'''Naturism''' – also known as '''Nudism''' or a '''Clothes-Free''' lifestyle – has a small but enthusiastic following in a number of countries around the world. It's not about sex, but a preference to abandon the artificial – and often functionally unnecessary – use of clothing to cover parts of the body. However, as nudity is often considered socially unacceptable, naturists often have difficulties finding travel destinations where they can practice their lifestyle and have their state of undress accepted.

Understand

Many countries have laws that make nudity in a public place either a crime or at least a misdemeanor offense. Also, many societies associate nudity with erotic entertainments, which are often strictly controlled or forbidden. As a result, naturist destinations are often in remote, out of the way places, and discretely advertised to avoid attracting the undesirable attention of those would would interfere with this lifestyle, either by trying to put a stop to it or by using it as a source of personal amusement.

Some naturist '''resorts''' (often called "nudist camps" by the public) are "clothing optional", leaving it up to the individual whether to wear clothing and/or how much. Others ''require'' nudity, to discourage visits by voyeurs who just want to look at naked people, and to maintain an egalitarian "we're ''all'' nude here" atmosphere. Many locations maintain fairly strict codes of public conduct, intended to keep them suitable for families with minor children and/or to avoid running afoul of laws against "lewd conduct" in public. Learn the expectations of any specific naturist destination before traveling there.

The most common naturist destinations are '''beaches''' where nude bathing and sunbathing are either tolerated in practice or formally permitted. Whether naturism is tolerated at a particular beach is usually judged from local information, the relative remoteness of the location and whether the naturist feels reasonably inconspicuous.

On a ''''mixed beach'''' without signs to demarcate an area allocated for naturism, a tension can arise between naturists and others over territory: adherents of each group feel presence of the other group spoils their enjoyment of the beach. This gives rise to dynamic situations where the suitability of a beach for naturism changes from time to time, shifting according to which group arrived first, and invisible demarcation lines seem to arise that tend to concentrate a naturist minority into "ghetto" areas.

Destinations

Europe

Belgium

In Belgium naturism is only allowed in dedicated in-land spots and saunas and in the beach of Brenede close of Oostende. Out of Brenede naturism is not allowed in Belgian beaches. Before the opening of the naturist beach of Brenede to the practice of naturism in 2002, Belgians had to go the beaches of the Netherlands, usually Groede in West-Zeeuws Vlaanderen (Seeland), as there are no naturist beaches in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais Department of France. An exception has always been the natural reserve of Het Zwin, an empty beach between Knnoke-Heist and the Dutch border, where naturism is not legal, but it has been traditionally tolerated. To avoid the increasing violations of privacy in the internet, the City Council of Brenede has strictly prohibited all types photography in the beach.

Croatia

Croatia was the first country in Europe to start with the concept of commercial naturist resorts. According to some estimates about 15% of all tourists that visit the country are naturists or nudists (more than one million each year). There are more than 20 official naturist resorts as well as a number of the so-called free beaches which are unofficial naturist beaches, sometimes controlled and maintained by local tourist authorities. Naturist beaches in Croatia are marked as "FKK".

France

  • The largest naturist resort in Europe is Heliopolis/Port Nature at Cap d'Agde on the south coast.
  • Part of the Ile du Levant in the Mediterranean is established as Heliopolis a naturist village.
  • Corsicana is one of several naturist beach resorts on the east coast of the island Corsica.
  • Euronat in the Aquitaine region of France.
  • Germany

    On the sea: Naturism is quite common on the German coast of the Baltic sea even without designated areas (marked by "FKK"), but less common on the coast of the North sea. On lakes and rivers (not supervised): On lakes and rivers there is no general rule. On some places naturism is practised, explicitly stated, or at least tolerated, on other places it is not. If in doubt, do as the locals do. Topless sunbathing is tolerated virtually everywhere. In swimming baths: In swimming baths and indoor pools naturism is generally not tolerated, even toplessness might cause troubles with the pool attendant and eviction from promises. In some places naturism is mandatory during special hours or evenings, those would be marked by "FKK" as well.

    Greece

    Greece has only a few explicitly naturist resorts on the island Crete, and tourist information offices have said that naturism is not permitted elsewhere. There are however many beaches on the islands where naturism is tolerated.

