The World's Best Nude Beaches: A Definitive Ranking
Table of Contents
Prices in this guide are approximate and change often. Check with the hotel, airline or operator before you book.
How This Ranking Works
Nude beaches range from family-oriented stretches with lifeguards and signs to party zones to remote coves where nudity is simply tolerated. Knowing which type you are walking onto matters, because the legal position differs sharply from one to the next.
The order below puts legal status first (an official designation by a council or park authority ranks above long-standing custom), then facilities and lifeguard cover, then ease of access. Each entry links to the park authority, council or tourism body that publishes the rules, so you can check the current position before you travel. A great nude beach also has to work as a beach, so water quality and setting count too.
The Ranking at a Glance
| # | Beach | Where | Legal footing | On site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Platja des Cavallet | Ibiza, Spain | Official nudist beach since 1978 | Beach bars; paid car park in season |
| 2 | Haulover Beach | Miami, USA | County clothing-optional section, signed since 1993 | Restrooms, showers, food, rentals; lifeguards year-round |
| 3 | Wreck Beach | Vancouver, Canada | Clothing-optional under Metro Vancouver park rules | Toilets at the top, outhouses on the beach; no lifeguards |
| 4 | Zipolite | Oaxaca, Mexico | Declared a nudist beach by the municipality in 2016 | Guesthouses, restaurants, bars; volunteer lifeguards |
| 5 | Cap d'Agde naturist village | Hérault, France | Beach designated naturist in 1973 | Full village with shops and marina; paid entry |
| 6 | Little Beach (Pu'u Ola'i) | Maui, USA | Not legal: nudity banned in Hawaii state parks; citations issued since 2020 | None |
| 7 | Lady Bay | Sydney, Australia | Designated nude bathing area since 1976 | None on the sand |
| 8 | Red Beach (Kokkini Ammos) | Crete, Greece | Tolerated by custom | Seasonal canteen only |
| 9 | Orient Bay | Saint-Martin | Clothing-optional section at the southern end | Naturist resort under construction since June 2026 |
| 10 | Baker Beach (north end) | San Francisco, USA | Clothing-optional by custom; noted by the National Park Service | Hazardous swimming; hard parking on sunny weekends |
| 11 | Vera Playa | Almería, Spain | Beach reserved for naturists beside naturist complexes | Naturist hotel and apartments |
| 12 | Valalta | Istria, Croatia | Naturist resort | Marina, restaurants, shop, pharmacy, clinic |
| 13 | Playa de Maspalomas (from kiosk 4) | Gran Canaria, Spain | Established naturist stretch | Kiosks and loungers |
1. Platja des Cavallet, Ibiza, Spain
Es Cavallet was Ibiza's first official nudist beach, a status it has held since 1978. It is a long run of white sand backed by dunes and juniper inside the Ses Salines Natural Park, about 9.5 km south of Ibiza Town, according to the Sant Josep council. The beach faces east, the water is clear and stays shallow for a long way out, and nudity is accepted along the whole beach, though it is most common in the northern half.
The crowd is mixed: couples, families, retirees and, at the northern end, one of the island's best-known LGBTQ+ beach scenes, which dates back to the 1980s. Beach bars include El Chiringuito Ibiza (formerly Chiringay) at the north end and La Escollera at the south end.
Getting There
The car park at the end of the road is paid in season and usually full by mid-morning in July and August. In summer, Ibiza's bus line 16C serves Ses Salines and Es Cavallet; check the season timetable before relying on it. The park has conservation rules, so stay off the dunes.
2. Haulover Beach, Miami, Florida, USA
Haulover is the best-organized nude beach in the United States. The clothing-optional section covers the northern third of the beach between lifeguard towers 12 and 16, according to Miami-Dade County Parks, which also lists restrooms, showers, food concessions and chair and umbrella rental in that section. Lifeguards cover the beach year-round, and volunteer beach ambassadors in green safari hats explain the rules to newcomers.
Nude use began in July 1991, when the naturist group South Florida Free Beaches started using the stretch; the county tolerated it at first and installed permanent signs marking the clothing-optional area in December 1993. Use the North Lot. County parking is $7 Monday to Thursday (plus a $1 surcharge for the North Lot) and $10 on weekends and holidays.
