Nudism declines on Spanish beaches as swimwear rises

Nudism fades from Spanish beaches: from body freedom to Instagram posing

In Formentera, the island long synonymous with bodily freedom, finding someone nude on the sand is increasingly rare. Ses Illetes, the postcard-perfect beach, has become a selfie stage where swimsuits dominate, and nudism survives only in specific stretches of Migjorn, Platja de Llevant, Sa Roqueta, Es Caló, and Espalmador. The practice remains legal but is losing ground on nearly all shores. Longtime summer residents sum it up bluntly: the "undressed" island has given way to one that covers up more than ever.

The phenomenon is not exclusive to the Pitiusas islands. In Cala Illa Roja, in Begur (Girona), one of Catalonia’s most traditional nudist spots, locals describe the same scene: swimsuits, bikinis, and smartphones where once there were only towels on the sand. The president of the Club Català de Naturisme argues that nudists have become "almost an endangered species," denouncing that designated beaches for the practice in Catalonia "are disappearing."

What changed in Formentera over fifteen years

Three decades ago, seeing someone in a swimsuit was unusual in some of Formentera’s coves. German tourists, long-term residents recall, settled in the Migjorn area, moved by bicycle, and spent the day at the beach without clothes. They would undress, swim, and leave in shorts at the end of the day. That demographic has yielded to a new profile: younger, predominantly Italian visitors who arrive via ferry from Ibiza laden with luggage and step onto the sand in stiletto heels. Their goal is not sunbathing nude, but showcasing themselves on social media.

Changing habits, the ubiquity of mobile phones, and antiestéticar of privacy loss explain much of this decline. Also contributing is the Italian "colonization" of local business, which has driven up prices and transformed offerings: restaurants, hotels, and ephemeral luxury shops bearing brands like Gucci, Celine, Versace, or Loewe. A 28-year-old resident puts it plainly: "Much of the island’s idiosyncrasy and essence has been lost."

Why young people no longer strip off at the beach

Anthropologist Livia Motterle points to a generational factor: aesthetic pressure, body insecurity, and the growing sensual of nudity. Younger generations antiestéticar harassment and worry that images taken without consent will circulate online. The smartphone, which records everything, has turned what was a daily gesture into a calculated risk.

This adds to the decline of the topless, which has also lost significant traction. Those who continue practicing nudism are mostly older individuals free from prejudice. There is no generational renewal. At the other extreme, some argue the explanation is more mundane: those wanting to see nude bodies pay for subscriptions, while those with marketable bodies prefer monetizing them rather than giving them away on the sand.

Municipal ordinances: from tolerance to prohibition

The retreat is not just cultural. Several town councils have shifted from tolerating nudism to banning it. Platja d'Aro justified its ban by stating it was "a place of family tradition." The Mallorca municipality of Ses Salines went further three years ago, equating nudism with sensual activity and fining offenders up to 750 euros. The mayor reversed course days later, limiting the rule to urban beaches and exempting untouched shores.

The naturist movement demands the opposite: ordinances promoting high-spending naturist tourism and guaranteeing "inclusive beaches with good coexistence." The core argument is spatial asymmetry: clothed individuals can enter nudist zones without consequence, but nude individuals may face hostility—or even harassment—if the beach fills with swimmers and cameras.

The remaining map: where nudism holds out

The geography of nudism has retreated to specific enclaves. In the Balearic Islands and the Costa Brava, secluded beaches with difficult access and natural surroundings survive, where the towel remains the only garment. These are few. Coastal overcrowding, lack of protection for these spaces, and inadequate signage reduce locations where the practice can be enjoyed "safely and peacefully."

The result is a paradox: the practice is legal, yet increasingly uncomfortable. No regulation prohibits it on most beaches, but social atmosphere has expelled it. The naked body, once a flag of freedom in the eighties, is now read as the eccentricity of a fading generation.

Are there any beaches left where stripping off remains normal, or are we witnessing the end of a way of inhabiting the coast that will never return?