In most places, hitting the beach in the buff comes with such pesky side effects as “public indecency charges” to go along with getting sand in places where it ought not to be. Or it involves going all-in on a naturalist resort, throwing you into a whole different lifestyle when you just want to go snorkeling without trunks on. But sometimes, a nude beach experience can be a little slice of fully nude paradise.
As we’ve already shared our favorite nude beaches in the US (and then, again, in the Bay Area) and outlined the rules of nudist resorts, here’s our list of the 20 most sizzling seaside spots around the globe to soak up the sun, au naturel. Be sure to be extra thorough with the sunscreen.
Spiaggia di Guvano
Corniglia, Italy
This small shoreline’s a far cry from the Riviera’s tourist-packed beaches, but well worth the short trek through a pitch-black tunnel (don’t forget a flashlight) in the mountainous Cinque Terre region. You’ll be rewarded with an isolated beach populated by naked Italians. In fact, you’ll probably be the only tourist there. Just make sure you don’t fall to your death attempting to reach it.
Red Beach
Crete, Greece
While Red Beach gets its name from the rusty color of the sand, here’s a better fun fact: A naked Frenchman camped out here for five years in the ’90s — carving animals and faces into the limestone — until the locals expelled him for being a bit too creepy. But as long as you don’t try to become an unofficially tenured professor creating permanent art installations, feel free to enjoy the beach, which even has its own coffee beer stand. Pro tip: The sant’s a little course, and “a little course” can be an understatement when your tender regions are exposed… so bring a towel.
Paradise Beach
Mykonos, Greece
Nude beaches are often pretty laid back affairs. Paradise Beach, on the other hand, is the rare type that’s as fun when the sun goes down as it is when it’s up: in fact it’s perhaps the best nude party beach in the world. One of the world’s most popular gay destinations (though all are welcome), there are two bars on site to keep the party going and the inhibitions at bay. Don’t miss the monthly full moon party, which is just as outrageous as you’d expect from a nude beach in Mykonos.
Plage de Tahiti
St. Tropez, France
The beaches of St. Tropez are famous for pioneering the topless sunbathing craze of the ’60s, and Plage de Tahiti’s no exception. It’s also a well-known celebrity haunt, so leave the camera at the hotel and keep your eyes peeled, because you might spot somebody like Eva Green naked. You’ll probably spot Gerard Depardieu, too, but hey, you take the pros with the cons.
Bellevue Beach
Klampenborg, Denmark
During the summer months, Bellevue Beach is the antithesis of a nude beach full of uninhibited retirees: It’s a hotspot for younger, rowdier Danes who come from nearby towns looking to party. One half of the beach is strictly topless-optional, while the other welcomes fully nude revelers — it should be immediately clear which one’s the fun half. Both!
Samurai Beach
Port Stephens, Australia
Along with the nearby One Mile Beach, Samurai’s located next to Tomaree National Park and is well-maintained year round (don’t worry, the chances of a bloodthirsty koala making its way down from the park are pretty slim). Unlike the family-friendly One Mile, however, Samurai is entirely clothing-optional. Here, those old “Coed Naked Beach Volleyball” shirts are an actual reality.
Haulover Beach
Miami, Florida
The soft sands of South Beach are what one might describe as topless tolerant, but if you want to strip all the way down in Miami, head north to Haulover. Europeans and South Americans mix with brave locals, as the beach has become an international tourist attraction for those headed to South Florida. It’s less than half an hour from South Beach, or anywhere else you’d want to go in Miami or Ft. Lauderdale, so you can easily check it out if you’re in town. Just keep in mind that though it’s well-marked, more than a few fully-clothed beach joggers find themselves running through here, so it’s not exactly private.
Hippie Hollow
Austin, Texas
This secluded corner of Lake Travis has been Texas’ premiere nude beach for over 20 years, though it took some legal finagling in the 1970s to make it official. Since then it’s become a popular weekend spot where Texans drink beer under the sun while boaters cruise by and wave. And in a city bent on keeping itself weird in the face of a huge development boom, Hippie Hollow is a big help. Daylong parties are the norm here — cookouts and booze are totally fine.
Valalta
Rovinj, Croatia
Since it’s technically part of an award-winning naturist campsite, Valalta’s almost two-mile beach has something most others lack: adequate shade to make sure you’re not overcooking where the sun don’t (usually) shine. There’s also a pool with an aqua-bar AND a water slide, plus an onsite brewery. Seriously, Croatians just get it.
Es Trenc
Majorca, Spain
The secret’s out on this one, and during the peak summer months you’re likely to find hordes of visitors along the white sandy shores of Es Trenc. Fortunately, the central area of the beach (the nude part) tends to be less choked than the rest — motorized vehicles aren’t allowed on the beach here — so you can enjoy the incredible beauty of the place in relative privacy.
