10 Things You Should Know Before Going to a Nude Beach for the First Time

We still remember our first nude beach experience. The nerves, the overthinking, the wondering if this will all turn into one of those embarrassing stories that keep following you for the rest of your life. Spoiler alert: It didn’t. In fact, within less than half an hour, the whole thing felt surprisingly normal. Which is exactly the point, really.

If you’re considering your first clothes-free beach visit, you’re probably cycling through a familiar pattern of excitement and pure panic. That’s completely normal. What’s also normal is that most of your worries are bigger in your head than they’ll be in reality. Trust us, we’ve learned a lot since that first slightly awkward afternoon, and these ten things are what we would have loved to know beforehand.

Let’s start with what nude beaches are not, because if you get nothing else from this post, get this: nude beaches are NOT hook-up spots. They’re not cruising areas. They are not places where people get naked for your entertainment. If that’s what you’re looking for, you’re going to be disappointed, and you’re going to make everyone else uncomfortable in the process.

What nude beaches actually are is places where people go to enjoy the water and sun without clothing. The atmosphere is relaxed and not sexually oriented. We’ve seen children building sandcastles, couples reading books, and older gentlemen snoring under beach umbrellas.

So if you’re showing up only in the hope of some kind of adults-only beach party, do everyone a favour and go somewhere else. Nude beaches are about as sexually charged as your average yoga class, which is to say, not at all if you’re doing it right.

You know that anxiety you’re feeling right now about how you look? That worry about whether your body is “beach-ready” or whether people will judge you? Every single person on that beach has felt exactly the same way. The difference is they’re a few steps ahead of you in the process, which is why they look so confident.

The human body comes in a spectacular variety of forms, and nude beaches showcase all of them without apology. The shock wears off fast. We’re talking minutes, not hours. The first moment you walk onto the beach and realise everyone is naked, your senses might go into overdrive for a moment. But then you sit down, you start relaxing, and suddenly the novelty evaporates.

Here’s the thing nobody tells you: no one is actually looking at you. They have all seen hundreds of naked bodies before, and yours really isn’t that special. You’ll get there too. It just takes a bit of time and the willingness to feel slightly awkward for a few minutes. By the way, most people look better and feel better naked than in a bathing suit. Just saying.

Before you show up and start stripping, do a bit of homework. Not all nude beaches are created and maintained equally, and understanding what you’re walking into saves everyone a lot of confusion. Some beaches are officially designated nude areas, which means nudity is legal and expected. Others operate in more of a grey area where nudity is technically tolerated but not officially sanctioned. Find out which category your chosen beach falls into before you arrive.

This also means respecting the clothed zones. Car parks almost always require clothes. Beach facilities and cafés often do so as well. The rules are usually posted on signs, so actually read them. Some beaches also have different sections with different vibes. Family areas exist. LGBTQ+ sections exist. And yes, occasionally, there are sometimes areas where people with not-so-non-sexual intentions flock together (because they didn’t read point number 1!)

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: You read everywhere that you’re not supposed to look at other naked people, but you are going to look. You cannot not look. It’s the first time you see a beach full of naked people, your eyes are going to do their thing. That’s human nature. But there’s a difference between looking and staring, between a casual glance and full-on gawking.

The latter is the fastest way to make everyone uncomfortable and get yourself the label of local creep. Think of it this way: at a regular beach, you might notice someone attractive in a swimsuit, but you wouldn’t stand there ogling them like they’re a museum piece. The same principle applies here, except everyone feels a bit more vulnerable without clothes, so the stakes are higher.

If you find yourself struggling to keep your eyes in check, bring a book. During conversations, maintain normal eye contact. Look people in the face. It’s not complicated, but you’d be surprised how many first-timers forget this basic social skill the moment everyone’s naked.

This should go without saying, but we’re saying it anyway because apparently it needs to be repeated from time to time. Do not take photos at a nude beach. Not of other people. Not of the scenery with other people accidentally in frame. Not selfies where someone might appear in the background. Just don’t.

Even if you’re genuinely trying to capture the beautiful sunset, the moment you pull out your phone, people around you will tense up because they don’t know where you’re pointing that camera. Yes, nude beachgoers can be a bit paranoid about this.

If you absolutely must document your visit, like if you’re a naked content creator, for example, it’s often best to be very public about it. Don’t try to hide it, nude beach regulars have eyes everywhere. If you think you’re being slick by pretending to check your messages while angling your camera, you’re not. Someone will notice. It’s much better to openly take the shot, obviously avoiding that people are in frame, and talk to whoever looks nervous about it, maybe even show them the shots you just took.

