When traveling to other countries you must adhere to all of the laws. It’s a good idea to thoroughly research a destination beforehand so you can figure out what is illegal and what isn’t. While some laws may seem silly, the countries and cities listed below all have their reasons why they were enacted and you might actually face a heavy fine if you break one of them.
Greece
Depending on where you are at in Greece, it may be illegal to wear heels. This is because at certain sites heels actually caused damage to some of the monuments. When in doubt, where a good old pair of sneakers and leave the heels at home.
Germany
If you drive down the autobahn in Germany, do not run out of fuel. It’s illegal to do so. For those that forget to stop for gas ahead of time and run out of fuel, they may face a double fine because it’s also illegal to walk down the autobahn, so forget about walking to the nearest gas station.
Spain
Pay attention to what footwear you have on when driving in Spain. If you are leaving the beach and have flip flops on, be sure to change them before you get behind the steering wheel of a car. Not only is it dangerous to drive with flip flops on, it’s also illegal.
Virginia Beach
While in Virginia Beach you must watch your language. It is illegal to cuss and you could face a fine if a person of authority hears you. This law came about in the 1990s although not a lot of people are aware of it.
Venice
If you visit St. Marks’ Square, do not feed the pigeons. It is actually outlawed and tourists who do so will face a fine. This law was enacted because of the amount of damage that pigeons have done to the nearby statues. The goal is to keep the pigeons away from the area.
Scandinavia
You have to have your headlights on, no matter what time of day it is in Scandinavia. If you are driving during the day you can dim your lights, just don’t accidentally turn them off.
Singapore
If you are a gum chewer you might want to stay out of Singapore. Chewing gum is strictly forbidden unless you have to chew it for medicinal purposes.
Foreign laws can catch travelers off guard in unexpected ways. Our advisors’ Common Mistakes to Avoid When Traveling to Europe guide includes legal and cultural considerations every European traveler should know.