3. Wreck Beach, Vancouver, Canada
Wreck Beach runs below the cliffs at the University of British Columbia in Pacific Spirit Regional Park. Metro Vancouver, which runs the park, states that the beach is clothing-optional except at Acadia Beach, and the clothing-optional stretch runs for roughly 6.7 km. The busiest access is Trail 6, a steep staircase of close to 500 steps from NW Marine Drive.
The atmosphere is communal and long-established; the Wreck Beach Preservation Society has defended it against development since 1977. Informal food and drink sellers appear on summer weekends, but park rules prohibit alcohol, fires, camping and amplified music, and police do enforce the alcohol rule.
Practical Notes
The water of the Strait of Georgia is cold even in summer, so most people wade rather than swim. No lifeguards are on duty. The beach is open from 7 a.m. to sunset. Toilets are at the top of the stairs, with outhouses on the beach since 2012; carry your garbage back up to the bins at the top.
4. Zipolite, Oaxaca, Mexico
Zipolite is Mexico's only officially recognized nudist beach. Nudity there goes back decades, but it was the municipality of San Pedro Pochutla that formally declared it a nudist beach in 2016. The beach is about 2 km of Pacific coast in southern Oaxaca, backed by a small town of guesthouses, restaurants and bars. Nudity is permitted along the whole beach, though you will see more of it toward the western end.
The surf and currents here are dangerous. Zipolite has a long record of drownings, and a volunteer lifeguard service has operated since 1995. Watch the flags, ask the lifeguards where it is safe to swim, and do not swim after drinking.
Atmosphere and Access
Zipolite drew counterculture travelers from the 1960s onward and still has that character. A nudist festival has been held there in early February in most years since 2016. The nearest airports are Huatulco and Puerto Escondido, both connected to Zipolite by coastal Highway 200.
5. Cap d'Agde Naturist Village, France
Cap d'Agde is not just a beach but a naturist district on the Mediterranean coast of the Hérault. It grew from a naturist camp founded by René and Paul Oltra in the 1950s, and the beach was officially designated naturist in 1973. The village holds roughly 15,000 beds and 10,000 campsite pitches, with its own shops, restaurants, a bank, a post office, launderettes and a marina, along a beach about 2 km long.
What to Know
Cap d'Agde has a split reputation. Alongside traditional naturism, parts of the village have become known for a swingers' scene, and the Fédération Française de Naturisme no longer registers or supports it. Visitors looking for family naturism tend to stay on the main beach and around the commercial centre, or choose a different resort.
The village charges a daily entry fee set by the town of Agde: in 2025 it was about €11.50 per person on foot and €27 for a car with two people, with weekly and monthly passes available. A day pass allows one entry only, so leaving ends it. The water runs from about 16°C to 22°C over the season.
6. Little Beach (Pu'u Ola'i), Maui, Hawaii, USA
Little Beach is a pocket beach in Mākena State Park on Maui's south shore, reached by a short scramble over the lava headland at the north end of Big Beach. It is about 100 meters of sand with bodysurfing waves that can be strong.
Legal Status
Nudity is not legal here. Hawaii's state park rules (HAR §13-146-38) prohibit nudity in state parks, and a violation is a petty misdemeanor. For decades the rule went largely unenforced, but the state began issuing nudity citations in 2020, and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources closed the beach temporarily in January 2021 over crowded drum-circle parties with alcohol and nudity. It reopened in March 2021, and citations have been issued occasionally since. Alcohol is banned in state parks. Nude sunbathing continues, but you are accepting a real, if small, risk of a citation.
7. Lady Bay (Lady Jane Beach), Sydney, Australia
Lady Bay is a small beach between Camp Cove and South Head in Sydney Harbour National Park. NSW Premier Neville Wran's government declared it a legal nude bathing area in December 1976, making it one of Australia's first, and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service still lists it as a designated nude bathing area.
The beach is tiny, about 80 meters of coarse sand between sandstone cliffs, so low tide gives the most room. It faces into the harbour toward Middle Head, and the water is usually calm, though boats pass close by, so stay near the shore.
