At this popular Croatian island, you'll face a hefty fine if you're too loud
At this popular Croatian island, you'll face a hefty fine if you're too loud
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Santorini struggles with hordes of tourists flocking to island
Millions flock to Santorini each year to see the social media-famous sunset putting pressure on its outdated infrastructure.
The Croatian island of Hvar, known for its vibrant nightlife, is implementing noise restrictions to curb rowdy tourist behavior.
The move comes as Croatia experiences a surge in tourism, with visitor numbers increasing by 4% between 2023 and 2024.
Hvar aims to shed its party image and attract more families and travelers seeking a relaxing experience.
One of Croatia's top party islands is taking a stance against rowdy tourist behavior with noise regulations, joining a long list of European destinations battling overtourism.
Situated on the Adriatic Sea, Hvar is a sun-drenched island located about an hour-long ferry ride away from Split. The island is known for its gorgeous beaches, long legacy of wine and vibrant nightlife, along with being a party hotspot during Yacht Week.
However, the island is working to be seen as more of a relaxing, family-friendly destination and hopes to shed its party image.
Last week, Hvar's city council voted in a closed-door meeting to keep noise restrictions this summer to 85 decibels and below – the equivalent of a noisy restaurant or heavy traffic, according to Croatian media outlet Dnevnik. Bars, clubs and other entertainment venues had been pushing for higher limits to appeal to partygoers year-round.
"In previous years, open-air clubs in Hvar and Split may have encouraged excessive partying among visitors, and contributed to a 'party destination' image in Croatian tourism," said Croatian Darijo Šarić, CEO of travel company VIP Holiday Booker that specializes in travel to his home country.
According to the guidelines written earlier in the year list, fines for exceeding the 85 decibels are €1,320 (about $1,428.28) for legal businesses and €300 (about $324.59) for individuals. However, local law enforcement handles the noise violations, and repeat or additional offenses may result in more fines, Šarić said.
The move coincides with the Mediterranean country's growing tourism industry, which saw a 4% increase in visitor numbers between 2023 and 2024, with a steady influx of travelers throughout the year.
What to know about golden visas: You could 'buy' European residency for about $500K
Tourists face more fines in Europe
In popular Croatian destinations, such as Split and Dubrovnik, tourists face on-the-spot fines for behavior "seen as inappropriate," according to travel advice by the United Kingdom government's website.
Since 2023, those drinking in public or walking around town shirtless or only in swimwear could be fined up to €150 (around $161.27). Travelers who act out drunk in public risk a fine up to €4,000 (around $4,300.64), the U.K. website states. If someone removes a noble pen shell, a protected endemic clam, they are fined €67 (around $72.04) for each.
Other European destinations have also started to police or limit tourists who are disrupting the quality of life for residents or the sustainability of the place. Spain's coastal city of Malaga started fining tourists who are shirtless on the street up to €750 (around $806.37) as of last year.
In Italy's coastal Sardinia, taking, holding or selling sand, pebbles, stones or shells can cost a traveler up to €3,000 (around $3,225.48). In 2023, a French tourist was arrested after police found over 90 pounds of Lampianu's famous gray pebbles and stones, according to Euronews.
"That being said, (Croatia's) fines are largely symbolic, intended more to discourage bad behavior rather than to punish anyone," Šarić said. "In practice, local authorities tend to be understanding, with very few fines actually being enforced. Nevertheless, we encourage all visitors to act respectfully and adhere to local customs and norms; otherwise, you could end up with a fine."
