Weirdest European Laws on the Books

These are some of the weirdest laws in Europe that you better follow if you want to avoid fines on your next Eurotrip.

Sure, we’ve all thought about wearing a unicorn mask while riding a cow drunk and throwing tons of food to pigeons in the middle of Venice, Italy. Right?

Well, we hate to break it to you, but those days are over. We know. It’s not fair, but the law’s the law. These are some of the weirdest laws in Europe that you better follow if you want to avoid fines on your next Eurotrip.

Don’t Run Out of Gas in Germany

Traffic on german autobahn with speed limit signs

manwolste / Getty Images

Germany is known for its ultra-fast highways where travelers can legally reach speeds of more than 100 miles per hour. But speeding that fast does have its consequences.

One such drawback is you’ll face a serious fine if you run out of gas on the German Autobahn, and if you are caught walking to a gas station, you can get another fine on top of that!

While it seems a bit unforgiving, the reason behind the law is that both having a stalled car and walking on the highway are unsafe. So, drivers are expected to keep their cars properly gassed up if they want the privilege of driving on these public roads.

Think Twice About Feeding Pigeons in Italy

Getty Images

This one’s specifically for Venice, Italy, which we already know has lots of issues with overtourism. And when you combine tourists and pigeons, let’s just say we don’t want to see the aftermath — and neither do the Venetian residents.

Apparently, so many tourists were feeding pigeons in Saint Mark’s Square for the ultimate travel photo that the cleanup from the birds was costing each citizen €275 every year. So, Venice lawmakers decided to make it illegal to feed them in 2008. If you’re caught doing so, you could face fines as high as €700. Trust us: It’s not worth it!

Forget the High Heels in Greece

Getty Images

Here’s another weird European law that’s a result of pesky tourists not thinking. In 2009, the Greek government had to ban high heels at the Acropolis.

The fact that so many people were wearing stilettos to the about 2,500-year-old ruins that the government had to get involved is beyond us. But, yes, the Greeks were worried about the damage the pointy shoes could cause, so maybe pack some more comfortable shoes when heading to this nation.

No Drunken Cow Riding in Scotland

Getty Images

OK, we’ve all had a few crazy ideas while under the influence of alcohol — especially Scottish whisky. But there’s an 1872 law that states you’ll get a ticket if you happen to be drunk and in charge of a cow, horse, carriage or steam engine.

Seems fair to us.

It’s Illegal to Wear Masks in Denmark

Getty Images

We’re not talking about COVID masks. In 2018, the Danish government banned anyone from wearing face coverings of any kind in public. This includes masks, helmets, scarves, hats, fake beards and even burkas. The law started as a way to protect people during large public demonstrations from those who were repeatedly wearing masks and engaging in violence and vandalism.

While controversial for including some forms of Islamic dress, the law is said to not be targeting religions. It’s also not outlawing Halloween costumes with an exception written into the law that says you can wear a mask for “honorable” purposes. But who gets to determine that is rather vague.

For more weird laws you won’t believe, check out “60 Weird Laws Around the World.”