Craziest Tourist Moments Caught Last Summer
Last summer, tourists pulled stunts that turned vacations into news stories. Some paid hefty fines, others landed on viral videos, and a handful ended their trips talking to the police instead of tour guides. The details sound too strange to be real until you check the headlines—then you realize, they actually happened.
Coins Thrown at an Engine
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At an airport in eastern China in July 2023, a first-time flyer tossed two coins near an Airbus A320 engine as part of a good luck ritual common in some regions. Maintenance crews discovered the coins during preflight checks, forcing the airline to cancel the trip for safety. Local authorities detained the man, and he was ordered to pay around $17,200 because any foreign object in a jet engine can cause catastrophic failure.
A Dance With Danger at Yellowstone
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In August 2023, a woman at Yellowstone National Park approached a full-grown bison and tried to pet it for a selfie. Onlookers filmed as the animal lowered its head and charged, narrowly missing her. Park rangers reported the incident and reiterated that visitors must stay at least 25 yards away from bison.
Ancient Sand Stash in Sardinia
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Police in Sardinia stopped two French tourists at a ferry terminal in 2023 after they were caught with 14 bottles filled with 90 pounds of sand from Chia Beach. The practice has been banned since 2017 due to environmental concerns and erosion. The pair faced heavy fines, and officials used the case to warn travelers that removing sand, pebbles, or shells from Italian beaches is a serious offense under local conservation laws.
Eiffel Tower Sleepover Gone Wrong
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Security staff at the Eiffel Tower were stunned when they found two American tourists asleep in a restricted section high above Paris. The pair had reportedly been drinking, slipped past barriers late at night, and ended up stranded until morning. Firefighters and police eventually escorted them down. Authorities later confirmed they would face charges, since those hidden areas are closed to visitors to keep the landmark safe and secure.
Drone Trouble in Myanmar
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A French tourist in Myanmar launched a drone near the country’s parliamentary complex in Naypyidaw, unaware of the strict laws prohibiting aerial devices over government sites. He got arrested in February 2023, served a month-long jail sentence, paid two separate fines, and was deported after his release.
A Bite From a Royal Horse
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It takes only a moment of bad judgment for a tourist snapshot to go south. Outside Horse Guards Parade, a visitor leaned in too close for a photo and came away with a bite on the arm—courtesy of a cavalry horse on duty. The video spread fast, and officials used it as a reminder: these animals may be ceremonial, but they don’t put up with strangers in their space.
Scooter Chaos on the Spanish Steps
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The sound of scooters scraping marble echoed down Rome’s Spanish Steps one afternoon in 2022, thanks to two Americans with no sense of history or boundaries. Security footage captured the act, and city officials handed down stiff penalties and a temporary ban. Even sitting on these steps can get you fined; rolling heavy metal down them brought much harsher consequences.
A Napkin’s Worth of Graffiti
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Some vandalism isn’t subtle. Tourists at the Colosseum stared as a British visitor etched “Ivan+Hayley 23” into a stone wall—unaware, he later claimed, of the site’s age. Police identified him from a viral clip. In Rome, damaging the past isn’t taken lightly; the penalty can be a huge fine and time in jail.
Stuck in Venice’s Grand Canal
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It wasn’t a chase scene, but two tourists on electric surfboards drew plenty of attention zipping past gondolas on the Grand Canal. Locals shouted, cameras rolled, and the police stepped in to end the stunt. Their brief ride through Venice finished with fines, an order to leave, and a pointed message from the mayor about respect for the city.
Feet in a Boiling Hot Spring
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Some people see warning signs as suggestions, not rules. At Yellowstone, one man left the safety of the boardwalk and plunged his feet into a steaming hot spring. The water can reach nearly 190 degrees; he was lucky to escape with a citation instead of a hospital trip. Park rangers have seen the results before—dozens haven’t walked away.
A Wild Ride Through Pompeii
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An Australian visitor surprised guards at Pompeii when he was spotted weaving through the ruins on a moped. He had slipped in by following another vehicle through a service gate and managed to cover close to a mile before security intercepted him. Officials reported that nothing was harmed but emphasized that any breach endangers the site, whose streets and artwork have survived since the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.
Trevi Fountain Bottle Filler
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Tourists usually stop at the edge to toss a coin and make a wish, but one woman had a different plan last July. She clambered onto the Trevi Fountain’s rocks in Rome and filled her water bottle right from the spillway. A guard stepped in right away. It’s a strict rule: no one gets in the water. The city wants to keep the marble and pipes intact, so even touching the fountain is off-limits.
Rocks Launched in Spain’s Gorge
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One hiker on Spain’s Cares Trail turned heads for all the wrong reasons. Instead of soaking in the view, he hurled a big rock into the gorge below—caught on camera by another trekker. The footage drew quick attention online and from local officials, who made it clear: dropping rocks can endanger lives and wildlife. The potential fine is nothing to sneeze at, either, topping $200,000.
Moai Statue Damage on Easter Island
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It wasn’t curiosity or respect that led a Finnish tourist to climb a Moai statue on Easter Island. While posing for a photo, he snapped off part of the ear—an act that landed him with a steep fine and a ban from returning for three years. Locals treat these stone figures as more than monuments. Every bit of damage is a lasting loss for the island.
A Late-Night Flight Flirtation
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Midway through a London-to-Ibiza flight last September, two passengers ducked into the lavatory together. Their absence didn’t go unnoticed. By the time the plane touched down, police were waiting at the gate, and fellow travelers had their phones out to catch the scene. easyJet’s official stance: rules don’t get relaxed just because it’s a party route.