One of Cape Town's most inacessible beaches it is not entirely surprising that Sandy Bay is also Cape Town's only recognised naturist beach (although it is still unofficial). The beach is located just around the corner from upmarket Llandudno at the base of the rugged peaks of the Twelve Apostles mountains.
Like neighbouring Llandudno, Sandy Bay is a pretty stretch of white sand strewn with huge slabs of granite. The numerous rocky outcrops here serve to divide the beach up into a number of little coves and provide and added… read more »
Will Rogers sits between two illustrious neighbours, Malibu and Santa Monica, just to the north of Los Angeles. Stretching for nearly 3 miles this is a great option when the city beaches become too busy.
The long sandy beach here is everything you would imagine of a South Californian beach. Surf from the deep blue pacific, permanent sunshine and a host of volleyball courts.It should be little surprise that tBaywatch
The beach gets its name from the actor Will Rogers. One of Hollywood's leading men in the… read more »
Set between Smathers Beach and Fort Zachary Taylor Beach is the somewhat lower key and smaller Higgs Beach. A very pleasant stretch of perfect white sand backed by tall palm trees Higgs is everything you would expect from a tropical beach.
However, not everything is as it seems - in fact the sand is actually imported from the Caribbean, something that is true of most of Key West's beaches. But that's a good thing, after all this is the best sand money can buy.
Hippie Hollow is the only legally recognized clothing-optional public beach in Texas and was originally known as McGregor Country Park. The word "beach" is somewhat misleading as it is really a lakeside park and access to the water involves scrambling over the smooth limestone rocks when the water level is low.
Located on the shores of Lake Travis, the park is managed by the Travis County Parks Department. It is around 30-minutes drive northwest of Austin, about 12 miles along Hwy 2222. After parking, access is along a paved trail… read more »
The largest beach on Mykonos, Elia Beach sits on the island's winding southern coast in a large protected bay. Despite its size much of the beach's rich golden sand is occupied by sun loungers and umbrellas.
Entry into Elia Beach's warm waters is smooth, without any sudden drop-off, and it's a popular beach to swim from to cool off after enjoying the sun. There are a good range of facilities on offer, with water sports including parasailing, windsurfing and water-skiing all easy to arrange.
This semi-urban beach on the coastal reaches of Barcelona is located between Bogatell and Nova Mar Bella beaches. Like its neighbouring areas of golden sand, Mar Bella Beach has a good number of public facilities, including toilets, showers, a children's play area and beach volleyball courts.
On Passeig Marítim, the promenade that runs behind Mar Bella, visitors will also find table tennis tables, a range of bars and restaurants and a sports centre. The centre offers both sailing and kayak trips along this stretch of idyllic Mediterranean coastline.
Located in Sitges, roughly 20 minutes from Barcelona, Platja de la Bassa Rodona is best well known as the region's premier gay-friendly beach. As one of the most central, it's here that many gay couples choose to sunbathe, although increasingly relaxed attitudes towards the gay community mean many happily bathe on beaches closer to the Catalonian capital.
As a result of its history, visitors can expect some male nudity, but nothing beyond what you might expect to see on a standard nudist beach. Platja de la Bassa Rodona has parasols… read more »
Located just across the bridge from Lisbon is Costa da Caparica. This resort town is little known outside of Portugal, but incredibly popular with Lisbon locals during the summer months.
It is easy to see why; a seemingly endless expanse of fine golden sand facing into the deep blue of the Atlantic Ocean provide a string of beaches, each with their own charms and character. The majority of beachgoers don't make it beyond the first couple of beaches. These are great for families with all the amenities and entertainment you could… read more »
Situated just west of La Herradura, Playa Cantarriján is comprised of two areas of sand divided by a large formation of rock that looks almost as if it has tumbled from the surround of stunning tree-covered cliffs.
One of Andalusia's more virgin beaches, Playa Cantarriján lies within the boundaries of the Paraje Natural de los Acantilados de Maro Cerro Gordo nature reserve, limiting the amount of development that can take place here. Though part of the region's Costa Tropical, it is also located close to where the Mediterranean coastline becomes the… read more »
Towards the north of Formentera the land narrows into the Trucador peninsula. On the eastern coast, before you reach Ses Illetes, is the wide sandy Playa de Llevant.
This beautiful stretch of white sand and clear blue sea has something of a wild feel. Sections of the beach are divided up into little "mini bays" by rocky outcrops which give a little bit of privacy. It is probably for these reasons that Playa de Levante has become one of the best known nudist beaches in the Balearics. Along with… read more »
Perhaps the world's most famous length of coastline, Copacabana Beach lies to the south of central Rio de Janeiro. Lined with the restaurants, bars, shops, and high-rise homes of Avenida Atlantica's wavy black and white paving, Copacabana Beach continues on for no less than four kilometres of sun-drenched sands.
The beach is demarked by historic forts at either end, with individual sections of its wide soft sands delineated by its lifeguard stations and proximity to well-known points.
A hive of activity right through the day, beach vendors wander around the sunbathers selling… read more »
Located only around 10 kilometres from the Italian capital the stretch of coast between Ostia and Torvaianica is largely incorporated into the Litorale Romano State Nature Reserve. A swathe of pine forests, wetlands and dunes this is a pristine area of environmental interest. The reserve is also dotted with various historical and archaeological sites.
All this makes for a lovely and unspoiled backdrop for what is probably the regions finest beach. Part of a stretch of soft pale sand that forms Capocotta, the "Oasi Naturista" is Lazio's best known nudist beach.
