Avoid these hefty fines when travelling in Paris, Amsterdam and other European cities

Behave yourself while abroad or you could face fines running into the thousands of pounds.

If you’re visiting mainland Europe this summer then you might want to watch out for unexpected costs due to your behaviour.

Local fines for anything from smoking in a restricted area to being drunk and disorderly vary hugely across the continent.

Fall foul of a few fines in Rome and you could end up owing over £8,000, according to a study by voucher site Voucherbox.

Heading abroad? Don't forget the travel insurance!

Reykjavik the most lenient city

The Italian capital has a maximum fine for urinating in public of £7,746. Berlin is the most lenient if you're caught short – you’ll face a fine of only £16 for urinating in public.

In contrast, Reykjavik has been branded the most lenient city for penalty fines. You will only be fined if you smoke in a restricted area or urinate in public, and the maximum you’ll owe is £54.

What you can be fined for varies a great deal with seven out of the 18 cities looked at allowing drinking in the street, but only four will let you off with a warning if you smoke somewhere you shouldn’t.

Reykjavik is the only city in the study that won’t fine you for using public transport without a ticket, if caught you will simply be asked to leave the vehicle.

“This study reveals the huge disparity in penalties across Europe,” says Shane Forster, Voucherbox UK county manager.

“With European cities a popular destination this year for football and festivals, it’s good to make sure you’re aware of the rules beforehand so you don’t get any unexpected surprises – some of which may be more expensive than the cost of your whole trip.

Of course the best way to guarantee you don’t slip up is to avoid these acts in the first place.”

How the fines stack up

 

Drinking alcohol in the street

Smoking in a restricted area

Being drunk and disorderly

Taking public transport without a ticket

Urinating in public

Amsterdam

£70 (€90)

£70 (€90)

£108(€140)

£70 (€90)

£108(€140)

Berlin

Legal

£79(€100)

Jail time or possible penalty

£46 (€60)

£16 (€20)

Bern

Legal

£29 (€37)

£64-128 (€83-165)

£72 (€92)

£143 (€184)

Brussels

Legal

£124 (€160)

2-12 hour jail term

£6-85 (€7-107)

£46-271 (€60-350)

Budapest

£25-124 (10,000-50,000Ft)

Likely just a warning

Not specified

£20 (8,000Ft)

£25-124 (10,000-50000Ft)

Copenhagen

Legal

Likely just a warning

From £39 (€50)

£59 (€75)

£77 (€100)

Dublin

£387 (€500)

£2,324 (€3,000)

£77 (€100)

£77 (€100)

£54-387 (€70-500)

Helsinki

£23 (€30)

Likely just a warning

8-24 hour jail term

£63 (€80)

£23 (€30)

Lisbon

Legal

£39-581 (€50-750)

Likely jail time

100-150 times ticket value

£19-194 (€25-250)

London

£60

£50

£90

Up to £1,000

£80

Madrid

£77-465 (€100-600)

£23-465 (€30-600)

£77-465 (€100-600)

£23 (€30)

£77-465 (€100-600)

Paris

Not specified

£53 (€68)

£116 (€150)

£54-78 (€68-98)

£53 (€68)

Prague

Up to £29 (1,000CZK)

£29 (1,000CZK)

£57 (2,000CZK)

£23 (800CZK)

£27-863 (1,000-30,000CZK)

Reykjavik

Legal

From £27 (€35)

Jail until sober

No fine, asked to leave the transport

£27 (€35)

Rome

£116 (€150)

£21-435 (€27-550)

£40-239 (€51-309)

£44 (€55)

£3,873-7,746 (€5,000-10,000)

Stockholm

£39 (€50)

No fine but you will be asked to leave

Jail term until sober

£103 (€130)

£62 (€80)

Vienna

Legal

£77 (€100)

£271 (€350)

£82 (€103)

£542 (€700)

Warsaw

£20 (110zl)

£98 (552zl)

£267 (1,500zl)

£47 (266zl)

£267 (1,500zl)

Heading abroad? Don't forget the travel insurance!

More travel stories from loveMONEY:

The best prepaid cards for spending abroad

How boost your chances of a free flight upgrade

Why cheap travel cover could be an expensive mistake

 

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