Tourists Should Avoid Taking This Type Of Souvenir In Greece Or Face Hefty Fines

You've probably looked on in horror at news stories covering tourists doing things like scratching graffiti into the wall of the Colosseum in Rome, putting their name on a wall in Pompeii, and wedging coins between the stones in the Giant's Causeway in Ireland. In fact, tourists damaging antiquities, whether for social media clout or to take home a bit of their experience, has been in the news quite a bit lately, and it's really upsetting. However, you may not think much about visiting a beach and grabbing a little baggie of sand or a few pebbles to take home and put in a jar. After all, it's just a little bit. No one is going to miss it, right? Well, if you're visiting Greece, you need to think twice before you do so. The country has instituted a new fine for taking sand and pebbles off Greek beaches, and it could cost you up to almost $1,200. 

While it might not seem like a big deal to you, a single tourist, consider how many people have the same idea. Over 40 million people visited Greece in 2024, and that's just one year. It all adds up, no matter how small you think the amount you took was. In fact, travelers taking a little bit of sand as a souvenir is likely one of the reasons the beautiful Elafonissi Beach in Crete with its famous pink sand no longer appears as vibrant. The government takes preserving Greek beaches seriously. In fact, another law says that 70% of each beach has to be free of chairs and lounges so as to maintain the view and beauty of the area. So, even if you think no one will notice and that it's not a big deal, it is and it's not worth the risk. 

Greece has passed a number of laws to keep tourists from ruining the views they came to the country for in the first place, as well as damaging historic sites. For instance, there is a new tourist fee imposed on travelers coming to Greece on a cruise as of summer, 2025, to combat the effects of overtourism. In 2024, visitors to the ancient Acropolis in Athens were capped at 20,000 a day. There is also a law against wearing high heels at some ancient sites in Greece, which can damage the buildings. You can get a fine close to $1,000 if you do. In addition, the country is looking at solutions to keep tourists from taking stones from ancient sites. If you do it, you may end up in court for archaeological theft. 

This isn't confined to Greece. Spain has imposed a number of new rules on short-term rentals, public drinking, and cruise ships for the same reason. The city of Venice, Italy has new fines for swimming in the canals and walking around in swimwear on the street. Villefranche-sur-Mer in France and Dubrovnik in Croatia have limited the number of cruise ships that can dock each day. The lesson to take from all of this is a simple one: If you're visiting another place, be respectful. It should go without saying, but still, many don't think about how small actions can impact a destination over time. So, don't take what isn't yours, even if you think no one will notice, or that it's not a big deal. Preserve these beautiful places for generations to come.