    Poland

    Although there no officially designated naturist resorts, there are several beaches frequented by naturists: Coast, eastwards:
  • Mi?dzyzdroje-Lubiewo
  • Unie?cie
  • Grzybowo
  • Rowy
  • D?bki
  • Cha?upy
  • Gda?sk-Stogi
  • Piaski
  • Vicinity of big cities:

  • Warsaw - Wa? Miedzeszy?ski
  • Cracow - Kryspinow
  • Pozna? - Biskupice Wlkp.
  • ?od? - Pi?tnastki or Bronis?awow
  • The naturists' guide to Poland is available at [http://www.naturyzm.info.pl/index.php?menu=intl]

    Spain

    Since the arrival of democracy in Spain after the death of General Franco, nudity is legal over the whole of the Spanish territory and nobody can be fined by the simple fact of being naked. Nevertheless, some city councils prefer to allocate specially dedicated locations to naturists. Moreover, there are many locations in Spain that although they are not specially dedicated by the councils to naturism, they have a long established history of naturist practice.

    Most travel destinations in Spain have a naturist beach somewhere within the main touristic area, ranging from commercial naturist locations like Costa Natura in Malaga to alternative and hyppy-oriented like Canos de Meca in Cadiz, familiy-oriented like Arealonga in Galicia or Waikiki in Tarragona until the mostly gay-oriented of Sitges close to Barcelona. Top-less sunbathing was introduced in Spain by northern and central-european tourists women in the 70s in the last years of the Franco's regime. Nowadays it has becomed very popular among Spanish women and is the norm on all beaches.

    United Kingdom

    There are about a dozen official naturist beaches. The popularity of the beaches ranges from Studland with about 2,500 users on a good day to Cleat's Shore where you are unlikely to see anyone else at all. Even the remote Holkham Bay on the North Norfolk Coast had about 500 users one Sunday in September 2005.

    Whilst public nudity in Britain isn't explicitly illegal anywhere, it becomes a crime if you are 'causing offense' - therefore it would be very unwise to practice naturism even on the beach unless it is specifically designated as such.

    Topless bathing is not generally accepted as much in the United Kindom as it is in mainland Europe, but it is still practiced on some beaches - try and make a personal judgment based on the people nearby.

    There are well over a hundred clubs ranging from little more than a patch of grass to residential resorts.

    Well over a hundred swimming pools and leisure centres offer naturist sessions.

  • '''Cleat's Shore''' on the Isle of Arran in Scotland.
  • The national association - http://www.british-naturism.org.uk
  • Ukraine

    Most travel destinations in Crimea have a naturist beach somewhere out the main touristic area. Most known one is in Koktebel. Topless sunbathing is generally accepted on all beaches.

    North America

    Laws about nudity differ throughout the United States. Places like Fire Island are operated by the U.S. Park Service, which doesn't always cite offenders. They only seemed bothered if you are in a family area like Ocean Beach. They might ask you to move further up the beach if someone complains. On beaches controlled by New York state, however, nudity is illegal. Toplessness is legal anywhere in NY except for "lewd" displays, as in strip clubs, though of course that doesn't mean it will always be accepted.

  • Sandy Hook in New Jersey
  • Fire Island in New York
  • Moshup Beach in Aquinnah, Massachusetts: a public beach on Martha's Vineyard where nudity is common and tolerated, although not explicitly permitted
  • Lucy Vincent Beach in Chilmark, Massachusetts: a beach that is open only to those living or staying in Chilmark; nudity is explicilty permitted in certain areas
  • Naturist resorts in the U.S. are rapidly growing in popularity. There are more than 280 naturist resorts, clubs, and campgrounds in America. Year round upscale resorts are found in Palm Springs, California. Palm Springs is very popular with naturists as it is the sunniest city in the U.S. Being a desert, it averages only 5 inches of rain a year and has no mosquitoes. Naturist resorts in Florida are also very popular. They are the largest naturist resorts in the U.S. in size.

  • Living Waters Spa [http://www.livingwatersspa.com] Has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Ellen Degeneres / AOL.com and was named one of the Top 10 clothing optional resorts in the world by TripAdvisor.com.
  • The Terra Cotta Inn Nudist Resort and Spa [http://sunnyfun.com] Called the most mainstream nudist resort in the U.S., they are perfect for couples trying nude sunbathing for the first time.
  • The Morningside Inn [http://www.morningsideinn.com] A charming bed and breakfast.
  • Solair Recreation League[http://www.solairrl.com/] A family orientated nudist resort in Woodstock, Conneticut.
  • Cypress Cove Nudist Resort and Spa [http://cypresscoveresort.com] Located in central Florida, just minutes away from all the Orlando attractions.
  • New Zealand

  • '''Aoraki Naturally''' in the Lake Tekapo area of the South Island of New Zealand. A naturists homestay and nudism is compulsory.