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Expensive sun loungers, limited access or strict rules of conduct can really ruin a supposedly relaxing beach holiday. Blick tells you what you should pay attention to in the most important beach holiday destinations of the Mediterranean.
Italy
In Italy, access to the coast is a fundamental right. However, most beaches are “privileged”: in “Bagno” sun loungers and umbrellas are paid. In 2023, beach operators caused negative headlines with exorbitant prices. Or municipalities with restrictive rules: a visitor limit has been introduced on four of Sardinia’s beaches, with reservations required, and La Pelosa beach even has a ban on bath towels. Ligurian Sestri Levante also plans to charge entry fees to non-residents.
On the one hand, many seaside resorts are defending themselves against overtourism and guest bad behavior. Italy, on the other hand, has allowed all beach concessions to expire at the end of 2023, without a national framework law on how to continue. In the absence of national guidelines, each Italian municipality currently writes its own rules. Travelers need to check the rules that apply at their destination before travelling.
Good to know this: To reserve the best spot, it is forbidden to leave an umbrella on “free” beaches.
Greece
Basically Greek beaches are public and free. In some cases, operators provide sun loungers and umbrellas for a fee. The price varies between 10 and 30 euros. Prices go up to 80 Euros in Mykonos, Paros or Santorini, and often over 100 Euros at private beach clubs. In low season, many sun loungers are free as long as the guest consumes something.
But Greeks are fighting for free beaches: “In Crete, Corfu, Naxos and Paros, citizens are defending themselves against private companies that have taken over entire beaches, equipped them with sun loungers and umbrellas, played loud music and charged up to 100 euros per person. “Daily demand,” says Marco Wipfli, owner of Zurich specialist Meersicht. Some beach bar owners do not even have a business license, and some operate illegally in nature reserves. But the citizens’ movement is celebrating its first successes: half of Santa Maria beach in Paros is no longer equipped with expensive sun loungers.
As of 2024, 70 percent of the beaches must be without sunbeds, and even 85 percent of the beaches must be protected by nature. In the future, there will be a minimum distance of 4 meters between sun loungers and the shore. If a beach is classified as ecologically valuable, sun loungers are completely prohibited. Additionally, the state now requires that half of the beach be cleared of umbrella rental companies and bars. It is not yet known how this new law will be implemented in practice.
Good to know this: Camping on the beach, swimming topless, and even swimming completely naked except in designated nudist areas are prohibited.
Spain
According to the Coastal Protection Law, all beaches in Spain must be free and accessible to the public. According to Hotelplan spokeswoman Bianca Gähweiler, anyone providing sun loungers and umbrellas must pay between 1 and 25 euros per day, depending on the season and region.
On the Costa Blanca near Alicante there is the option to book sun loungers and umbrellas online in advance – but this is not mandatory and is not common in the rest of Spain.
Good to know this: Alcohol consumption is not prohibited, but many seaside resorts are increasingly restricting it. For example, group consumption of alcohol is now prohibited on El Arenal beach in Mallorca.
Benidorm on the Costa Blanca has also tightened the rules for the summer of 2024: Those who have sex on the beach will be fined 750 euros, and those who smoke on the beach will be fined 2000 euros. Those who pee in the sea have to pay 150 euros.
Türkiye
“There are no paid beaches in Turkey except private beach clubs,” says Deniz Uğur (45) from Expert Bentour. However, many beaches are reserved for guests of adjacent hotels. “Hotels in the south of Turkey and on the Aegean coast are usually very spacious and always have more sun loungers than guests, so there are never towel wars,” Uğur assures.
If there is a free beach with paid sun loungers and umbrellas, the costs are relatively cheap due to the weakness of the Turkish lira.
Good to know this: The most beautiful beaches are in Side and Alanya. In Belek, Kemer or Bodrum, the sand is coarser or gravelly.
Croatia
Since there are no private beaches anywhere in Croatia, visiting the beach does not require an entrance fee. It is also forbidden to leave a towel to mark your “place” on the beach in the evening.
Rental of sun loungers is regulated by law with a concession permit. No one is excluded: at the Radisson Blu in Split, for example, outside guests pay for sun loungers and umbrellas, but these are free for hotel guests. The concessionaire, in this case the hotel, may use no more than one-third of the concession area for its services and products and may provide, among other things, changing rooms, showers, garbage bins, etc. is responsible for its maintenance.
Good to know this: Find out exactly where the fine sand beaches are. Most of the beaches in Croatia are pebble beaches.
France
By law, all beaches in France are open to the public. This means hotels cannot guarantee private beaches. However, many provide sun loungers; and beach clubs offer a variety of other services.
According to the hotel plan, sun loungers and umbrellas cost between 15 and 30 euros, depending on the season. Prices at the Beach Club range from 45 Euros to unlimited.
Public beaches often become crowded during high season. France offers many hidden, deserted bays, even on the Mediterranean coast.
Good to know this: Beachwear is allowed to be less sparse in France than in other places. The beach now has special sections reserved for nature lovers.
Source :Blick
I’m Tim David and I work as an author for 24 Instant News, covering the Market section. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, my mission is to provide accurate, timely and insightful news coverage that helps our readers stay informed about the latest trends in the market. My writing style is focused on making complex economic topics easy to understand for everyone.
