Is it acceptable to go topless at the beach in Spain, and what about those who like to take it a bit further and strip off entirely? What’s the etiquette and where can you go?
Spanish beaches may seem pretty laid back and the right to be naked is enshrined in law. There are more than 400 nudist beaches throughout Spain, including the famous Playa de El Saler in Valencia and Playa de Barinatxe in Bilbao.
However, in reality it’s a little more complicated than that. It’s not just a simple case of getting your kit off willy-nilly – there are some rules you need to abide by.
Here’s what you need to know about getting naked the Spanish way.
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But first a bit of history.
In 1978, Spain’s constitution did away with the prudish laws of the Franco era and effectively permitted nudism as a human right. However, it could be argued that being naked in public caused a “public scandal”, which was punishable by law. That wasn’t corrected until 1989 and then came into force in 1995 under a new penal code.
Since then nudism cannot be punished unless it constitutes “exhibitionism and sexual provocation”, under Article 185 of Spain’s penal code, and was carried out in front of a minor and with sexual intention.
This effectively makes Spain one of the most permissive places for nudism in Europe because public areas do not need to be specifically authorised as “nudist” but must opt out with the creation of local bylaws.
“We have freedom of expression, and we can express our nudism, our ideology and philosophy of life as long as we do not act against the law…” insists the Spanish Naturism Federation (FEN), “and as there is no law which goes against nudism, we can express our nudity freely.”
So can you just get naked on any beach you want?
That may be the case legally but in practice you don’t see nudists milling around among families on the beaches of busy resorts, instead they congregate at the furthest reaches of beaches or on more isolated or hard to reach stretches and coves.
Worth remembering that if you are driving along the coast looking for that perfect secluded beach, you find more than you bargained for.
READ ALSO: Why are Spanish women still bathing topless whilst around Europe women are covering up?
That said certain town halls have made it illegal to go nude on certain beaches or to walk away from the beach areas without being properly covered up.
Where is it banned?
Nudism isn’t confined only to beaches, of course.
Generally speaking, nudity in Spain is a municipal issue regulated on a local level. In 2023 the town of Aldaia (Valencia), for example, the courts ruled that a 29-year-old local had the right to walk down the street naked.
The ruling by the Valencian High Court of Justice (TSJCV) exposed the legal grey area of nudism in Spain, overturning fines imposed on the man who had been arrested several times for walking naked in the street.
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Regarding which beaches in Spain allow nudism, it really depends on where you are. Some councils in Barcelona, for example, have prohibited nudity on certain of their city beaches.
A couple of years ago the authorities Cádiz reversed some bans, allowing nudity on all beaches in the municipality.
The Spanish Association of Naturism has a map showing where the more than 400 nudist beaches in Spain are.
Bizarrely, landlocked Valladolid also introduced a ban on public nudity, a bylaw that has since been overturned.
Last year cinemas in Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia hosted the first film screening for nude audiences in Spain, an initiative that seeks to break down taboos and promote nudity in cultural settings.
Currently Spain’s Naturist Federation are fighting to have the bans overturned and have taken the cases to the European Court of Human Rights, but the important thing to know is that nudity is on the whole delegated to local authorities, so be sure to check the rules with your town hall before taking your kit off.
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Going topless
There is no taboo on going topless on public beaches in Spain and in fact, Spanish women are bucking the trend across Europe and doing it more than ever.
It’s even acceptable to sunbathe topless at the public pools, although cover up before you take a dip in the pool.
READ MORE: What are the rules on topless sunbathing in Spain?
Going the full monty
Once you have found the local spot where the nudists congregate there is a certain etiquette to follow.
Although there is no rule that says you have to go naked although you may stick out if you are the only one covering up. But if you are just keeping your nudist friend company, or want the thrill of skinny dip but don’t want to risk overexposing your white bits then there are a few things to remember.
Don’t stare and don’t take photos.
Some nudist beaches will have chiringuito beach bars where it is ok to be naked. If that is the case then do remember that for higiene purposes, it’s only polite to sit on a towel.
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