Best Gay Nude Beaches Worldwide

Who wants to let it all hang out, literally? Nude beaches are the best places to get rid of those (so last century) tan lines, show off what you’ve got, and check out what others are packing.  There are almost 700 nude beaches worldwide, with around 100 of them being gay ones, official or otherwise. 

Here are the 10 best gay nude beaches in the UK/Europe, Australia, North and South America.

UK/Europe

There are over 300 nude beaches in Europe, with many of them being in Spain. You could practically nude-beach hop (how fun would that be?) there. As such, here are the best three, in Spain, followed by one in Greece (Mykonos, of course), and, surprise, one in the UK.

Playa del Muerto, Sitges, Spain

Sitges is on the outskirts of Barcelona and is one of the most popular gay beach locations in Europe. It’s one of the few places to combine sea, sun, and epic circuit parties. It makes sense, after all, Spain’s first gay disco opened in Sitges in the 1920s.

Located in Sitges, Playa del Muerto, which is famous for being one of the world’s first gay beaches, all the way back in 1930. It stands for Dead Man’s Beach, but despite the name, what you’ll find here, especially in summer, is an almost exclusive gay male smorgasbord of nakedness.

It’s nestled in front of some cliffs and isn’t the easiest beach in the world to get to, which adds to the charm.  It’s a 40-minute drive from Sitges, then a 20-minute walk along a path, so wear sturdy shoes. There’s no shop at the beach, so bring your own sunscreen, food, drinks, and whatever else you may need when horny guys get together.

Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, Spain 

Gran Canaria is the gay playground of Spain. Beautiful beaches, impossibly handsome men, and dance parties that go all night. The largest island in the Canary Islands is party central for gay men.

There are several extremely popular gay beaches on Gran Canaria, with Maspalomas being the most famous. Why? Because of its sand dunes and the activity that goes on in them. The gay section of the beach is between Kiosks 6 and 7. Kiosk 7 is the party where food, drink, and party music can be found.

It’s quite easy to get to Maspalomas, the easiest way is a 10-minute walk from del Faro Street at the south of the island. Alternatively, another is via the sand dunes from several of the hotels in Playa del Inglés. This takes longer, especially if you get distracted in the dunes. 

El Cavallet, Ibiza, Spain

Ibiza is the world’s party island, and the fun doesn’t just happen inside the bars and clubs. While not exclusively gay, Ibiza has its fair share of men-only hotels and gay bars and clubs.

El Cavallet Gay Nude Beach, almost on the southern tip of the island, is home to the iconic beach club Chiringay. Picture sitting on the terrace in summer, sipping a cocktail, and watching wall-to-wall male nudity. Don’t dream it, you’ll find it at El Cavallet. Look out for the handsome club flyer boys walking around, encouraging you to come to their bar or club that night. 

The easiest way to get to El Cavallet is by car. There’s a car park at the northern end of the beach. If you’re coming by public transport, there’s a bus from Ibiza Town and a 20-minute forest walk from the bus stop.

Elia Beach, Mykonos

Mykonos in the Greek Islands is the mecca for gay travelers. It’s well-known for being the gayest island in the Mediterranean, and you’ll find it on many gay guys’ bucket lists.

Mykonos has 23 beaches, five of which are gay, and Elia is considered the best, the busiest, and the most naked. It’s not officially a nude, or even a gay beach, but that doesn’t stop thousands of guys heading to the right-hand side of the beach (just look for all the rainbow flags), taking it all off, and showing off their goods. 

It’s a 25-minute drive east of Mykonos town, and there is a car park. If you’re doing it the public transport way, there’s a shuttle bus from town. By far the campest way is to take the ‘gay shuttle boat’ that links Platis Gialos, Paraga, Paradise Beach, Super Paradise and Agrari with Elia Beach. The boat runs every day in summer from 10 am to 6 pm around every hour.

Brighton Naturist Beach, Brighton, UK

Brighton has long held the unofficial title of the gay capital of the UK and is home to one of the UK’s oldest gay communities. It’s only a 2-hour drive south on the M25 from London. If you’re in a hurry, jump on the train. It takes around an hour, and you can get on at either London Victoria or London Bridge stations.

So it makes sense that the UK’s most well-known gay nude beach is in Brighton. The beach provides a laid-back vibe and encourages plenty of handsome guys to let it all hang out there. It’s not the white sandy beach that you’d expect, as there are more pebbles than sand, so wear your sturdiest flip-flops. The nude section is hidden behind the railway by a shingle bank.

The best way is to walk west from the marina past the marina superstore, where you can stock up on supplies, and head towards the electric railway station, the beach is on your left. It’s around a 15-minute walk.

Australia

Australia has around 90 nude beaches, with 15 of them considered gay beaches. Here are two of the best:

Obelisk Beach, Sydney, Australia

Sydney is the official gay capital of Australia, it’s home to one of the world’s biggest pride events, the Gay Mardi Gras and has two gayborhoods. It’s also home to two gay nude beaches.

Obelisk Beach is right on the southern side of Sydney Harbour in Mosman and is part of the National Park. Imagine being completely naked and getting stunning views of one of the world’s most well-known harbours. While you’ll see and meet many guys on the beach, it’s in the adjacent bushland where all the action happens. There are plenty of secluded areas inside where you can have some mostly private fun.

You can get to Obelisk in a few ways: you could get a water taxi from anywhere else in the harbour, although that’s very pricey. You can also get the 100 bus from Wynyard to Taronga Zoo and either walk around the point for around 30 minutes, or connect with the 111 bus that takes you straight there. 

Southside Beach, Torquay

Melbourne is the second-largest city in Australia and has two gayborhoods and three annual festivals, There’s more of a multicultural feel to Melbourne than Sydney and this is represented heavily in the gay population too.

If you’re in Melbourne and feel like a day trip to a gay nude beach, head down to Torquay, a 90-minute drive away. The Australian government has declared it an official nude beach, and while it’s shared with everyone, there’s a clear gay area. 

Take the M1 motorway south from Melbourne to Bells Beach in Torquay, where there’s a huge car park, then walk down a small trail to the beach. There aren’t any facilities there, so take food, water, and sunscreen with you.

North America

North America has a ton of beaches, many of them nudist, and there are some iconic ones in the US, which are featured below, as well as one in Canada.

Fire Island Pines, New York, USA

Perhaps one of the world’s most iconic gay destinations in the world is Fire Island in New York State. It’s been featured in tons of books and movies, and TV series, and during summer, it’s party central. 

The gay beach, nicknamed the Meat Rack for obvious reasons, is nestled between The Pines and Cherry Grove. It’s not officially a nude beach, but that doesn’t stop thousands of guys a year from getting their gear off there.

The best way to get to Fire Island Pines is by ferry from Saytell Pier on Long Island. If you must drive, cars are allowed as far as Cherry Grove, and then the rest is by foot.

Black’s Beach, San Diego, California

San Diego is the laid-back gay man’s destination in the US. There are two gayborhoods, three annual events and one of California’s most popular nude beaches.

Black’s Beach is one of the US’s official nude beaches.  It’s a long stretch of the beach, and the unofficial gay area is to the very north. It’s known to get very cruisy, but as public sex isn’t allowed, swapping numbers is the way to go. It’s been known to get a bit windy there in the afternoons, so bring something to hold your towel down if you’re going for a swim.

The best way to get to Black’s Beach is to drive to Torrey Pines Gliderport and park there. It’s then a 10–15-minute hike down the very steep Gliderport trail to the beach.

If that all sounds too strenuous, you could just walk north along the beach from La Jolla Shores; it’s a bit longer, but much easier.

Hanlan’s Point Beach, Toronto, Ontario

Toronto is Canada’s de facto gay capital It’s got two gayborhoods, almost 20 venues and has a month-long pride festival every June.

Hanlan’s Point Beach is Canada’s most famous nude beach and has been popular with gay men since it was the site of Canada’s first Pride event in 1971. Be sure to head to the very north of the beach to the official nude area, as the south can get a bit too family-friendly. On weekends in summer, the gay area gets packed, so arrive early.

The easiest way to get to the beach is by ferry from Toronto’s harbourfront, and then it’s a 10-minute walk through the park down to the beach. 

South America

Praia do Abricó, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 

Rio de Janeiro has one of the most visible and expressive gay scenes in Latin America. Carnival is the event of the year, and has a massive gay inclusion. 

Praia do Abricó in Rio de Janeiro is Brazil’s official nude beach. It’s not exclusively gay, but it does have a huge gay section. The thing you most need to know is that there is a dedicated clothing-optional area, and you can only be naked on weekends or public holidays. Unless you’re accompanied by a registered naturist. How would you like that for a job?

To get to Praia do Abricó, get a bus or a ride share from Rio de Janeiro (around 45 minutes) to the Clássico Beach Club and walk down from there. 

Playa Chihuahua, Punta del Este, Uruguay

Uruguay is one of the most progressive countries in Latin America regarding gay rights. It even has its own answer to the French Riviera, known as Punta del Este.

Playa Chihuahua in Punta del Este is Uruguay’s only official nudist beach. Unlike the gay nude beaches in Spain, for example, where there’s a distinct party vibe, Playa Chihuahua is more known for its calm, mixed, and mature scene.

Due to its proximity, Playa Chihuahua is very popular among Argentinian gay men, especially during the southern summer (Dec–Feb). There are even some naturist guesthouses nearby that cater to gay couples and singles.

The best way to get there is by car from Punta del Este; head west on Route 10 for 20 km until you see signs for Chihuahua. There’s a parking area followed by a short dune walk to the beach.

Which Gay Nude Beach is Next on Your Travel Itinerary?

There are too many gay nude beaches around the world to cover in one article, so these are 10 of the best. Some are officially nude and officially gay, and as for the rest, you can still feel confident in getting back to nature. While some of the beaches, Maspalomas and Obelisk, have dedicated cruising areas, at the others you’ll need to be a little more discreet. So, which one will you add to your travel plans for next summer?