Getting There
Take a ferry or bus to Watsons Bay, walk north to Camp Cove, and follow the South Head Heritage Trail a few minutes on to the steps down to the beach. There are no facilities on the sand. Bring water, a hat and sunscreen.
8. Red Beach (Kokkini Ammos), Crete, Greece
Red Beach lies just south of Matala on Crete's south coast, reached by a rough path over the headland that takes 20 to 30 minutes each way. Its name comes from the reddish cliffs and sand, which contrast with the turquoise water. Matala's caves were occupied by hippies in the 1960s, and Joni Mitchell spent several weeks there in 1970, which inspired songs on her album Blue.
Red Beach is not one of Greece's officially designated naturist beaches. Nudity there is a long-tolerated custom rather than a legal right, so be discreet and cover up if asked.
Facilities
Minimal. A small seasonal canteen sells drinks and snacks. There are no toilets, showers or shade structures. Bring water, sun protection and proper shoes for the path. The beach is small and gets crowded in July and August.
9. Orient Bay (Baie Orientale), Saint-Martin
Orient Bay on the French side of Saint-Martin has the Caribbean's best-known clothing-optional section, at the southern end of the bay where the naturist resort Club Orient used to stand. Club Orient was destroyed by Hurricane Irma in September 2017 and never reopened, but nude use of the beach continued without it.
A replacement naturist resort is now under way: ground was broken on the former Club Orient site on June 16, 2026, with opening expected two to three years later. Until then, expect a quieter naturist section than before Irma and a busier textile beach to the north, especially on cruise-ship days.
10. Baker Beach, San Francisco, USA
Baker Beach is the most accessible clothing-optional beach in a major American city. It is part of the Presidio, managed by the National Park Service, and the NPS itself notes that the northernmost end is frequented by clothing-optional sunbathers. The custom is to keep nudity to that north end, below the bluffs with a direct view of the Golden Gate Bridge; the southern part of the beach is clothed and family-oriented.
The drawback is the weather. Summer fog keeps many days cool, the Pacific here is cold, and the NPS warns that large waves, undertow and rip currents make swimming hazardous. Treat it as a place to lie in the sun on a clear day, which is most likely in September and October. Parking is hard on sunny weekends.
11. Vera Playa, Almería, Spain
Vera Playa, on the coast of eastern Almería, has one of Europe's largest naturist developments: several apartment complexes (including Natsun, La Manera, Bahía de Vera and Vera Natura) where naturism is permitted, beside about 2 km of beach reserved for naturists. Unlike Cap d'Agde, it has a quiet, residential reputation without a swingers' scene.
The main hotel is Playavera, part of Senator Hotels and formerly called the Vera Playa Club Hotel, a naturist hotel on the beachfront. It is popular with Northern European retirees and families who own apartments in the complexes, and winters are mild enough for beach days.
12. Valalta, Istria, Croatia
Valalta is a naturist campsite and resort on the coast just north of Rovinj, opened at the end of the 1960s. According to Valalta's own site, it has more than 4 km of shoreline, bungalows, apartments, mobile homes and camping pitches, a marina, restaurants, a grocery store, a pharmacy and a medical clinic.
The shore is mostly rock and concrete platforms rather than sand, which is typical of Istria, and the water is very clear. The resort is popular with German, Dutch and Austrian visitors. The season runs roughly from May to the end of September. Pets are not allowed, and pitches cannot be reserved in advance. Pula airport is the nearest, under an hour's drive.
13. Playa de Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, Spain
The dunes of Maspalomas on Gran Canaria's southern tip form a desert-like landscape that meets the Atlantic. The naturist stretch is in the middle of the long beach between Playa del Inglés and the Maspalomas lighthouse, beginning around kiosk 4. The area around kiosks 6 and 7 is a long-standing gay naturist area, and the rest is mixed.
The beach is wide and the climate is warm year-round, and kiosks sell drinks and rent loungers. The dunes are a protected nature reserve, so cross them only on the marked paths. Walking from either end to the naturist section takes about 20 to 30 minutes, and the sand gets very hot, so wear shoes.
