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The Naked Norm
Travel

What to Pack for a Naturist Vacation

A practical packing list for a naturist resort or beach holiday — what you actually need, what you can leave at home, and the small items that make a much bigger difference than you'd think.

Naked Norm · 3 min read

Packing for a naturist vacation is, oddly, slightly more complicated than packing for a regular vacation — not because you need exotic gear, but because the obvious answer (just bring nothing) is wrong. You need less clothing than usual but a few specific items that aren’t on a standard packing list. Here’s the working version.

The essentials

These are the things you cannot do without, in rough order of how much you’ll use them:

  • A large beach towel. Sit-on size. Bring two — one to sit on, one to dry off with.
  • A small “sit towel.” Universal naturist convention: a bare bottom never goes directly on a shared chair, picnic bench, or borrowed lounger. A separate small towel for this purpose lives in your bag for the duration of the trip.
  • High-SPF sunscreen. SPF 30 minimum, ideally 50. Apply everywhere. Skin that has never seen the sun burns in a fraction of the time normal exposed skin does. Reapply every few hours.
  • A wide-brimmed hat. Eye and scalp protection.
  • Sunglasses.
  • Sandals. For walking on hot paths, around the pool, and into communal areas where some venues require footwear (like buffet lines).
  • A coverup, sarong, or robe. For transitions: walking off the beach to the parking lot, going to the restaurant for breakfast, the brief moment when you’re indoors but not yet dressed. Many resorts provide robes; bringing your own is more comfortable.
  • A small bag. For carrying your towel, water bottle, sunscreen, and book to whatever spot you’re heading to.

That’s it for naturism-specific kit. Everything else is the same as any holiday.

Clothing — yes, you do need some

Even at a naturist resort, you’ll wear clothes more than you’d expect:

  • For evening dining. Most naturist resorts ask for clothed (or robe-and-clothed) dining in the main restaurant in the evening. A few light outfits for this — shorts and a t-shirt, a sundress, comfortable casual clothes.
  • For travel to and from. You arrive and leave clothed.
  • For off-site excursions. Trips into town, day-trips to museums or markets — all clothed.
  • For cool evenings. Even in warm climates, evenings can be cool. A light sweater or wrap.
  • For specific activities. Some activities (gym, yoga in some venues, hiking in some terrains) may have clothing requirements.

A useful rule of thumb: pack about half what you’d normally pack for a clothed vacation. You’ll wear less, you’ll wash less, you’ll regret nothing.

The small things that matter

A few items punch above their weight:

  • Reef-safe sunscreen. If you’re going somewhere with coral, this matters. Some resorts require it.
  • A water bottle. Hydration is more important when you’re outdoors more, with no clothing to retain moisture.
  • An e-reader or paperback. A lot of naturist downtime is reading time.
  • A lightweight beach mat or compact lounger if you’re going somewhere with rocky beaches.
  • Cash for tips and small purchases — some venues are still cash-friendly.
  • A waterproof phone pouch for the swimming pool / beach side. Practical, not for photography.

What to leave at home

Some things actively don’t belong:

  • A camera or any phone you plan to take photos with. This is the firm one. Photography of others without consent is the single bedrock rule of naturist culture. Bring a phone for navigation and personal photos in your room — but don’t pull it out around other guests.
  • Heavy jewellery. Gets sweaty, gets lost, attracts unhelpful attention.
  • Clothes you’d wear out for an evening in a city. You won’t need them.
  • Anyone who has been pressured to come. Reluctant partners create awkward energy that affects everyone around them.

A condensed packing list

Print, screenshot, or memorize:

  • 2 large beach towels
  • 1 small sit-towel (lives in the bag)
  • Sunscreen SPF 50, applied everywhere
  • Hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Sandals + 1 pair of regular shoes
  • Robe / sarong / coverup
  • Small bag
  • 3-4 casual outfits for dining and town
  • 1 light sweater or wrap
  • 1 swimsuit (for the off-chance of a clothing-required venue)
  • Toiletries
  • Water bottle
  • Book or e-reader
  • Phone, charger
  • Cash for tips

That’s a small carry-on for a week.

Frequently asked

How much clothing should I pack?
Less than for an equivalent clothed vacation, but more than zero. Most naturist resorts expect clothed dining at restaurants in the evening, sometimes a sweater for cool nights, and clothes for off-property excursions. A few outfits is plenty for a week.
Do I need special naturist gear?
Almost nothing. The two non-obvious essentials: a small towel just to sit on (used everywhere), and high-SPF sunscreen for parts of you that have never seen sun. Everything else is regular travel kit.
Are toiletries different?
Same as any travel: toothbrush, deodorant, the medicines you take. Bring a small body lotion — sun-exposed bare skin gets dry. Avoid heavily scented products if visiting natural settings or wildlife areas.
What about sex toys, condoms, etc.?
Personal items for personal use in your own room — completely fine, like at any hotel. Anything that suggests a different intent in shared spaces would be inappropriate. Use common sense.
What if it's cold?
Naturism in cold weather still happens — Finnish saunas, Russian banya, indoor venues, hot springs. Bring a robe (most resorts provide them but bringing your own is better), warm socks for indoor walking, and a sweater for transitions. Outdoor naturism in cold weather is mostly a sauna-and-cold-plunge thing.