"Ultimately, it's about being responsible, ensuring Croatia remains a cherished, safe, and welcoming destination for everyone."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Boeing sent a new plane on a 3-day journey to China in fresh sign of easing trade tensions
A Boeing 737 Max landed in China on Monday, the first in around two months. The same plane had previously been sent back to Seattle after trade tensions flared. China and the US are set for another round of negotiations in London on Monday. Boeing has sent a plane to China for the first time since tariff tensions boiled over, ahead of further trade talks between the US and China. The 737 Max touched down in Zhoushan around noon local time on Monday, according to data from FlightAware. It concluded a lengthy transpacific journey that began on Friday, when the plane, registered as N230BE, flew from Seattle to Hawaii. On Saturday, it had another refuelling stop in Guam. China is 16 hours ahead of Seattle, so though the plane arrived three calendar days after it first took off at around 10 a.m. local time Friday, its journey was roughly 59 hours in total. Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This wasn't the first time that this jet, painted in the livery of Xiamen Airlines, crossed the ocean. Flight-tracking data shows it first departed Seattle in March, only to end up back there a month later. It was one of three planes that Boeing sent back to the US in April from its delivery center in Zhoushan after trade tensions escalated. President Donald Trump had introduced tariffs as high as 145%, and China retaliated by imposing a 125% fee on anything imported from the US. "Many of our customers in China have indicated they will not take delivery," Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said on an earnings call later that month. He added that around 50 planes would instead be resold to other airlines. However, tariff tensions have since eased. In May, talks saw the US reduce its levy on Chinese products to 30%, while China reduced its tariffs to 10%. On Monday, the two countries are set to meet for another round of talks in London in hopes of resolving the trade war. That's especially welcome news for Boeing. Ortberg said China accounts for about 10% of its commercial-aircraft order book. Meanwhile, rival planemaker Airbus predicts China will be the world's biggest market for aviation services by 2043, accounting for 20% of all aircraft deliveries. The European firm received a boost last week after Bloomberg reported that China is mulling an order for hundreds of Airbus jets. Airbus stock subsequently rose more than 3%. Read the original article on Business Insider Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
5 vineyard restaurants to visit in England
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). In the UK's dynamic wine scene, seasonally led vineyard restaurants are becoming as much of a draw as the wine itself, ideal for languid summer afternoons. Here are five of the best to whet your appetite — from Michelin-starred venues getting creative with locally foraged ingredients to an East Sussex hotspot where wood-wired pizzas are paired with the perfect natural wine. Operating since 1952, Hambledon is the UK's oldest commercial winery. Its award-winning sparkling wines include the classic cuvee and, new for 2025, its first blanc de blancs. There's a beautiful tasting room and the new restaurant is already a destination in its own right; overseen by head chef Nick Edgar, seasonal menus feature chalk stream trout with watercress, best end of lamb or Old Winchester cheese souffle. Blending his South African heritage with classic European cooking, executive chef Jean Delport has helped Interlude, the elegant restaurant with rooms at the heart of the Leonardslee Estate, earn both a Michelin star and Michelin Green star. Foraged ingredients from the local landscape include wild garlic, bracken fiddleheads and hazelnuts, while the estate rears its own venison. Sip and overlook the vines at this rooftop bistro-terrace above Chapel Down's tasting room. Two AA Rosettes have been awarded for British-Mediterranean dishes, which are paired with feted wines from the 1,000-acre estate. Seasonality reigns and the menu might include Romney Marsh lamb with Moroccan mint yoghurt that sings when accompanied by a 2022 bacchus from Chapel Down's Kit's Coty North Downs vineyard. A glass of the rosé brut pairs well with the Kent rhubarb parfait. Founded in the 1980s, Sharpham Wine has recently shifted its focus to low-intervention wines. Set on the Sandridge Barton estate, the winery is home to rustic-chic tasting barns and a restaurant in the old milking parlour with a menu centered on Devon produce. Try the likes of estate beef fillet, red chicory and anchoiade, or a range of Sharpham cheeses, perfect with its medal-winning pinot noir. Tillingham has made a name for itself (and earned a Michelin Green star) thanks to its biodynamic approach to viticulture and bucolic setting in the Sussex High Weald. At the estate complex, flavourful natural wines sit alongside wood-fired pizzas and the likes of goat's cheese mousse with charred peach, seared local scallops with black pudding crumb, and Pevensey lamb rump. There are stylish bedrooms in a converted hop barn as well as bell tents in the summer. Published in Issue 28 (summer 2025) of Food by National Geographic Traveller (UK).To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
