Is topless sunbathing as widely practiced in Greece as some other European countries?

I understand that many beaches are designated as "nude" beaches, but we really don't have much interest in that. We'll be on both Mykonos (Paradise Beach?) and Santorini.

What about hotel pools?

Thanks for the input.

Topless at the beach is very common but around a hotel pool might be problematic, so feel it out first. Ask the hotel manager. In a way a hotel is a more formal environment. If there are children present parents might object. I know this seems silly since there are children at the beaches too, but to some there will be a difference.

We were in Naxos at a hotel pool and I think I was the only person wearing a bathing suit top.....this was about 5 years ago.

That may have been true five years ago, but the trend all over Europe recently has been for fewer women to go topless. Your question reminded me of a story I read in the <i>Telegraph</i> earlier this summer about France, where topless bathing began:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...o-topless.html

The same trend seems to be occurring in Greece. Sorry, husbands! ;-)

It is common, but when I was in Crete about 9 years ago, someone spotted the white line on my back from my swimming costume and told me that I had done a great thing for Greece by not sunbathing topless. When I was walking through the old part of town, near to wear I was staying, I passed many older Greek women in their smart black everyday dresses and realised what a culture clash it must be for them.

That being said, I'd not dream of getting my t*ts out in public anyway!

<<< I passed many older Greek women in their smart black everyday dresses and realised what a culture clash it must be for them. >>>

Greek women sunbathe topless as well, so it's not a culture shock

Well, they probably aren't that comfortable with Greek women doing it either.....and the person who made the comment to me was a young man.

>Greek women sunbathe topless as well, so it's not a culture shock<

Yes, but not on the island where they live! ;-)

I would not take the opinion of one Greek male as a guideline how to behave in a whole country.

The easiest thing would be
- to take a look whether or not other/many people go topless at the hotel pool or that specific beach, or
- ask the hotel concierge what the local customs or "community standards" are.

I don't think that especially the locals on Mykonos can be shocked easily.

"I would not take the opinion of one Greek male as a guideline how to behave in a whole country. "

I thought it was rather sweet....

I jsut don't understand why anyone would anyway

Would do what? Sunbathe topless? I do that all the time ;-)

Ali, I hope you weren't being insulted. If someone told my wife she did a great thing for Greece by keeping her top on, I'd probably knock his head off.

And I agree with Cowboy -- the Mykonosians (?) are probably immune from shock.

"Ali, I hope you weren't being insulted. If someone told my wife she did a great thing for Greece by keeping her top on, I'd probably knock his head off."

I don't think that I was being insulted as I have very nice tits, thanks.....
I can tell the difference between and insult and not....

I don't think you can give a generalized answer to this kind of question. As already suggested, you need to look around you wherever you end up (beach, hotel pool) and see what other people are doing. Then you'll know what's OK or not.

Heimdall wrote: "The same trend seems to be occurring in Greece. Sorry, husbands!"

HA! Trust me, Heimdall, I'll be a-ok if she decides to keep the gals undercover. She's the one who needs convincing. She still has dreams of her 20's and that old "Summer Lovers" movie!

Thanks to everyone for the info, though.

From what we are gathering though, sounds like they are gonna get a little sun in Mykonos and not so much in Santorini.

Again, thanks to all.