All the new travel rules for Brits heading to Europe this half term

Holidaymakers are set to face a slew of new tourism regulations in European destinations this half term. The autumn break is fast approaching in England and Wales, with most schools closing from Monday, October 27 to Friday, October 31, reports the Mirror.

Meanwhile, the holiday period has already kicked off in Scotland, with those residing north of the border currently enjoying their time off. If you're fortunate enough to be jetting off or taking the train this October, there are several new travel rules that you'll need to be aware of. We've highlighted themost crucial ones below.

The major change facing British holidaymakers this half-term is the implementation of the Entry/Exit System, also known as EES. As of last Sunday (October 12), non-EU passport holders entering the bloc are required to provide certain details before departing the airport, train station or port. This includes fingerprints and facial scans.

Travellers are also being asked a series of questions, such as whether they have sufficient funds to cover their stay. Despite the official launch taking place on Sunday, the system is being introduced gradually. Not all countries are prepared to begin processing the information just yet.

In terms of preparation, there's nothing specific that holidaymakers need to do differently when travelling to the EU post-October 12. Simply ensure you have your passport and a reasonable amount of money in your bank account.

The Mirror was invited to try out the system earlier this month and had some key questions answered.

Locals in Albufeira in Portugal are growing tired of the chaos caused by tourists. In a bid to control the crowds and stop behaviour from getting out of control, local authorities have issued a code of conduct to keep things calm in the popular resort.

Those caught breaching it face hefty fines. The fines range from a minimum of €150 to €1,800 (£130-£1,570) for ignoring the tightened restrictions, which include misplacing shopping trolleys, lighting barbecues on the beach, and creating excessive noise.

Fines being introduced in Albufeira include:

• Wearing swimwear outside of authorised areas - €300 to €1,500 (£260-£1,300)
• Street drinking, urination or defecation in public - €300 to €1,500
• Public nudity or sexual acts in public - €500 to €1,800 (£435-£1,570)

Other destinations have introduced similar rules. Alicante has implemented new curfews on bars and nightclubs, following a rise in noise complaints from residents.

The restrictions require bars to close at 12.30am on weekdays and 1am on Fridays, Saturdays and on the eve of national holidays. Nightclubs must close at 1am during weekdays and 3am on the weekend.

It is bad news for those who enjoy nothing more than sitting back with a glass of crisp white wine and lighting a cigarette beneath the warm Continental sun.

France has implemented a smoking ban on beaches, parks, outside schools and other public areas from July. The prohibition, which mirrors similar actions across an increasingly smoke-conscious Europe, will not extend to cafe outdoor terraces or electronic cigarettes.

A comparable law is currently under consideration by the central government in Spain, but it has yet to be enforced. Nevertheless, certain Spanish regions have local laws prohibiting smoking on beaches.

Since 2019, it has been unlawful to smoke at outdoor restaurant terraces, bus stops, train platforms and schoolyards in Sweden.

The trend of charging tourists daily or nightly taxes is escalating rapidly. In the UK, a handful of cities have begun this practice.

Manchester and Liverpool currently impose visitor levies, collected from hotels through Accommodation Business Improvement Districts. Edinburgh plans to implement a visitor levy in 2026.

The list of European destinations introducing new levies is extensive. Notably, Venice has imposed a €5 day-trip fee in an attempt to curb day-tourism.

In Catalonia, Spain, the government has postponed a proposed increase in the daily tourist tax, initially set to vary between €6 and €11. This new tax could potentially escalate to €15 per day.

Barcelona, the region's most popular destination, has raised its municipal tourist tax to €6.75 per night for guests staying in five-star hotels.

Several renowned European destinations have imposed restrictions on the number of cruise ships docking, to prevent locals and businesses from being swamped by visitors.

Venice has notably banned large cruise ships from its lagoon, while Nice and Cannes have prohibited ships over a certain passenger capacity. Cities such as Barcelona and Dubrovnik have also set daily docking limits.

As for Airbnb bans, despite their convenience, holiday letting platforms like Airbnb can put significant strain on the housing market and lead to the departure of locals from popular holiday areas. In response, some authorities have introduced bans.

The coastal city of Malaga in Andalusia has forbidden new rental properties in 43 neighbourhoods where these rentals exceed eight per cent of the residential stock. This measure was implemented in January 2025 and will be tested for three years.

Earlier this year, amidst a tense atmosphere against short-term rentals, the Spanish government instructed Airbnb to remove more than 65,000 holiday rentals, which they claimed breached Airbnb's own rules and regulations.