A trip to the beach should be a simple affair requiring little more than a towel, a picnic and perhaps a parasol for some shade. But several bizarre rules have been introduced across beaches in Europe this summer, making a trip to the seaside an increasingly complicated day out.Nowadays, beachgoers risk being slapped with a fine for saving a space on the sand in Spain, or strolling through the local town in their swimwear. Even playing music isn’t a totally safe activity if it’s turned up too loud in Portugal.Here we take a look at some of the new restrictions that might see you get into trouble on the sand – and fined as much as €36,000.Reserving spaces Visitors to Calpe on the Costa Blanca (pictured) are not allowed to reserve a spot with unoccupied towels or chairs before 9.30amThe resort town of Calpe, on the Costa Blanca, has been forced to implement measures to tackle beachgoers reserving spaces on the sand. Leaving towels, umbrellas and chairs unoccupied on the beach before 9.30am has been totally banned by the local authorities.Those who break the rule, which was introduced a couple of years ago, could be hit with a €250 fine and have their belongings removed. ‘For some years, we have received numerous complaints during the summer about the reservation of space on the beach,’ Calpe City Council said in a statement in 2024, according to The Telegraph. It added: ‘This measure prohibits the indiscriminate occupation of the public domain, especially the beach, with items such as chairs, hammocks and parasols at the start of the day.’Swimwear in the streets Holidaymakers risk being fined if they venture through local towns in swimwear in several spots across Spain, Italy and PortugalIt might feel easier to slope off the beach and stroll down the street of the local town in your swimwear, but it could land you with a hefty fine. The act is banned in several spots in Spain, Italy and Portugal.In Albufeira, a coastal city in Portugal’s Algarve region, swimwear is only permitted in hotels, on beaches and by the pool.Anyone caught venturing out of those zones in swim shorts or a bikini could be hit with a fine of between €300 and €1,500, Euronews reports. Likewise, swimwear worn around town in Sorrento, in southwestern Italy, could land you charges of up to €500.In Barcelona and Majorca, wearing swimming costumes or being topless in restaurants and shops could land you with a fine of up to €300. Urinating in the sea Urinating in the ocean is banned on some beaches, with pesky beachgoers risking hundreds of euros if they do choose to do so.The city council of Vigo, located in Galicia, Spain, passed legislation in 2022 that prohibits the ‘physiological evacuation on the beach or in the sea’, the Independent reported at the time.The new regulation also involved a €750 fine for rulebreakers. A similar rule was introduced in Marbella in 2024, where urinating in the sea was banned on 25 beaches in the area. Tents and umbrellas banned Putting up tents and umbrellas is restricted in Punta Molentis, ItalyMany prop up an umbrella or set up a tent so they have somewhere to shelter during a sunny beach day.But beachgoers in Punta Molentis, Italy, are only permitted to set up one tent, umbrella or gazebo per family or group, and it must be placed where beach attendants allow.The situation is even more restrictive in Greece, where 250 beaches are classified as ‘Untouched Beaches’ – meaning umbrellas and sun loungers are banned.The Greek Environment Ministry explained how it aims to ‘protect beaches that have particular aesthetic, geomorphological or ecological value, as well as to preserve the types of habitats and the species of flora and fauna found on these beaches’. Restrictions on musicSome beachgoers like to peacefully read a book on the beach, while others enjoy playing music to create a lovely summery atmosphere. However, while it might seem like a harmless act, if tunes are played at too high a volume in Portugal, visitors risk being hit with a hefty fine. The Portuguese National Maritime Authority introduced the ban in 2023.Offending individuals could be charged between €200 and €4,000, while groups risk between €2,000 and €36,000. Shower fees One beach in Spain is trialling a new shower system that charges users around €1 a minuteWashing off the sand and salt after a day at the beach is the norm for many holidaymakers, but one Spanish spot is charging for shower use as it tests a new system.Costa de la Luz beach, in Matalascanas, is trialling a new smart shower that requires beachgoers to pay via a QR code or with cash. Introduced as a way to save water, it is estimated that a shower lasting less than one minute could cost around €1 (85p), The Telegraph reports.This could mean a family of four would have to cough up €4 at the end of a day at the beach.Beach bookingsMultiple beaches in Europe now require reservations to even access the sandy shores, including La Pelosa Beach, in Sardinia, which is already fully booked until September 16.Italian beaches Cala Goloritzé, Tuerredda, Cala Brandinchi and Lu Impostu all ask for bookings ahead of time. Praia das Catedrais is a Spanish spot with similar requirements, as is Calanque de Sugiton in France.