The Truth Behind Germany's Nudist Hikers Laid Bare

Outsiders might be shocked when they hit the spa, the lake or the park in some parts of Germany and discover a profusion of naked bodies hanging about. Nudity in Germany is not such a strange and taboo concept as it is in most other parts of the world; in fact, rumour has it there’s even a club of bare-butt-only hikers on the loose in the mountains.

At first glance, German culture may seem to consist mostly of currywurst, Christmas markets and beer festivals. Perhaps less well known is the equally ubiquitous tradition of people freely taking their clothes off without the slightest coyness or concern about being judged. This element of German pride is officially known as Freikörperkultur (FKK), meaning Free Body Culture. Today an estimated 600,000 people are registered with private nudist clubs in Germany. There are almost 300 of these establishments, so being naked and celebrating your natural skin is clearly more than some obscure trend.

These clubs provide nudists with the opportunity to bare it all while engaging in normal activities, and could be anything from naked jogging clubs (nacktjoggen) to naked hiking trips (nacktwandern), where of course allowances will be made for a backpack and sturdy shoes. There are also a number of parks and recreational areas designated to FKK enthusiasts. To avoid any confusion, it is important to know that FKK has nothing to do with erotica or sexualised activity. It is solely about creating a positive body image among people, and encouraging a feeling of freedom and relaxation closer to nature. Any kind of public sexual activity in FKK areas is strictly illegal.

Germany’s naturalist movement first appeared in the 1920s with the establishment of the first nude beach, on the island of Sylt. Not long after, the Berlin School of Nudism came into being, and played host to the world’s first nudist congress. The oppression of the Nazi era certainly put a damper on such moral freedoms, but it didn’t take long for naked bodies to be back in business after the war.

If you are in Berlin and want to try your nudist look in public, head to certain designated areas of Tiergarten, where it’s on form to disrobe. Exhibitionism or freedom? You decide. But celebrating the human form, and not shying away from our natural selves, no matter what we look like, can’t be a bad thing.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

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