Time Business News
6 hours ago
- Time Business News
Undercover Traveler: The Essential Guide to Traveling Anonymously
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The concept of anonymous global travel may sound like a relic of a pre-digital world, but in 2025, it's not only possible—it's actively being pursued by dissidents, political refugees, whistleblowers, privacy activists, and high-risk professionals worldwide. Despite biometric surveillance, AI-powered immigration systems, and interconnected watchlists, a growing number of individuals are successfully navigating the world without being seen—or at least, without being identified. A new report by Amicus International Consulting reveals that the global landscape for anonymous, legal travel is more complex and counterintuitive than ever. With the right combination of legal strategy, jurisdictional insight, and identity protection, individuals can move across borders without leaving a trail, without violating the law. In a time when every digital action can result in being flagged, banned, or surveilled, this report offers a rare glimpse into how some travellers are legally flying under the radar. What Is Anonymous Travel in 2025? Anonymous travel doesn't mean using fake passports or smuggling across borders. In 2025, anonymity is about controlling who sees you, what data they collect, and what conclusions they draw about you. An anonymous traveller uses legitimate documentation and legal methods but avoids detection by automated profiling systems and preemptive behavioural vetting. This includes: Limiting exposure to biometric surveillance Avoiding algorithmic flagging by immigration databases Reducing metadata trails linked to your identifiers Travelling through jurisdictions with weak surveillance integration Masking political, social, or financial affiliations 'Anonymity today is not a costume—it's an architecture of decisions,' said a senior analyst at Amicus. 'It's the difference between showing up in a database and flying below the predictive threshold.' Case Study: The Whistleblower Who Vanished In 2022, an Eastern European cybersecurity expert released classified details of a regional surveillance program linked to foreign intelligence. Facing arrest and asset seizure, she went into hiding. Her steps were carefully coordinated: Exited legally under her national ID to a non-extradition country. Used a second passport—legally acquired through investment in the Caribbean—to travel under a different identity. Deleted all social media, encrypted her devices, and rerouted communications through decentralized protocols. Entered Southeast Asia via non-biometric land crossings and settled under residency by investment. Today, she lives openly under her new legal name. No extradition request has succeeded. Biometric Systems: Who They Flag and Why In airports, embassies, and ports worldwide, biometric systems scan millions of faces per day. But what triggers a flag? According to Amicus, travellers are flagged by U.S. and European agencies based on: Previous travel to 'high-risk' countries (e.g., Yemen, Iran, Syria) Online or in-person affiliation with dissident groups Encrypted or erratic communication patterns Social media comments flagged by AI sentiment analysis False matches on global watchlists In 2024, over 85,000 travellers were stopped at biometric checkpoints due to algorithmic suspicion, despite holding valid travel documents. Techniques for Travelling Anonymously Amicus divides the tools of anonymous travel into three categories: 1. Legal Identity Obfuscation Second Passports from countries with low biometric scrutiny (e.g., Vanuatu, Dominica, Grenada). from countries with low biometric scrutiny (e.g., Vanuatu, Dominica, Grenada). Name changes are conducted legally through gender transition laws, religious conversion, or marriage. conducted legally through gender transition laws, religious conversion, or marriage. Naturalization in Neutral Countries with Diplomatic Distance from Global Surveillance Networks. 2. Biometric Evasion and Distortion Face morphing techniques to confuse facial recognition systems. to confuse facial recognition systems. Iris-blocking contact lenses to prevent retina scans. to prevent retina scans. Synthetic fingerprint gloves to alter prints. to alter prints. Travel through terminals or ports lacking facial recognition infrastructure. 