Lake Como Village Bans Shirtless Tourists
A small village on Lake Como has introduced new rules for visitors as pressure from mass tourism grows across Italy’s most popular destinations. Varenna, a fishing village with around 650 residents, is banning tourists from walking through the village shirtless or in swimwear. The measure is designed to protect daily life for locals, especially during the busy summer season.
What Visitors Need to Know in Varenna
- Destination: Varenna, Lake Como
- Rule: No bare chests or swimwear in the village
- Fine: Up to €200
- Still allowed: Swimwear on beaches
- Tour groups: Limited to 25 people
- Also banned: Loudspeakers used by groups
- Applies to: Village streets, churches, shops and restaurants
Mayor Mauro Manzoni said Varenna is still proud to welcome visitors, but local life cannot be pushed aside by mass tourism. The new dress code means tourists should cover up after leaving the beach and before walking through the village centre, especially near churches, shops and restaurants. Visitors are also being asked not to block the narrow cobblestone streets.
The move puts Varenna in line with other Italian destinations that have tightened rules on tourist behaviour. Sorrento introduced fines in 2022 for people walking around town in swimsuits or bare-chested, with penalties reaching €500. Portofino has also targeted public drinking, walking barefoot and wearing beachwear away from the waterfront.
The rules do not stop people from enjoying Lake Como, but they do change how visitors should move around Varenna. The village remains easy to explore by ferry, on foot and along the lakefront, with old lanes, views and waterside restaurants close together. Carrying a light shirt, dress or cover-up is now the simplest way to avoid problems.