As you know by now, the Swiss have laws and regulations for pretty much everything — ranging from how to throw away your garbage to how to boil a lobster. But what about nudity? Here’s the bare truth.
When the weather id warm, you may want to shed as much of your clothing as you legally can. But how much skin can you safely bare in Switzerland?
You may be surprised to learn that Switzerland’s, um, penal code does not ban public nudity — as long as it is not indecent.
Interestingly though, the term “indecent” is not clearly defined in the Swiss law, so it is open to interpretation.
Be it as it may, the subject was widely reported in the media in 2009, when residents of Appenzell Innerrhoden complained about people hiking in their mountains, wearing nothing but backpacks and hiking boots.
Their concern had nothing to do with the fact that unclothed hikers took to the mountains in the middle of a cold Alpine winter.
Rather, they disliked that the walkers passed families with children and a Christian rehabilitation facility.
The case eventually ended up before the cantonal court, which ruled that people should cover up when walking in public places. However, this ruling applies only in Appenzell, not in the rest of the country.
Another example of the liberal attitude that reigns in much of Switzerland regarding nudity has been the Body and Freedom Festival that took place regularly in August in various Swiss cities until 2018.
The festival exposed — literally — actors performing in the buff in the midst of crowded city streets.
During one such event that took place in Bienne, local officials not only authorised the performance, but also contributed $20,000 of public funds to it.
The only condition they made was that, for safety reasons, naked performers stay clear of traffic, so drivers wouldn’t be distracted.
READ MORE: Naked artists cause stir with Zurich street performances
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Bans in some places
A number of municipalities which have long been tolerant toward nudity on public beaches no longer are.
From April 2025, authorities in Yvonand (VD), banned nudity at its ‘Petite Amérique’ beach after local residents have complained of “unpleasant situations” of sexual nature.
Now a sign on a path leading to the beach is warning that “Naturism is prohibited throughout the commune.”
In Zurich too, there is a move towards banning a nudist spot close the area on the Limmat River, on the small island of Werdinsel — the city’s only official nudist spot.
Anonymous instigators claim that nudity on this public beach is “problematic,” especially as these people are clearly visible by families with children.
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What about topless bathing in public?
This practice is much more common than walking in the nude (after all, how many naked hikers have you encountered on mountain trails?)
Nothing in the federal law addresses the issue of toplessness; cantons don’t have such legislation either, leaving final decisions in this matter to individual municipalities.
It is perhaps incorrect to say that the vast majority of communes in Switzerland actually authorise topless sunbathing and swimming, but they don’t ban it either.
In fact, in 2022 there was a motion in the parliament (because apparently MPs are not busy enough with more pressing matters) urging Swiss officials to allow toplessness on public beaches.
“Such a topless rule is absolutely necessary in Switzerland”, Social Democratic MP Tamara Funiciello said at the time. “Women should be able to walk around, swim, and sunbathe as they please”.
Helena Trachsel, head of the Equal Opportunities Office in the canton of Zurich, also believed that toplessness makes sense.
She said: “From an equal opportunities perspective, it is clear that the same rules apply to all genders, including women and non-binary people.”
However, Martin Enz, managing director of the Association of Indoor and Outdoor Pools sees no need for action: “If a person discreetly drops their bikini top and does not show off, this is accepted in most outdoor pools. The problem tends to be men who gape”, he noted.
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So when and where can you take your clothes off in Switzerland?
What is clear is that you definitely should not walk around naked anywhere in Appenzell.
As far as other cantons and or /municipalities are concerned — whether you want to hike naked in the mountains or swim topless — it’s best to check with your local authorities about what is and is not permitted in your area before you leave your house buck naked.
READ MORE: The 12 strange laws in Switzerland you need to know
