Friday, February 29, 2008

The Best Nude Beaches in Europe



In Europe, where the body isn’t seen as shameful, they invite you to enjoy nude beaches where you may trot around freely, getting sunburned in places that hurt worse than you can imagine. But it sure is fun at the time. Here are a few to add to the trip to-do list:

Plage de Tahiti
Saint Tropez, France

Saint Tropez has long been famous for its beaches, especially the ones Brigitte Bardot and Ursula Andress luxuriated on while the wearing teeny tiny bikinis that rocked the 1950s. By the 60s, toplessness was de rigueur and now just about any beach along the Riviera welcomes the show. Plage de Tahiti, however, goes the extra mile and invites visitors to enjoy both the clothing-optional policy and risqué atmosphere. If you want to spy royalty, jet setters and celebrities in search of a tan-line free experience, this is the place to be during the hot summer months. The Côte d'Azur town is packed from May-August so heed this advice: Avoid arriving on weekends unless you enjoy chaos and melee, and be sure to make hotel reservations far in advance if you plan on staying overnight.

If you decide that beach time isn’t enough nakedness, visit Cap d'Adge, a French city that welcomes “naturist” (aka: nudist) in all their glory. You can bank, grocery shop, enjoy brunch, all in the buff. It’s like that dream where you’re walking down the street naked, except, this time, everyone else is naked too.

Paradise Beach
Mykonos, Greece

Aren’t we all searching for paradise? Isn’t that why you take a vacation? Welcome to Mykonos, one of the most popular and cosmopolitan island destinations in Greece and home to Paradise Beach. If your idea of paradise is an equal mix of nudism and toplessness spread across an age demographic from children to great-grandparents (let us say, gravity is a cruel mistress), where the music and libations start flowing at 3 or 4pm, this is the beach for you! There are two bars for your convenience, the Sunrise Bar and the Tropicana and, once a month in the summer, there’s a full moon party. Mark it in your lunar calendar!

Playa d’en Bossa
Ibiza, Spain

In a place already know for its hedonism, legendary parties and exceptional beaches, wouldn’t you expect Ibiza to have the market cornered on nude enjoyment? Playa d'en Bossa (Platja d’en Bossa) is the longest beach on Ibiza and one of the most popular which means there are plenty of bars and cafes to enjoy in your birthday suit. In Spain, you don’t have to fight for your right to party in the nude. Nudism is one of your civil liberties according to the Spanish Naturist Federation. Foam party, here you come!

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