We Answered the 5 Most Common Newbie Naturist Questions (according to AI)

After pretty much a decade and a half of being naturists, we sometimes seem to find it difficult to understand what it’s like to be a newbie naturist. To us, it feels so natural. It’s something we don’t even think about anymore. In fact, we often need to remind ourselves to put on clothes when we happen to stay at a non-naturist place.

To regain our understanding of newbie naturists, we used ChatGPT to determine which questions our younger selves might have had. We asked: “You’re a couple in your late twenties, early thirties who wants to try naturism for the first time. What are your 5 most important questions?“. With the experience that we have now, we’ll try to formulate the replies that we were looking for in the past.

This is already a bullseye question because it’s something we hardly ever think about. With all our experience, we know exactly where to find naturist locations and communities around the world. But for a beginning naturist, this can be quite a lot of research.

Basically, we make the difference between commercial naturist venues (resorts, campsites,…), public naturist venues (beaches, parks, hot springs,…), and naturist associations (federations, clubs,…). The question you want to ask yourself is “Why do I want to try naturism?”. If it’s mostly to accomplish a personal goal like trying something new, stepping out of your comfort zone, adapting a new lifestyle, getting over body issues, etc, we would recommend going to a commercial or public venue because these are most often very easily accessible. If you’re rather looking for a community where you can meet other naturists, the club/federation is the way to go.

On the Destinations page of this website, you’ll find extensive reviews of the naturist places that we personally visited. In our blog post The Best Websites to Find Naturist Resorts and Nude Beaches, you’ll find an overview of other websites that list more and different naturist venues. For information about clubs, federations, and associations, we recommend visiting the website of The International Naturist Federation. But it’s important to mention that not every club or federation is a member of the INF, so you might want to do a Google search if you want to find more clubs.

There is a difference between general naturist etiquette and venue-specific rules. The general naturist etiquette is a general consensus among naturists and is often seen as the foundation of naturism. This includes the following:

✅ Respect other people: Basically, this means that you should treat others in the way you want to be treated. Don’t make hurtful remarks, respect other people’s privacy and space, be kind and polite, etc.

✅ Respect nature: This hopefully speaks for itself. Don’t leave any rubbish behind, recycle, don’t start cutting down trees to get a better spot for your camper, etc.

✅ Naturism is by default non-sexual: This does not mean that naturists are non-sexual, but that naturism has nothing to do with sex. Just like most of your hobbies probably. If you play in a band, it’s probably not for sexual reasons. If you go to a naturist place, it isn’t either.

✅ Sit on Something: This is often considered Rule Number 1. Wherever you decide to place your naked butt, make sure that there’s a piece of fabric between your body and the furniture.

Venues can have different or more specific rules about the do’s and don’ts, which are most often an extension of the naturist etiquette. Some venues can be rather strict when it comes to piercings and tattoos. Others have specific rules about physical contact with others. There can be rules about photography and the use of phones.

Very important are specific rules about when and where clothes and nudity are appropriate. Some venues have a nude obligatory policy, meaning that you are expected to be naked whenever the weather allows it. Other venues rather apply a clothing-optional policy, which means that you have the choice. You’ll typically find these rules on the website of the venue.

By far the best advice we can give you is to do a bit of research about what to expect. There is a Naturist Talks section on this website where you can read about the experiences of other naturists around the world. This is a very helpful source of information about how different people experience naturism.

If you’re trying naturism as a couple, it’s good to have an honest conversation about why you’re interested in trying naturism and what you hope to gain from the experience. Share any concerns or fears you may have, and offer reassurance and support to each other. Other people will see you and your partner naked and you and your partner will see other people naked. For some, this is a daunting thought and jealousy doesn’t really have a place in this.

Before going to a naturist venue, you might want to start getting comfortable being naked at home. Our blog post 6 Steps to Become Comfortable Naked can help you with this, as well as the one called 15 Everyday things that are better done naked.

The last tip we want to give you is to go with an open and positive mindset. Remember that naturism is about embracing the natural beauty and diversity of the human body and that everyone at the naturist place has their own struggles and flaws. Every new thing in life requires a step out of your comfort zone, and if you don’t enjoy it, it’s very easy to just put your clothes back on and leave the venue.

As the dress code is your own body, there’s no need to bring much. But there are a couple of things that you might want to pack:

✅ A towel/sarong: Remember the rule about always sitting on something? A towel or sarong is the most common tool for that. And they serve another purpose: If it gets a bit chilly or you feel a bit uncomfortable, they are easy to wrap around.

✅ Sunscreen: There are parts of your body that may have never seen sunlight before, those parts tend to get red pretty fast, even under a weak spring sun. So do apply sunscreen if you don’t want to literally sit on the blisters.

✅ Bug repellent: Quite obviously, the more skin you expose to nature, the more landing space for insects.

✅ Light clothing: The most scary part about trying naturism is often not being naked but getting naked. Few people find it comfortable to undress when there are others around, so wearing something light that you can take off quickly is very recommended. Light clothing also helps when it gets a bit chilly. Remember that bathing suits are often considered inappropriate in naturist places.

✅ A bag: The downside of your birthday suit is that it doesn’t have any pockets. So bring a bag to keep your phone, wallet, book, etc.

One of the most common fears we hear from people who want to visit a naturist resort for the first time is the pressure of going naked. In other words, that they will be forced to be naked when it doesn’t feel comfortable. Here’s the thing, although you are expected to get naked at some point, nobody can force you. As mentioned earlier, it’s often not a problem to wrap around a towel or sarong, and if you really feel uncomfortable, you can always leave. It’s also recommended to tell the owners or staff of the venue that it’s your first time.

If you do feel discomfort, remind yourself of why you’re there in the first place. Remember why you wanted to try naturism. Focus on the freedom, body acceptance, or the connection with nature. Keep in mind that everyone around you is likely there for similar reasons.

If you’re feeling particularly self-conscious, start by spending time in less populated areas of the naturist location, such as quieter sections of a beach or more secluded spots in a resort. As you become more comfortable, gradually explore more public areas. It could also help to try to shift your perspective. Instead of fixating on your own flaws and insecurities, focus on the overall experience.

As contradictory as this may sound, it will often also help to engage with others in the naturist community. To participate in activities or strike up conversations. You will find that the community is welcoming and non-judgmental and that sharing your vulnerability will make you stronger and more confident.

Are you about to try naturism for the first time, and still have any questions, we’d be happy to answer them. Or have you been a naturist for a long time and have more tips for newbies, do leave them in the comments. Just don’t say “just do it”.