This beach put topless sunbathing on the map when Brigitte
Bardot whipped off her top back in the 1960s, and it would be rude
not to follow suit. Instantly recognisable by its pontoon, the
beach has been a mecca for nudist bathers for over 50 years and is
frequented by by celebrities, so don’t be alarmed if cameras are
also flashing.

The US is typically anti topless sunbathing with states such as
Indiana,
Tennessee and
Utah banning it altogether. But forward-thinking New Yorkers
have found a solution at this former military base, where large
rock formations dot the sandy beach and shield sunbathers from
prying eyes. In fact, the only thing they seem take umbrage with
here is alternative types, with an arbitrary sign at the entrance
reading “no hipsters”.

Avoid unhelpful “You look like you need another holiday”
comments post-Ibiza
by sleeping off your hangovers on Cala Jondal beach. Complete with
laid-back bars and pine-clad hills, clothing is always optional in
this secluded pocket of the island, so join the throngs of
hedonists and free your inhibitions – because if you can’t do it on
the
White Isle, where can you?

The favoured hideaway among a chic Euro set who typically visit
in September, Costa Smeralda also counts A-listers such as Bradley
Cooper among its fans. The beaches stretch 20km with helipads, polo
grounds and golf clubs peppering the coastline – this is the place
to accessorise your bikini bottoms with film-star shades, a large
straw hat and an Aperol.

Next to a college campus where cookouts, parties and Friday
night skinny-dipping soirées are frequent dates in the social
calendar, Wreck Beach is the most famous clothing-optional beach in

Canada. The rockier end is more private, but for those looking
to go all out wild and free, head to the top of Grouse Mountain
where nudist club Van Tan offers a sauna, swimming pool and
volleyball courts.

Picasso cultivated his devotion to art in this sleepy Spanish
beach town where – having been accepted into the school of Fine and
Applied Arts aged 13 – he began to create oil paintings of the
topless ladies enjoying the summer sun, with much of his earlier
work inspired by these free-spirited señoritas. In a reverence to
the artistic great, strip down and pose for the modern-day
equivalent – an
Instagram snap.

A place of pert bottoms and barely there bikinis, you’ll notice
a distinct lack of tan lines on the bronzed god/desses frolicking
in the waves on Copacabana. Beach volleyball is boob central, and
many vendors only sell bikini bottoms – this is not a place for
modesty. Order a caipirinha and get involved.

While most of the beaches in
Hawaii have a strict no-nudity policy, Little Beach is an
exception. Head down on Sundays for a clandestine sunbathe before
joining in the drum circle and traditional fire dancing – when it’s
probably best to stick your bikini back on to avoid burnt nips.

>While you’re taking in the sites on the Coogee to
Bondi coastal walk, you’ll notice plenty of liberated Aussies
soaking up the
Sydney sunshine. This popular beach hosted the largest swimsuit
shoot in the world and welcomes a bohemian set of locals, surfers
and backpackers thanks to 24/7 good-time vibes, which also make it
an ideal place to strip down. Be warned: popular reality TV show
Bondi Rescue is filmed here, so keep one eye open so you don’t end
up starring in your own peep show.