Travel Tip 121
Where to watch what you say
Know where you are before you decide what you’re going to say.
Five European countries where free speech is limited.
As I see more people getting in trouble for free speech in the US, I want to caution travelers that going to Europe doesn’t give you carte-blanche.
It’s well-known some Asian countries have limited free speech, like China and Thailand. I think most travelers in South America are aware of the risks of speaking out in places like El Salvador or Venezuela, but many are surprised by Europe.
Digital nomads working on the road need to know the free speech laws of every country they visit.
Here are five countries in Europe where criticizing the government could land you in jail or get you slapped with a fine. Some of this information comes from a Fodor’s Travel article.
Germany: It’s illegal to insult the president or members of the government with a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Italy: Be careful what you say about the president, as an insult could get you up to five years in prison.
Spain: Watch what you say about members of the Spanish royal family, since slandering them is punishable by up to two years behind bars.
Portugal: In Portugal it’s what you say about the president that could be problematic, though not as bad as Germany. Defaming the president could get you a fine or up to three months in prison.
Belgium: It’s in-person outrage or insults to government officials that could get you in trouble in Belgium, with fines likely and up to six months in jail possible. However, written speech has more protections, so stick to blogging and avoid seeing any government official you don’t like in person.
There are several more countries that qualify, like The Netherlands, Greece, Iceland and Sweden. As for South America, there are definitely times in Peru when I need to put a sock in it. Or maybe I should put socks on my hands to keep me from typing.
I try to keep up with the blog when I travel, but inevitably fail. Could you concentrate on typing when you’re in the rainforest like that?
I’ve got four blogs for you this week!
Speaking of typing, I’m still trying to catch up on blogging all the amazing places I saw in the north of Peru in September. Here’s two blogs about what I’ve been up to in Cusco the past week and two blogs from my September trip up north.
2026 Update for the Inca Trail
If you know anybody who wants to hike the Inca Trail, they need this information! Pass it along!
Global Big Day is when birders get to guilt-trip their friends into going birding “for science.” I was thrilled to see a tanager I’ve been trying to spot for six years in the cloud forest near the Wayqecha Biological Station.
Yálape, Kuélap’s Younger Brother
This was one of the most extraordinary, and most abandoned, archeological sites I’ve seen anywhere in Peru. Check out this blog to learn why this eye was believed to protect Yálape.
These mausoleums were built by the Chachapoya in the 1100s as cliffside apartments, of sorts, for the mummies of their elite.