Let’s talk about rule number one in the naturist handbook: SOS: Sit On Something. This is the cardinal rule at naturist resorts, and it’s non-negotiable: sit on your towel. Always. Everywhere. Every single time. It’s not about modesty. It’s about basic hygiene. Nobody wants to sit where someone else’s bare bottom has been.

On nude beaches, the hygiene aspect is equally important if you place yourself down on shared furniture like rented beach chairs. But even if you’re just sitting in the sand, we’d recommend it. A lot. To avoid the sand getting into places where it has no business.

Some people bring extra towels or sarongs to dry off after a swim or for when the wind picks up, and it gets chilly. Quick tip: Bright or patterned towels are easier to spot from a distance. When you’re walking back from the water without pockets for your glasses, you’ll appreciate being able to find your spot quickly.

You’re about to expose skin to direct sunlight that has quite possibly never seen the sun before (that drunk afternoon on a rooftop terrace in Vegas not taking into account). That skin is extra delicate and will burn faster than you’d believe possible.

So apply sunscreen everywhere. And when we say everywhere, we mean everywhere. We know that some places are a bit weird to be applying sunscreen on at a packed nude beach, so you may want to turn away from the crowds or already get those parts sunscreened while you’re still in the car. But just do it.

Burns in sensitive areas are not only painful, but they’re the kind of experience that makes you never want to return to a nude beach. And that would be a real shame.

If you want to keep some clothes on while you work up to full nudity, that’s completely fine. One of the biggest fears many first-timers have is that they will be expected to be naked when they don’t feel comfortable about it yet. But in reality, many who do take the first step find themselves starting partially clothed and then gradually ease into full nudity as they get comfortable.

It looks odd, and frankly a bit voyeuristic, when someone stays fully clothed while sitting in the middle of a group of naked sunbathers. But if you’re genuinely working your way towards nudity and just need a bit of time to adjust, nobody is going to judge you for keeping your bottoms on while you get comfortable. The regulars all remember their first time, and they understand the process.

We’ve noticed that many women actually prefer nude beaches specifically for topless sunbathing, because these beaches tend to be more respectful and safer than other beaches where topless sunbathing often attracts the wrong kind of attention. Take your time. Do what feels right.

That said, there is one very important rule: if you have absolutely no intention to get naked, or you didn’t come with someone who wants to be naked, you shouldn’t be at a nude beach. Go somewhere else instead.

This is the bit where we tell you that swimming naked is genuinely brilliant, and we understand that sounds like we’re overselling it, but we’re really not. Swimming without a swimsuit is a completely different experience. There’s no fabric clinging to you and no restrictive elastic cutting into your skin. The water flows around you without any barriers, and the sensation is honestly one of the most liberating things in the world.

It’s not just about being naked. It’s about how incredible the water feels when there’s nothing in between. The freedom of movement, the way you can actually feel the water. Even if you’re feeling nervous or self-conscious on the beach, go for a swim. The water provides a bit of privacy, and it might be the moment when the whole nude beach experience suddenly clicks for you.

This is one of the most cited reasons people return to nude beaches. Not the sunbathing, not the social atmosphere, but the swimming. Give it a try. Thank us later.

Here are the final and probably most important words in this blog post: JUST ACT NORMAL. If you have any doubts or concerns about your behaviour, just ask yourself, “Would I do this on a clothed beach as well?” If you wouldn’t do it there, don’t do it here. It’s as simple as that. Except for the going naked part, of course, that’s the extra you get at nude beaches.

All the normal beach etiquette still applies, except everyone happens to be naked. The more naturally you act, the more comfortable everyone else feels. Nude beaches have a lovely, relaxed atmosphere when everyone behaves appropriately.

We hope this helps prepare you for your first nude beach experience. Will you still be nervous when you arrive? Probably. Will that nervousness fade quickly? Almost certainly. Will you have stories to tell afterwards? Absolutely, though hopefully not the embarrassing kind that involves getting sunburned in unfortunate places because you thought point number 7 didn’t apply to you. Well… Told you so!

Most importantly, remember that everyone on that beach was a first-timer once. They all survived the experience, and clearly enjoyed it, because they’re back. You’ll be fine. You’ll probably even love it. Now what are you waiting for? Go and be naked at the beach! Just don’t forget your towel!