Almost a dozen tourists were fined up to £130 last month for flouting a little-known rule in one of France’s most acclaimed seaside resorts, as visitors are told to have ‘a little restraint, please’
A popular seaside resort is threatening rule-breaking Brits with hefty fines for making one simple mistake. Famed for its 6.8-mile stretch of golden sand, emerald waters, and all-round charm, Les Sables-d’Olonne has quickly become a hotspot for both international and domestic tourists.
Situated on the Atlantic coast of western France, in the acclaimed Vendée subprefecture, this tiny port is jam-packed with things to do – from pristine golf courses, adrenaline-pumping water sports and its very own zoo. However, Mayor Yannic Moreau has recently warned tourists to have a ‘little restraint’ as the resort continues to clamp down on holidaymakers wearing their swimsuits in public.
The town first introduced a strict rule of wearing bikinis and swim shorts outside of the beach area back in 2020, and is determined to make the policy stick. Just last month, officials fined 10 people – all of whom were actually French – up to €150 (around £130). It comes after a warning to Brit tourists planning all-inclusive holidays to Spain.
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According to the New York Times, the politician fumed: “If you go to a market to buy local food – fruits, vegetables, meat [etc] – you cannot be half-naked with hair falling onto vegetables.
“It’s a matter of decency… I don’t know if it’s a reflex to show one’s muscles or to tan more quickly and not lose an hour of sunlight.”
Mr Moreau added that tourists wanting to be ‘half or fully naked’ can do so at the beach, as Sables d’Olonne actually has its own nudist beach. In a recent social media post, he argued the rule had been implemented due to respect and hygiene, adding: “You do not want to be in contact with your neighbour’s skin.”
Of course, France is not the only country clamping down on scantily-clad tourists this summer. Over in the Spanish city of Málaga, the government has been displaying 10 strict rules visitors must follow as part of its ‘Improve Your Stay’ campaign, which first launched in 2024.
As previously reported, these demands have been displayed on buses, billboards and across social media and are designed to ‘ease tensions between tourists and residents’ following a string of protests that have plagued the country in recent months. The main rule: “Dress completely.”
While wearing a bikini or your swim shorts is perfectly acceptable when kicking back at your hotel pool or enjoying a day at the beach – wearing these types of clothing in the streets could result in a hefty fine of up to €750 (almost £650). “In some parts of Spain it’s illegal to be in the street wearing only a bikini or swimming shorts,” the FCDO states.
“Being bare-chested is also illegal in some areas in Spain. You could be fined if you’re caught wearing swimwear on the seafront promenade or adjacent streets.”
Portugal is another country cracking down on swimwear, particularly in the Brit-riddled hotspot of the Algarve. Tourists found showing too much skin when outside of ‘exempted areas’ such as hotels, beaches, beach access points, and swimming pools, may soon be fined a whopping £1,250.
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