Why You don’t like European naturist campgrounds (And why you’re wrong)

The other day, yet another person told us that naturist camping is nothing for her. Not for the obvious reasons though, this wasn’t about body confidence, about prudery, or about cultural differences. This person didn’t have a jealous partner stopping her, didn’t have ultra-religious parents, or wasn’t worried about her colleagues finding out. In fact, she was butt naked when she told us. On a nude beach. Surrounded by other naked people.

We get it, because here’s the thing. We’ve heard every excuse in the book over the past eight years of naked wandering across the world. And honestly? Most of them are based on outdated stereotypes or half-truths that have been passed down like some kind of naturist folklore. For her, it was the idea that she would be expected to be nude even when she doesn’t feel comfortable. For others, there are other myths holding them down. And today, we’ll cover the most common ones.

Ah, the classic image of naturist campgrounds as sleepy retirement communities where the most exciting thing that happens is an animated discussion about who still made noise after 8 pm last night. If this is your mental picture, we’re guessing your information is about twenty years out of date.

The reality is that many European naturist resorts these days run activity schedules that would make a cruise ship director jealous. We’re talking aqua gym at sunrise, arts and crafts, volleyball tournaments, live-music nights, and kids’ clubs that keep the little ones entertained while you’re doing all that other stuff.

Take Bagheera in Corsica, where aqua gym happens in the shallow waters of the sea and where you can spend your days naked paddle boarding. Or drinking beers in the beach bar, we don’t judge. Along with many other larger campgrounds across Europe, they advertise daily entertainment programs. You can literally stay as busy or as relaxed as you like.

You saw the pictures of Euronat or CHM Montalivet, didn’t you? Massive resorts that receive thousands of guests per day. Or maybe you’ve seen one of our Destination Clothes Free videos where we cover a large naturist campground. But they aren’t all like that.

Europe has over 1000 naturist campsites, and they range from intimate 5-pitch hideaways where everyone knows your name, to larger “naked cities” that offer every amenity you could want.

In a way, you can compare this to villages, towns and cities, where the smaller campgrounds are like the mountain villages where you pass through when your GPS is set to “shortest road”. Villages of 3 houses and 15 cows, where everyone knows what everyone else did yesterday. Mid-size campgrounds are like towns, social and curious, but with options to hide. The large resorts are then again, like cities where it’s not unlikely to have no idea who your neighbour is. It’s all about what you pick.

This is what our new friend was struggling with. She loved being naked on the beach, as well as in swimming pools and jacuzzis, but for morning yoga and evening dinner, she preferred to cover up.

The image of naturist campground patrol officers with clipboards, making sure everyone’s sufficiently unclothed at all times, is probably the biggest myth of all. In practice, most European naturist campgrounds are remarkably reasonable about nudity requirements.

Yes, they encourage nudity (that’s kind of the point, isn’t it?), but they also understand that sometimes you need clothes. Safety while grilling? Absolutely fine to wear an apron. Chilly evening? Nobody’s going to shun you for putting on a jacket. Feeling a bit uncomfortable? Wrap up in a sarong if it makes you feel better.

The typical requirement is simply that you respect the clothing-free vibe, that you follow specific rules for certain areas like pools, saunas, or beaches, and that you realise that naturist campgrounds are not the right places to put up a sexy fashion show. But you’re not going to be kicked out for being practical or comfortable, you’re just expected to embrace the spirit of the place.

On the flip side, some people worry that naturist campgrounds are too lenient, that they’ll end up in a place where half the people are clothed, and it defeats the purpose. This concern is actually more valid than the previous one, and the solution is pretty straightforward: do your homework.

Policies differ significantly between campgrounds. Many family-friendly resorts require nudity in “key areas” like pools, spas, and saunas, and strongly encourage it elsewhere. This means most guests stay unclothed whenever the weather allows. If full-time social nudity matters to you, look for wording like “nudity compulsory in common areas” when you’re researching places to stay.

Pro tip: Smaller campgrounds and naturist clubs typically attract more of a die-hard naturist audience, and you’ll find that at these places, the guests will make more effort to be naked as much as possible.

Most naturist resorts in Europe, or even in the world, are campgrounds. So if your idea of roughing it is a hotel without room service, then traditional camping might not appeal to you. But here’s the secret: naturist campgrounds are often as comfortable as you want them to be.

Don’t want to sleep in a tent or camper? No worries. Many European naturist resorts offer cabins, bungalows, mobile homes, or even luxury rental accommodations that would rival a decent hotel. We’re talking hot showers, proper beds, cosy living rooms, and yes, even Wi-Fi. You get to enjoy being nude in nature, and you will still be able to binge our YouTube videos in the evening.

Plus, you’re in complete control of your stay. Nothing says you must commit to a week-long camping adventure. You can try a short weekend, and if you find yourself missing your own bed or craving more privacy, you can always head home the next day.

We totally understand this one. There’s something appealing about the unlimited freedom of a wild beach where you can wander as far as your feet will take you. The thought of being “fenced in” can feel restrictive, while naturism should be all about liberation.

Naturist campgrounds can offer plenty of nature and freedom, too though. Many are set in expansive forests or along coastlines, so you’re still very much in the great outdoors. The difference is that you get facilities, clean showers, proper toilets, and cold beers, plus a safe environment where you don’t have to worry about unwanted attention.

Think of it as having a base camp in nature. You can still roam nude through the woods or along the beach, but without the worry of gawkers or having to constantly watch for others who might take offence. It’s freedom with a safety net.

Fair point, a campground stay definitely isn’t as free as a beach. But before you write it off completely, consider what you’re actually paying for.

We sometimes hear the claim that “naturism is supposed to be free”. Well, it is. Just like golf is free if you can find a stick and a walnut. Naturist campgrounds just provide you with amenities that can significantly enhance your nude experience: pools, facilities, security, organised activities, and often spectacular locations that would be impossible to access otherwise. You pay for this comfort, just like you’d pay for actual golf clubs and balls and membership to a golf course, so you don’t have to dig holes in your garden.

Talking about memberships, here’s some more good news: Most European naturist campgrounds don’t actually require you to join anything long-term. They operate just like any other hotel or campground.

After eight years of helping people discover amazing clothes-free destinations, we’ve learned that most objections to naturist campgrounds come from assumptions rather than experience. The question isn’t really whether you’ll like naturist campgrounds, it’s whether you’re willing to challenge your preconceptions and give them a fair chance.

Just consider this the next step in your naked journey. And who knows? You might discover that having a place where you can walk naked to breakfast, swim nude without worrying about who’s watching, and spend an entire week without thinking about clothes is exactly the kind of freedom you didn’t know you were missing.

The worst that can happen is that you’ll have a new experience and a good story to tell. The best that can happen is that you’ll discover a whole new dimension of clothes-free living that makes any previous skinny dips seem like just the beginning.