? Let me know in the comments below.
*information correct at the time of publishing
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Wow! Interesting post and who knew? I probably took a selfie in Positano and sitting on the Spanish steps not allowed! Hmmm.
Thank you! As I said in the post, I'm not sure how the urban police enforce this in Rome or the selfies in Portofino, not Positano 🙂
Wow, unbelievable rules! Great read thanks for sharing
They were a surprise to me too!
Thank you for sharing these Italy travel tips. I have never visited, but it's great to learn how to avoid these crazy fines. Thanks for sharing.
You're welcome Kevin, it's something that can potentially catch out many people
So interesting! I have never even considered this. Good to know!
I'm glad you find it helpful!
Definitely helpful to know when traveling! Great post!
I'm glad that it helps!
This was a great informative post! I would love to read more about this topic so I can be more aware whenever I travel! In some countries I have traveled to I was too scared to do certain things because I knew there were some unusual laws I didn't know.
I can understand that! It's so easy to get caught out if we're not informed before visiting
By highlighting potential pitfalls like unexpected fines, it prepares travelers for real-world scenarios they might not find in typical travel guides. The focus on Italy-specific fines is particularly useful for tourists planning a trip, providing practical advice on how to avoid these surprises and ensuring a smoother, more enjoyable experience.
thank you, I'm glad you found this helpful
As I am thinking to visit some of the famous locations in Italy, it's pretty important to know the fines and laws around them. Learned a lot and thanks for putting this helpful resource together.
You're welcome and I hope you visit us one day 🙂
I would hope that there are plenty of signs to ensure visitors are aware of the the different fines. Without warning people it's unfair to impose these. It can see why some are in place although hope they don't affect many.
I completely agree. As I said, I've not personally heard of anyone receiving a fine. In Rome I don't remember seeing any signs...
This is really valuable information! It is always wise when traveling to a country to educate ourselves on the customs and traditions of the people who live there. Now, thanks to you I will also make sure I research all the things that can result in the incurring of fines!
Thank you so much! Honestly, some were new to me and I live here 😀 Being prepared and doing research is a big help
This is the part that makes me nervous. The local laws in Europe are so different from here in the US and you never know when they'll be enforced. I didn't realize these though I suppose with the amount of tourism Italy gets, it is to be expected. Thanks for sharing!
You are welcome! It surprised me too and I haven't personally heard of anyone that has got a fine. But even I will be careful when visiting
Absolutely! It's important to be aware of the potential downsides of travel, like unexpected fines. Being informed helps us navigate these situations better.
I agree! It can happen to anyone so being informed beforehand always helps!
It is very good to be aware of what you can be fined for when in another country! Thank you for sharing.
It can easily happen to any of us 😀
Gosh, I would never imagine being fined for sitting on steps or taking a selfie. Thanks so much for all of your tips, it is certainly not something that any of us would have thought about!
I personally haven't read, or met anyone that has received a fine for either but it is shocking!
I can see the ban on sitting on the steps to a degree. No flip flops, though? That seems crazy pants.
It targets visitors that plan on hiking/climbing. Flip flops aren't the most suitable footwear