Too Many Tourists Skip Europe's Most Relaxing Experience Due To Its Dress Code, Per Rick Steves

Observing dress codes is part and parcel of traveling, and tourists often need to be cautious of the clothing they pack to avoid causing offense in some places in Europe. People are advised to cover their shoulders and knees when visiting religious sites, such as St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, which is why some people may want to bring a scarf or shawl while exploring Italy. It can also work the other way too, as in France where Speedos are compulsory for men at public swimming pools and loose shorts are a no-no. Even more revealingly, you could look out of place if you don't strip down to your birthday suit at some spas and thermal baths across the continent. Going naked is a daunting prospect for some, but Rick Steves laments that so many people skip the relaxing experience as a result.

Writing about his visit to the Friedrichsbad Roman-Irish baths in Baden-Baden, Germany, the travel writer admits (per his website) that he "felt like the Road Runner just beyond the cliff's edge" stripping down in front of his friends. The gorgeous historic baths operate on a no-swimwear policy five days a week and, even more nightmarish for the bashful, the facilities are mixed sex. A sheet is provided for modesty but otherwise you're as nature intended — unless you visit on Wednesdays and Saturdays, which are swimwear days. As Steves has experienced elsewhere in Europe, it is not just the German spa town where public nudity is commonplace.

Nudity is often the norm in spas and saunas across mainland Europe, although it is not always compulsory. The important thing to remember when visiting such an establishment is that nakedness isn't a sexy thing or an opportunity to ogle other people. It is a time-honored tradition that boils down to simple hygiene. You are there to unblock your pores and cleanse your body, and the material of a swimsuit blocks the natural flow of sweat, not to mention they soak up those bodily fluids for you to carry around to other parts of the resort. On the flip side, the sheet or towel provided is also for hygienic purposes, and should be put down in saunas to prevent sweat contaminating the wooden benches.

Spa etiquette varies from country to country. In a more reserved nation like Poland, swimsuits are required in saunas unless otherwise specified. By contrast, in Germany, bathers of both sexes regularly strip down in most saunas. In Hungary, Budapest has many famous bathhouses for a relaxing vacation which have differing dress codes. The Turkish pool at the glorious Hotel Gellert has become swimsuit-only in recent years. In Finland, however, even the towel or apron is dispensed with, and both sexes enjoy beer and grilling sausages on the hot coals in their separate sections.

Nudity is still taboo for many people in the U.S. and U.K. In a 2023 study, figures revealed that only 8% of Americans felt comfortable walking around their own home naked. Perhaps some of the trepidation is related to public nudity laws in the United States; not only is going starkers prohibited in public, nakedness is also illegal on your own property if it is potentially visible to someone else.

These attitudes require a bit of a reset if you want to enjoy a relaxing day at many baths and saunas in Europe. As Rick Steves points out, the important thing to remember is this: Europeans are generally more comfortable with their bodies, and getting naked or semi-naked in public is hardly noteworthy in some countries. Attitudes towards sex and nudity tend to be more relaxed, like women going topless on beaches. It's not just young people on the continent who are less uptight about revealing a little skin, either — it is also common to see seniors with deep bronze tans relaxing in the skimpiest trunks and bikinis. So the best way to make the most of a relaxing spa trip is to gather your courage and go with the flow. Nudity is so normal that people will more likely stare if you cover up.