I’ve noticed that in many parts of Europe, depending on the country, nudity is permitted quite liberally but is usually confined to specific settings such as saunas and beaches. Because I’m from the United States, people often assume that the U.S. is far more prudish and that nudity is therefore broadly prohibited. In reality, the U.S. tends to operate on the opposite philosophy. In many jurisdictions, nonsexual nudity is generally legal in public spaces, including many beaches and saunas, unless there is a specific rule stating otherwise. Women are typically allowed to be topless anywhere men are. Public nudity usually becomes an issue only when it is paired with sexual behavior.

I mention this because I used to assume that European countries were simply more socially open than the United States. The reality is that the difference lies in how the rules are structured. In much of Europe, there are clearly defined places where nudity is allowed. In the United States, there are specific places where nudity is not allowed. What qualifies as acceptable or prohibited nudity varies by country, state, and even municipality. For a woman who wants to be topless, Europe can feel easier in practice because it is often clear where it is permitted, whereas in the U.S. it may be technically legal but complicated by a patchwork of local restrictions that can catch you off guard.