A tourist visiting Trevi Fountain is drawing backlash after a viral TikTok video showed him diving into the iconic landmark while crowds watched on in disbelief.
According to a report from The Telegraph, the man was identified as a 30-year-old tourist from New Zealand. A video on TikTok, which has been viewed more than 12.2 million times, shows the man walking up to the fountain, taking one step on the edge, and diving into the fountain headfirst while fully clothed and then continuing to swim across the length of the fountain.
Authorities later reportedly fined the tourist €500, roughly $580 USD, and banned him from returning to the site, according to The Telegraph.
The incident quickly sparked outrage online, where many comments criticized the tourist’s actions as disrespectful at one of Italy’s most famous landmarks.
The Trevi Fountain has long struggled with tourists entering the water despite the strict rules that are in place to protect the centuries-old monument. Rome officials have increased security measures in recent years as visitor numbers continue to increase.
Beginning in February 2026, foreign visitors are now required to pay a small entry fee to access the fountain. It costs everyone who is not a resident of Rome a €2 fee to walk down the steps and access the basin area of the Trevi Fountain between the hours of 9 am and 10 pm.
City officials say the fountain attracts tens of thousands of visitors each day and more than 9 million annually.
Watch the video of the incident below on TikTok.
