Authorities in both countries are cracking down on what looks like a small tourist habit but has become a recurring safety problem. In Italy, the focus is on hikers arriving at the famous coastal trails of Cinque Terre dressed for the beach rather than for steep, rocky terrain. In Spain, the concern is less about scenic walks and more about what happens when drivers try to control a car wearing loose sandals, flip-flops or even no shoes at all.
Together, the two cases say something bigger about how European destinations are responding to overtourism, safety pressures and the growing gap between how places look on Instagram and how they function in real life. A pretty coastal village may look like the setting for a lazy seaside stroll. A rental car in 35-degree heat may make sandals feel like the obvious choice. But local authorities are making it increasingly clear that holiday logic does not always match safety logic.
In Italy, the toughest warning applies in Cinque Terre, where the famous hiking routes linking the five villages have become a summer trap for underprepared visitors. Every year, large numbers of day-trippers and cruise passengers arrive expecting postcard views and a gentle walk, only to discover that the trails are steep, uneven and physically demanding. Some end up twisting ankles, falling or needing rescue after attempting the routes in open beach shoes.
That is why local authorities have effectively declared flip-flops and similar open footwear unsuitable on these trails. Tourists caught wearing them can face fines ranging from €50 to €2,500. The size of the penalty reflects how seriously the issue is being treated. It is not just about dress code or local etiquette – it is about the repeated burden placed on rescue teams when visitors underestimate the terrain and overestimate what a pair of beach sandals can do on a mountain path.
The rule also exposes one of the most common travel misconceptions about Cinque Terre. Because the destination is associated with colourful seaside villages, many visitors mentally file it under “coastal relaxation” rather than “active hiking route”. But the trails that connect the villages are not decorative promenades. They are real walking paths, often steep and exposed, and they demand proper footwear. In other words, Cinque Terre may look like a beach break, but parts of it function more like a hiking destination.
Spain’s warning is different in tone but built on the same principle. There is no nationwide ban on flip-flops behind the wheel, but drivers can be fined up to €200 if police judge that their footwear interferes with safe control of the vehicle. That includes shoes that slip, restrict movement, make it harder to press the pedals properly or slow a driver’s reaction time. Loose sandals, flip-flops, very high heels and even driving barefoot can all become a problem if they are considered to have contributed to unsafe driving or an accident.
It is a rule that catches many tourists off guard because it sounds oddly specific, yet it fits into a broader European approach to road safety. The issue is not the style of shoe itself, but whether it compromises control. In practice, however, that means many holiday staples suddenly look less harmless. The flip-flops that feel perfect for a beach club or marina lunch can become a liability the moment someone gets into a rental car and heads off to the next town.
