One simple mistake could cost unsuspecting tourists £752 when visiting one of Europe’s most popular landmarks. In Greece, hefty fines are in place at ancient monuments such as the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and the Epidaurus Theatre to help preserve the iconic sites.

Tourists should opt for trainers when visiting the ruins, because any person caught wearing high heels could face a maximum fine of £752 (€900). This is because it is feared high heels could damage the ancient stonework. Since the Acropolis is an open-air museum, it is also prohibited to touch any of the marble, walk inside any of the temples, or climb rocks or walls.

Another place where tourists could be caught out by hefty fines is Italy, where protective bans are in place to help preserve ancient monuments.

Tourists could be faced with fines of up to £417 (€500) at Rome’s Spanish Steps for sitting down, and police officers patrol the area with whistles to enforce the rule.

In Italy, fine ranging from £20 (€25) to £417 (€500) are in place for people caught feeding pigeons in Venice’s St. Mark’s Square, which has been banned since 2008 in an effort to protect the historic buildings from damage caused by the animals' droppings.

It’s no surprise that swimming in one of Rome’s most iconic landmarks, the Trevi Fountain, is off-limits, and people breaching the rule can face fines of up to £417 (€500). In some cases, people can be hit with a temporary or lifetime ban from the area.

Gemma Brown, Head of Ground Product & Partnerships at Travel Republic, added: “General rules typically include no food or drink on the premises, no smoking, and maintaining a clean environment by not littering.

“Researching the sites you’re visiting beforehand will help ensure you know any specific rules, such as dressing modestly at religious sites. Practising these simple rules helps preserve the integrity of these sites and makes everyone’s visit more enjoyable.”