Dropped From This List
Three beaches that often appear on lists like this one are left out because their status has changed:
- Praia do Pinho, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Brazil's first official naturist beach, in Balneário Camboriú (about 80 km north of Florianópolis), lost its naturist status in December 2025 when the city adopted a new master plan without a naturist area. A court then ruled that nudity on the sand is not a crime, but that the municipal ban stands and fines can still be imposed, and the case is still in the courts.
- Mpenjati, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The local council approved a 250-meter nude-bathing stretch in 2014, a government directive stopped it in 2016, and in 2017 South Africa's Public Protector ruled the approval invalid because the council had not followed proper process. Naturist groups are still lobbying, but there is no legal nude beach there.
- Guvano, Cinque Terre, Italy. The old railway tunnel that led to this famous nude beach has been permanently closed and gated since the mid-2010s, landslides have destroyed the path, and the area is closed to visitors, including from the sea.
First-Timer's Guide to Nude Beaches
Etiquette Basics
- Bring a towel: Always sit on a towel. This is the basic rule of naturism, for hygiene and courtesy.
- No photography: Never photograph other people without explicit permission. This is taken very seriously at nude beaches and can get you confronted, ejected or reported.
- No staring: A casual glance is normal. Prolonged staring is not welcome.
- Nudity is not mandatory: At most clothing-optional beaches you can stay dressed. Take your time.
- Leave expectations behind: Most visitors are ordinary people of all ages and body types, and the atmosphere at most naturist beaches is non-sexual. Sexual behavior is illegal on any public beach.
What to Bring
- Sunscreen for everywhere. Skin that rarely sees the sun burns fast.
- A towel large enough to sit on comfortably.
- A hat and sunglasses.
- A cover-up or sarong for walking to and from the beach.
- Water and snacks if the beach has no facilities.
The Complete Series: Nude Beach Guides by Region
Europe
Start with the regional Europe guide, then the country guides:
Asia
Start with the regional Asia guide, then the country guides:
Caribbean
Start with the regional Caribbean guide, then the country guides:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Aruba
- The Bahamas
- Barbados
- Cayman Islands
- Curacao
- Dominican Republic
- Grenada
- Jamaica
- Puerto Rico
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
- Turks and Caicos
- US Virgin Islands
Africa
South America
Pacific Islands
North America & Oceania
Practical Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best nude beach in the world?
It depends on what you want. Platja des Cavallet in Ibiza has been an official nudist beach since 1978 and has a natural-park setting. Haulover Beach in Miami has the best facilities of any US nude beach, with lifeguards, restrooms and county-posted signs. Cap d'Agde in southern France is the largest naturist village, with its own shops, restaurants and a 2 km beach.
Is it legal to be nude on the beach?
Only where local law allows it. France, Spain, Germany and Croatia have many official naturist beaches. In the United States, nudity is lawful only at a few beaches where the managing authority permits it, such as Haulover in Miami; at others, such as Black's Beach in San Diego or Little Beach on Maui, it is technically prohibited but widely practised. Public nudity is illegal in most of the Caribbean, the Middle East and much of Asia.
What should I know before going to a nude beach for the first time?
Bring a towel to sit on, apply sunscreen everywhere, do not stare and never photograph other people. At clothing-optional beaches nudity is your choice, so you can stay in a swimsuit until you are comfortable. Going with a friend helps many first-timers.
Are nude beaches safe for women?
Established nude beaches with regular visitors, lifeguards or volunteer ambassadors are generally the safest choice. Avoid remote or little-used spots, especially alone. Beaches with an organized naturist community tend to deal quickly with unwelcome behavior, and you can report harassment to lifeguards or park staff.
Where are the best nude beaches in the US?
Haulover Beach in Miami is the best organized, with an official clothing-optional section between lifeguard towers 12 and 16. Baker Beach in San Francisco has Golden Gate Bridge views from its clothing-optional north end. Black's Beach in San Diego and Little Beach on Maui are popular but nudity there is technically prohibited. Wreck Beach in Vancouver is the main option just across the Canadian border.
Do nude beaches have facilities?
It varies. Haulover in Miami has restrooms, showers, concessions and lifeguards, and Cap d'Agde in France is a full village with shops and restaurants. Beaches such as Red Beach in Crete or Lady Bay in Sydney have little or nothing on the sand. Bring water, sunscreen and a towel wherever you go.
