I know it is quite common for women to be topless thoughout Europe at the beach. Are women of all ages topless at the beaches in Spain? I am a 53 year old woman, am in decent shape for someone my age, am not uncomfortable nudity, but I don't want to be the only one on the beach with a bathing suit. Any comments? What about at the pools at our hotels in Madrid and Barcelona?
Thanks so much.
Cindy

You certainly will NOT be "the only one in a bathing suit" at hotel pools. Unless you go to a particular beach which is KNOWN for being very much a "nude beach" then you won't be the only one clothed there, either.

You will not be the only one in a bathing suit. If you think there's even a chance you may change your mind, buy a tankini before your trip. That way, you can slip off the top if you decide to. No one cares. No one will notice. No one will pay attention. But, it sure is nice sunning topless on your chaise for a change. Just a thought...

My only Spain experience was in the Canary Islands, and it may be different, but . . . on the large beach there (Playa de las Canteras) I saw a total of 3 women topless, two of whom probably shouldn't have been.

I was quite comfortable in my one-piece suit.

You can wear whatever you feel more comfortable. Some people likes topless, some not and no one is looking what the others wear or not At least here, in Castellon, at the Mediterranean.

The best advise is : When in Rome...if you see other ladies going topless just go ahead , enjoy the new experience and have fun..
Topless is less popular with the young crowds nowdays, I noticed it everytime I go back to Italy and France, as a matter of fact last June when I was in Nice, the majority topless ladies were over 40..

I'm 54, petite and in good shape. I sunbathe topless any time I'm on a beach where there are others doing so, and ALL the time by the pool at my house in France.

I don't think there are that many beaches in Europe where everyone is half-naked; at least I haven't encountered that. If you want to wear a suit, wear one.

In most places in europe topless sunbathing (by women up to and over 80) is perfecly acceptable. If you prefer to keep you swimsuit on - that's fine too. No one really cares.

One big hint. If you go topless be sure you have really good sunscreen - esp for the more sensitive areas.

We noticed that on Capri and at the beach in Monterosso, there were some women who were topless. When I say "we", I really mean that my husband noticed and then thoughtfully shared his observation with me.

But I was able to pry my eyes away more readily than he was and noticed that many women - the majority -had on full bathing suits.

What i also noticed is that everyone had on bikini's - hardly any one piece suits. Even those who probably more in the "bikini challenged" category had them on. So the moral of the story is anything goes.

Something else to think about when deciding to go topless: How tan are you? On our trip to Indonesia, I had been wearing a bikini prior to the trip (both top and bottom). When the thought of removing my top while on the beach was considered, I realized that I was very "white" underneath my top. This put a whole new meaning to "headlights", so I kept my top on!!

<< I saw a total of 3 women topless, two of whom probably shouldn't have been. >>

I'm not necessarily the most likely leader of a debate over feminism and personal values...

...but isn't one view of gender (and other) equality that neither age, nor gender, nor physique are determinants of "should"?

Is anyone tallying how many men "should" (not) be wearing x or y or z?

I also find it curious that a tankini is somehow a preferred swimsuit of choice for the indecisive. I haven't been to the beach in Europe for a year or several now... but I seem to recall that topless sunbathers coped just fine with swimsuits of every kind, include ordinary one-piece suits.

Best wishes,

Rex

Although say there's a lot of topless in Spain, I'm pretty sure it's mostly non-Spanish women on the beach who are topless.

Younger Spanish girls are going topless now but the older Spanish women keep their tops.

The Costa del Sol is full of Europeans topless but when you travel onto the Atlantic area-Costa del Luz-you won't find as many topless.

There are variations but the topless increases on the beach at the same ration as foreigners.

Blackduff

huh?

rex, are you saying that the topless bathers you've seen just drop the straps of their 1 piece and have it bunched around their waist while they sunbathe topless? Talk about uncomfortable.

My experience has been that most remove the top of a 2 piece suit - and if one's bikini days are over, then a tankini gives one a choice. But, I would venture to guess that 99%+ of tankini wearers choose it for other reasons and never take off the top (in the US at least).

<< ... are you saying that the topless bathers you've seen just drop the straps of their 1 piece and have it bunched around their waist while they sunbathe topless? >>

Seen it countless times - - mostly older women, but some that were surely only in their 30s also.

I didn't ask if they were comfortable, nor sense that they were not.

Generally, I've found that at 'family-oriented' beaches, one sees very few women going topless. This also holds true for beaches at which most of the people are Spanish (not necessarily locals).

I can't speak for hotels in Madrid or Barcelona, but I saw a topless lady sunbathing (vere discretely) at a rooftop hotel pool in el Puerto de Santa Maria (Cadiz); at the public beach there, I saw no such thing.

I think Blackduff has the right idea. To be sure, you might ask your Hotel Concierge about the local beaches and opportunities for topless sunbathing.

I've noticed that going topless seems less fashionable than it was a few years ago and tends to be in a minority. It's also more prevalent on beaches, rather than beside pools.

"I saw a total of 3 women topless, two of whom probably shouldn't have been."

Well, one of those two was me - and don't blame my friends, they did try to warn me about that rogue wave.....

Sue wins.

I sunbathe topless any time.

I'm a great fan of topless sunbathing. It is fun to watch and educational for children.