3. Digital Shadow Management Anonymized device routing , using burner phones and encrypted SIM cards. , using burner phones and encrypted SIM cards. Metadata destruction , ensuring travel data isn't linked to financial records or cloud accounts. , ensuring travel data isn't linked to financial records or cloud accounts. Cloudless booking , using non-digital travel agencies or cash-based reservations. , using non-digital travel agencies or cash-based reservations. De-indexing tools, such as Fawkes and Nightshade, are used to corrupt online images. Case Study: The Journalist Flagged for Tweets In 2024, a Lebanese-Canadian journalist was denied boarding to the U.S. despite holding a valid ESTA. The reason? DHS software scanned his social media and flagged critical posts made during the Gaza conflict. Though never charged with a crime, he was banned from entry. Amicus helped the individual: Erase his digital footprint and obtain a new Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) in a neutral jurisdiction. and obtain a new Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) in a neutral jurisdiction. Obtain St. Kitts citizenship through economic investment. through economic investment. Relocate to a non-extradition nation with a new legal name. with a new legal name. Travel across Asia and Latin America under new credentials without detection. What Countries Still Allow Movement Without Surveillance? Amicus has identified a list of jurisdictions with limited biometric enforcement or non-cooperation with INTERPOL and Five Eyes data-sharing: Nicaragua Paraguay Mali Uzbekistan Madagascar Turkmenistan Parts of Northern Iraq and Kurdish regions Tribal zones in Southeast Asia While not all are safe long-term refuges, they serve as key waypoints in complex exit strategies. The Role of the Dark Web in Anonymous Travel While Amicus does not endorse or facilitate illegal activities, its cyber monitoring team reports a thriving underground market for: Synthetic identities linked to real SSNs or birth registries Pre-verified passport templates embedded with biometric data Covert flight bookings using crypto Forged visa appointments and application records Prices range from $5,000 to over $100,000, depending on the quality and origin of documents. Biometric matching kits are now sold openly on encrypted forums. Second Passports: The Cornerstone of Anonymous Legal Travel Obtaining a second passport legally remains the most effective tool for maintaining legal anonymity. These programs allow individuals to: Change names and birth dates lawfully and birth dates lawfully Separate identities across jurisdictions across jurisdictions Avoid travel bans and flagged country of origin issues Travel to over 140 countries visa-free Open new bank accounts and obtain tax IDs in privacy-friendly countries Amicus specializes in acquiring second passports through programs in: Grenada – ideal for U.S. E-2 Treaty entry – ideal for U.S. E-2 Treaty entry Antigua and Barbuda – strong passport ranking, low profile – strong passport ranking, low profile Vanuatu – fast-track processing and minimal disclosures – fast-track processing and minimal disclosures Turkey – a bridge to EU markets and Middle East flexibility – a bridge to EU markets and Middle East flexibility St. Lucia – discreet processing for high-risk individuals Case Study: The Tech Entrepreneur Who Preempted His Arrest A Hong Kong-based crypto developer anticipated a state-led crackdown after whistleblowing about financial misconduct in early 2023. Within six months, he had: Applied for and received St. Kitts citizenship Changed his legal name using religious exemption laws Moved wealth into decentralized crypto custodial wallets Booked exit travel via ferry and private aircraft Travelled through countries with no U.S. extradition treaty By early 2024, he was living in South America with a new life and identity, one that was no longer traceable by traditional databases. Amicus International's Role in Anonymous Travel Amicus International Consulting provides ethical and legal services for individuals seeking anonymity for legitimate reasons, including: Survivors of domestic violence or persecution Individuals facing politically motivated criminalization Activists, journalists, and whistleblowers at risk of reprisal Privacy advocates wishing to remove themselves from surveillance systems Services include: Second passport acquisition and identity restructuring Anonymous travel route mapping Digital shadow analysis and online presence removal Pre-departure audits for border red flags Emergency extraction or advisory support during surveillance events In 2024 alone, Amicus supported over 700 individuals across 28 countries seeking new legal lives through anonymity and relocation services. Conclusion: Invisibility Is a Right—If You Know How to Claim It In 2025, airports will scan your face. Governments monitor your metadata. Social platforms expose your politics. But the power to move without being profiled, tracked, or stopped is not dead—it has simply changed. Anonymous travel is no longer a loophole—it's a legal strategy. With proper planning, lawful documentation, and privacy-first protocols, Amicus International Consulting helps individuals reclaim their freedom of movement in a world built to watch them. Contact InformationPhone: +1 (604) 200-5402Email: info@ Website:
