Fact: There are naked breasts and bare bums all over Croatia. They do not glow in the dark like mine would if exposed to the outside air. No, these body parts are the same golden colour as shoulders, arms and knees that have repeatedly been exposed to the rays of the sun.
It’s abundantly clear that these people spend a lot of time on Croatia’s nude beaches… and I’d find out exactly why on Badija Island.
Nude Beaches in Croatia
Prior to arriving in Croatia, I’d read that the people were quite liberal and to expect a lot of nudity by the sea. Despite the advance warning, I admit to being pretty shocked by the sight of everyone’s wobbly pieces so wantonly exposed on the most public of beaches!
Couldn’t these men and women see the small children running around oblivious to the exposed flesh around them? What about the taxi drivers passing by, without so much as a second glance? Or at the very least, the shocked faces of the tourists attempting to be nonchalant about the whole tawdry scene??
During our 4 days on Korcula’s beaches, a 2.5 hour catamaran ride away from Dubrovnik, we were treated to all manner of birthday suits. Skinny ones. Wrinkled ones. Ones with giant bellies. Even perfectly sculpted, muscular ones (though these sightings were sadly, quite rare). Humans are nothing if not adaptable, so after a time, all the naked bodies on the nude beaches in Croatia began to blend into one. We rarely noticed them at all.
Nudists for a day on Badija Island
And yet, deep within our souls, a curiosity was growing. A curiosity that would eventually have to be satisfied. What would it be like to be butt naked in public? Did we really need the tan lines we wore like badges of honour of our time in the Mediterranean sun? Would our butts glow in the dark?
All of these questions would be answered on Badija, a 15 minute water taxi ride away from Korcula.
We hadn’t planned on being nudists for the day. It’s just that the water was so breathtakingly clean and blue, that we couldn’t help but wonder, what it would feel like to swim totally naked in that perfect stillness? As we explored Badija further, we could see that it was practically deserted. It had a number of nooks and crannies by the water where one could easily hide from any preying eyes.
The idea began to take deeper root.
Why not have the ‘full’ Croatian experience?
Before we could lose our nerve, we pinky swore that we would be nudists for the day and searched for an appropriate nook to call our own. Fifteen minutes later, we staked our claim to a shielded hole in the rocks by the Adriatic and stripped down to the buff.
Diving into the gorgeous water around Badija in this state, was total bliss. With the sun smiling down on us, the water caressed our skin silkily and I felt as though I was truly one with the sea. I bobbed easily in the refreshing salt water and felt like I could stay under the cover of that beautiful water for eternity.
But exit we eventually did, and even this process of drying out in the sun was beautiful. No sticky, wet bathing suit marred the connection between our bodies and the life giving rays of the sun. I felt at peace and a part of all of nature around me.
The experience was so lovely, we almost decided to join the nudist camp permanently. But alas, we are not that brave.
Maybe just on the nude beaches in Croatia… 😉
Would you ever try being a nudist for a day? Or perhaps you already have…? Tell us where you’d like to do it in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!
I love getting naked on the beach!
Haha I wish I was more comfortable doing it!
Korcula Island is so beautiful and I had no idea it existed! Croatia has been on the to see list for some time now and I really want to go now! Good for you for partaking in the “full” Croatian experience, even just for a bit 😉 Thanks for sharing this post!
The water in Croatia is just unbelievable. SOOOO clear and beautiful…and Korcula was a great size. Small enough to wander around, without being overwhelming, but plenty to do, and beaches close by to visit. I’d totally recommend it for a longer stay over Dubrovnik (which was just crawling with tourists)
Loved this post and learning more about Badia Island. Now I’ve got a fun, new place to visit on my bucket list! And I really enjoy your writing. Thanks for sharing this experience with us all.
Croatia has beautiful sea..I am not sure if I am ever going to do nude swimming. Maybe when I have my own private beach? hahaha – which is perhaps it’s not going to happen. BTW, nudity also being done in scuba diving, when we were deep under the sea, some scuba divers did nude scuba diving when celebrating their dives number when first time reaching to three digits 😀 – it’s a tradition but no, I broke the tradition by doing something less brave 😀
Croatia has beautiful sea..I am not sure if I am ever going to do nude swimming. Maybe when I have my own private beach? hahaha – which is perhaps it’s not going to happen. BTW, nudity also being done in scuba diving, when we were deep under the sea, some scuba divers did nude scuba diving when celebrating their dives number when first time reaching to three digits 😀 – it’s a tradition but no, I broke the tradition by doing something less brave 😀
Nude scuba diving?? U mean wearing just the tanks? That must’ve been a sight to see ? but what did you do that was less brave????
Thanks for this great piece. Indeed, wrapping one’s self in wet nylon is overrated!
It really is overrated! I wish I was braver about the whole thing because it was such a lovely experience. Perhaps one day… 🙂
Thanks for this great piece. Indeed, wrapping one’s self in wet nylon is overrated!
It really is overrated! I wish I was braver about the whole thing because it was such a lovely experience. Perhaps one day… 🙂
Reminded me of a jjimjilbang! lol…Loved the blue shades of the water. Was this before Naia?
Cheryl (are you out of hiding?) 😉 Yes, definitely before Naia. How’d you guess?
lol…you know Hanji has eaten into my social life. I haven’t completed my table and looks like it will take one more class! Still 2 more projects for level one!
Naia is the centre of every post of yours…maybe that’s why! I miss her! 🙁
Reminded me of a jjimjilbang! lol…Loved the blue shades of the water. Was this before Naia?
Cheryl (are you out of hiding?) 😉 Yes, definitely before Naia. How’d you guess?
lol…you know Hanji has eaten into my social life. I haven’t completed my table and looks like it will take one more class! Still 2 more projects for level one!
Naia is the centre of every post of yours…maybe that’s why! I miss her! 🙁
wow. well there you go! Good on you guys for giving it a go! Next time – review nudist colonies in the Antarctic! 😛
Haha, if we ever make it to the Antarctic, I’ll be sure to do that. :p
wow. well there you go! Good on you guys for giving it a go! Next time – review nudist colonies in the Antarctic! 😛
Haha, if we ever make it to the Antarctic, I’ll be sure to do that. :p
Wow what a freeing experience you had! I remember seeing nudists in Croatia too, like it was so normal. On beaches, on anchored private boats, etc.
I would do it too if I found a very secluded place for swimming. I cannot imagine how awesome that’d feel, I hate sticky bathing suits hehe.
It WAS very normal there, which is why I think we felt like we should try it. Badija was perfect for a first try cuz it was practically deserted except for a few other people hiding naked in holes like us. Haha. Seriously, drying off without the sticky bathing suit was maybe one of the best parts! 🙂
Wow what a freeing experience you had! I remember seeing nudists in Croatia too, like it was so normal. On beaches, on anchored private boats, etc.
I would do it too if I found a very secluded place for swimming. I cannot imagine how awesome that’d feel, I hate sticky bathing suits hehe.
It WAS very normal there, which is why I think we felt like we should try it. Badija was perfect for a first try cuz it was practically deserted except for a few other people hiding naked in holes like us. Haha. Seriously, drying off without the sticky bathing suit was maybe one of the best parts! 🙂
The water does look so blue! Haha, it sounds like such a freeing experience at the nudist beach. Doesn’t look like anyone near you so you and Agri snuck away well… We have nudist beaches here in Australia but I don’t think I’d be one to strip down ?
The island was completely deserted, so it was the perfect place to try out being a nudist. but it wasn’t specifically a nudist beach. In Croatia, it seems like EVERY beach was a nudist beach. Haha! You should totally give it a try somewhere secluded…it’s an amazing feeling. Worth the potential embarrassment! 😉
The water does look so blue! Haha, it sounds like such a freeing experience at the nudist beach. Doesn’t look like anyone near you so you and Agri snuck away well… We have nudist beaches here in Australia but I don’t think I’d be one to strip down ?
The island was completely deserted, so it was the perfect place to try out being a nudist. but it wasn’t specifically a nudist beach. In Croatia, it seems like EVERY beach was a nudist beach. Haha! You should totally give it a try somewhere secluded…it’s an amazing feeling. Worth the potential embarrassment! 😉
I guess I’m not so modest 🙂
I’ve been skinny-dipping in more places than I can remember over the past 45 years including friends’ swimming pools and Wreck Beach (Vancouver’s nude beach). My favourite was a private pool that came with an apartment we rented for months in Mexico. We were in that pool naked every day. Swimsuits are highly overrated 🙂
Alison
I wish I was less modest (or less self-conscious at least), because after this experience, I totally agree…swimsuits are highly overrated. 🙂 Maybe one day, I’ll get there…it really was an incredibly lovely feeling.
I guess I’m not so modest 🙂
I’ve been skinny-dipping in more places than I can remember over the past 45 years including friends’ swimming pools and Wreck Beach (Vancouver’s nude beach). My favourite was a private pool that came with an apartment we rented for months in Mexico. We were in that pool naked every day. Swimsuits are highly overrated 🙂
Alison
I wish I was less modest (or less self-conscious at least), because after this experience, I totally agree…swimsuits are highly overrated. 🙂 Maybe one day, I’ll get there…it really was an incredibly lovely feeling.
I bet I’d love the feeling of the sun and water, but like the commenter above, I’d rather die than be naked in public. so unless I find a VERY secluded swimming hole, it ain’t gonna happen. Your well-placed captions are hilarious!
I’m the same, but the experience was really worth the potential embarrassment. But yes, it was VERY secluded! and we could almost hide inside the rocks while sunbathing… it was definitely the perfect spot for 2 bashful people to give it a try! 🙂
I bet I’d love the feeling of the sun and water, but like the commenter above, I’d rather die than be naked in public. so unless I find a VERY secluded swimming hole, it ain’t gonna happen. Your well-placed captions are hilarious!
I’m the same, but the experience was really worth the potential embarrassment. But yes, it was VERY secluded! and we could almost hide inside the rocks while sunbathing… it was definitely the perfect spot for 2 bashful people to give it a try! 🙂
Wow, it looks fantastic. Being naked in public is the stuff of my nightmares but it looks like paradise there. Excellent post.
Haha, the stuff of nightmares eh? I’m definitely not one to strip down so easily, but the water there truly was paradise, and as you can see from the pics, there was not even a soul around to see us. Give it a try if you visit Croatia! 😉
Wow, it looks fantastic. Being naked in public is the stuff of my nightmares but it looks like paradise there. Excellent post.
Haha, the stuff of nightmares eh? I’m definitely not one to strip down so easily, but the water there truly was paradise, and as you can see from the pics, there was not even a soul around to see us. Give it a try if you visit Croatia! 😉