Uk To Europe Travel Guide For Half Term 2025: Updated Entry Rules, Tourist Taxes, And Smoking Bans In Italy, Spain, And Beyond, What You Need To Know

Published on October 18, 2025

As half-term approaches successful England and Wales, galore British families are readying trips to Europe. However, travelers should beryllium alert of caller regulations affecting recreation crossed nan continent. Whether you’re heading to Spain, Portugal, Italy, aliases different celebrated destinations, knowing nan latest rules will guarantee a smoother vacation experience. These see nan caller Entry/Exit System (EES), stricter codes of behaviour successful tourer areas, caller taxes, smoking bans, and cruise restrictions. Let’s research these changes successful item and spot really they effect your European getaway.

Entry/Exit System: A Major Shift for UK Travelers

From October 12, a important alteration has taken spot for travelers entering nan European Union. The Entry/Exit System (EES) now requires non-EU passport holders, including British citizens, to supply biometric information specified arsenic fingerprints and facial scans. Travelers must besides reply questions regarding nan intent of their sojourn and whether they person capable costs for their stay. While nan strategy is being phased successful crossed nan EU, it’s important to retrieve that you don’t request to make further preparations isolated from ensuring your passport and capable costs are successful order.

New Code of Conduct successful Popular Tourist Areas

In celebrated edifice towns for illustration Albufeira, Portugal, section authorities person introduced a strict codification of conduct aimed astatine curbing nan disruptive behaviour often associated pinch tourism. The code, aimed astatine maintaining bid and order, includes prohibitions connected things for illustration wearing swimwear extracurricular designated areas, thoroughfare drinking, nationalist nudity, and causing excessive noise. Fines for breaching these rules tin scope from €300 to €1,800. Similar measures person been adopted successful different regions for illustration Alicante successful Spain, wherever caller curfews for bars and nightclubs are being enforced to reside sound complaints from section residents.

Smoking Bans Becoming More Common

Across Europe, smoking bans are becoming much widespread. In France, a nationwide smoking prohibition prohibits smoking successful public places specified arsenic parks, beaches, and adjacent schools. This follows akin bans already successful spot successful Sweden since 2019. Spain is besides considering extending smoking bans successful nationalist areas, peculiarly on beaches, though nan argumentation is yet to beryllium enforced astatine nan nationalist level. If you scheme to bask a relaxing infinitesimal connected nan beach, make judge to cheque section rules for smoking, arsenic galore regions are taking nan matter seriously.

Tourist Taxes Continue to Rise Across Europe

Another increasing inclination successful European tourism is nan preamble of tourist taxes. More cities are implementing regular aliases nightly fees for visitors, and Britons walking to places for illustration Venice and Barcelona will request to facet these other costs into their budgets. Venice has introduced a €5 fee for day-trippers, while Catalonia, including Barcelona, has raised nan municipal taxation for five-star hotels to €6.75 per night. Tourists visiting from nan UK should expect to spot akin charges successful different cities arsenic governments look for ways to negociate over-tourism.

Restrictions connected Cruise Ships

Cities for illustration Venice, Barcelona, and Nice are now enforcing restrictions connected cruise ships, particularly ample vessels. These measures are aimed astatine preventing overcrowding and protecting nan section environment. Venice, successful particular, has banned ample cruise ships from docking successful its lagoon. If you’re readying a cruise, cheque whether your larboard of telephone has restrictions successful spot to debar immoderate last-minute surprises.

Tips for a Smooth Trip

1. Check Passport and Travel Funds: Ensure your passport is valid and that you person capable costs for your trip, arsenic nan Entry/Exit System whitethorn require you to show impervious of both.
2. Know nan Local Codes of Conduct: In celebrated tourer areas for illustration Albufeira and Alicante, familiarize yourself pinch nan section rules to debar fines. This includes avoiding thoroughfare drinking aliases engaging successful inappropriate behaviour successful nationalist places.
3. Be Aware of Smoking Bans: In immoderate countries for illustration France, you won’t beryllium allowed to fume successful parks, beaches, and astir schools. Always cheque nan rules earlier lighting up.
4. Budget for New Taxes: Tourist taxes are becoming a norm successful galore European cities. Be prepared to salary other fees, particularly successful Venice and Barcelona.
5. Monitor Cruise Restrictions: If you’re embarking connected a cruise, cheque nan larboard policies successful cities for illustration Venice and Cannes to debar last-minute docking issues.

Popular European Destinations Facing New Travel Rules

The pursuing European locations person introduced caller aliases updated regulations for tourists:

• Venice, Italy
• Barcelona, Spain
• Alicante, Spain
• Albufeira, Portugal
• Cannes, France
• Nice, France
• Sweden
• France

Navigating nan New Rules: Key Takeaways

If you’re readying to sojourn Europe during this half-term break, it’s basal to support nan latest regulations successful mind to debar immoderate inconvenience. The Entry/Exit System now requires further biometric checks, and new fines for violating section codes of behaviour are being enforced successful Portugal and Spain. Smoking bans are increasing successful France and Spain, and travelers should expect further tourist taxes successful Venice and Barcelona. Cruise passengers will besides request to set to increased restrictions astatine celebrated ports.

These changes are designed to guarantee a smoother and much controlled recreation acquisition crossed Europe. By being alert of these updates, you tin bask your European travel while staying compliant pinch nan caller regulations.