The sensuous beauty of the Greek islands inspires many visitors to explore nude sunbathing for the first time, especially at world-renowned bare-friendly beaches on Mykonos. If you're a novice at being naked, here's help.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 2 hours
Here's How:
- Decide what kind of beach is right for you - naturist (i.e. nude), family, gay, couples, mixed.
- Review the nude beaches listed at the links below, and travel to the appropriate island.
- Once there, ask your innkeeper, tavern bartender, or small-boat operator to confirm the beach's nudity status - some beaches are nude-friendly one year, and all 'Textile' (clothes-wearing) the next.
- Want to get to a remote cove or nude beach by boat? Ask your innkeeper for a recommendation. Chances are Uncle Yannis runs a boat. Negotiate before you get on board, and pay no more than half up front.
- Check your sunscreen supply. Nude sunbathing is not for the sunscreen-phobic!
- Test sunscreen on sensitive soon-to-be-nude areas which may not normally be exposed to sunscreen or sunshine. Areas that readily sweat are most likely to react to ingredients in sunscreen.
- Select clothes that are easy to slip in and out of, including a beach coverup in case modesty suddenly wins out and you decide to abandon your nude beach experiment.
- Consider using a pair of surf sandals to avoid those nasty Greek sea anemones. It is perfectly acceptable to wear shoes on a nude beach, and you will still count as "nude".
- Leave your camera in your hotel room, or point it only at yourself or non-human scenery. Intrusive photography on a nude beach is so uncool!
- Stay only an hour or two the first time you try going nude unless you really, really trust your sunscreen.
- Enjoy the freedom-loving spirit and legendary light of Greece in a whole new way!
Tips:
- Don't just visit a nude beach to gawk, and if you do go, go bare.
- Beach areas near taverns or other businesses are unlikely to be nudist-friendly. If you visit a beach known to allow nude sunbathing, yet see nothing but swimsuits, keep walking.
- If you hire a small boat to reach a secluded beach accessible only by water, make sure you have bottled water, snacks, and warm clothing along just in case the captain is late returning to pick you up.
- The 'nude' sections often start just past privacy-creating rock formations. Some bare beaches divide into 'sections' -gay, couples, family- the same way.
- Experienced nudists don't mind novices, but resent 'textiles' invading the secluded beaches they may have spent years finding.
What You Need:
- Sunscreen
- Loose beach coverup
- Towel
- Sunglasses
- Surf sandals