Praia do Pinho
Balneário Camboriú, Brazil
Located about 50 miles north of Florianopolis, 2013’s happiest city in the world, Praia do Pinho’s widely considered to be the first naturist beach in Brazil, one where you can even rent cabins and settle in for the weekend. There are rules in this paradise. First off, nudity’s mandatory here, so no taking off your shirt and then being all, like, “I’m totally going to get settled in first.” Second, unaccompanied males aren’t allowed on the beach, unless they’re members of the International Naturist Federation. So if you’re a non-card-carrying dude (though we’re not sure where said cards are carried), be sure to show up with a female companion.
Little Beach
Maui, Hawaii
Some might argue in favor of the black sand beach at Kehena, but our pick for the best clothing-optional beach in Hawaii is along the soft white sands of Maui in a hidden, woodsy cove with big Pacific waves breaking on a turquoise shoreline. It’s every bit the Hawaiian vacation fantasy, minus the bathing suits. Just be cool: Though technically nudity is illegal here, it’s tolerated by local law enforcement, so the nudity is kind of a secret (hence the nickname Secret Beach).
Black’s Beach
San Diego, California
The best nude beach on the Pacific sits just north of San Diego near Torrey Pines, where Californians flock to get line-free tans. Because of the location, it draws California beach-types rather than hippies, and feels more like Endless Summer than a beachside Woodstock (seriously, these are the best surf breaks of any nude beach, anywhere). Just remember it’s still the Pacific Ocean, so while being naked might be liberating, it can be a little chilly. And pay attention to where you strip down: Nudity is only legal on the state-owned portion of the beach.
Gunnison Beach
Sandy Hook, New Jersey
The National Parks system is one of our great American treasures, and perhaps nowhere can we appreciate it more than here at the largest clothing-optional beach on the East Coast. This former Army testing site is now managed by the NPS, and therefore exempt from New Jersey’s state laws outlawing nudity on beaches. And it’s close enough to NYC to offer stunning views of Brooklyn and the Verrazano Bridge. That also means it can get crowded, but hey, that’s what booze is for, and since it’s on federal land, alcohol is permitted.
Wreck Beach
Vancouver, Canada
Located on the western end of Vancouver, Wreck’s the oldest and largest clothing-optional beach in North America — it was even nominated to be one of the “Seven Wonders of Canada.” It doesn’t get too packed (thanks to no road access), but there are vendors who wander the shore selling everything from booze to tie-dye T-shirts. The vendors, like everyone else, are semi-to-fully nude at all times. Consider this either a plus, or a minus.
Collins Beach
Portland, Oregon
Portland’s as in love with nature as it is with nudity — even amid a quarantine, you can hit up a drive-thru strip club — so it only makes sense that there’s an ultra-chill hippie beach on a little island right outside the city. At secluded Collins Beach, you can take a break from mid-day wine-tasting and pumpkin-patching to lay out on the sandy shores of the Columbia River and watch people play with their dogs in the buff. It’s about as laid-back as a nude beach gets.
Ahlbeck Beach
Ahlbeck, Germany
Nicknamed Sunny Island, this Baltic Sea spot is split between Germany and Poland and boasts more average sunlight hours than just about any other spot in either country. So it’s basically made for nudists in search of the perfect tan. Off the beach, the town of Albeck is a charming seaside resort city, with a bustling pier and opulent mansions, a sort of Newport for naturists, if you will. It’s also located near the island’s trio of popular seaside resorts (or Imperial Spas, as they’re known).
Playa El Torn
Tarragona, Spain
At almost a mile in length, El Torn’s no slouch on the size, so you’ll have plenty of personal space when the locals and tourists descend. It’s a protected beach, backed by a pine forest that, once you put your clothes on, makes for some challenging hikes and offers spectacular views of the water. Or walk out onto the rocky promontory that is the island of torn, an interesting rock formation with an old abandoned watch tower. The beach is cleaned regularly and police patrol to make sure nobody’s dumping empty Fanta bottles in the dunes.
Sandy Bay
Cape Town, South Africa
It’s hard to find a secluded place in bustling Cape Town, but if you’re down for a little hike — and, let’s be honest, Cape Town is overflowing with great outdoor strolls — you can stroll down the beach to Sandy Bay and reward yourself by skinny dipping in the Atlantic. This quiet stretch of sand, not far from busy Llandudno Beach, is surrounded by dunes and boulders, so it manages to be walled off from the rest of the area without being completely isolated.
Anse de Grande Saline
St. Barts
Anse de Grande Saline is the opposite of what most of us think of when we think of a Caribbean nudist experience, which generally involves all-inclusive resorts like Hedonism II, where the concept nudity and an endless supply of food and alcohol come together with expected results. Here, you have everything you want in a Caribbean beach — the white powdery sands, the crystal clear waters, the extreme serenity — minus garments. And since it’s a bit of a walk to the secluded cove, you’ll be able to find a spot to enjoy it in relative privacy, if that’s how you roll.